Pit bull is just a term used for a Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier or a mix. Pit bulls are loyal, fun loving, physically strong and energetic dogs. They are great with humans but can be aggressive toward other animals. Many jurisdictions consider pit bulls a dangerous breed and either ban the dogs or require high insurance premiums, license fees and containment. Half of the dogs entering Seattle's animal shelters are pit bulls or pit bull mixes. Starting a pit bull rescue group will be challenging but is necessary to save more lives.
Instructions
1. Visit Seattle's city hall and animal control department. There are restrictions on pit bulls throughout Washington state and some in the Seattle area. Before you invest time and effort in starting your rescue, find out if you are allowed to house a pit bull on your property. Seattle may have instituted restrictions on pit bulls. Understand that your neighbors may be afraid of living near pit bulls, so discuss your plans with them. Find out how many dogs can be housed on your property.
2. Join a Seattle-based Pit Bull Rescue Group. Bullseye Dog Rescue is active in saving pit bulls and also working to educate the public about these wonderful dogs. Begin by volunteering at adoption events, offer to foster a dog, fundraise and process adoption applications. Learn as much as possible about what it takes to run a rescue group.
3. Volunteer at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, for a week. Discuss your plans to open a pit bull rescue in Seattle with Best Friends staff. Ask if you can watch training of the Michael Vick pit bulls. Best Friends houses many of the fighting dogs rescued from Vick's property.
4. Meet with professionals. You must discuss your plans with an attorney, accountant, veterinarian and insurance agent. Liability is an issue with pit bull rescue. Discuss adoption and foster contracts to determine decrease your liability for dog bites. Make certain any insurance that you buy covers your actual risk. Have the lawyer work with the insurance agent to make certain you are covered. Discuss medical treatment with the veterinarian. Ask for reduced fees so your adoption fees can be reasonable.
5. Join petfinder.com or another online shelter portal. These web services offer free web pages and unlimited space for photos, descriptions and even video of adoptable pets.
6. Prepare and distribute an informational package to shelters. The package should include a full description of your rescue group. Provide information about foster homes, insurance, veterinarians and how the dogs will be housed. Safety is an issue with pit bulls and the shelter will be careful to make certain the dogs are housed so they cannot harm humans or other pets. Meet with the shelter managers and provide any assurance they require.
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