Pitbull Thought He Was Going for a Fun Car Ride—But He Was Dumped at the Shelter Instead
Mario—a very handsome 1.5-year-old Labrador Retriever x Pitbull mix—once had an adoring family he loved spending time with. They played, cuddled, and had a beautiful life together; that is until the family needed to move to a new home and Mario was left behind. The new home didn’t allow Pitbulls to live on the property, so Mario was surrendered to the shelter feeling confused and betrayed.
Mario did nothing to deserve to be banned from anywhere. A super sweet dog who gets along with other dogs and cats, loves kids, and becomes friends with everyone he meets, Mario should have gotten to spend the rest of his life surrounded by his loving family, but a discriminatory breed ban took that away. Now, he’s desperately waiting for someone to give him the forever family he deserves, and who will commit to securing housing for the entire family, including their dog.
Source: @animalfriendsofthevalleys
Sadly, some people are forced to give up their pets due to housing restrictions. Biased breed bans and anti-Pitbull propaganda make it more difficult not only for the dogs but for their humans, too. Many people do not have the financial freedom to choose housing that fulfills all of their needs, and sadly, this can mean choosing between safe housing for themselves and their family and keeping their pets.
Could Mario Be The Perfect Dog For You?
Currently in the care of Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar, California, Mario’s resume is packed with amazing qualities. A Labrador Retriever x Pitbull mix, Mario is about 1 year and 4 months old and is housebroken, crate-trained, good with dogs, cats, and kids, and is just an all-around good-natured boy!
Playful and affectionate, Mario is a young dog who has already experienced tremendous loss in his short lifetime, but still manages to be friendly and positive. All he needs is someone who sees how beautiful his soul is and can commit to giving him a loving home for the rest of his life. Mario will return the love ten-fold—this sweet boy deserves the world.
You can learn more about how to adopt Mario online or by visiting Animal Friends of the Valleys in person. Animals can only be adopted in-person, and the shelter is open for adoptions Monday through Saturday, and you can find more information about hours and adoption requirements online.
Source: @animalfriendsofthevalleys
What Are Breed Bans & How Do They Impact Pitbulls?
Breed-specific legislation enacted by cities and counties around the U.S. may ban Pitbulls entirely, pass harsh restrictions on Pitbulls and their owners (like requiring background checks to qualify to own a “dangerous” breed), and encourage homeowners associations, rental companies, and landlords to bar Pitbull owners from acquiring housing. Because breed restrictions are very loosely enforced by actual law enforcement, one of the biggest impacts of these bans is on accessible housing.
Breed bans are created in the name of public safety, but are motivated by bias, misunderstanding, and fear. Pitbull bans are often broad sweeping, and impact a wide range of breeds that fall under the “Pitbull” umbrella like American Pitbull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Boxers, Mastiffs of all types, and more. Many of the dogs that are impacted by breed bans are surrendered to shelters—like Mario—where Pitbulls represent an overwhelming portion of the population and are euthanized at shocking rates.
Breed-Specific Legislation Helps No One & Actively Hurts Dogs
Source: @animalfriendsofthevalleys
Breed bans have proven entirely ineffective in reducing dog bite rates, but have caused the death of countless “Pitbull-type” dogs who otherwise could have lived happy lives with their families. There is so little evidence that breed-specific legislation provides any benefit to public safety that even the US Centers for Disease Control opposes breed bans.
“Following a thorough study of human fatalities resulting from dog bites, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided not to support BSL. The CDC cited, among other problems, the inaccuracy of dog bite data and the difficulty in identifying dog breeds (especially true of mixed-breed dogs),” says ASPCAPro. “The CDC also noted the likelihood that as certain breeds are regulated, those who exploit dogs by making them aggressive will replace them with other, unregulated breeds.”
Breed-specific legislation helps no one and actively hurts dogs that fall under the broad umbrella of “Pitbull.” A far more effective method for reducing public risk of dog bites is focusing on legislation that penalizes owners who neglect, abuse, and exploit their animals, and on community resources to help pet owners provide better care to their dogs.
