One of the many challenges of pit bull rescue is finding homes that allow our beloved breed. Many potential adopters say, “I can just register the dog as an ESA — my landlord has to allow them.” That’s just one of the myths around ESAs, or Emotional Support Animals. The Love Pit believes that animals should only be considered ESAs if there is a genuine need and the dog fits the criteria. TLP does not support labeling a dog an ESA to get around breed restrictions. Here are a few more #TLPFacts about ESAs that we wish everyone knew. This knowledge will help you make an informed decision and keep you, your family and your pet safe. IF you truly are in need of an ESA, PLEASE do your research. Your mental health provider must deem it necessary, your ESA MUST be well behaved, potty trained, and must NOT be considered a danger to residents in your home/apartment complex/ neighborhood. ESAs of any age who are a nuisance, a danger, or not potty trained can be evicted, resulting in owner surrenders at the shelter. As we all know, owner surrenders = higher risk of euthanasia for shelter dogs. ESAs provide companionship & sometimes help with depression, anxiety, and certain phobias, but do not have special training to perform tasks that assist people with disabilities, as service animals do. Misrepresenting your pet as an ESA OR service dog is WRONG. Don’t put the public at risk, and don’t set your own pet up for failure. Every dog deserves to be well trained and truthfully represented by their humans. Many loving animals do not have what it takes to complete professional service dog training, and are better suited to be “professional” couch potatoes! Please don’t anticipate using service dog status as a loophole for breed restrictions, air travel, or access to public spaces.
ESA and service dog are titles reserved for truly qualified working dogs. They should never be used to work around breed restrictions or score unnecessary special accommodations. When bringing a new pet home, always be honest with yourself. It’s the best way to set you and your new friend up for a long, healthy and safe life!
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February is Spay & Neuter Awareness Month. Why is it important to spay or neuter your animals? Altering your pet can positively affect their health and behavior, their lifespan, and the overall population of homeless animals in the United States! The Love Pit encourages good humans everywhere to alter pets and help avoid the onslaught of puppies and kittens that overwhelm our shelters, especially in the warmer months. It may seem annoying to pay to spay or neuter your pet, but the price of cancer treatments is much higher. When families can’t afford medical treatments, they often resort to surrendering their pet to a shelter in hopes that an adopted or rescue will help their pet. And as we saw earlier, the odds of a positive outcome for an animal in a shelter are not good. When you consider the facts surrounding spay and neuter procedures, it’s tough to imagine why any pet owner would choose not to alter their furry family member! We like to keep it positive around here, but facts are facts. When unaltered pets roam, they’re more likely to be stolen, hit by a car, attacked by a wild animal or involved in a dog fight. When faced with circumstances like these, many humans lack the resources to help their pet, resulting in the death of a beloved pet, or yet another animal surrendered to a shelter. Please think ahead and do not put your pet at risk. Spay and neuter your four-legged family member and keep them safe for years to come!
January is Train Your Dog Month! We’re celebrating with some tips to help you build a happy and trusting relationship with your dog. Dogs are family members. Unlike human family members, though, your furry pal can’t speak to you. Luckily, with a commitment to consistent training, you can build the connection with your pup that you’ve always wanted. Build Trust Obedience training is a crucial part of responsible dog ownership. Studies show that obedience training with positive reinforcement helps your dog respect you, trust you, and strengthens your overall relationship. Establish Boundaries Dogs need boundaries to feel secure. When you’re inconsistent, your dog may feel stressed by a lack of predictable routines. Ultimately, setting boundaries at home will help instill confidence in your pup, allowing you to enjoy one another a lot more. Show You Care Research indicates that physical contact lowers stress levels in dogs. Training provides an excellent opportunity to love on your furry pal as you reward them for good behavior. Whether you’re showering your pup with praise for performing a new skill or just reviewing the basics, you’ll have tons of opportunity for physical touch and eye contact. Cure Boredom Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. Without it, they’re likely to get bored and misbehave. Training is a great outlet for dogs to work their brains and expend some energy. If they’re entertained and worn out from training sessions, they’re going to be happier and better behaved even when training time is done. If you want to be closer to your dog and ensure they’re confident, safe, and happy, training is the way to do it. Just stick with it and stay patient. You’ll be glad you did. Mandy Lee is a dog mom, avid volunteer veterinarian and co-author of Saved By The Bark blog. She enjoys sharing tips and tricks for volunteers and animal lovers through thoughtfully researched blog posts. |
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