Folks, we really can prevent breed bans, but it is going to require change. Change in what Pit Bull owners say- misinformation is harmful! Change in behaviour- how our dogs are owned, how we protect them and the animals around them, how we train them and stick to training, how we protect them and how we keep other people safe. Change in the perceptions we create- no more victim shaming, putting pressure on law makers and those who enforce the law, to hold bad owners accountable. How you interact on social media, be open to changing your perceptions, learn from those who have qualifications and experience. Change in who we support in rescue. There are very hard working, responsible shelters who deserve support, reach out if you want to donate or adopt we will point you their way. Remember the saying “ all that glitters is not gold”. Change in how we buy dogs. If backyard breeders, unregistered breeders or breeders who issue pointless papers no longer have a market, they will stop breeding. Reach put we will put you in contact with a breeder who will not sell you “just any dog” Every Pit Bull owner now owes it to their dog to step up. Stop with the “it is how you raise them”, the “nanny dog”, the “but my pit bull is a saint”, realise that not every dog is safe and not every owner is good, realise many loved dogs are killing and maiming. Stop with the “what did the victim do”. Let us start to put the blame and focus where it belongs. On the owners who cause carnage, the breeder breeding for profit, the rescuer and shelter spreading false information and risking lives, and more importantly..LET US START LOOKING AT THOSE WHOS MANDATE IT IS TO ENFORCE THE ANIMALS MATTERS AMENDMENT ACT, AND ASK THEM WHY THEY STOOD BACK AND ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN, AND DID NOT DO THEIR JOBS.

Read the entire post! Having read a lot of the comments on the page, we have realised there is some confusion as to why we have taken a hard stance on the breed in South Africa and perhaps this needs to be clarified. The Pit Bull is in very deep trouble in South Africa. The number of attacks in South Africa is rising rapidly and this has lead to public outcry. People in our communities do not feel safe and they worry if they will be next. It is not just humans who have fallen victim to attacks, many have lost their pets and livestock and we are now at the point where breed bans are being called for, and if we do not address this issue now this could become a reality, and this will be a disaster in South Africa with the amount of corruption, it will also push the dark underworld of dog fighting underground, which will lead to immense suffering. Firstly we know it is not the breed, we know there are many great dogs, great owners and these animals cause no harm to society, but when a breed ban comes in, these dogs will be removed from their homes and will be euthanised. So how do we avert this? We tell the truth about what is happening. Bad dogs are being born, and they are sold to unsuitable owners. One only has to head on over to Facebook and Whatsapp pet groups to see the sheer number of pups being sold. These dogs are the dogs who go on to kill and maim, these dogs are the dogs who fill shelters and these are the dogs and the owners who give every great dog and every great owner a bad name. They will be the ones who will cause a breed ban. There is no nanny dog, it is not how you raise them there are very loved pets killing their families. Their owners did everything right but the genetics of temperament can never be ignored, and people need to understand that by supporting unregistered or commercial breeders that their child could be next. Pit Bulls are not the breed for every home. The breed exists because it was created for dog fighting. While this cruel practice is now thankfully illegal we cannot deny the breeds history and the breed specific traits that make it a pit bull. By accepting the Pit Bull for what it is means owners can make wise choices to prevent accidents. If Pit Bulls were for every home, shelters would not be full. Right now YOUR pit bull needs you to protect him or her, YOUR dog needs you to pack your emotions away and to change your mindset. YOUR Pit Bull needs YOU to question why those who couldve ended this years ago never enforced the law they are mandated to enforce. YOUR Pit Bull needs you to stop victim shaming and giving bad dogs, bad owners, bad breeders, bad rescuers and law enforcement a get out of jail free card. YOUR Pit Bull will suffer because you chose to rather fight the truth.

Call for breed bans- please read the post in its entirety The Pit Bull Federation of South Africa is aware of the call to ban pit bulls. We would like to urge pit bull owners to please for the sake of the breed to refrain from commenting. The public has every right to be outraged. If you would like to direct your anger at anyone, look in the mirror. The storm the PBFSA warned you all about over two decades is upon us. While you were all garnering for spotlight we were preparing for this day. And if these dogs are to stand a chance, every owner, needs to focus anger on those who got us here, and then join us in our fight to end the maulings, end the abuse and help us force accountability.

Thank you to a face book page follower and former Staffordshire Bull Terrier breeder for the following information. Direct comment copy “As a former Staffordshire Bull Terrier Breeder I know this to be true. If memory serves, the late Nap Cairns from Constones Staffordshire Bull Terriers coined the phrase and it is in his book. He says The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the foremost Nanny Dog…..” The history of the “nanny dog” had nothing to do with the APBT. That said NO dog regardless of its breed should be left unsupervised with children. For once and for all we would like to dispel the MYTH that the pit bull was once known as the nanny dog. IT NEVER WAS! This myth was created by over zealous advocates and based on vintage photos of children with their pit bulls. This is a very dangerous idea to put into parents heads, as many believe it and leave small children unsupervised with their pit bulls. Yes the American Pit Bull is a very tolerant dog. They are good with children. But tolerance does have its boundaries. Be smart folks, dogs are not substitute baby sitters. PREVENT BITES! As a point of interest, the staffie is known as the nanny dog in the UK. Original Facebook Post

Folks we appeal to those of you who are coming forward with complaints of attacks not being actioned to please supply the information our staff request. The PBFSA cannot open the case on behalf of the complainant. We will require the following to help you follow up: We cannot attend to every whatsapp and request that complaints be mailed to management@pbfsa.co.za. Kindly note whatsapp complaints will not be attended to.

So you or someone you know is considering adding a pit bull to the family. Here is some guidelines from the PBFSA. A pit bull is a pit bull, registered or not? Not true. As with any breed of dog temperament is over 70% inherited. Your puppy’s temperament is predetermined before birth. No amount of love or training can remove a faulty temperament. Online breeders be they registered or unregistered do not have an understanding of genetics. They breed male to female and that is where it ends. Being registered does not mean that a dogs temperament is guaranteed. So how do you chose a breeder if that is the route you want to take? Ok so you want to adopt a rescue. High 5 for wanting to do good. But rescued dogs are not automatic saints. So what type of home and owner does the American Pit Bull need? These are wonderful dogs who require a special owner. If you cannot meet their needs. Please admire them from a distance.

Reshare: 4Paws University – 3 June, 2017 Another tragic fatal dog attack has occurred this week. The breed of dog is irrelevant in the long list of factors involved in this case. The basic order of events are: – Dog bites child in previous home, leaving multiple wounds. – Dog lands in shelter – Rescue group that claims to “rehabilitate” dogs with severe aggression problems pulls the dog from the shelter – Dog undergoes three months of “rehabilitation” at rescue using aversive methods, including the shock collar he was wearing when adopted – Rescue group adopts dog to a woman who lives with her 91 year-old mother -Dog attacks and kills elderly mother within hours after adoption The rescue’s website has a statement expressing their condolences to the family, claiming that none of them “could have predicted this horrible event.” Except that they could have. While no one can predict dog behavior with 100% accuracy, past behavior is our best predictor of future behavior. If a dog’s choice when startled, scared, or hurt is to bite with enough force to cause injury, then the next time they are startled, scared, or hurt, you can pretty much predict that the next bite will probably cause injury. Now, a bite is not the same as a fatal attack. I do believe that the rescue, given the repeated use of reality show language on their website, lacked a fundamental knowledge of behavior necessary to see the warning signs of such an attack. However, they DID have prior knowledge that the dog had previously injured a child. In addition, they ignored three significant indications that this might happen: 1. The reality show from where they seem to get most of their information about behavior has multiple warnings not to try the methods without a professional. Other than running a rescue for 8 years, there is no indication that anyone there was a professional qualified to work with cases like this. 2. You can’t live in the world of dogs and not encounter debates about training methods. So, it is highly unlikely that they never encountered any warnings about the use of aversive methods for aggressive behavior. 3. Many shock collar manufacturers now have warnings not to use these tools on dogs with aggressive behavior. One such warning: “WARNING. Not for use with aggressive dogs. Do not use this product if your dog is aggressive, or if your dog is prone to aggressive behavior. Aggressive dogs can cause severe injury and even death to their owner and others.” So, there are at least three warnings that were ignored, in addition to the dog’s past behavior. They absolutely could have seen this coming. Maybe not to this degree, but that the dog could harm someone, and still they chose to place the dog in a home with an elderly woman. In the end, the dog STILL dies in the shelter. But now a woman has been mauled to death and her daughter watched it happen, unable to stop it, even after hitting the dog with a hammer. How many people will adopt dogs from this rescue now? How many friends/family of the victim will adopt their next dog from any rescue? How many dogs of the same breed will be passed over in shelters and rescues because of this incident? If they are charged with criminal negligence (and I think they should be), how many dogs will they save then? If they are shut down, what will happen to the 20-30 dogs that live at their facility? BAD RESCUE HURTS DOGS Sadly, this incident isn’t as isolated as it seems. There has been a surge in similar rescue groups…with similar results. Dogs placed that are killing other animals in the home, biting owners and their family members, etc., all shortly after adoption. Good, responsible rescues work very hard to ensure that the dogs they place live a good quality of life, while still protecting public safety. I’m happy to work with many responsible rescues and will continue to support them any way I can. Aggression can almost always be managed and modified so that the dog can live a good quality of life without being a risk to the public or their family. But this requires a home in which all family members are both willing and able to implement changes. It also requires that the family is willing and able to practice management and training for however long it takes, even if it means they will have to do it at some level for the life of the dog. When a dog is homeless, either in a shelter or rescue, finding that family is going to be very difficult. And if that family is unprepared for the realities of living with a difficult or dangerous dog, or ignores instructions and takes the dog to a dog park or a park full of children, there is a higher risk of tragedy. No one wants to see dogs die in shelters for behaviors caused by neglect, abuse, or any of the other ways humans fail dogs. Not me. Not my colleagues. Not the shelter workers who frequently go above and beyond to save dogs. But, every time an IRRESPONSIBLE rescue pulls a dog with a known history of aggression and places that dog in a home, they are hurting dogs everywhere. Working with the families who live with difficult and dangerous dogs, I know that they can make the most amazing pets. I lived with and deeply loved a very dangerous dog of my own. Difficult and dangerous dogs take a toll on good adopters. Committed owners often structure their lives around them, living more isolated lives. I’ve seen it affect relationships, with the restrictive life taking a toll on marriages and friendships. Imagine if you suddenly couldn’t enjoy many of your favorite activities like hiking, camping, or hosting dinner parties because the dog you adopted won’t tolerate anyone but you. It happens more often than you might

What it is, what it is not, and how not understanding what it is could be harming your dog. But why proper socialisation in the true sense is vital for Pit Bulls When the word socialisation comes up most people think it is teaching your dog to be friends with every dog. It is a misunderstood term, pushed by the pit bull lobby machine and those driving the “it is how you raise them agenda”, yet through their lack of understanding, the promote dangerous and unfair practices that place so much pressure on these dogs, these practices create unrealistic expectations from the dogs owners, and when this goes wrong it ends in heartache. So what is socialisation? Socialisation is the process of exposing a puppy to various scenarios, environments, people, situations, surfaces, and other animals in a controlled way that neither floods or overwhelms the puppy. It ensures that every experience is positive and always sets the puppy up for success, thus laying a solid foundation for an adult dog who is a positive member of society. All of the goals of socialisation, and what determines its’ success is if every experience occurs when the puppy is comfortable, and it is stopped immediately if the puppy shows fear or discomfort. By forcing puppies to face their fears you create problems. During socialisation puppies are exposed to The car Having their teeth cleaned Going to the vet Crate training Water ( being comfortable with getting wet) It is learning basic manners like not jumping, being ok with doing nothing, socialisation teaches owners how to stop their puppy nipping. Puppies learn to become comfortable with different surfaces. It exposes them to other puppies in a controlled environment that doesn’t allow for bullying. Muzzle training is started Basically it lays your puppy’s foundation. Good socialisation done by qualified people helps your puppy with a good start. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE IS ONLY A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME FOR SOCIALISATION TO TAKE PLACE. AFTER 16 weeks the window closes. What Socialisation is NOT. A MAGIC WAND THAT REMOVES ALL DOG AGGRESSION FROM A PIT BULL Throwing a group of puppies together to play in an uncontrolled environment, a basic free for all, in the hopes of teaching them all to be friends. This is very unfair and could create issues later on. NEVER do this, and run from training schools who encourage this. Dog parks. Most dogs, ESPECIALLY PIT BULLS, do not belong in dog parks. Do you go for coffee with the person standing in front of you at the supermarket? Do you invite the teller serving you in the bank, home for dinner with your family? How would you feel if the person who was in front of you at the ATM started following you back to your car after you drew money? Think about these three questions and how the last one made you feel. Not all dogs are social butterflies, not all dogs want friends, some dogs get frightened or uncomfortable when a boisterous dog keeps invading their space, AND THIS IS WHERE IT ALL GOES WRONG EVEN FOR THE PIT BULL WHO WAS NEVER DOG AGGRESSIVE BEFORE. When two labradors disagree, there is spit that flies and a big noise and some holes. When a collie has a disagreement it is rough but it is relatively easy to break up. But when put in a situation where it has to defend itself, or when a rude dog goes too far, the pit bull will react like a pit bull, and the result is tragedy. DONT DO IT. STOP DOING IT. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE FUN AND BENEFICIAL ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR PIT BULL.. A DOG PARK IS NOT ONE OF THEM. It is never advisable to attempt to make an adult pit bull accepting of a strange dog. Folks they are not wired for this. Some can and do get along with others, but they are the minority and should never be left alone. Does this mean a dog aggressive Pit Bull has not been socialised? NO. Many dog aggresive pit bulls are very well socialised with the world. They are confident well managed dogs who will not pose risk to society, because their owners are accepting of their dog aggression and the ensure their dog and other animals are always safe.

After a whirlwind week of interviews, calls from the public and many many questions, we have now had time to check whats apps and comments and can address some concerns. 1: “It seems like you hate Pit Bulls”. No we do not. We love these dogs. We take our role as breed organisation seriously. But advocacy needs to be raw, brutally honest, upfront and it requires us to acknowledge where it has gone wrong. The reality is, very dangerous dogs are being born. We do not determine the data that comes from studies done on things like the genetics behind temperament, the statistics, the studies done on canine behaviour and the studies on the percentage of maulings that come from the family dog. But to ignore this data means we fail to protect children and every good dog. 2: You hate rescue! No, we hate irresponsible rescue practice. We hate misinformation spread by people who have never actually bothered to learn from credible people. We hate how in the name of save them all russian roulette is played with lives. We hate the damage done to our breed by people who have no formal qualification in ANYTHING canine behaviour related, who have no breed mentorship. But. We salute and respect the tiny ethical hard working handfull of rescuers who are “doing it right”. 3: But my pit bull is amazing! Great! So are ours. But your great pit bull is villainised along with the man biters. Your pit bull will be on the loosing end when bans happen. STEP OUTSIDE YOUR BUBBLE. If you don’t stop the arrogance, you will end up costing your dog everything. If you want to save the Pit Bull.. Stop victim shaming Stop excusing the actions of bad owners and bad dogs! Stop idolising those who sing comfortable lies. Stop denying proven data Stop risking lives. Start holding law enforcement accountable for not enforcing the law. Start fightint for owners to be criminally charged. Start being willing to actually learn about the pit bull from those who truly know it. If we stopped and started more, this will end. Shelter numbers would fall. Backyard breeding will die. Lives will be saved

Pit Bull Federation of South Africa – PBFSA Thank you Radio Islam for inviting us on air last night. Click to listen to the podcast: https://soundcloud.com/radioislam/increase-of-pit-bull-attacks-raises-concern?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing