We are now heading into that time of the year where the world becomes a scary and sometimes dangerous place for our pets and it is up to us their owners to protect them. FIREWORKS. These are never going away, 5 November and that week between Christmas eve and New Years Day is hell on earth for animals, and now is the time to start preparing your dog. The safest place for them is inside. If your dog does not sleep inside prepare a safe space for them in an outside room or your garage. Start teaching your dog to spend time in this safe space by making the experience pleasant. A nice chew or stuffed Kong, a BIG fresh bone to chew or just sitting with hour dog. Start off with short periods and gradually work towards longer periods with the door closed. Ensure there is adequate ventilation and your dog has water. Now is the time to put money aside to get medication from your vet. Your dog will need a consultation for prescription meds. Make sure there is no way your dog can become impaled by palisade, get stuck in a gate or fence, or severely injure itself trying to jump through a window. Folks we see these images every year, make sure your dog is not a statistic It is YOUR duty to keep your dogs safe and contained inside your property during fireworks. POISONINGS As Christmas approaches so the number of house break ins and sadly poisonings increase. The best way to prevent your dog from being poisoned is by allowing your dog to sleep inside. A dog that sleeps inside will not only be able to warn you, but because it cannot be poisoned, is a better deterrent. If your dog doesnt sleep inside, please keep them safe in an outside room or garage. Check your property before letting your dogs out in the morning. Look for pieces of meat, dead birds, polony, and other edible items that may have been thrown over the wall during the night. If possible keep dogs away from the gate. In case of emergency keep a 24hr vets number on hand, time is of the essence when it comes to poisonings. This year, let us all do better, lets take the burden off of the shelters and SPCAs by taking responsibility for our own dogs and cats. If we each just start preparing now, and we just ensure our own pets are safe, we can avoid tragedies, and the already over stretched shelters can focus on the animals who desperately need them.

Today, 30 October 2022 I want to talk from my heart. I am not one for public speaking, but like to work “on the ground” with the people, and that is the reason you don’t ‘hear’ from me. For this reason the Board has appointed two spokespersons to handle media queries. A lot is being said in the media, and for some it may appear that the Federation is against the pit bulls and that we are not doing anything – BUT I can assure you we are hard at work behind the scenes to save our dogs. I get a lot of calls from people who are very unsure and troubled about the things that are happening. And I agree, a lot of the things are very alarming and frightening, and it should not be happening. The Federation has been warning the pit-bull community for decades about what could happen. We are now at that point that we must stand together as pit bull lovers, take each others hands, and together turn the situation around. As the oldest breed organisation in South Africa we can really make a difference! We don’t want our dog’s banned or taken away from their responsible owners. The Federation wants to educate and teach the public about our extra-ordinary, extra special dogs. We want to save the pit bull and preserve the breed as it should be. The Federation is not just one or two individuals, but a collection of people who feels the same way about the American Pit Bull Terrier. As an organisation we can make a big impact in society. Now, more that ever, I am asking you to join hands with us in the fight to keep our Pit Bulls save! Thank you for supporting the Pit Bull Federation of South Africa! Jeanette Erasmus PRESIDENT: PIT BULL FEDERATION OF SOUTH AFRICA.

As emotions run high and owners fear that their beloved dogs will be banned we ask you all to give some thought to the following, this petition to ban our breed is not the fault of the victims but it comes as a result of the dangerous actions and lies spread by those who many of you idolise. We ask you to turn your attention to the following groups. Until you change your mindset, accept your roles in this and make effort to change, our dog is at risk. Join us by completing the database survey form. Let’s unite and make the world see we can do better. Facebook post.

Folks please be advised, a petition is just that, a petition. The call to ban pit bulls has not been addressed in parliament, it has not been debated, there has been no call for public participation, it is not gazetted, therefore it is not law. Please calm down, stop spreading fake news, stop making up wild stories and should someone come posing as law enforcement to remove your dog, do not open, and call the police. Facebook post. Copied from SPCA Springs Official Site – 20 October 2022. PLEASE BE AWARE Since the petition to ban the Pitbull breed and enforce sterilization on already owned Pitbulls, we have some chancers trying to steal dogs. There has been an incident where a couple is claiming to be part of the SPCA who are investigating and removing power breeds from homes. The SPCA only operates in SPCA marked vehicles, as well as SPCA uniform. The Springs SPCA has THREE FULLY BRANDED VEHICLES. • A Nissan NP2OO, Nissan NP300 and a Volkswagen Caddy. If you encounter ANYONE trying to remove your dogs and they are not part of your local SPCA please contact your local SPCA ASAP! Springs – If this occurs please contact our Branch Manager Annecia Morton on 083 282 3565 IMMEDIATELY!

Change is scary. But with change in thought and beliefs we can still turn this around. The ball is now in every pit bull owners court. Facebook post.