Best Friends, HSUS announce new policy on fight bust dogs

The first report out of the Las Vegas meeting between Best Friends, HSUS, BAD RAP, Maddie's Fund, and several other organizations appeared this afternoon on the Best Friends website, which said that among the outcomes of the meeting were the following:

• The HSUS has a new policy of recommending that all dogs seized from fighting operations be professionally evaluated, according to agreed upon standards, to determine whether they are suitable candidates for adoption. Dogs deemed suitable for placement should be offered as appropriate to adopters or to approved rescue organizations. The HSUS will update its law enforcement training manual and other materials to reflect this change in policy.



• The groups agree that all dogs should be treated as individuals, and they are the true victims of this organized crime. They also agree to support law enforcement and animal control agencies when decisions must be made regarding the dogs deemed unsuitable for adoption and in cases when rescue organizations and adopters are unable, within a reasonable timeframe, to accept dogs from such raids that have been offered for adoption.



• The organizations will form a working group to develop future protocols for cooperation in addressing the needs of dogs seized in raids, such as how to assist with the housing of fighting dogs, how to conduct professional evaluations, and how to screen potential adopters.

HSUS head Wayne Pacelle had this to say on his blog:

In the past, animals seized from these operations have been routinely euthanized.  This may still be the outcome for the animal victims of dogfighters, but we agreed as a number of groups that all of us should do our best to evaluate dogs seized from these operations and adopt those dogs who can be saved.

He went on to reproduce the entire announcement as it was posted on the Best Friends site, and called it a "joint announcement" of HSUS and Best Friends. (Read it here.) Best Friends is one of the groups that was highly critical of HSUS's involvement in the killing of 176 pit bulls after a fight ring bust earlier this year -- even nursing puppies born after the bust.



Pet Connection BFF YesBiscuit! said:

My initial impression of the new HSUS policy on bust dogs is positive BUT (everyone I know has a big BUT), it's in my nature to ask questions. Lots of questions.

You can read those questions here.



BAD RAP, probably the single group most responsible for keeping this issue alive and rehabbing the image of pit bulls in general and fight bust dogs in particular, didn't say much, but was cautiously optimistic and said they were waiting to see the statement that hadn't yet been released. They were happy about one thing:

(W)e DID notice that someone at HSUS has removed a provocative webpage from their Animal Sheltering website, once entitled, "Explaining Your Policy of Not Placing Fighting Dogs Up for Adoption."



This now-defunct position statement has driven us crazy for years: "Once dogs have been bred and trained to fight, they may become dangerous at any time in the future, killing or injuring another dog, cat, or even human. The cruel training inflicted upon these animals makes them unpredictable—and unsuitable for placement into new homes." But apparently, it's gone -- and good riddance.

What do I think?



Like YesBiscuit, I still have questions. Like Best Friends and BAD RAP, I'm cautiously optimistic. I think HSUS and the other organizations present at this meeting -- which included the National Animal Control Association -- know there's a new zeitgeist, and the days of kneejerk killing of fight bust dogs are over. (I hope the days of killing any healthy and treatable animal are over, actually. But that's another post for another day.)



I think this will turn out to be a good day for the pibbles. Let's hope I'm right.



Update: BAD RAP is calling it a victory, and sums up the main points here:

In order to help end the unnecessary deaths of sound American Pit Bull Terriers, the HSUS has officially agreed to change their policy of recommending mass euthanasia of all pit bulls from confirmed and/or suspected fighting operations and is finally in favor of the evaluation and rescue of these same dogs.





They will update their law enforcement training manual, websites and other materials to reflect this change in policy.





The groups involved in the meeting agreed that canine victims of cruelty suffer from the actions of humans and deserve to be treated humanely while in the custody of law enforcement or animal control agencies.  The groups will support law enforcement and animal control agencies in their decisions to euthanize dogs when there are no reputable rescue or sanctuary resources available to absorb them.





The organizations will form a Working Group to develop future protocols for cooperation in meeting the needs of dogs seized in raids, including how to improve the standard of care of dogs held in custody, how to conduct professional evaluations, and how to council shelters in selecting appropriate homes.

Photo of Meryl, one of the Michael Vick fight bust dogs rescued and given sanctuary by Best Friends Animal Society.

Comments

[2CatMom]

I'll believe it when I see it in action. I do think people and organizations can change. Real change usually comes after much thought and debate - I think this is more a change due to political (e.g. $$$) expediency.



Nonetheless - if they do "walk the walk" I really don't care what the motivation is.

[EmilyS]

What do I think?

HSUS: We all agree that fight bust dogs are victims and deserve to be evaluated

other HSUS: We have always been at war with Eurasia



As YB notes on her blog (http://yesbiscuit.blogspot.com/), HSUS doesn't have to wait to implement this new policy, if they're sincere. There are RIGHT NOW several batches of fight dogs whose lives are threatened.



If it's real, it's a 180 degree turnaround for HSUS. It requires them to disavow (even if they don't do so explicitly) the very foundation of their anti-dogfighting campaign. Is John Godwin going to toe the line and start saying "oh no, the dogs are NOT natural born killers, we were just kidding about that? Assuming he actually believed what he was spouting, might he just have to experience a bit of... cognitive dissonance?



I hope, but I doubt.

[YesBiscuit!]

I hope so too. And I'll hope ya one better: I hope we get to see these words transformed into deeds right away. That would be awesome.

[Susan Fox]

Walk the walk, Wayne. Talkin' time's done. We're all watching to see what happens with the next fight bust dogs.

[EmilyS]

Ah, Luisa... the wayback machine!



If not for that, HSUS could get us to believe that we've always been at war with Eurasia.



Do you think they'll be sending John Godwin to Room 101? And what will he encounter there?

[EmilyS]

oh dig this!

http://yesbiscuit.blogspot.com/2009/04/spartanburg-humane-society-and-new-hsus.html



One of the few invited "major stakeholders" is an HSUS pit bull killer.



nice...

[Luisa]

Let us travel back in time: that provocative webpage.



Hope the link works.

[Patty]

Re the statement that, quote: "He went on to reproduce the entire announcement as it was posted on the Best Friends site, and called it a “joint announcement” of HSUS and Best Friends." unquote . . . I don't think the statement was reproduced by either group since HSUS and Best Friends actually worked bilaterally to create the mutually agreed-upon language contained in the statement. That's why it is posted on each of their sites independently in identical text.



I have been debating with HSUS on this very issue of all dogs deserving individual evaluations commencing over a decade ago after rescuing a wonderful dog confiscated in a fight bust case (whose life was spared by order of a Sacramento judge). I know of many other individuals and organizations that have also not let this issue go and that have worked toward this change for many years. This official change in position has been long fought for by many and has been a long time coming.



Though moving forward doesn't mean condoning the past and though the good they do doesn't negate the bad, I wish that consideration and credit would also be given to HSUS's major contribution to putting hundreds upon hundreds of pit fighters and cockfighters behind bars and to the fact that they have been instrumental in getting the vast majority of anti-cockfighting/dogfighting legislation passed throughout the country. If HSUS didn't exist, there is no doubt staged animal fighting would today be much, much worse than it is currently. This is something you rarely hear mentioned by those who advocate for dogs in general and pit bulls in particular.



I also question, if these dogs from fight bust cases do all get evaluated, where will the rescuable ones all go? There are many wonderful pit bulls (and other breeds) that rescues say no to every day due to a simple lack of space.



To quote Best Friends' Attorney, Ledy VanKavage: "I remain cautiously optimistic and do believe that their policy has changed and their training and materials will reflect their new outlook. They stated that they would no longer be testifying against the dogs in court. It's now up to the rescue organizations to step up the next time there is a fight bust and take a few of the dogs. Best Friends will help where we can, but we need everyone working together for the sake of the dogs."

[Terry Johnson]

What about all the gamefowl/chickens the HSUS has put down? Harmless chickens?? Are they not willing to treat those birds with the same respect and consideration? Research leads me to believe the game chickens are naturally aggresive but a danger to anyone? I would think not? Then why are these birds allowed to become the victims of a dealth sentence of the HSUS? Thought this group is about helping animals but my search have led me to believe otherwise. Something to think about.

[Jamie Lanier]

Have to agree there Terry. HSUS isn't the organization alot of people think of them as. Shame what goes on for there own profits and gains. Never see alot of there money spent on really protecting and caring for the animals themselves...as much as lining there own pockets with high paying jobs. Not with my donations anymore.