Fight Bust Dog Summit Results

Last Wednesday, animal welfare groups concerned with Pit Bull issues convened in Las Vegas in order to meet with the Humane Society of the United States. The driving force behind this meeting was HSUS' across-the-board policy which stated that all dogs seized from dog fighting busts were supposedly too aggressive and dangerous to ever be adopted out as companion animals. HSUS wanted to revisit the policy (coincodence this occurred shortly after the huge uproar over the dogs seized from Ed Faron's property were promptly distroyed?), and ultimately revised it to suggest that fight bust dogs be evaluated and placed on a contingent basis.

HSUS and Best Friends - who helped organize this meeting - issued the following statement:

Animal Welfare Groups Announce New Collaboration to Save Pit Bulls

Best Friends Animal Society and The Humane Society of the United States announced that a summit meeting held this week in Las Vegas to discuss the disposition of dogs seized from dogfighting operations has led to a coalition of groups working together to help the canine victims of organized violence.

Among the outcomes of the meeting:

* 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.

The summit meeting was convened to address the matter of dogs seized as a result of cruelty investigations, particularly due to the increase in HSUS-led enforcement actions against dogfighters. Participants at the meeting included Best Friends Animal Society, The Humane Society of the United States, BAD RAP, ASPCA, National Animal Control Association, Maddie’s Fund, Nevada Humane Society, and Spartanburg Humane Society.

Whether or not the new HSUS policy will significantly impact the lives of fight bust dogs remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain - the fact that these issues are finally being discussed on a broad scale is a win for the dogs in and of itself. It's our hope that this summit meeting will ultimately mean more dogs saved from the atrocities of dog fighting and given a chance to live normal lives.