Rescue Puppy Lineage Problem?

Question

We inhertied an adorable, lovable resucue puppy last week. We're quite attached to her, as is the family Coonhound. To me, she looks like a boxer. One the way to the vet this morning, I was stopped by animal control, who said we can't keep her because she's a bitbull. I asked the vet, and he didn't think she was a pitbull, that she looked like a brindle boxer mix. The animal control officer stopped us on the way home and I told him that the vet didn't think she was a pitbull, but that she was mixed. Since the vet could not specifically say she is not part pitbull, but only that he didn't think she is, that was not good enough for animal control. I called city hall, and the cheif of police came down (one of two officers in a one-horse town) and he took one look and said, "She's a Pit."

Is there any reliable resource out there to help figure out what kind of puppy she is? We don't want to lose her if we don't have to. If she is part pitbull we need to find the right kind of home for her

mutherwulf · Accepted Answer

This is so sad, and the number one reason we've been fighting breed banning. Because you shouldn't judge a dog by its breed, you should judge it by its behavior or rather how it has been taught to behave by its owner.

I'd say you should go to your local boxer breed club and see if they can help you identify what makes this pup more likely to be a boxer than a pit type breed.  And also try to find some pit type dog breeders to see if they can point out why your pup is not of their type.  Ask them to put it writing as an expert and this will give you legal proof to show the dog officer. 

The more people you have backing your story, the safer you'll both be from persecution. They can't take your dog, unless they can prove its breeding is from a pit type breed and is, therefore, illegal to own.

ann a · Answer

Yes - 

The Staffordshire Bull Terrier CLub (an AKC breed) 

http://clubs.akc.org/sbtci/


The Bull Terrier CLub (an AKC breed)

http://www.btca.com/

By the way, you will win the argument in court. The vet is an expert. The Chief of Police (unless an AKC show judge) is not an neither is the animal control officer - thats just the cop who got stuck with the job. (I'm a retired lawyer. And experts are those peopel who went to school and have the academic credentials and they are always win.)

SBT are the breed that was in the Our Gang comedy movies in the 1930s.

As I recall it was a BT (or maybe and SBT - but one of them) who was one of the dogs in the Walt DIsney movie "The Long Journey Home" - the real version, not the cartoon, that used animal actors.

Good Luck!.

tigglys · Answer

I would think if you can get the vet and another to attest that they don't think it's a Pitbull that would satisfy animal control.

Or move - many places don't have breed restrictions.

(And I don't think that the Chief is necessarily a good judge unless he's got some training. I'd think the vet is a better source.)

Also, try contacting the group you rescued her with - they should have some insight. They should know if her breed would be an issue for you to adopt her - I would hope!

Best of luck

Ronni F · Answer

I have had pits all my life and have done pitbull rescue for 6 years...if you want email me a pic or two and I'll see if I can help....my email is ronnifolden@yahoo.com.....also get in touch with a local boxer club or breeder and have them look at her too...if they say she is a boxer mix get a notorized statement from them..fight this all the way!!!! I own a Cane Corso and our sherriff tried to tell me she was a pit...of course I have registration papers for her so it was easy to prove..our neighbor has a white boxer and they tried to take him too...she also has papers on him....I have started to work with our local animal control officer to help if she has any questions with a dogs breed...we also live in a small town in Kansas and have a breed ban,I am working hard to change this...hope I can help you and hope you dont have to give up your puppy

whpptwmn · Answer

AC tends to think any dog with a stocky body and a wide head is a PB.  Some that have been labeled PB are so obviously Lab Xs.

Try to join the yahoo group petlaw, maybe someone there can help.  At any rate, you can join the fight against anti-dog laws and help dogs like him.

mustanglynnie · Answer

Get in touch with a lawyer that is involved with animal law & fight this - if you do not know & can not confirm her ancestry, the word of your vet should carry more weight than a policeman (who has not been to vet school)!

Anonymous · Answer

You can have a DNA test done by the vet but I have no idea what costs are involved. Ask your vet about it.

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Rescue Puppy Lineage Problem?

7 Answers