This biweekly column is written by Suzanne Lawter, Director of Community Outreach for Sugar is a true gem of a pup. She’s calm and greets new people with ease, and will sit right by your side as soon as she meets you, happy to get to know you and welcome you into her home. She’ll make a great companion and, because she’s so friendly and well-mannered, is a dog you can take with you anywhere. She jumps in the car as soon as the door opens, and is always up for a stroll through the neighborhood, staying right by your side on the leash.
She loves to romp and chase balls, and will joyfully roll onto her back and wiggle in the grass as she enjoys the great outdoors. She’s not a big fan of the rain though, and will gladly forego a walk on a bad weather day if it means not getting her pretty coat wet. Sugar will make a great family dog, and does well with kids and other dogs too. In her last home she lived with a senior pup, so she’s used to being part of a pack.
Sugar was rescued from a shelter in Maryland, and is extremely lucky to have found her way into rescue. The odds of survival for any bully breed who winds up in a shelter are not great, but Sugar was rescued from the Prince George’s County shelter, a county that has passed breed-specific legislation “banning” Pit Bull Terriers. Since 1996, the county has prohibited all of its residents from owning or keeping a Pit Bull Terrier, which means attempting to adopt a dog like Sugar is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in prison, and impoundment of the dog. It also means these dogs are kept hidden from the public and refused a chance at adoption by anyone except for a handful of approved rescue organizations.
Prince George’s County defines a Pit Bull Terrier to mean the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, and can be applied to ANY mixed breed of dog who has a similar appearance.
Not only is this highly subjective, but it’s impossible to identify a dog’s breed solely by its looks. There are a wide variety of dogs who fit this profile, from the American Bulldog to Boxers, to Mastiffs and Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and considering the number of possible mixed breeds, the list gets very long. The end result is that any dog with short hair and a muscular build who looks like a Pit Bull can get lumped into this category.
These ostracized dogs, many of whom are sweet and well-adjusted family pets like Sugar, are denied the same opportunity as other dogs in the shelter based solely on how they look, not on their temperament or social skills. Sadly, most of these dogs will, by law, be euthanized without a second thought. So many innocent dogs have lost their homes, their families, and ultimately their lives because of this law, and Sugar is a perfect, tangible example of why these laws are both wrong and tragic.
Breed-specific legislation is opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Kennel Club, the ASPCA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, and dozens of other animal organizations.
Every dog who comes into rescue is special in their own way and deserves the chance to have a loving family. A dog like Sugar had to defy a lot of odds to have this opportunity, and is a great ambassador for her breed. We are looking for a special family who will treat this awesome pup with the love and kindness she deserves.
To learn more about Sugar, go to the Mutts Matter Adoption Page and fill out an application, or you can contact Suzanne at suzanne@muttsmatterrescue.com.
Click here to learn more about breed-specific legislation.
