New lives for pit bulls

Hands stretch out to pet 5-year-old pit bull Halle, and with her tail tucked between her legs, she looks up at her new owner and friend, Traci, for reassurance.

The dark-brown pit bull seems skittish in a group setting but calms down enough to allow the attention. It's a behavior milestone for Halle. Just six months ago, Traci adopted the jittery dog who was rescued after months spent as one of former NFL star Michael Vick's dogs.

"I know she was used for breeding. She definitely had a lot of scars when Best Friends (Animal Society) got her," said Traci, whose full name was not released for Halle's safety. "She's getting a lot better, though. She used to just flatten out and not want to walk. Now she just needs time to warm up to people."

Pit bulls that were part of Vick's dogfighting ring were at one time considered unredeemable — too damaged by rough treatment to ever live as normal pets. That image is part of what spurred the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter to organize a campaign to rescue and adopt pit bulls.

"Pit bulls are actually very trainable, no matter what they've gone through," said animal behaviorist Molly Janke. "They're just like people; all different individuals."

The Bully Breed program is a collaborative effort between Best Friends and the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter to reduce the surprisingly high number of pit bulls coming into the shelter and being euthanized. The shelter offers free spaying or neutering for all pit bulls, mixes and dogs that resemble pit bulls in Salt Lake, Herriman and unincorporated Salt Lake County.

Pit bulls adopted from the shelter will receive free Canine Good Citizen classes, and the shelter plans to organize a forum to help owners recognize and treat behavioral problems.

The shelter targeted pit bulls after noticing that 22 percent of the dogs brought in were pit bulls — a surprising percentage, said April Harris, shelter operations manager.

"It's discrimination. People think that pit bulls are a danger to other animals," said Ed Fritz, specialist for the Best Friends Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog campaign. "It started back in the late '80s with publicity about street fights with dogs, training them as weapons."

The public has "preconceived notions" about pit bulls that they are big, mean and rough, Fritz said. And it's a misconception the animal shelter wants to change.

Most of the dogs the shelter sees on a daily basis have behavioral problems because they were isolated or abused, Janke said.

"People say they want a big, tough dog to guard their house, but these dogs are really big, tough goofballs," she said.

When Janke met Tye, an 11-month-old, brown-and-white pit bull, the shelter was considering euthanizing him because he was having problems socializing and interacting with people and dogs. Janke took over training Tye and showed that most dogs can improve with time and love.

Months later, Tye loves Janke best: He comes when she calls and obeys most commands, including sit and stay, all for a treat.

"It takes a lot of treats," Janke said while handing over a prized dog treat to the grinning Tye. "They have to know it's a positive interaction."

e-mail: lgroves@desnews.com