07/01/2022
ARE HOUNDS THE NEW PIT BULL?
I began as a Pit Bull rescue back sometime in the 90's. Honestly, I'm not even sure of the year anymore. It's been such a "long time ago" and after my 6am wake-up call that resembles something of a fire drill, of letting dogs out to p*e and then going straight into a feeding frenzy that would make any school of Piranhas terrified, I'm just too exhausted to drag myself into my office and check dates. Actually, maybe subconsciously, I just don't want to know.
But what I do remember from back then was how impossible it was for the Pit Bull to exist without being viewed as a four-legged demon. To even be seen with one in public you were viewed as a drug dealer or a gang member and much of the time "white trash" That was how society saw us back then.
Then in 2007 something happened that would change history in the dog world forever...Michael Vick got indicted for dog fighting. The news was met with controversy and conflict. After all, Vick was a sports hero. His fans did not want to believe it. Then there were the animal lovers who wanted Vick's head on a platter.
Then more details came out on what his Pit Bulls went through; the torture, the most unthinkable type of abuse...and I'm not even talking about the fighting aspect but what the "losers" had to endure. The people began to see the truth in its raw form. The brutality of what these dogs had been put through at the hands of Vick's slackies would forever be burned in everyone's minds. And then, just like that, the Pit Bull's world began to change...for the better.
People began to put a face to the "P" word. No longer were they "the devil" or " a killing machine" Society began to understand that this breed/type of dog had been crucified and berated more than any other in history. They had become the "Frankenstein" of the dog world and finally, just maybe, those pitch forks needed to be put down, once and for all. And one by one, the Vick Pit Bulls went on to become honored and cherished around the world.
As a large Pit Bull rescue (located in Calif. at the time) we began to see a change...a good one. Although slow, the process of shelters allowing Pit Bulls to be given a second chance was thrust into the spotlight. Shelters began to finally allow them to be adopted out to the public. VRC was even contracted to conduct weekly training classes for the City of Los Angeles called "For Pit Bulls Only". This went on for 11 successful years. But then our lives were sent into a different direction: a little thing called "Pit Bulls & Parolees"
Never in a lifetime would I have been convinced that this controversial topic of a reality show would last 13 years and change the way the entire world saw the "infamous" Pit Bull. A new chapter of the most maligned breed of dog had begun and we couldn't be more proud. But then our move to Louisiana would bring us a new mission to take on; The Hound.
It took me a minute to figure out where all these floppy-eared, and "always got something to say" goofballs were coming from. We were now in the "Dirty South" aka Sportsman's Paradise. Hunting dogs were a way of life here. And whether or not they were simply lost dogs or abandoned after hunting season, they were coming at us like a Cat 5 hurricane. I now found myself learning all I could about "hound life" and the different breeds/types and personalities. And whether I liked it or not, my once quiet household of non-barking Pit Bulls soon turned into a 24/7 doggie pre-school.
I will be the first to tell you that I have never fathomed wanting to live with a Hound. Not because I thought anything negative but just merely because they weren't my "cup of sweet tea"
And I get it...some can be loud as a gang of hungry sea lions at SeaWorld. And yes, some have the energy level of a Jack Russell Terrier on crack. But what I didn't account for was their over-the-top sense of humor and their childlike way of thinking that the world is just a place to have fun.
So in a time of such despair and sometimes outright hatred, I need to forget that the rest of the world exists and just laugh at silly and stupid things....even if they get me really frustrated and want to down a 12-pack of Coke Zero for breakfast.
Not all Hounds are like my "demon dogs" Jethro, Hoosier. Billy Bob, Patsy, Auggie, Lugosi, Barney, Baxter, Biscuit, and Lafayette (did I leave anyone out?) Do not base your decision solely on their "wild animal charm" when thinking about adopting one.
Right now VRC and other shelters/rescues around the country are having an IMPOSSIBLE time getting our hounds adopted. The majority of them come from some pretty horrible hunting dog situations (relax...this is not saying that all hunting dogs are treated badly) An average adoption conversation now goes as such "I am calling about adopting a dog. Preferably a Pit Bull....but no hounds!" How did this happen? How did the Hound become the new Pit Bull?
If you are looking for a little fun and madness in your life and just want to laugh until you p*e in your pants, then consider one of our Hounds for adoption, or possibly we can help you find the right one from another rescue or shelter? If you would consider adopting a former swamp dog, please email me directly at: [email protected]
Big ears, a big voice, and an even bigger heart, they are so appreciative of the new lives they've been given. The Hound dog is right up there with the Pit Bull, at least now in my world. Let's face it...running a large dog rescue has more sad days than happy. There are times that I don't know if I can continue. But each morning at the buttcrack of dawn, when I hear the first "AROOO", I am reminded that Sean Dietrich is right..."drool is cool"
Fun times are available at: [email protected]
