Thirty per cent of the dogs currently up for adoption at the Calgary Humane Society are either Pit Bulls or Pit Bull crosses. According to representatives of the shelter, the seven animals waiting to find their forever homes is the largest number of Pit Bulls the shelter has had in recent memory. The high number is believed to be related to work involved in caring for a Pit Bull. Many owners discover the high energy dogs need more attention than they expected and the dogs can not be left home alone during the day. These Pit Bull owners find themselves overwhelmed by the responsibilities of owning the breed and surrender their pets to the shelter. The reputation of Pit Bulls has many potential owners refusing to consider adopting the breed and families with young children or other pets are often unsuitable matches for Pit Bull ownership. “We're working really hard to ensure that all aspects of the dog are going to match all aspects of your family,” says the Humane Society’s Christy Thompson. “We don't want to see these guys back again.” The Humane Society requires all Pit Bull adopters to take a training course on handling the breed.
