Program offers free spay, neuter for pit bulls
BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The push is on to clamp down on the number of pit bulls in the area.
Owners of those dogs can now get them spayed or neutered for free.
The premise is simple: if more pit bulls are spayed and neutered, there will be fewer, unwanted pit bull puppies. A growing number of pet owners say it's the right thing to do.
If Konig had his way, he probably wouldn't want to be fixed. But his owner jumped at the chance to have him neutered.
"I think it's our responsibility, especially with this breed, to take a step up, to be responsible for what we're going to do with this breed," said owner Cassandra Lynn Juneau.
For Juneau, who's currently out of work, it sure helped that Konig's procedure was free. She even brought in Patches, Konig's daughter who belongs to a friend.
A $50,000 grant from PetSmart charities is allowing the Seattle Humane Society to spay and neuter more than 750 pit bulls without any cost to the owner.
At 2 years old, Konig, said to be a "sweetheart," was showing his tougher side, going after other male dogs and even puppies. His owner hopes he'll now lose some of that aggressive edge.
"He's not going to have the potential to be aggressive, which is part of what gives the breed a bad rap anyway," Juneau said.
We've seen the pictures and heard the stories of what pit bulls gone bad can do. The Humane Society of Seattle says that's why this specific breed is the focus of the free surgeries.
"Thirty percent of the dogs in shelters are pit bulls. So when you have that many of any one breed, then you have to take a look at why is that," said Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society.
Pit bulls often have large litters that consist of six, 10 or even 12 puppies at a time. Konig has already sired a litter, and for Juneau, it was a lot of deal with.
"It was so hard to find homes. I don't want to do breeding again," she said. "It was just difficult. Too many people don't understand. It's not a breed for everybody."
The Humane Spay and Neuter Clinic in Tacoma has a similar program that's underway. Appointments are necessary at both the Tacoma clinic and at the Seattle Humane Society.
Owners of those dogs can now get them spayed or neutered for free.
The premise is simple: if more pit bulls are spayed and neutered, there will be fewer, unwanted pit bull puppies. A growing number of pet owners say it's the right thing to do.
If Konig had his way, he probably wouldn't want to be fixed. But his owner jumped at the chance to have him neutered.
"I think it's our responsibility, especially with this breed, to take a step up, to be responsible for what we're going to do with this breed," said owner Cassandra Lynn Juneau.
For Juneau, who's currently out of work, it sure helped that Konig's procedure was free. She even brought in Patches, Konig's daughter who belongs to a friend.
A $50,000 grant from PetSmart charities is allowing the Seattle Humane Society to spay and neuter more than 750 pit bulls without any cost to the owner.
At 2 years old, Konig, said to be a "sweetheart," was showing his tougher side, going after other male dogs and even puppies. His owner hopes he'll now lose some of that aggressive edge.
"He's not going to have the potential to be aggressive, which is part of what gives the breed a bad rap anyway," Juneau said.
We've seen the pictures and heard the stories of what pit bulls gone bad can do. The Humane Society of Seattle says that's why this specific breed is the focus of the free surgeries.
"Thirty percent of the dogs in shelters are pit bulls. So when you have that many of any one breed, then you have to take a look at why is that," said Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society.
Pit bulls often have large litters that consist of six, 10 or even 12 puppies at a time. Konig has already sired a litter, and for Juneau, it was a lot of deal with.
"It was so hard to find homes. I don't want to do breeding again," she said. "It was just difficult. Too many people don't understand. It's not a breed for everybody."
The Humane Spay and Neuter Clinic in Tacoma has a similar program that's underway. Appointments are necessary at both the Tacoma clinic and at the Seattle Humane Society.
