Bull Terrier Club Rescues 200th Bull Terrier

Bull Terrier Club of Dallas Achieves Rescue Program Milestone
200 Dogs Assisted Since Reorganization in 2007

DALLAS– Oct. 16, 2011 – The Bull Terrier Club of Dallas (BTCD), supporting pure bred enthusiasts across North Texas and beyond for more than 30 years, recently achieved a milestone in program history, providing rescue services to its 200^th dog since reorganization in 2007.

Untold numbers of Bull Terriers have received life-saving assistance and much needed TLC at the hands of BTCD Volunteers, since the Club’s early days when English Bull Terriers were extremely rare. Long gone, however, is the era when these dogs were exclusively derived from noteworthy stock.

BTCD Rescue Program

Since reorganization of the Bull Terrier Club of Dallas rescue program in 2007, 200 pure bred Bull Terriers in need have received some level of Club welfare, ranging from simply relocation to a new home to admission into a foster home applying the full scope of required vet care, including heart worm treatment, which is required for many dogs found wandering the streets of area municipalities these days. At any given time there as many as a dozen dogs being assisted by BTCD rescue Volunteers across North Texas into Oklahoma and Louisiana.

“The plight of the over-bred Bull Terrier is well documented through many issues of the Club’s newsletter Bully Times. Whether these animals possess an unstable temperament or multiple health issues, or both, BTCD Volunteers consistently turn in outstanding performances − displaying remarkable acts of courage − to give these wayward dogs a second, and sometimes third, chance for a good life,” said Brian Bourque, rescue program coordinator.

BTCD rescue Volunteers are also credited with helping the program remain independent from outside influences, by not requiring funding from outside sources. “Many rescue programs are incapable of operating without outside funding. The hallmark of our program is it’s autonomy,” Bourque said. “The changes we made 2007 allowed us to dramatically increase the number of dogs we serve, while keeping costs low. I get a lot of personal satisfaction knowing we’ve leveled the playing field when it comes to owning one of these dogs … we’ve helped bring joy to a great many families.

"This summer the BTCD’s rescue program which currently operates across North and West Texas, North Louisiana, Oklahoma and beyond admitted “Jax” in to its program. Jax was seized from his Tarrant County owners due to neglect and awarded to the Bull Terrier Club of Dallas on September 14^th, 2011.

Jax is Not Exceptional, Unfortunately

Suffering from the same skin condition as many unfortunate Bull Terriers Jax is currently being nursed back to good health by an authorized BTCD foster home in Coppell, Texas.Club records show that an increasing amount of dogs with severe skin conditions are being admitted into BTCD Rescue this year. Owners of Bull Terriers that are suffering from skin conditions should be aware that many dogs sold on the open market are genetically predisposed to immune deficiencies, which can lead to a variety of ailments. Combine these predispositions with poor diet and the result can be a dog, normally young in age, that gradually loses its fur in a matter of weeks. Bull Terrier owners who are battling skin conditions with their dogs should visit the Club’s web site at www.btcdallas.com for more information and to request assistance.

Over the years the Club has come to rely on a proven over-the-counter remedy for skin problems that in many cases works as well as costly vet treatments, however the process is labor intensive and requires patience and dedication to produce lasting success.

Know Your Breeder Public Education Campaign

A year after the Club’s 2007 reorganization Volunteers recognized the traditional “band aid” approach to rescue did nothing to combat the forces that make rescue necessary. The tell-tale signs were clear, prospective buyers didn’t have the information they needed to make good decisions during the purchase process, whether they were looking for a puppy from a breeder or an adult dog from an owner or rescue program.During that time Volunteers began collecting data on dogs found advertised locally for sale, along with information gathered from internal and BTCA national program data. Patterns began to emerge; where dogs were found; distinct likenesses in markings, for instance the “black crescent” over-the-eye mark seen on many dogs; as well behavioral traits of aggression, spinning and obsessive compulsive tendencies.

The research and statistical analysis led to the development of a set of guidelines that instruct prospective buyers how to evaluate the motives of breeders selling dogs on the open market, in part through pedigree research via an online database. In addition to helping buyers assess the true market value of dogs. In the final buying stage personal assistance is offered to connect buyers with other owners, if breeders are not willing to perform that service.

To help expand the program’s reach, the BTCD organized and participated in a number of community events:

- 2009 AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days “Know Your Breeder” event with Plano Animal Services

- 2009 Know Your Breeder presentation on North Texas Breeders at Fort Worth Kennel Club annual show

- 2010 AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Days Free Microchip Clinic for Bull Terriers, held in conjunction with Plano Animal Services

- 2010 Denton Dog Days rescue Recognition Ceremony honoring Foster Home Volunteers

- 2011 Denton Dog Days – organized event with ORCA (Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals) University of North Texas group dedicated to researching animal behavioral issues

“The program was a blessing to me and my family. We wanted a puppy and with kids we couldn’t risk a dog with a questionable temperament or genetic dispositions, especially from a breeder that wouldn’t be there to help us solve problems down the road,” said Rock Cunanan of Dallas, who recently acquired a contracted Bull Terrier from Champion Show Dog Breeder, BTCD Board Member and Bull Terrier Club of America Rescue Chairperson, Glenna Wright of Glenwood, Arkansas.

“During our search we visited just about every breeder in the region … needless to say we were sometimes shocked at the living conditions we observed and the overall lack of concern so many of these people showed for their animals in general. The time investment was well worth it, because we saw all of what the market had to offer and were in a perfect position to get the right dog for our family. Still surprising to us is a harsh reality of the pure bred breeding world, a harshness that is for some reason shielded from the public by a Culture of Silence.”

The Culture of Silence

Aspects of this Culture of Silence, threatening the long-term viability of breed, have characterized much of the breeding, owner and in some cases rescue network for years, and were recently featured in the November 2010 issue in the BTCD’s Bully Times. Breeders, some owners and resellers, using shady business practices and primarily motivated by money, maintain this Culture of; hear no evil; see no evil; speak no evil − effectively shielding the public from the ugly truth that defines Puppy Mill breeding operations.

“The key to our program’s success comes down to educating the buying public; teaching them how to recognize people who don’t have the breed’s best interest in mind; and equally important, demonstrating to them the true market value of these animals. The loudest complaints heard from owners, in the months and years after their purchase, centers around their realization that they paid a show-dog price and got something much less valuable in quality. For instance, purchasing a “mini” Bull Terrier that weighs 38 pounds at 11 months old.”

“Sadly, some people still don’t do enough homework before this purchase, which in effect is for a living being that can reek havoc on their lives for years to come. As a starting point people at least need to understand the difference between the Continental Kennel Club, the American Canine Association and the American Kennel Club, and what those breed registries denote in terms of quality,” said Bourque.

Bull Terriers Need Your Support

Anyone interested in participating in the BTCD’s rescue program should complete the online application and apply for a slot in the foster program roster. Dogs are available for foster on a monthly basis, foster resources being the main variable in whether or not dogs are admitted in to our program.

The Bull Terrier Club of Dallas, since its inception, has organized an annual Specialty Show, sanctioned by the AKC, attracting competitive Bull Terriers from across North and South America. The 2012 Bull Terrier Club of America Specialty will be held in the Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex March 30, in conjunction with the Bull Terrier Club of Dallas Specialty on March 31 and April 1.

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The Bull Terrier Club of Dallas Inc., established in the late 1970s, promotes the quality breeding of pure-bred Bull Terriers and advances the best interests of the breed community by encouraging sportsmanlike competition. As a member organization of the Bull Terrier Club of America, the BTCD is also affiliated with the American Kennel Club and the Texas Combined Specialties Association. Monthly meetings and other events are held across its North Texas territory.

Visit www.btcdallas.com for more information.