Taking in thousands of animals each year, the Humane Society of Broward County sees a recurring theme when it comes to dogs. Pit bulls, or pit bull mixes, are brought in the most.
"I would say one in every 10 dogs is a pit bull or a pit bull mix," Cherie Wachter with the Humane Society of Broward County said.
The dogs are given up for many reasons, including because the breed is not allowed to live in a certain area or because they just grow too big and too strong. They also may be associated with fighting dogs. It's even illegal to own a pit bull in Miami-Dade County for this reason.
October is Pit Bull Awareness Month. The idea behind the title is to spread positive news about the breed.
"It's a big responsibility taking home a dog like this because you have to be an ambassador," Wachter said. "You have to promote the goodness in them."
Someone who does just that every day: Dahlia Canes, who owns two pit bulls.
"Just because a dog is born of a specific breed, does not make it inherently dangerous," Canes said. "Any dog can bite."
Wachter said every day should be Pit Bull Awareness Day because the breed is so misunderstood. Canes agreed.
"This breed has been killed needlessly because of misrepresentation," Canes said.
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For more information on adopting a pit bull, or any other animal from the Humane Society of Broward County, log onto HumaneBroward.com.
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