Adopt a Pit Bull Today

No dog is more maligned, mistreated, or misunderstood than the pit bull. A generation ago, the pit bull was the loyal sidekick to The Little Rascals on TV, was the mascot of the Buster Brown children’s shoe company, and was a companion to the likes of Helen Keller and President Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, the stigma pit bulls bear is the result of dog fighters, backyard breeders and irresponsible owners. The reality is that pit bulls are a large, strong breed but one that can be gentle and loving. When looking for a companion dog it is imperative to assess him or her in the context of their size, build, breed or type. Global generalizations on behavior—good or bad—need to be avoided. We’ve seen pit bulls that are aggressive, but we’ve also seen pit bulls come through our shelter that are sweet, affectionate and not aggressive.

We do our best to assess each dog’s current behavior to make the best possible matches. If you’re looking for a larger companion dog with a lot of heart and drive come meet one of our pit bulls. If you’d like to adopt a pit, here are some useful guidelines:

• Socialize — A young pit bull needs plenty of early socialization to people, dogs and other animals, beginning as young as seven weeks of age and continuing throughout adulthood.
• Train — All pit bull puppies and adults need gentle, consistent training. Pit bulls are tough on the outside, but they’re often extremely sensitive. Harsh training techniques are not appropriate or necessary.
• Exercise the body — Pits are athletic and energetic; they require a lot of exercise.
• Exercise the brain — Stimulate your pit bull's mind by providing food-puzzle toys, things to chew, and other types of enrichment.
• Neuter or spay — Pit bulls should be neutered or spayed. In addition to the health and behavioral benefits, neutering or spaying helps reduce the number of unwanted pit bulls who end up in shelters. Read about the San Francisco SPCA's groundbreaking free spay/neuter program for pit bulls.