There are Liability Dogs like Rusty (smaller), and there are Major Liability Dogs (large and powerful), like Quincy, Dieter and Brutus (seen above) awaiting adoption at shelters today.
Unicorn Fosters
DogsBite.org - Last July, we published a special report that identified 125 behavior terms for shelter dogs decoded that mask aggression. We also categorized the terms into their meaning (e.g., impulsive aggression, anxiety) and risk level (e.g., very-high, high, mod-high). We continue to find new terms on adoption listings that mask aggression and other trends in deception, such as omitting long-term shelter stay information, previous returns by adopters and bite histories.
This series of terms focuses on fosters and Major Liability Dogs. Most commonalities include seeking low-level activity homes for shelter dogs with aggressive behaviors that contain no children or pets. The need for "breed experienced" owners is also highlighted, though many dog owners aren't qualified to make that assessment. Just because a person has owned a rottweiler previously, doesn't mean that person can handle "Dieter," a biter and resource guarder.
New Terms
One of the terms previously identified, "unicorn home," has evolved into a "unicorn foster." A dog that needs a "unicorn home" is so animal-aggressive, anxious and a resource guarder that it can only tolerate a "fantasy" home with zero stimuli. A "unicorn foster" has a home with no pets or children and is willing to accept "challenging," dogs riddled with behavior issues. What is unspoken is that a "unicorn foster" must also live in a rare and magical "unicorn neighborhood."
A "unicorn neighborhood" is non-existent. All neighborhoods have pets and kids, and often, at unpredictable times. These unicorn fosters will be expected to walk these behaviorally challenged dogs in public streets and parks. What is absolute and more common than a leash physically breaking is human error. So, a "unicorn foster" must have zero-margin of error 100% of the time when in public. This is not only unrealistic, it can endanger the foster and the community.
No pets, no kids? That means YOU are a rare and magical unicorn and WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH FOSTERING! We have noticed a growing trend at Asheville Humane: dogs who, for various reasons, are a little more challenging to find that perfect match for than your average dog. These dogs typically don't enjoy the company of other animals and are a little "too much" to be placed in a home with children. Because of this, they tend to stay with us for weeks, sometimes months, waiting for their ideal adoptive home. It is not uncommon for these dogs to develop challenging behaviors as a coping mechanism, which only compounds the problem further. - Asheville Humane Society
The slick "unicorn foster" marketing campaign is from the Asheville Humane Society (AHS). In 2015, just days after AHS launched a July 4th promotional campaign, "I want you to adopt an American Pit Bull Terrier," featuring Uncle Sam and a pit bull, a 6-year old boy was killed by a pit bull Asheville Humane had adopted out 3-weeks earlier. That pit bull had passed a SAFER test in flying colors. Maybe their "unicorn foster" campaign portends the mauling death of a foster?
"Fospice" is a term for another type of foster. Notably, rescues are not just trying to make suckers out of adopters, they play the same emotional harp strings with fosters. Athena, a presa canario, has been "handed off to multiple homes," used for breeding, was diagnosed with bone cancer and cannot be around children. Kenway's Cause rescue was also willing to do a leg amputation, despite her estimated lifespan of only 3 to 6 more months. Thus, "fospice" is a hospice foster.
Athena is a case for humane euthanasia to end her suffering. One commenter pointed this out: "Please! No more handoffs!!! Do right by her for Christ's sakes!" Yet, Kenway's Cause was willing to amputate one of her legs, so she could be a 3-legged dog in addition to her having a terminal health condition and a pitiable "rough life" background. At some point, "kindness" stops being kindness. "Fospice," in this case, primarily fulfills a human need, not a need for the animal.
"Unicorn fosters" is a deceptive marketing ploy to entice unwitting fosters into taking in behaviorally challenging dogs (aka aggressive) by making the foster feel "rare and magical."
Major Liability Dogs
When a dog has gotten "absolutely ZERO interest" from perspective adopters, and has already been in a shelter for four years (1,460 days), as Brutus has, one can assume the dog has severe behavioral problems. Brutus needs a "breed experienced owner" (pit bull), where he will be the "only dog in a LOW TRAFFIC" and adult-only household. Decoded, Brutus is animal-aggressive, can't tolerate activity in the home and is unsuitable for children. Only a "unicorn foster" will do.1
When a shelter dog is called a "meathead" that doesn't realize "how big he is" and "lacks manners," requiring an adult-only household with no other pets, one can assume this translates into total disobedience, plays extremely rough (body crashes), will harm children, will kill other animals and is large and powerful -- aka the dog is like a bull in a china shop. The Urban Dictionary meaning for "meathead" also indicates impulsive aggression and super-fast arousal.
"Meathead - An enormously muscular guy who cannot hold a conversation about anything other than weight-lifting and protein shakes. Gets upset very quickly when he cannot complete his own sentences and thoughts. Can be found at nightclubs wearing shirts that are 10 sizes too small (if at all). They are by far the most closely related human beings to that of apes, chimpanzees, and other primate. They are evolutionary hindered and are less capable of following directions than my dead hamster." - Urban Dictionary
When a dog saved from death row is "reactive" and "very teethy," whose new owner cannot afford the "surrender fees" or afford the training the dog needs -- run away, do not walk away. The dog needs "major training and rehab" that its owner is incapable of. This owner clamored onto the "saving a death row dog" train only to realize the dog was "much more than we can handle." Now she's asking for someone else to trick the shelter so that she can avoid paying euthanasia fees!
When a dog is "reactive to ALL new people" and "reactive to most dogs," this translates into stranger aggression, dog aggression and more. TK is also kennel reactive and "extremely selective" about who he "let's in his circle." TK has already bitten 7 people and has to be "muzzled and sedated" to go to the vet. Always and Furever Midwest Sanctuary admits TK is a "liability and risk and one mistake" will result in a person or animal getting hurt. Again, to error is to be human.
The sanctuary also admits, "today a mistake happened." TK "got into the yard with Sally and they fought." Sally wound up at the vet. A sanctuary committed to the welfare of their animals would never allow TK, a Major Liability Dog, anywhere near their animals. In this case, it's not that "TK's life matters" less. It's that TK's life matters more than all of the other animals at the rescue. Always and Furever is proud they "took the risk no one else was willing to take" by taking in this dog.
TK (Travis Kelce) is currently available for adoption. There is no mention of the 7 or more previous bites in his adoption listing. No mention of attacking Sally either, only that TK is "not good with small animals." There is no mention of TK being reactive to "all new people," nor that he is "extremely selective" and dog-aggressive. No indication that TK is a "liability and risk" and that zero margin of error is required -- one mistake results in people or animals (or both) being hurt.
The act of Always and Furever taking in dogs like TK (that no other entity will risk taking) is actually a marketing and fundraising differentiation from other rescues that offers the most "street cred." The more dangerous the dog one accepts, the more street cred one gains. Thus, they do openly talk about TK's reactivity and liability on their Facebook page to gain applause from their followers and donors. The most coveted rescues, in their minds, take in the most dangerous dogs.
Quincy is described as a "meathead" and Brutus has already spent 4 years in a shelter. Both must be the "only dog in the home" in an adult-only household with "experienced dog owner."
Dieter Paradox
Most of the dogs we have featured thus far are Major Liability Dogs that require a Level 2 or 3 dog owner (Level 3 = dog trainers and professionals). The vast majority of adopters are Level 1 owners; they can't even teach the "Stay" command. Major Liability Dogs have already exhibited aggression and are capable of deliver devastating bites. Dieter, a rottweiler, is among these dogs. However, his adoption listing by the Lakeshore Humane Society is less deceptive than the others.
We first saw the December 16, 2020 adoption listing, which was explosive, a "resource guarding" rottweiler with a "bite record" then backtracked to December 13. The bite occurred between those dates. Dieter is dog selective, cannot be exposed to children or small animals, requires an "experienced rottweiler owner," a fenced yard and attending a training course is a mandatory condition of adoption. Who could actually adopt this dog? A retired police K-9 handler is our pick.
The name of this file is "Dieter Paradox" because it refers to the Shelter Dog Behavior Review that we published in March. Level 1 dog owners do not understand what it means to own a dog like Dieter. They may think they can handle a dog like Dieter, but have no basis or qualifications to make that assessment. The only people who do have that qualification will most often say, "No thanks." That's the paradox. So in the end, the adoption listing for Dieter is still deceptive.
"The only people really qualified to take a dog like that is someone who lived with a dog that had that level of aggression. And, anyone who has already lived with a dog with that level of aggression, will say 'No thanks' to their next dog having the same issues," Sternberg said. "That's the paradox. Once you realize that, you realize that all we are doing is duping someone into adopting a dog because they don't truly understand." - Canine Behavior Review, Fall 2020
Shelter Swapping
"Shelter swapping" is a term that came into full force in the lawsuit against a South Texas no-kill shelter accused of "dog laundering." Recently, there was an excellent example of this concerning a long-term shelter stay dog named Rusty, who was returned to the Waco Animal Shelter one day after being adopted. The dog had previously been in the shelter for 419 days with multiple unsuccessful adoptions and returns. The latest return involved Rusty biting the new adopters.
Rusty (A093077) was first surrendered in February 2020 (2nd home). He was placed into a foster (3rd home) then sent to a rescue in Idaho (4th home and shelter swap). The rescue returned the dog to the Waco Animal Shelter for being dog-aggressive. He was adopted in November 2020 and returned for being "destructive" (5th home). He was adopted in February 2021 and returned (6th home). On March 30, he was adopted and promptly returned one day later (7th home).
Throughout this process, Rusty was called a "staff favorite," as well as deemed "Zack and Jim's Waco 100 Pet of the Week" to help unload the dog onto an unsuspecting adopter. But here is the real whopper. When Rusty was returned to the Waco Animal Shelter on March 31, that date became his "start" date at the shelter. According to the adoption listing, this dog has only been at the shelter since March 31, 2021 and makes no mention of the many previous failed adoptions.
"Rusty - ID#A093077. My name is Rusty. I am a neutered male, brown dog that looks like a German Shepherd Dog and Catahoula Leopard Hound. The shelter staff think I am about 2 years old and 1 month old. I weigh approximately 50 pounds.
I have been at the shelter since March 31, 2021.
Rusty is a great dog but he does take a little time to get used to 'strangers'. Once he bonds, though, he really enjoys being with people. A little patience and understanding will go a long way with him. He must have, though, had some negative experiences with children, as he is not comfortable with them and therefore is looking for an adult only family.
Currently he would be best suited as an only dog until he has had time to adjust to a new home and feels relaxed and loved and bonded, so he is more open to other dogs. Rusty is such a super cute and smart fellow, he would make the perfect addition to committed adopter family2 that shows him that their world can be a fun place with him in it." - City of Waco Animal Shelter, April 1, 2021
Intake Records
When adopting from a city or county shelter, we advise all members of the public to request all "intake" and "outcome" records for the dog. These records will show every time Rusty came into the shelter, left the shelter and was returned to the shelter. These records are not typically easy to read (you have to get used to them). See pages 2 to 6 for an example. "Rainbow" was surrendered by four separate owners. The dog was eventually euthanized for "severe behavior."
Quality of life for dogs like Rusty -- in and out of 7 or more homes and often a year or longer in a shelter -- can be quite poor. Unfortunately, we can't easily turn the masses of Level 1 dog owners into Level 2 and 3 dog owners either. Rusty's last adoption was a disaster; it lasted one day. Rusty's adopters said he was "too much work." The dog also bit them. On April 2, we saw that Rusty's adoption listing was gone. He was apparently adopted again thanks to the media's help.3
Summary
As this selection of shelter terms show, not all are targeted at unwitting adopters. Some are targeted at unwitting fosters too. A "unicorn foster" for a dog with aggression is a fantasy that can endanger the foster and the community where the dog is placed. "Fospice" is a miserable term that turns humane euthanasia on its head. Humane euthanasia is painless; its primary purpose is to end an animal's suffering. Fospice, in some cases, extends this suffering unnecessarily.
Terms like "absolutely ZERO interest" after a 4 year shelter stay or "LOW TRAFFIC home only" or "reactive to ALL new people" or "adult-only household with no pets" indicates dogs with aggressive behaviors that no Level 1 dog owner can handle. These are Liability Dogs and Major Liability Dogs. The "Dieter Paradox" shows us that Level 2 and 3 dog owners, who have managed a dog with aggressive behaviors in the past, typically never want to undertake the task again.
Finally, the best way to detect "shelter swapping" and the number of intakes, returns and outcomes for dogs like Rusty is to directly request these records from the shelter. This information is rarely in the adoption listing. While omitting this information in the listing offers a better chance for the dog to be adopted again, it is unfair and unethical to the new adopters. The quality of life for dogs like Rusty are often low too, all to achieve the no-kill single metric 90% "save rate."
Dieter and TK are Major Liability Dogs with bite records that require a Level 2 or 3 dog owner. Dieter is a resource guarder and TK has excessive stranger aggression and dog aggression.
2The "committed adopter family" phrase implies that none of Rusty's previous adopters were "committed." That is an unethical guilt trip. The fact is, the adopters were lied to about the dog's behavior. Rusty was "too much work" and a "biter." Perhaps none of the adopters knew how many homes Rusty had been recycled to either.
3As we were getting ready to publish, more information on Rusty came in. Thanks to the media article, "hundreds" of people are now trying to adopt this dog. Paula Rivadeneira, the executive director of the Humane Society of Central Texas, which runs the Waco shelter, is now telling people: "Rusty isn't the dog you're envisioning. It's a kind thing to do, but he's going to be a problem" and Rusty "plays well with some dogs. Around others, he's lethal." For now, reports Patch, Rusty has been "taken in by a local rescue partner" to "identify and overcome the behavioral issues that have caused guilt-ridden families to return him to the shelter." Despite this PR promise, dog-killing aggression cannot be rehabilitated. It can only be controlled through separation measures.
Related articles:
03/01/21: Webinar: Shelter Dog Behavior Review with Sue Sternberg and Gia Savocchi
02/24/21: Lawsuit Against South Texas No-Kill Shelter Alleges "Dog Laundering" After Bite
07/31/20: 2020 Edition: 125 Behavior Terms for Shelter Dogs Decoded that Mask Aggression
05/11/18: Shelters Often 'Encode' and 'Conceal' Aggression in Adoption Advertisements
09/20/16: What's Behind the Clickbait Web Advertisements of Aggressive Shelter Dogs Available?
I always appreciate these reports, because they are so insightful to the downright criminal behavior going on in shelters. Some of these ads are highly disturbing. The ones that stuck out to me were the following.
“Must be the only dog in a LOW TRAFFIC and adult-only household”
What kind of home is this? Even if you get a home with no people under the age of 18 and no other pets, what kind of home has dang near zero activity whatsoever? So the person who gets this dog can never have parties at their home, can never invite over younger family members, can’t even move the wrong way…what kind of life is that? Truly it must be a fantasy “unicorn environment” because I don’t know who would want to live like that.
“He must have, though, had some negative experiences with children, as he is not comfortable with them and therefore is looking for an adult only family.”
This sounds like there’s no actual evidence that this dog had a negative experience with children, but the shelter workers know it is vicious and dangerous so they’re making sure to advise people to not allow it around kids. But of course they framed it as if somewhere at some point some “evil” kids must have abused this p0oR pUpeR which is why it becomes uncomfortable around them. How about they just admit that the dog is a monster and shouldn’t be around other living beings!
Honestly, I’m getting quite sick of the entire shelter industry. All they care about are the well being of dangerous dogs with no care about human safety at all. All of the dogs mentioned here should have been put down already. Such a sad world we live in.
One tiny cute word to hint of caution (or two cute words to hint of caution) directly translate(s) into sudden tragic end of happy life. In this country, all layers of government allow predictably and/or unpredictably dangerous canines to turn our neighborhoods into fields of lost battles for life and limb. How hostile are Americas’ nice neighborhoods? Just look at the annual severe mauling statistics. Due to the tragic proliferation of dangerous canines, there are no nice neighborhoods in America. How many Americans see a unicorn every year? Compare that statistic with how many Americans see admittance to a hospital for reconstructive surgery every year, because a canine that was featured in a photo wearing a party hat turned into The Angel of End of Life.
Another new term I am seeing is that the dog is “forward.” Used in a shelter ad may look like this: “Spike is often too forward with people and other dogs.” I interpret this to mean that the dog mounts and/or does excessive crotch-sniffing.
On another note, we are in the process of trying to lease a no-pets-allowed property. A new trend is that prospective tenants fill out an application and put that they do not have any “pets.” It turns out they have an ESA that is always a pit bull or pit bull mix. They say that the dog is not a pet, it is a service animal. We’ve only shown the property twice and we are batting 100 on encountering these people.
Stick to your guns, Christy.
Don’t lease that property to anyone who has any sort of pet, and that includes those service, support, or whatever they’re calling furry crutches these days.
And remember this, people, it’s okay to be pet-free.
Amazing, the way the shelter has spun this story in 12 different directions, always to flatter itself and paint the public as villains – and the reporters never notice. Look at what Paula Rivadeneira, “the executive director of the Humane Society of Central Texas, which runs the Waco shelter” tells the Patch reporter –
“Rusty isn’t the dog you’re envisioning. It’s a kind thing to do, but he’s going to be a problem… “A lot of the issue is, people don’t believe us. Their mind and heart is set on this specific dog, and when we explain why it’s not a good match, they become so insistent.”
They MARKETED this dog as a sweet dog whose minor issues were easily dealt with by the ‘right’ and ‘committed’ adopter. They minimized and literally laughed off his behaviors and risks.
Video “He gets a little too excitable, he’s not the biggest fan of other dogs – which can be worked on – but he is CUTE as all get out.”
12/8/20 FB listing
He is sweet and small.
1/29/21 video
“This is our sweet Rusty… He’s not good with other dogs, he screams bloody murder when confronted with other dogs. Finding a home for him with just adults would be ideal…. he is not a fan of cats – well, he is, but only to eat them.”
NOW, though, NOW that they are faced with sending the dog to a sanctuary placement in the spotlight they CREATED by demanding attention in the first place – NOW and only now do they admit in public that the dog bites.
April 1 video
please don’t judge the adopters. Rusty nipped at them and they realized that he is not right for their family because they often visit with small children.
The shelter published a video from 4 days ago showing Rusty and other shelter dogs being trained for the AKC Good Citizen test. Rusty, in the background, spends most of his time trying to get to other dogs. Narrator at end has to mention this, acknowledges with a laugh that Rusty is at that moment staring hard at the other, similar-size dogs in the class, is ‘fixated.’ Rusty, she says easily, needs a home with no cats and no small dogs.
Is it any wonder that people increasingly distrust rescue?
Let’s call this all out for what it is, shall we?
This is one grand-slam marketing scheme to keep donation money rocketing in. It has zero to do with what’s good for people, dogs or anything else. Every one of these dogs can be “sponsored” by numerous bleeding hearts per month for cash money.
It’s a con.
Try adopting a “difficult” dog. I did. A dog I knew I could fix and handle. Their answer? Nope, wrong home. You live near CARS. (I wish I was kidding) Please send us $50 a month sponsorship for the upkeep of FuzzyHound. A year later, FuzzyHound’s foster person died and the rescue was panicked. In that year, I could have *fixed* FuzzyHound’s chronic anxiety.
As it was I bought a different dog. One that had never seen anything but a sledding operation. Never saw cars, buses or garbage bins. We worked it out. But then, I didn’t pay a rescue monthly–I bought a dog, and that $50 a month retail, bought it dog food.
This isn’t about the dogs. Follow the money.
An honest trainer will tell you that you don’t “fix” dog aggression.
You *can* manage behavior if the dog’s not too mentally damaged.
Then my question to the owner would be, “How much effort do you want to put in for the next 15 years to manage this behaviour, every day 24/7?”
Most owners won’t even get off their cell phone when dog walking–never mind devote a couple of hours every day to managing a difficult dog.
Addendum:
Every single dog mentioned in this article needs to be euthanized, post haste.
Every single one is a walking lawsuit for anyone that handles/owns/trains/fosters them.
Just came across a new breed: American Shelter Dog. Aka pit/pit mix.
Two-word summary: Shelters Lie.
Don’t donate your hard-earned money to them. And don’t buy dogs from them.
I agree. There is a car dealership that was advertising a car raffle with a 1 in 50 chance to win. I almost bought some tickets until I saw that the proceeds were going to benefit Austin Pets Alive( Austin’s (pitbull sanctuary )No -kill shelter. Noped out of that one.
This little nugget was just passed onto me. One can assume the man or the woman in the video hitting st the horse are the pit bull ‘s owner(s).
https://www.kptv.com/caught-on-cam-dog-attacks-carriage-horse-carrying-passengers/article_937a031f-3a2c-5e73-9c0f-1f9574025f34.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=meredithHub&utm_campaign=1130
Another news article on this dog-attacks-horse news story says that the dog died from its injuries. Due to the nature of the beast, it did what it is supposed to do, due to its innate nature. What did it do? It went for the kill, up to and including the death, even its own death. What else can be expected from deadly, up to the death, dangerous canines? If that dog was ever photographed wearing a party hat, that was just an attempt to mislead the public. So many websites bear ridiculous advice on what to do if ever attacked by a dangerous canine: “Make yourself look bigger”. So much for such utterly useless advice. And such websites bear many other such utterly ineffective advice. By the way, if receiving delayed effect mortal wounds failed to terminate the attack, it is manifest obvious that conductive and irritant defensive tactics would also prove to be 100% ineffective in preventing the victims from receiving great body harm.
As a recreational driver, a pit attack is my biggest fear when I’m out. When you’re riding, you can run, with a carriage you’re not that maneuverable and any quick turns at speed, or even hitting large bumps can flip a carriage. Plus bolting down a road is a very good way to get in an accident neither you nor the carriage will survive.
I was charged by a pit on Christmas day two years ago, made me wish I’d had someone literally “riding shotgun”.
I hate aggressive dogs almost as much as I hate their pathetic owners.
Oh, I left out that the horse was likely ruined for work after that attack. I friend’s riding horse who was attacked by an Am Staff recovered physically, but was so jumpy and nervous afterward it was dangerous to ride.
This was on Inside Edition the other night, and the video has gone viral. Inside Edition identified the breed, unlike this story that called it a “dog” and a “pet.” Where is the argument, it’s how you raise them? Will anyone ask the owners if they raised this mauler to attack and kill horses. There’s so much BS out there. People who own livestock have to deal with these monsters. If they were bred to bring down bulls, here is one in action…going for the throat. This horse is amazing.
7 years! This Ohio shelter has had one dog for 7 years and is looking for a “Unicorn adopter”. League for Animal Welfare in Ohio.
https://local12.com/news/local/7-years-later-dog-still-searching-for-forever-home-at-ohio-animal-shelter
https://www.facebook.com/leagueforanimalwelfare/posts/4579788978704639
I can’t even understand why anyone would WANT to own a dog that can’t be around other animals, can’t be around people, can’t be in a home with even the slightest amount of activity. Who goes out to the shelter and sees a dog like the ones listed here and says, “oh yeah, that’s the one I want”….
Dogs that can’t live normally in society need to be put down. There are more than enough safe dogs out there. No one needs the “meatheads” and “unicorns”.
Thousands of normal cats and dogs being euthanized every year due to lack of homes, and these pit-bull cultists want to spend precious resources trying to adopt out these dogs with a high likelihood of aggression and violence. It is despicable, and shows they don’t really care about dogs, cats, or animals in general, only an obsession with dangerous, potential killers.
The most common euphemism we’ve been seeing at rescues and shelters for pitbulls is “American terrier mix”. If the dog is a mix, they’ll say it’s a “lab mix” or “collie mix” or whatever to disguise its pitbull-ness.
When my daughter was young, she was a shy girl’s only friend. The shy girl’s family, headed by a crazy stepmom and a weak dad, had a pitbull they insisted was the sweetest dog ever and “it’s the owners who make the dogs bad.” Because my daughter was the girl’s only friend, I feared they would ask her over for a sleepover. It never happened–whew! The mom was a drama queen so I did not want to have to explain that no child should be around a pitbull. Luckily all daytime get-togethers occurred at the homes of the girl’s other relatives so my kids never encountered the dog.
We haven’t seen the shy girl much the last few years. Periodically I wonder if she and her sibs are okay with that “American terrier mix” in the house.