In Texas there is an estimated 50,000 dogs euthanized at animal shelters a year, due to mainly a lack of space. Texas currently the second in the nation in the amount of dog euthanizations performed just behind California. The most euthanized dog in the shelters is the Pitbull/pit-mixes accounting for more than 60% of dogs euthanized in animal shelter as to free up space. Pitbull terminology in the animal shelter as what makes a dog classified as a Pitbull is generally just an umbrella term for saying the dog resembles a Pitbull to great degree but could in fact be a mastiff designer dog breed.

But Pitbulls do have a trait that separates themselves from most other dog breeds which has earned the dogs a bit of infamy is their pull force. Siberian Husky can pull about 100 pounds, whereas a Pitbull can pull 200-300 pounds. Pitbulls are a favorite for dog weight pulling competitions. In animal shelters, that’s reason why pitbulls are the most passed up dog, because if handler isn’t strong enough or doesn’t have a certain amount of training. That is the dog is going to pull around the handler, the handler isn’t going to pull around the dog. Generally one of biggest issues with that is located on a floor with multiple cells of dogs. That one of those dogs could be barking aggressively at the Pitt, so that can quickly escalate into the Pitt lunging at the cell, which is actually all too common for medium to large dogs of any breed. But Pitts are harder to breakup due to the pull force, however the wheelbarrow technique is particularly effective in getting control under a Pitbull, particularly technique should be used by only Pitbulls owner in certain circumstances. So that is basically the only reason why that pitbulls/pit-mixes aren’t more popular at animal shelter is that they don’t show well because animal shelters hit pitbulls in their Achilles heel of design.

If Achilles heel gets solved it will generate more interest in adopting instead of getting dog at a breeder or puppy mill shop. It can solve the dog overpopulation problem in Texas in ten years, leading to being among the lowest euthanization rate of shelter dogs in the country. Where currently if I remember right Delaware and New Hampshire are the only no kill states. That Texas can be able to become a no kill state, which doesn’t mean zero euthanasia, but means all happy and healthy dogs get rehomed.

The solution is to give deathrow dogs of the Pitbull/pit-mix calming gummies (CBD), a week before their euthanization date, as basically a hail Mary. This is to try to make Pitbull/pit-mix more docile as to simply ignore the hallway of barking dogs and focus on play time instead. So, there is a greater percentage of volunteers that sign up, that want to work with Pitbull/pit-mixes, so the dogs become socialized to a good degree as well as trained. To be able to give dog toys when not being played with, as the dogs that are super anxious will rip up plushies, blanket, etc as soon as it gets it. The mellow happy Pitbull/pit-mixes have the highest adoption rate as compared to anxious-combative Pitbull/pit-mixes. An easy way to tell which dogs will be marked for euthanasia, if overtly aggressive or sick, is circling behavior which basically happens when a dog is confined to their cell for too long start to lose it mentally. A CBD gummy for dogs costs about 12 cents a gummy, serving size for a Pitbull is 2 gummies, so a week supply for that dog costs 1.48, which is basically just the cost of an extra meal. 

The hope is governor Abott will grant government run shelters, the option to give CBD gummies to deathrow dogs of the pitbull/pit-mix the week before the dogs planned euthanasia. In hail Mary attempt as to get the dogs more docile and mellow, so a greater number of volunteers will be comfortable in regards to socializations, showings to potential adoptees and greater amount of positive interest in the animal shelter adoptions.