Hello Celebritys

The HSUS has launched their statement from the bust dog summit. This is BAD RAP's statement from the meeting and the direction we will take during our work with the new collaboration.

• In order to help end the unnecessary deaths of sound American Pit Bull Terriers, the HSUS has officially agreed to change their policy of recommending euthanasia of all pit bulls from confirmed and/or suspected fighting operations and is in favor of the evaluation and rescue of these same dogs.
• They will update their law enforcement training manual, websites and other materials to reflect this change in policy.
• The groups involved in the meeting agreed that canine victims of cruelty suffer from the actions of humans and deserve to be treated humanely while in the custody of law enforcement or animal control agencies. The groups will support law enforcement and animal control agencies in their decisions to euthanize dogs when there are no reputable rescue or sanctuary resources available to absorb them.
• The organizations will form a Working Group to develop future protocols for cooperation in meeting the needs of dogs seized in raids, including how to improve the standard of care of dogs held in custody, how to conduct professional evaluations, and how to council shelters in selecting appropriate homes.
  

Outside of the bust dog meeting - during our time at the HSUS expo this week - we met with one of the founders of the Asilomar Accords who confirmed that pit bulls from cruelty cases are no different from other shelter animals in that they deserve to be counted within the definitions and Guiding Principals of the Accords, which were written to encourage organizations to "find common ground, put aside our differences and work collaboratively to reach the ultimate goal of ending the euthanasia of healthy and treatable companion animals."

Welcome to the New World, bust dogs. From here on out, you will be counted among the many shelter animals who are also counting on humans to give them a second chance at a real life.