‘Popularity can be a curse. That appears to be the case for the American pit bull terrier.
“Many of these dogs have lovely dispositions and live in wonderful homes. However, many are adopted for the wrong reasons and end up in animal shelters — and the San Luis Obispo County shelter is no exception. Approximately a third of its kennels are occupied by pit bulls and pit mixes.
“AJ and Baby are two such shelter pit bulls. Their owner moved away, leaving them in the backyard with no one to care for them. Neighbors, concerned about the dogs’ welfare, called Animal Services.
“AJ and Baby came to the shelter underweight. Additionally, Baby needed medicated baths for her skin. Since then, both dogs have put on weight, and Baby’s coat is much improved.
“Both dogs have shown themselves to be quiet, devoted to each other and appreciative of human companionship.
“Baby shows signs of having had many litters of puppies; it wouldn’t be surprising if some of her offspring are now shelter dogs. Fortunately, AJ and Baby are now altered, so they’ll no longer contribute to the pit bull overpopulation problem.
“To help reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in our county, Animal Services is offering $40 spay/neuter vouchers. Also, some local veterinarians are offering spay/ neuter discounts. Contact information is available at: www.felinenetwork.org.
“The odds are against AJ and Baby, but if they find the right home, theirs could be a happily-ever-after story.”
— Animal shelter volunteer Ellen Perryess
For more information about AJ (#163038) and Baby (#132303), call the volunteer line at the San Luis Obispo County Animal Shelter at 781-4413 or visit www.sloanimalservices. com.
The Animal Services shelter is at 885 Oklahoma Ave., off Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo.
To see more shelter animals available for adoption, visit www.sloanimalservices.com.
The adoption fee is $70 for cats and $95 for dogs, plus a $15 county license fee for dogs if the adopters are San Luis Obispo County residents. The adoption fee includes spay or neuter, basic vaccinations, microchip, eligibility for a free veterinarian check, new collar and ID tag, and carrier for cats.
Animal-related event
Olympian Debbie McDonald will be the guest instructor for the California Dressage Society Adult Amateur Clinic from Friday to Sunday at Golden Hills Farm in Paso Robles.
A meet, listen and discussion will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Hampton Inn in Paso Robles. Tickets are $15 to $20 per day, $40 to $50 for the weekend and $20 for reception. For more information, call 440-2947.
If you have a story or photos of your furry, feathered or scaly friend, please e-mail to me to pettales@thetribunenews.com or mail to Pet Tales, c/o The Tribune, P.O. Box 112, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.
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