If you are in The United Kingdom and looking for a Staffordshire Bull Terrier you don’t have to travel far. A look at any classified section of a local newspaper, classified website or social networking site will show an abundance of this breed being sold or given away.
They range from litters of puppies being sold for anything between £200 and £400 per dog to all ages of adult dogs being sold or given away free to good home.
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a popular breed, with many owners having more than one. It is also, unfortunately, the breed of dog most likely to be found in rescue centres across the country.
In the UK approximately 100,000 stray dogs are picked up by local authorities each year, a large percentage of these being Stafford or close cross breeds. Proving difficult to rehome, as many as 7,000 of these dogs are euthanized every year.
So why does this breed of dog end up in rescue and dog pounds so often?
The Staffie has a reputation. A percentage of this is due to the breed being portrayed as aggressive by the press and reports of attacks on people and other dogs.
Another reason for the preconception of this breed is the underground and illegal world of dogfighting. The bull terrier type is, unfortunately, at the centre of such inhumane cruelty and therefore associated with aggression without actually being at fault.
The Scottish Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue is a voluntary organisation that works hard to help as many dogs as possible. The charity does not have a rescue centre but a network of volunteers and foster homes for unwanted dogs.
The charities website states:
“The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is the victim of misunderstanding, they look tough, they are pictured in the press as aggressive and this has given them status among bad owners. Nothing could be further from the truth. Staffords are a gentle loving breed especially with children”
The chairperson of the charity, Kay Hamilton, tells us, “My personal opinion is that Staffords became so popular due to the Dangerous Dogs Act when pit bull terriers were banned. Sadly, in many cases the breed became popular with the wrong type of person. Back street breeding increased. There is an escalation in cross breeds. Stafford Rescue is now unable to help crosses as we just do not have the funds. This situation is so sad and nice dogs are being put to sleep regularly. We neuter all dogs and bitches that pass through our rescue. The cost for this on top of veterinary fees is immense. Since 1st Dec to date we have spent over £4,000, despite the discounts provided by our vets.”
The above leads us to question why so many people continue to breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers when the breed is being euthanized in such large numbers.
Sally Gutteridge - Sally is a writer and holistic therapist that lives in Scotland with her boyfriend and four rescue dogs
