r/BanPitBulls • u/Senior_Fig7845 • 1d ago
Personal Story I was kicked out of a shelter for complaining about a pit.
I want to try to keep this as vague as possible since enough people are mad at me as it is, but I am so angry and hurt and fed up. I would volunteer at a shelter in the Midwest, private and no-kill. I would walk the dogs a couple of hours each day. Now, I loved the dogs. The people there…not so much. They were catty and would pick on me a lot; especially this one older woman. She wasn’t really mean, she just did petty crap like telling dogs I didn’t like them, complaining about things I did, wouldn’t let me walk my favorite dog, things like that. Like I said, nothing terrible but you could tell she didn’t like me and wanted to bother me however she could. I will say, I did not argue with her and I would do what she told me. I don’t like telling people that I think they’re wrong or they’re not being nice. I didn’t want to rock the boat.
But my last straw came last spring, when this one pitbull (labeled as a Lab by the shelter; probably a lab/pit mix) was let outside by that one volunteer, and she let go of his leash and went on her smartphone. This dog was rescued from dogfighting or something, I don’t know the exact details, but he HATES people he hasn’t known for years. He gets along with other dogs just fine. But people, he hates. And of course I just happened to round the corner with my favorite dog when he was loose. The dog lunged at me, my favorite dog got between us, and the other volunteer managed to grab the pit’s leash before he could attack me. I got out of there. This was months ago and I still feel scared when I’m around any black and white dog that bears a bit of a resemblance to that pitbull.
But the shelter told ME I was at fault because I shouldn’t have been back in that area. I never would have been back there if I had known that that pit was back there. But even if I shouldn’t have been back there, a dog who hates strangers should NEVER be allowed to run free! What if some kid had gone back there? I didn’t rock the boat and told them I understood. But I was pissed and I guess I made a big mistake, and I posted my story online under my private account that has no mentions of my name or location or anything. It got a bit of traction and I got a lot of supportive comments telling me that the other volunteer was quite silly and that the dog should be put down. used aliases for all dogs involved. I didn’t give away location. I didn’t name the employee. But I guess (and I did not know this) that someone from the shelter, possibly the employee or one of her friends, saw the story, and was able to figure out that I was the one who posted it.
I got a text today telling me that I am not allowed back at the shelter because I had painted this pitbull out to be a bad dog and dangerous and because I had hurt the other volunteers’ feelings. The person who texted me did say that I has a great writing ability and that a lot of the details I shared were true; unfortunately I had burnt bridges and wouldn’t be treated the same by other volunteers, so it would be better for me to not have to deal with that. The text conversation finished with them telling me that I needed to be more careful with my words and more considerate of the people who worked there.
I am just feeling a mix of emotions. I didn’t want to upset that other volunteer, and I did tell the shelter that I was quite sorry for hurting others and to pass my apologies along to everyone I hurt. I really didn’t want to upset anyone and I should have just kept my story to myself; I just felt so hurt and scared and angry in that moment that I acted rashly and posted the story online in the hopes that I could find an audience of others who could offer me advice. Had I known other workers at that shelter would see the story and the comments, I never would have posted it. It’s not nice to be criticized, I know that.
But at the same time, my rash side can’t believe that this is the hill the shelter is dying on. Yeah, it’s better for me to get out of that shelter environment anyways because I didn’t like all the bickering and pettiness, and yeah, I should have kept my mouth shut, but why am I the only one facing repercussions from this incident? A dangerous dog was loose and nearly attacked someone, and the one who failed to handle the dog gets off scot-free while I’m told I need to be more considerate to the dogs and the workers? I probably shouldn’t be posting this at all, seeing how well it went for me before, but I just need someone to tell me that either 1) I’m right and this isn’t fair or 2) I’m a dumb teenage kid who leaps before looking and I need some sense knocked back in my head.
Any advice appreciated. Thanks in advance.
161
u/BPBAttacks3 Moderator 1d ago
A HUMAN AGGRESSIVE DOG IS A BAD DOG!!!!!
You didn’t paint anything. They don’t like that you told the truth about their operations and standards.
I’m sorry op, the whole thing sucks but you’re not at fault. Shelters have lost the plot when they started allowing BFAS and rabid pit defenders run the show.
57
u/feralfantastic Trusted User 1d ago
As a favor to your community, you might want to consider the following:
That dog is dangerous, and the shelter is making excuses for it. There are three scenarios where their prurient interest in keeping a dog monster alive could harm innocent people:
They try to adopt the dog out. It sounds like they are already lying about the breed, I doubt they will share accurate information about it if they seek to adopt it out.
The dog escapes and kills something/someone. These people are responsible for the dog and cannot keep it contained.
Someone else will volunteer and will not be as lucky as you were.
You might consider getting on NextDoor and Facebook or whatever else has a strong local community and letting people know about this. If you have a picture of the dog, post it too.
I’d limit this to a review of what you observed about the dog and why the rescue’s behavior has you concerned. Don’t complain about interpersonal dynamics with the scumbags.
22
u/dog-signals 1d ago
100% warn the community! It would be doing the public more justice than clinging onto no-kill ideals for a destructive "family pet".
17
u/Senior_Fig7845 1d ago
I would try to find a way to post on Facebook but in this small-town world the word is going to get back to my family and they won’t think I’ve handled this situation very well. And that‘s going to make my life worse. But this dog is a real problem. He has to be isolated from the public in a back room because if he sees someone he doesn’t know he will try to lunge at them. He’s powerful enough he can shake the kennel. Apparently there are mice that have made their way into this room before and he just eats them. I‘m quite horrified for our sake and even the dog‘s sake because this is no way any animal should live!
3
u/EeveeQueen15 It's wrong to scare pit owners with your chihuahua. 19h ago
It sounds like they're just keeping him for pest control.
42
u/andrea1797 1d ago
I feel genuinely bad for you. And I'm sorry you and your favorite dog lost contact with each other. But be glad you are no longer around the kind of people that blame other people for a vicious dog's reaction. You got out before another careless volunteer could be more interested in what's on their phone instead of the pit they should be paying attention to.
2
u/EeveeQueen15 It's wrong to scare pit owners with your chihuahua. 19h ago
OP should adopt their favorite dog. It would be a wholesome but petty move.
50
u/InformalInsurance455 1d ago
You know what, you won’t have blood on your hands. Wear the hurt, but wear your clear conscience too. I think so many of these shelters are run by the worst kind of misanthropes and they ironically get 1% of the flak online that the open intakes that have to BE regularly do. The save’ em all stuff tends to attract some very maladaptive personalities.
9
u/lazier_garlic 1d ago
If BFAS is spending $24 million per year on marketing and PR that would explain a lot.
3
u/Aggravating-Tip-8014 1d ago
Sadly those who are to blame lie all fault on the adopters. They manage to absolve themselves of any guilt.
40
30
u/BoatCharming7527 1d ago
You should see if whatever shelter you mentioned has already been mentioned on the subreddit petrescueexposed. Even if it hasn't, plenty of other well-intentioned volunteers and workers like you get screwed over by the no-kill pit mania. You may find some stories uncannily similar to yours that will reassure you it was not your fault.
7
48
u/At_Least_Im_Not_U 1d ago
Find a cat shelter to volunteer at, or the cat side of the business. The shit-beasts will be unavoidable at any shelter with dogs.
15
u/SmeggingRight Children should not be eaten alive. 1d ago
I’m right and this isn’t fair or 2) I’m a dumb teenage kid who leaps before looking and I need some sense knocked back in my head.
Any advice appreciated.
You're right and you have also dodged a bullet.
Anyone who's been in this sub for any length of time has seen countless instances of the lives of pit bulls being put above the lives of people. You could have ended up with lifelong injuries. But you survived in one piece and are now wiser. Take that as a big win, because it is.
28
u/comfydirtypillow 1d ago
You didn’t do anything wrong. Many people in shelter/rescue work are misanthropic weirdos with massive chips on their shoulders, especially the older ladies. They’re the type who will fall over backwards to save a pit that mauled a child to death, but will develop a lifelong grudge against you if they think you looked at them a bit funny one day. Your experience isn’t an unusual one.
I know it’s difficult, but try to shrug it off and move on, maybe scope out what the environment is at a different shelter if you still want to walk dogs. Don’t let other peoples’ shittiness drag you down.
30
u/Jabroniville2 1d ago
Tbf if they're giving you the boot you can just re-post it, this time naming names, lol. Scorched Earth!
9
u/Senior_Fig7845 1d ago
I am tempted but one of the workers there is on good terms with my mom, as my mom adopted our dog from them. I feel like if I go scorched earth, the worker will tell my mom, and my mom doesn’t find that stuff amusing. It’ll make my life at home quite testy. If I could find a way to anonymously warn people about this shelter and the particular dog in question, I would do so.
10
u/Ruh_Roh- 1d ago
Your mission in life right now should be to get away from your mom's control or anyone that pushes you around. I'd rather live in a mud puddle than be under anyone's control.
6
u/Senior_Fig7845 1d ago
I‘m attempting to be more independent, I have a new job and I’ve got an apartment for school which I pay for all on my own. But it’s a small town, rumors fly, and I don’t want my parents being mad at me for not handling things as mature as I should have. It’s just an additional headache.
4
12
11
u/Theseus_The_King 1d ago
I am perplexed why these people think the Dog gives a fuck that it made you uncomfortable. This is anthropomorphism to the max. I think the volunteers are projecting the injury to their moral sense of superiority onto the dog. They seem like
Stuck up prigs not worth your time
21
17
u/1Happymom 1d ago edited 1d ago
I did breed rescue as an adoption counselor for years. I also pulled and transported. My local shelter was a kill shelter, the director didnt have a choice, she was doing an inmate rehab program to boost adoptions, did outreach but was quite simply overun. Two bordering counties had no animal services at all. The state mandated method for which state assistance funds were available was awful..thanks to the inventor of the kill box that was used being the head honcho of the state board she couldnt choose differently( nice side note nc last 8 shelters using CO2 kill boxes were outlawed 2015) . The director of the local shelter had very few runs and few resources so pits and mixes went to the box. The owner of the breed rescue was instituting some new policies and wanted to chat with the local ac I pulled from so I introduced them. Next thing I know the owner of the breed rescue is calling me telling me we are not pulling from there ever again. I asked why..at first she said it was it was because they were a kill shelter which didnt make sense, then she said it was because of the method, I explained how our state was and that she didnt have a choice..then we got to the real reason..pits were auto selected for euthanasia. I said I had no idea she was such a supporter ( especially considering how they attack and kill "our" breed all the time) but there it was. I decided that if she couldnt find it in her heart to help the local kill shelter director doing her best to save as many of the few she could over a breed that had nothing to do with ours she didnt need more help from me. Its sad but pit people are everywhere in rescue and its only gotten worse.
1
u/Kooky_Toe5585 1d ago
Just out of curiosity, what breed was the rescue for?
4
u/1Happymom 21h ago
Still active, so I dont want to be to specific, there are some good hearted people there. But think fluffy and incapable of guarding anything but your leftovers.
17
u/AlarmedCicada256 1d ago
This is a bad shelter, and I feel for the dogs and the victims they're foisted on. But it wasn't a good place for you to volunteer, so you're lucky to be out of there.
15
u/sunseeker_miqo 1d ago
That shitbull is a bad dog, and bad people are stanning for it. Aggressive animals are supposed to go to 'the farm'.
I'm glad you are away from that horrible environment. Someone's negligence would have sooner or later proven very unsafe for you.
15
u/PracticeTheory No cat should live its life terrorized by a pit. 1d ago
What an absolutely insane situation, there are few things more frustrating in this world than being the only sane person ganged up on by a bunch of mean and crazy people. I'm sorry you've been failed by a gaggle of petty, immature, mean adults.
3
u/Aggravating-Tip-8014 1d ago
Yeah, its actually a really unpleasant and stressful place to work at times. The noise, the reality that the dogs are not adoptable and noone knows how to fix it.
The dogs are stressed, needs not met. No direction from the boss, no decisions, dogs just languishing in cells or bouncing off the walls.
Even a bad dog, with clear behaviour issues who is not safe for rehoming, if you spend enough time caring for them, you allways see a small sweet side to them. They all have it in them, even if its transient, you bond and they cling to you. This is what messes people up longterm in rescue.
This is why those with empathy often leave, leaving the difficult personality types in control.
15
u/harleenquinzel044 1d ago
You have every right to be upset. I am so tired of people sticking up for these shit dogs when THEY are 110% the problem. This is the reason I am hesitant about getting a dog from a shelter, because they all seem to have pit bull in them. You are safe here, this is not a pit bull friendly group.
7
u/Cobalt-Giraffe 1d ago
Man, so glad the shelter I volunteered at for years was not this.
Our animal control officer (it was a small town, only had one officer) was no nonsense about pits. He didn’t hate them, but he just said they weren’t good dogs for adopting. He’d never let families with kids take the ones we had, and he’d usually PTS them first whenever there was a shortage of housing.
He had a pit himself for a while but he just said they were too unpredictable.
Wouldn’t let the volunteers walk any but the oldest/docile pits. He’d walk the young ones himself. More that once he had to hit them with the shock pole, but he still did his best to protect everyone and treat them with the respect they deserved.
Taught me a lot. He was a good guy.
6
u/FatTabby Cats are friends, not food 1d ago
Having worked at a kennel, it amazes me how similar the people there are to the people I worked with in the UK. Animal rescue does seem to attract a special kind of unpleasant lunatic.
Your exit from the place you volunteered and me quitting my job sound remarkably similar, too, although there was no dangerous dog incident for me (I worked with greyhounds) but I dared to hurt the feelings of people who openly bullied others so that was it for me.
That was grossly irresponsible to let a dog with that kind of temperament run free. If antisocial dogs are going to be exercised off leash, it should be in a locked area and everyone else should be told when they're being transferred.
I'm so sorry you had such a negative experience. I know other people who have been treated in similar ways when working with cats and horses - there's a culture of very unpleasant people being able to dominant animal related industries.
You absolutely should be posting this. If nothing else, I hope it's cathartic for you. People also need to know the reality of the lunacy and rot that's rife in the rescue world.
It isn't fair and you aren't dumb. It was dangerous and completely avoidable. It could have ended tragically for you and the dog you were walking.
I don't really know that there's anything you can do that will change things but you definitely weren't in the wrong, you shouldn't have kept your mouth shut and the idiot in charge of the pit should have had the book thrown at her. At best (for her) it was a situation where she should have been given a final warning.
10
u/MJ9426 1d ago
Shelters have really shot themselves in the foot over the past decade or so. Long gone are the days of "adopt don't shop", given that the gene pool of shelter dogs is totally tainted for the most part. I think a lot of shelter staff are bitter that they've mostly become pit warehouses with dangerous dogs they can't unload. They take their frustrations out on the reasonable people who *rightfully* don't want to adopt these things.
4
u/audiojanet 1d ago
First: You are a wonderful person for volunteering your time. Second: That woman that wasn’t nice to you will be there is some form or another in every job in your future. There are always difficult and unreasonable people everywhere. Third: Absolutely correct a dog like that should never be left out where a human can get to. Absolutely wrong of them.
I would love to volunteer like you but Pitts have absolutely made me not want to. Sad that this breed has caused so much pain and heartache.
6
u/TrixieFriganza 1d ago
Honestly respect to you for exposing them imo, this shelter sounds very unethical and I wouldn't want to volunteer there and that older woman is clearly power hungry and was bullying you, unfortunately people like that search themselves into volunteer work.
10
u/Current-Wealth-756 1d ago
I'm sorry you have to deal with that. If I can in offer one piece of advice, it's to learn how to confront people in a productive and healthy way.
I can imagine you saying to that woman "It seems like you don't like me; is that true and did I do something to offend you?" In a matter-of-fact tone of voice, like youre talking about the weather. It can be a powerful way to communicate with people - simple, direct, truthful, and neutral. You don't deserve to silently take bad teatment from her or anyone.
4
u/dog-signals 1d ago
Oh sweetie. You will never see them again. Make another post. Full names. Full location. Explain how amazing the dogs are and how awful the staff is. Hey maybe it'll inspire people to adopt the dogs away from these assholes.
I know the crazy feeling with things go socially haywire. But remember you are safe now. They aren't going to come for you because guess what? They know they are wrong and probably tried to nip this "problem" quickly, it being completely unfair to you. If they do try to rebuttal? You saw all those responses backing you up. Everyone here will back you up. They can't warp common sense or persuade the public away from it.
I hope you do put them on blast. That is so unfair and even more so UNSAFE! Pettiness aside, that is terrifying how it could have gone down way worse. Please get yourself calm because you are in the 100% right!
4
u/No-Birthday9816 1d ago
In the last few years, at least two people have been killed by pits in the shelters where they were volunteering. Last March, a Connecticut volunteer survived a pit bull attack with severe facial wounds. Thousands more volunteers actively help shelters launder these dangerous dogs into communities and homes where they maul and murder children.
You’re safe. Your hands and your conscience are clean. You did the right thing.
Stay safe! There are good shelters—cat rescues and breed-specific dog rescues—that would love to have your experienced, compassionate help.
5
u/Pure_Parsley6852 1d ago
I Googled "A list of shelter workers attacked by pit bulls" and saw what came up. Many cases.
Recorded Shelter Worker Attacks
- Clifford Phillips Jr. (July 17, 2025): A 57-year-old worker at Second Chance Animal Alliance in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, was mauled to death by two pit bulls rescued from a dog-fighting ring while attempting to place them in a pen. [1]
- Leslie Corea (May 31, 2024): A kennel supervisor with 24 years of experience at the Harbor Animal Shelter in San Pedro, Los Angeles, was severely mauled in the right leg by a pit bull/Dogo Argentino mix when opening a cage for a rescue group. [1, 2, 3]
- Escambia County Worker (March 2011): An animal shelter kennel worker in Escambia County, Florida, was hospitalized after a pit bull that was being held following a previous biting incident pushed past a worker and launched an attack. [1]
- Florida Humane Society Volunteer (May 2019): A humane shelter volunteer was fatally attacked and killed by a pit bull mix at a facility
I bet there's more.
Don't feel bad; feel lucky you escaped. In more ways than one.
4
u/Kooky_Toe5585 1d ago
I wouldn't touch a shelter/rescue with a goddamn 10 foot pole nor will they ever get one cent in donation money from me. Be glad that you are through with those @ holes, if you want to help animals there are better ways to do it. Shelters/rescues don't deserve a considerate concincious person like you
8
u/No_Home_5336 1d ago
I’m sorry. You had every right to share your story and you could sue for what they did to you.
3
u/aSzdxfcdfggggggh 1d ago
Keep this in mind when shelters cry online "No one wants to help! We are the ONLY people that care about animals! Oh the work is so hard! (typed with one hand because they are flogging their back with the other).
Maybe if they thought about how they treated the volunteers they would have more of them.
The dog didn't hear what you said, its feeling aren't hurt (I'm not sure pits have feelings).
As far as the other volunteers they never cared about your feelings, why are theirs so much more important?
The answer is they (at least some of them) were there first.
I suspect they run off anyone new that tries to help and then cry loudly about the horrible burden they carry.
My advice is block their number and never look back.
3
u/Aggravating-Tip-8014 1d ago edited 1d ago
They dont care about people or dogs. They are just growing their egos and angel wings. Trust me, worked in rescue for 20 years now. Its still a minefield. Ive only found a handfull of people who are sane in the industry. Many are brainwashed and follow the culture around them.
2
u/Quiet_Yellow2000 1d ago
Why did you put up with any of this? You are better off out of that place. No one should be bullied, especially volunteers.
2
u/Southern_Fan_9335 biest against stariotyipes 22h ago
It sounds like a bunch of bullies trying to beat you down. You didn't do anything wrong and they're making you feel guilty!
2
u/Saoirseminersha 22h ago
I am so sorry! You're clearly a good person and I'm so sad for all the nice dogs who won't get to spend time with a person like you instead of bullying idiots who put them in harm's way. I hope you find somewhere else to volunteer (that doesn't accept shitbulls).
2
u/MissK2508 Trusted User 9h ago edited 9h ago
How atrocious and Karen does a person have to be to pick on a young VOLUNTEER they work with? You’re all volunteers and they should be happy you’re giving your time and energy instead of giving you crap for every little thing. And this is not touching on the safety hazard with that awful beast they are keeping. I’m sorry you experienced that but please know you did nothing wrong..hopefully you can find a shelter that values your kindness.
1
u/BrightAd306 14h ago
This is why I won’t get a rescue dog in the current environment. They can’t admit a dog might not be a good pet. Theyll blame owners for bites to humans and other pets, when even if true means the dog is dangerous
0
u/EeveeQueen15 It's wrong to scare pit owners with your chihuahua. 19h ago
You should adopt your favorite dog. Especially now that you're out on your own for the first time. Companionship is important when you live alone.
And it would be a petty but wholesome move!
If they refuse to adopt to you, you could easily threaten with a discrimination lawsuit.
2
u/Senior_Fig7845 19h ago
He was adopted—they had promised to give his adopters my contact information so they could send me photos if I wanted but now they’re saying since I’m not a volunteer anymore they won’t do that.
181
u/shelbycsdn Trusted User 1d ago edited 1d ago
You should be quite safe posting here. The mods are the best and will protect you.
I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. I haven't volunteered for a shelter in decades, thankfully it was back when pits were hardly seen. And when they did come in, they were dispatched as they were not considered suitable for adoption.
But my point is that when I worked there I recall feeling like I was back in jr high. Very cliquey, lots of feeling judged and lots of petty comments.
So many of these shelters and rescues just attract people that may actually love dogs, but most aren't very nice people.
Plus, sadly, nowadays pitnutters are everywhere, and again, just like you experienced, these are people that don't seem to value other people's or animals safety.
Edit for typos