This is a question we are asked dozens of times a day for a variety of different reasons. At Guardian Pit Bull Rescue we believe that the best place for a dog is the home they are already in. That doesn’t mean that keeping your dog will be easy, but in most cases there are options.

When you got the dog you committed to that dog for its lifetime. You most likely didn’t go into it thinking I’ll keep him/her as long as their perfect and easy right? So giving up on them now simply because there is an undesirable behavior or situation isn’t necessarily the most responsible step, although it usually seems to be the easiest.

If you contact us about taking your dog the very first question we are going to ask is “WHY”. These are the most common answers and how we’ll most likely respond:

• “I am moving”
  • How long have you known you were moving?
  • Are you moving to a city/country that doesn’t allow Pit Bull type dogs?
  • Are there any renters in that area that also have Pit Bull type dogs?
  • Have you contacted any Pit Bull rescues in that area to ask for any Housing resources?
• “We’re having a baby so the Pit Bull has to go”
  • Congratulations!! What does that have to do with the dog being evicted?
  • There are proper ways to introduce dogs to new babies and plenty of resources online to help as well. You can also contact a trainer/behaviorist to come out before the baby arrives to give some pointers and help you plan. Our founders have a newborn child and 5 Pit Bulls, so we’re confident you can make arrangements to keep baby and dogs safe and happy through the transition.
• “I don’t have time to give him the attention he deserves”
  • We take in dogs that without us would be dead in less than 72 hours. Your dog does deserve a good life, but it’s the life that YOU promised him/her. We all understand that life gets busy and sometimes a dog may not get that ideal 2 mile walk every day like clockwork or that extra play time or trips to the dog park but they are much more comfortable and happy in your home than on the cold concrete floor of a shelter.

Owning a dog is a lifelong commitment and promise that we feel should be honored. It may not always be easy and of course there are some circumstances when it is warranted to rehome a dog but giving your dog away to a rescue should certainly not be the first, second, or third option. If none of these issues apply to your situation, reach out and let us know and we’ll do what we can to help the dog in need.

In Houston it can be a common occurrence to come across a stray or homeless dog in need. Often times these dogs can be Pit Bull type dogs or Pit Bull type mixes. The Houston metropolitan area has an enormous pet overpopulation problem and despite the countless efforts of the dozens of rescue organizations around the city, it’s a problem that likely won’t be fixed anytime soon.

As a foster based rescue we typically aren’t able to take in a dog directly off the street that is homeless or a stray. All of the dogs in our program live in homes with families, other dogs, cats, and sometimes children. For this reason, we have to do a thorough and complete evaluation of every dog that’s taken into our rescue. We must be able to determine the dog’s temperament, health issues, and situation prior to committing the dog into our program to ensure the dog is a good candidate for our program and a good fit for the available foster home.

You can still help make a difference that dog’s life though!

Here are a few things you should always do whenever you find a stray dog you’re trying to help

• Check for ID tags
• Check for Rabies tags. Often times the rabies will have a number and the clinic that gave the rabies vaccination. You can call that clinic, give them the rabies tag number, and they can contact the dog’s owner.
• Check for microchip. Any veterinary clinic will be able to scan for this chip.
• If possible, hold onto the dog for a few days. The owners may not realize the dog is out.
• Post “FOUND DOG” flyers up in your neighborhood. Chances are the owner or someone that knows the dog will see them.
• Share a picture of the dog on Social Media. Often time’s neighborhoods have community groups on Facebook.
• If no owner is found and the dog cannot stay there are only a few shelters in the Houston area that will adopt out Pit Bull type dogs to the public. We recommend taking the dog to one of these shelters where they will at least have the opportunity to be made adoptable to the public.
  • Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care (BARC)
    • 3200 Carr St, Houston, TX 77026
    • houstontx.gov/barc/BARC-Home-Page
  • Montgomery County Animal Shelter (MCAS)
    • 8535 TX-242, Conroe, TX 77385
    • mcaspets.org

Unfortunately reality TV shows sometimes paint an unrealistic expectation of what rescues are legally allowed to do. In the state of Texas dogs are (unfortunately) considered “Personal Property” and fall under the same laws and guidelines as someones regular personal property. This being said a dog, even loose and running around, could still legally belong to someone else and a rescue simply taking it off the street could be cause for legal recourse if there was indeed an owner. Trust us, we are not a fan of this law as much as you are. However, we have to work within the confines of the legal system and this is why we work nearly exclusively with shelters around the area. Once a dog has been in the care, custody, and control of a municipal shelter for a set number of days that dogs ownership rights are revoked and the dog legally belongs to that city which then can be transferred to a rescue. Not all shelters are Pit Bull friendly, so if you need a list of shelters in your area that would be, please contact us.

We can certainly understand how stressful and frustrating this can be. Thankfully most behavioral issues can be resolved with the proper knowledge and direction. As dog owners we often times know our dogs, but may not necessarily know or identify signs or indicators of negative dog psychology. For this reason our first recommendation is to consult a professional behaviorist to come and evaluate the situation. You wouldn’t throw away your car simply because it didn’t start one morning, you’d take it to a mechanic and see if the problem could be fixed. We view these behavioral issues the same way, with the proper expertise and knowledge most of the time they can be fixed. If not, the behaviorist will be able to identify a more serious issue and can then work with you on a plan of action for re-homing the dog.