by KATE MACFALL
FLORIDA STATE DIRECTOR OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
Florida animal shelters are full of unique and deserving animals waiting to be adopted, and medium to large mixed-breed shelter dogs need our help now more than ever before. These days, our shelters stay full and, in many locations, medium & large dog adoptions are down. Why are fewer Florida families adopting medium or large mixed-breed dogs? Housing issues, costs related to renting, including pet fees / higher rent, inflation, and increased veterinary costs are a few of the reasons being reported to shelters, and sadly, breed bias is an age-old reason why some amazing mixed breed dogs are passed over for adoption.
Bulldogs, bulldog mixes, or pit bull mixes? Even seasoned shelter professionals need to be able to decipher a dog’s breed accurately upon visual assessment. No one actually knows by looking at a mixed-breed dog what his or her genetic makeup is, and any breed labeling without DNA testing is merely a guess and should be avoided, especially if breed stereotypes are at play. We all know that breed stereotypes and bias are almost always involved.
In a study referenced by the National Canine Research Council in their booklet ‘The Relevance of Breed in Choosing a Pet’ by Janice Bradley she references a study (Gunter et al.,2016) that revealed dogs labeled as pit bulls stayed in the shelter three times longer compared to visually similar dogs in another shelter where the dogs had no breed labels.
Every dog should be treated as an individual, just like humans should be treated as individuals. The Animal Farm Foundation has incredible information and resources on increasing dog adoptions and best practices for animal shelters, adoption groups, and dog advocates. Be sure to take their Breed ID Quiz and see how you do.
Why are we stuck on labeling our adoptable shelter dogs? Possibly it’s because we have always done it that way – putting dogs in categories or boxes is what we know. In general, when the answer is ‘because we’ve always done it that way,’ you can bet there are better alternatives. And in this case the alternatives help mixed breed get dogs adopted more quickly and break down breed bias.
While some shelters are hanging on to their breed labels, others are removing their dog breed labels and seeing great success with descriptors like American shelter dog, mixed breed dog, or Heinz 57 for their adoptable dogs of mixed breed heritage. Shelters report that highlighting each special soul as an individual with their own unique personality has proven successful in decreasing the length of stay and moving away from breed bias.
When prospective adopters ask about a ‘mixed breed dog‘ label, it presents a terrific opportunity for shelter professionals to educate the public that we really do not know what breeds are in this dog’s DNA, discuss breed bias, and reframe the issue. Shelter staff and volunteers can explain to the public that a dog’s breed or behavior cannot be determined by its appearance…also like people.
After decades of identifying countless mixed-breed dogs as pit bull mixes, it’s likely we have taught the public that dogs with wider heads or a combination of other physical traits are pit bull-type dogs. It’s no wonder the public often paints shelter dogs with a broad brush, classifying them all as bulldog mixes. We’ve been teaching them this very lesson for decades.
Unless DNA testing is done, a dog’s genetic makeup is unknown, and the random labeling hurts the dogs, shelter staffers and volunteers are working hard to help the most. Shelters throughout Florida and the nation are full of adorable mixed-breed dogs with different-shaped and sized heads and tails—at the end of the day, every dog is his/her own little being with a special set of qualities.
Whether your shelter still uses dog breed labels, has gone breed-less, or has settled on a combination of the two, I urge you to frequent your local animal shelter and publicly support the critical role they play in each of our communities. Without much fanfare, Florida animal shelter staff members work tirelessly 365 days a year, caring for countless homeless animals and successfully matching adopters with their newest family members.
Giving every dog the best chance possible for adoption and placing them on a fair and even playing field is right. It will help diminish breed bias and stereotypes while helping to shape opinions for our dog-loving public and future generations of dog adopters!
Join me in celebrating our hard-working animal shelter communities and helping promote the wonderfully unique and fun-loving mixed-breed shelter dogs available for adoption!