Ask-A-Vet- Pit Bulls

Q. Is your facility willing to board pit-bulls?

A. Yes! In fact, West Ridge Animal Hospital's staff is trained in handling all breeds and temperaments. Different breeds present us with separate issues and we are tuned in to each. There are some breeds with specific health issues or risks that we watch for, and there are some breeds with possible temperament tendencies which we respect as well. We believe all breeds to be worthy of our care and concern- we board, treat, and care for them all.

Here at West Ridge, we regret that pit bulls have been stigmatized as being an aggressive breed. It is not a given breed that is aggressive, but the individual dog. If you happen to have an aggressive pet, of any breed, we will treat it with caution so as not to put any person or other animal in danger. Our vets and staff use many different approaches to find just the right one for each pet. As a last resort, or at the owner's request, we may use a muzzle. In addition, while boarding, an aggressive dog will not be allowed to participate in any playgroups. With this said, please do not hesitate to bring in an aggressive dog for treatment- they deserve to have good health and we are here to help. Of course, we expect you to alert us to the fact that your pet may be aggressive beforehand so we can take any necessary precautions.

Along these lines, if you do own an aggressive dog, you have a duty to handle your dog responsibly to prevent any injuries to others. For more information on this topic, please visit:
Tips for Living Safely with Dogs (PDF File - Adobe Acrobat reader required to view) provided by the Coalition for Living Safely with Dogs
or this Veterinary Partner article.