Tell Petsmart to stop being prejudiced against bully breeds!
- by: Katherine Compitus
- recipient: CEO Bob Moran and Petsmart
Petsmart's policy for their dog "day camp" is to evaluate and allow all dogs except those that look like Pit Bulls. They do allow pits in their dog hotel, but the play time they get is limited to an hour alone in a room with a handler. They are not allowed any contact with other dogs. They are segregated. If these were people, we would call it RACISM. It is extreme prejudice to judge anyone by their appearance alone. If you say your dog is a Lab mix, he/she will be allowed in group play. If you say Bull terrier mix, he/she will be isolated and segregated.
According to the Petsmart website, the requirements for dog "Day Camp" include:
"Dogs who have been socialized with other dogs but are not of the bully breed classification or wolves/wolf hybrids" and Dogs in the "bully breed" classification (e.g. American Pit Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bull Dogs, Bull Terriers or mixed breeds that have the appearance or characteristics of one of these breeds). For the safety of all animals and associates, and at the discretion of PetSmart, some pets may not be permitted."
http://petshotel.petsmart.com/doggie-day-camp/requirements.shtml
When questioned about the policy, an attendant at the Soho, Manhattan location told me that Pits are not allowed in daycare because "Bully breeds are genetically predisposed to snap". I told her that I have a Master's degree in Animal Behavior and that it isn't true. The attendant then told me that "the head trainer told us that pits are genetically predisposed to be aggressive". Even though my pit puppy has been in daycare somewhere else for months and he is very dog friendly and submissive, she judged a dog that she had never met. PETSMART TRAINERS ARE TEACHING THE ATTENDANTS IN DAYCARE TO BE PREJUDICED AGAINST PIT BULLS!! The attendants are clearly being taught the wrong information and, as a result, lies and fear about Pits are being spread. "Bully breeds" have been proven time and time again to be very sweet and kind, as long as they are not abused.
This petition is to call on Bob Moran, the CEO of Petsmart to instruct their employees to stop judging the dogs by their breed and instead judge them by their temperament and their behavior. A super sweet pit is currently not allowed in daycare, but an aggressive Shiba Inu, Dalmatian or Chihuhua will be evaluated and probably allowed. Petsmart officers need to instruct their "trainers" and employees that the animal's behavior should determine their access to daycare - not their appearance.
According to the Petsmart website, the requirements for dog "Day Camp" include:
"Dogs who have been socialized with other dogs but are not of the bully breed classification or wolves/wolf hybrids" and Dogs in the "bully breed" classification (e.g. American Pit Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bull Dogs, Bull Terriers or mixed breeds that have the appearance or characteristics of one of these breeds). For the safety of all animals and associates, and at the discretion of PetSmart, some pets may not be permitted."
http://petshotel.petsmart.com/doggie-day-camp/requirements.shtml
When questioned about the policy, an attendant at the Soho, Manhattan location told me that Pits are not allowed in daycare because "Bully breeds are genetically predisposed to snap". I told her that I have a Master's degree in Animal Behavior and that it isn't true. The attendant then told me that "the head trainer told us that pits are genetically predisposed to be aggressive". Even though my pit puppy has been in daycare somewhere else for months and he is very dog friendly and submissive, she judged a dog that she had never met. PETSMART TRAINERS ARE TEACHING THE ATTENDANTS IN DAYCARE TO BE PREJUDICED AGAINST PIT BULLS!! The attendants are clearly being taught the wrong information and, as a result, lies and fear about Pits are being spread. "Bully breeds" have been proven time and time again to be very sweet and kind, as long as they are not abused.
This petition is to call on Bob Moran, the CEO of Petsmart to instruct their employees to stop judging the dogs by their breed and instead judge them by their temperament and their behavior. A super sweet pit is currently not allowed in daycare, but an aggressive Shiba Inu, Dalmatian or Chihuhua will be evaluated and probably allowed. Petsmart officers need to instruct their "trainers" and employees that the animal's behavior should determine their access to daycare - not their appearance.
Dear Sir,
We the undersigned are horrified at the prejudiced policy of your Petsmart Day Camp. Petsmart does not allow any dogs that are or resemble a "Bully Breed" in the Day Camp. These dogs are not even allowed to undergo the evaluation that other dogs
go through. Based on looks alone, "Bully Breed" dogs are segregated and isolated. They receive some solitary play time with one human companion once a day, but they are not allowed to socialize with other dogs.
If we segregate humans based on appearance we call it racism. To judge millions of dogs by appearance alone can also be called racism, or at the very least, prejudice. "Bully Breeds" have been established to be kind, sweet and loving dogs and they are often called "nanny dogs" for their gentle nature. They score highly on all national temperament evaluations. Many "Bully Breeds" work as therapy or service dogs.
It is unfair to assume that a mixed or Bully Breed dog will be aggressive. Just as absurd is to assume that a Chihuahua, Dalmatian or other type of high-strung dog will be kind. In the 1980s, the breed that was assumed to be aggressive was the Doberman Pinscher. In the 1990s, it was the Rottweiler. Today we know that these dogs are kind and loving, unless badly abused. And these dogs, which were previously thought to be aggressive are now allowed into Petsmart Day Camp, while "Bully Breeds" (also known as "Nanny dogs") are not. We ask that you consider each dog's temperament, behavior and personality when determining their suitability for daycare - instead of judging them by appearance alone.
We ask you to instruct your employees to stop judging the dogs by their breed and instead judge them by their temperament and their behavior. A super sweet pit puppy is currently not allowed in daycare, but a semi-aggressive Shiba Inu, Dalmatian or Chihuhua will be allowed. Petsmart officers need to instruct their "trainers" and employees that the animal's behavior should determine their access to daycare - not their appearance. Petsmart trainers need to be retrained and informed that "Bully Breeds" are not genetically predisposed to be aggressive. (Many breeds (including English Bulldogs) were originally bred to fight and today are known as passive and sweet-natured). Please judge a dog's suitability for daycare on their temperament and behavior, not by their appearance.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWe the undersigned are horrified at the prejudiced policy of your Petsmart Day Camp. Petsmart does not allow any dogs that are or resemble a "Bully Breed" in the Day Camp. These dogs are not even allowed to undergo the evaluation that other dogs
go through. Based on looks alone, "Bully Breed" dogs are segregated and isolated. They receive some solitary play time with one human companion once a day, but they are not allowed to socialize with other dogs.
If we segregate humans based on appearance we call it racism. To judge millions of dogs by appearance alone can also be called racism, or at the very least, prejudice. "Bully Breeds" have been established to be kind, sweet and loving dogs and they are often called "nanny dogs" for their gentle nature. They score highly on all national temperament evaluations. Many "Bully Breeds" work as therapy or service dogs.
It is unfair to assume that a mixed or Bully Breed dog will be aggressive. Just as absurd is to assume that a Chihuahua, Dalmatian or other type of high-strung dog will be kind. In the 1980s, the breed that was assumed to be aggressive was the Doberman Pinscher. In the 1990s, it was the Rottweiler. Today we know that these dogs are kind and loving, unless badly abused. And these dogs, which were previously thought to be aggressive are now allowed into Petsmart Day Camp, while "Bully Breeds" (also known as "Nanny dogs") are not. We ask that you consider each dog's temperament, behavior and personality when determining their suitability for daycare - instead of judging them by appearance alone.
We ask you to instruct your employees to stop judging the dogs by their breed and instead judge them by their temperament and their behavior. A super sweet pit puppy is currently not allowed in daycare, but a semi-aggressive Shiba Inu, Dalmatian or Chihuhua will be allowed. Petsmart officers need to instruct their "trainers" and employees that the animal's behavior should determine their access to daycare - not their appearance. Petsmart trainers need to be retrained and informed that "Bully Breeds" are not genetically predisposed to be aggressive. (Many breeds (including English Bulldogs) were originally bred to fight and today are known as passive and sweet-natured). Please judge a dog's suitability for daycare on their temperament and behavior, not by their appearance.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.