Pit Bulls Can Not Get Love at Camp Bow Wow
June 18th, 2008
I was running though my emails and it was brought to my attention from a fellow Pit Bull owner that Camp Bow Wow a dog daycare franchise does not accept Pit Bulls. The person emailing me was excited to hear about the business because they wanted to drop off their dogs for some socialization with other dogs and take a break. I mean we all need a break sometimes right?
To their dismay they found this at the Camp Bow Wow web site:
“Camp Bow Wow doesn’t accept Pit Bulls. Camp Bow Wow loves and respects all dog breeds. However Camp Bow Wow prohibits keeping, exercising control over, or maintaining a pit bull in any of our Camps. Pit Bulls are a very energetic and playful breed and our facilities are not equipped to keep your pet, as well as our other campers, safe and happy. A pit bull is defined as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds. We are happy to recommend alternative facilities that accept Pit Bulls.”
I understand they are a private business and have the right to refuse any breed they feel like or any client they feel like but here is the thing and this is why I am posting this today.
(A) They say they love all breeds.
(B) They say they respect all breeds.
(C) The reason why they do not take them is because they are energetic and playful.
Does that make sense? They operate a dog daycare with a lot of dogs running about playing and being energetic. Am I missing something here?
Now the part to really pay attention to is, “our facilities are not equipped to keep your pet, as well as our other campers, safe and happy.” Now I see the message.
In other words, we are not equipped to keep your high energy, playful Pit Bull, away from our other campers. Again, am I misunderstanding something here? They say they can’t keep your pet (Pit Bull) as well as their other campers, safe and happy.
I wrote the “top dog” Heidi Flammang and asked a simple question. Why are you discriminating against three breeds of dog (American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) and an entire group of dogs (any dog that resembles an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier)?
I don’t know if I will receive a response from Flammang or her “legal beagle” (those really are their titles). I am hoping someone responds to me with a proper answer.
I receive emails all the time asking me, “Why do you bother, they won’t change or they won’t “get it” or they won’t do XYZ” and my response is, because when I see any business, government body or individual making decisions based on the actions of a few examples of a particular breed of dog it is my right, my duty, and my job, to say, hold on a minute (for the Germans) Halten Sie auf einer Minute bitte, that’s not right.
We are never going to see a change in perception if we don’t change it.
I would like you to really sit back and think about that. There is a T.V. commercial and for the life of me I can’t remember what it is about but it ends with, “What have you done lately?”
I pose that question to you. What have you done lately? Wrote a letter? Spoke out at a dog training class? Helped educate someone?
We have to change things or the Camp Bow Wows, PetSmarts, and Cities that tell us we can’t take our dogs there for daycare, boarding, or in the city limits will make the changes and they will see our beloved breeds muzzled and stuffed
in a kennel or the backyard.
Camp BowWow may not be able to handle our breeds, tell us that then, don’t sugar coat your discriminating policy with “they are playful and energetic and our facilities are not equipped to keep your pet, as well as our other campers, safe and happy.”
What really gets me is they evaluate each dog that comes in for their programs. Why couldn’t they do that for Pit Bulls? They are already doing it with every other dog, why not give a Pit Bull a chance. Sure they are known for dog aggression but that does not mean they will be dog aggressive and that does not mean a puppy is going to cause a problem. I mean if I wanted to take a 5-6-7 month old pup there why couldn’t I? Wait, their too energetic and playful.
You can read the policy again on their web site at http://www.campbowwow.com
You will also find that you can contact them. You have to go to the bottom of the home page to see the contact us link. It is sorta of hidden (unless you want to buy a franchise then it’s at the top).
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
The Most Complete Pit Bull Information Web Site Online
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
How lame is that?
I wouldn’t take my APBT Harley to their crappy discriminating camp anyway. He is too good for their “care.” I don’t want anyone with that kind of attitude anywhere near my dog. I’ll just let those prejudiced idiots keep wishing they could get my hard earned money.
I love this website! I think your plight is very honorable Jason, and I want to Thank You for all the dedication and hard work you put in being an ambassador for the breed and for representing responsible owners.
I will NEVER own another breed of dog as long as I live!
APBT’s for life!
Jason,
As our website says, we do love all dog breeds at Camp Bow Wow. Before you jump to conclusions, please understand that we did not come to this decision easily or quickly and it was not made based upon hearsay or ignorance of the breed. We did accept these breeds at one time, but over time, realized Camp Bow Wow is not the right environment for them.
Please know the safety of our campers and our staff is our top priority. I am sure you can appreciate that the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the Pit Bull Terrier play at a more energetic level and for a longer period of time than most other breeds. We found that the open play area we offer at Camp Bow Wow in general is not the best environment for them. What tends to happen is they want to play all day. When the other dogs in the play area are tired and want to rest the Terriers still have a lot of energy. This is when an altercation can arise. Our decision was made just as much for the safety of the Staffordshire Bull and Pit Bull Terrier breeds as for the other dog breeds.
I hope this at least gives you some understanding about why we have made this decision. We did not ‘ban’ these breeds based on history, hearsay, or ignorance, but from experience. We simply do not feel the environment at Camp Bow Wow is the best choice for them. Accepting them into an environment that is not suited to their needs is not the right thing to do and will not help with the stigma that is attached to the breed.
We recommend families with bull terriers and pit bulls use smaller kennels so their pup is in smaller play groups.
Camp Bow Wow
1-877-700-BARK
http://www.campbowwow.com
Have a Dog Gone Great Day!
To Camp Bow Wow, Thank you for responding. I understand your position as a business to make changes and decisions based on your experience and your situation. You say that is because their energy levels are so high and when other dogs are resting this is when an altercation can occur.
So how do you handle a highly energetic Labrador or Jack Russell, or Golden Retriever? Do you tell the owners they can’t bring them back? My whole point here is, why are the dogs not evaluated based on individual temperament instead of lumping an entire breed or breed type into a single category? All Pit Bulls are not high energy/high drive.
My biggest peeve here is you keep saying, “Please know the safety of our campers and our staff is our top priority.” What danger does an energetic dog pose? I think it’s a lame excuse to skirt around the issue.
Jason Mann
PitBullLovers.com
I was commenting on their youtube video asking why they did not accpet pit bulls. They never answered but I got attacked by a few ignornat people (what did i expect its youtube). Some guy had the nerve to say he didn’t want his bichon frise around a pit bull. I kindly pointed out that pit bulls as a group outperformed the bichon in the temermant test.
Just be honest and say you and your facility discriminate against ALL pit bulls because you are ignorant of the true facts and believe what the news media has written !!!! Now was that difficult to admit ?
You’re right about one thing. That is, your Camp Bow Wow isn’t the RIGHT PLACE for our beautiful , loving , playful pit bulls ! I would NEVER take my dogs to ANY business that is biased , prejudice or ignorant !! My dogs are family members! Unlike you and your group , my dogs don’t have a problem with ‘color of skin, religion, or hold your ignorance against you…they accept ‘OTHERS DIFFERENT FROM THEM” !!
Because ‘they want to play all day’is your reason the enviorment isn’t for them ? I have NEVER heard a more STUPID comment !!! Cut the B.S. and just tell everyone you and your staff are ‘afraid of the pit bull’ or bully breeds because you have been ‘brain-washed’by what you have read, or heard !
Thank you for putting yourself ‘out there’ so we pit bull companions can SPREAD the WORD that you DO NOT LOVE ALL BREEDS !
Sharron
My pittie goes to daycare and they love him there. He plays with the dogs and when *he* gets tired of playing, he climbs on one of their couches for a nap. I think Jason is right and the dogs should be evaluated as individuals, not breeds.
And like Jason said, there are many dogs, as individuals, who play and play and play. Do you tell them to not come back?
I think you are just hiding the real reason you don’t want them there.