Indianapolis, like many other cities across the country, is in the middle of a pit bull overpopulation crisis.  Approximately 30-40% of all dogs entering the Indianapolis animal shelter and rescue system are pit bulls and pit bull mixes.  At Indianapolis Animal Care and Control (IACC) alone, over 3100 pit bulls and pit bull mixes were received in 2006.  Many of the pit bulls and mixes received at the shelters show signs of abuse and neglect.  A disproportionate number of pit bulls and pit bull mixes are starved and sickly, covered with mange and fleas, their ears chewed up by flies or even victims of home ear-cropping.  Worse yet, some are covered with old dog fighting scars or fresh dog fighting wounds. 

Unfortunately, the number of pit bulls and mixes impounded at IACC has not yet begun to improve:  as of August 2007, 2452 pit bulls and pit bull mixes were received at IACC.  The apparent increase in the number of pit bulls impounded by ACC this year coincides with the enactment of new city animal ordinances that went into effect on January 1.  The new ordinances include a restriction against continuously chaining dogs and a restriction against chaining an un-neutered dog at any time.  In addition, IACC has begun enforcing other animal care and treatment ordinances much more strictly.   Indy Pit Crew believes that this is a good thing, since a neglected life at the end of a chain is really not much of a life at all for a dog.  Since a large proportion of chained, un-neutered, and neglected dogs are pit bulls, these dogs account for a significant percentage of the increased animal impounds at IACC.  Unfortunately, since there are so few good homes available for pit bulls and mixes, most of these dogs, including puppies, are destroyed at our local shelters.  This is not the fault of our shelters.  They are simply forced to do our community’s dirty work. 

Despite all the pit bulls and mixes in our shelters, many irresponsible citizens of Indianapolis continue to allow their pit bulls to breed out of negligence.  Oftentimes, these puppies are born in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods where their owners are ill-equipped to care for, raise, and find responsible homes for their puppies.  Pit bulls typically have very large litters with as many as 14-16 puppies.  Often, the unwanted puppies are simply given away to the first bidder, un-neutered, and without much regard for how they will be treated.  Even more frustrating are those who intentionally breed their pit bulls in hopes of making a quick profit off of a litter of pit bull puppies.  Oftentimes, a female pit bull is kept in perpetual pregnancy, having at least 1-2 litters every year.  Check the local newpapers, circulars, and on-line classifieds any day of the week and you will find far too many ads for pit bull puppies for sale.    

To address the pit bull overpopulation crisis, Indy Pit Crew has partnered with Spay/Neuter Services of Indiana (SNSI).  SNSI is providing the generous funding needed to offer free spay-neuter surgeries to any pit bull or pit bull mix in the Indianapolis area.  The FACE Low-Cost Spay-Neuter Clinic, Keystone Pet Hospital, Animal Medical Center, and Emerson Pet Clinic provide the actual surgical services.  These clinics are located in and around targeted low-income neighborhoods in Center Township and the Eastside of Indy.  These neighborhoods are the source of many of the pit bulls and mixes that end up on the streets and in our city shelters.

Indy Pit Crew has also been providing the leg work and outreach needed to target spay/neuter at the most troubled neighborhoods and irresponsible owners, the source of most of the pit bulls and mixes entering our shelter system or abandoned on our city streets.  To that end, volunteers have held spay-neuter sign-up tables at targeted local shopping centers, neighborhood association meetings, and community fairs.  Indy Pit Crew also partners with FIDO to respond to calls from low-income citizens for help with their dogs.  While FIDO provides dog supplies and services to improve the quality of life of dogs, at the same time Indy Pit Crew is able to provide free spay-neuter services.  Indy Pit Crew is also able to target free or low-cost spay-neuter services to many irresponsible owners who have been mandated by law to fix their dog, due to violations in any of a number of animal ordinances, such as running-at-large or care and treatment violations.  Oftentimes, these owners have no means of transportation to the veterinary clinic and so Indy Pit Crew volunteers will provide the transportation to ensure that the dog actually gets fixed.  Finally, Indy Pit Crew routinely offers free or low-cost spay/neuter to anyone contacting us via phone or e-mail for help with their pit bull or mix.