Mission and Vision Statement

The Staffy Club inspires to be more than an informational and support hub for committed Staffy parents.

The objective is to create a learning portal that helps Staffy owners to raise the best temperament of family pet possible.

Because without it, the vision for their future is heartbreaking to think about. Yet, as responsible owners of a terribly misunderstood breed, it has to be done. For their sake. Not ours.

The Why Behind the Extremely Dark Vision

Reality! Society seems to have it in for Staffies. Adopting a dog is tediously hard. There are rules abound. Criteria to fill. Assessments to be done. Staff to convince. It’s much easier to buy a Staffy than it is to rescue one.

And – because on a global scale – animal shelters are at capacity with dogs and cats.

Yet, it is not always because of abandonment.

How many times have you seen a gorgeous dog on your Facebook feed and thought, how could the owner have abandoned that cute little face? They must be heartless monsters.

Reasons Dogs End Up in Shelters…

• Lack of training
• Lifestyle changes
• Moving home (many landlords have a no pet policy)
• Lack of time
• Can no longer afford their upkeep (food or more likely, required medication)
• Animal overcrowding in homes
• Lost/strayed
• Biting…

… Most behavioral issues, for instance, can typically be traced back to the way in which their former caretakers handled them.

Cesarsway.com

Keep that last statement above in mind because the following stats will – and should – shock you!

Staffy Dogs in Shelters

Key takeaways from the Blue Cross research.

• it takes us – on average – more than 23 per cent longer to find them a home compared to other breeds.
• Blue Cross research has also shown that nearly three quarters of people would be unlikely to consider rehoming a Staffordshire bull terrier due to the undeserved negative labels attached to them.
• When asked to describe the appearance of a staffie, nearly half of people surveyed by us were quick to use negative descriptions, labelling them ‘aggressive and frightening’, ‘angry and ugly-looking’ with many also describing them as scary, brutish, intimidating, nasty and mean.
• The survey also showed that nearly three quarters of people would definitely or probably not consider rehoming a staffie.
• But, 80 per cent of people acknowledged that the breed’s bad reputation was down to irresponsible owners, rather than the dogs themselves.

Read the full report at BlueCross.org.uk

The Training and Upbringing that Staffies Get is Their Life Insurance to Secure a Second Chance

As reported by Metro.co.uk,

“Claire Horton, chief executive of Battersea, said around 24 per cent of all of their dogs were put down in 2014. 105 of these dogs were classified as ‘banned breeds’ under the Dangerous Dogs Act”.

‘About 1,200 of the 5,000 dogs that came in we had to put to sleep,’ she said. ‘That would have been for a range of mostly behavioural and temperament issues.

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And two of the most popular dog rescue charities in Britain have this to say on their policy pages…

We are working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction. Until that day comes, we save as many dogs as possible at our centres, prioritising those we know we can find a Forever Home for and, without us, would be most at risk of destruction.

Dogs Trust

Our policy states that we will not euthanase a healthy, rehomeable animal.

RSPCA.org.uk

Do you see the pattern?

God forbid anything tragic happens to a Staffy before they have mastered manners around dogs and humans. The most rehomable pets are prioritised.  Those are the tamed Bullies. Without teaching a Staffy how to behave, they will push, and hard, until they become your master. The clue is in the name!

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

In other words, if your Staffy has not been trained to manage their exuberant energy levels, and to mind their manners, they do not stand much of a chance without you!

The most worrying policy on animal rescue centres in the UK is this from the…

… However, it is important to remember that animal welfare is more than just physical health and freedom from disease. Other factors, particularly the animal’s behavioural needs, which include the expression of social behaviour, have a profound effect on its welfare. The World Health Organisation defines “health” as: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

The ADCH “Minimum Welfare and Operational Standards Booklet 2022

In other words, if a new Forever Home cannot be found, and staff or volunteers determine that the dog’s “health” needs are not being met, their (ADCH) guidance states “Intravenous injection is the recommended method.” (Remember, health is as defined by the WHO).

The ADCH is a membership body overseeing the self-regulation of the animal rescue industry in the UK. They set the standards. A licence to kill, humanely, but certainly not ethically.

Whether regulation of the animal rescue sector would be a good or bad thing, who’s to know? What can be said is self-regulation in the industry does make it more difficult to adopt a dog than it is to buy one. That would point towards regulation making it harder for Staffies to be rehomed. Search online for buy a dog or buy a pup and you’re instantly whisked onto pets4homes, or some other classified directory like preloved.co.uk.

Frankly, if I could no longer care for the boys, that’s where I would be looking at advertising for a suitable Forever Home rather than rely on rescue centres that decide on a whim that my boy(s) could be put to sleep because of how the World Health Organisation defines “health”.

• Don’t have enough staff or volunteers to exercise the dog?
• Aww, he was whining because he’s now in a kennel without socialising?  
• He’s losing weight because he’s not eating right? It’s going to happen when the diet gets changed. Feeding routine changes. The obvious anxiety, isolation, lacking the home comforts, and a supportive family unit.

A number of volunteers cannot match the bond between a Staffy and their master. Without a master, they have no leader. Nobody to guide them or tame their excitable nature to a manageable level. To know their body postures and understand what they want (a toy or treat) and need (walked, toilet or petted for reassurance).

To know instinctively what makes them nervous. The sounds they relax to. The treats they’ll do anything for – and the ones they always get after a good walk. Even the routine shower after rolling about in anything stinky that instantly changes their scent.

Dog owners (not just Staffy owners) own the responsibility to be their dog’s leader. Every dog. No matter how many are in the pack, each ought to be trained and reared as an individual. To follow the commands of their master; not their canine companions.

If allowed to follow the lead of another dog, in a worst-case scenario, separation anxiety will happen. It’ll happen anyway, it’ll just be worse. Given the difficulty rescue centres have in rehoming a single dog, (let alone a Staffy) there’s a high probability that only one will be adopted per Forever Home, and that’s if it ever does. It is a grim reality.

That is the Reason for The Staffy Club Vision Statement