Benny the pitbull was born on the streets of Philadelphia and was secured in a cage at a young age due to his behavioral issues.

He cowers at the corner of his cage, growling and baring his teeth at anybody who approaches him while various other dogs at the animal shelter wag their tails whenever potential adopters approached. Ultimately, Benny’s fear and aggression was perceived as intimidating and frightening and hurt his chances of being adopted into a forever home.

Being classified an aggressive dog in a congested pet shelter either condemns the animal to a life sentence in a cage or euthanization. According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, nearly 670,000 of the 3.3 million pets that are in shelters are annually euthanized, usually due to being considered “hostile”.

It appeared that Benny was headed for death row. However, word of his struggles reached the Lehigh Area Humane Society in Allentown last month, wherein a brand-new humane program was proposed in order to transform even the most ill-mannered dogs into great, obedient pets.

“The habits that I saw when I met Benny, particularly the barking and growling, that was anxiety,” claimed Lucas Holland, a qualified pet dog instructor that just recently joined the Humane Culture’s personnel. “Yet to the average individual, barking appears like aggression. He initially seems like a frightening pet.”

Volunteers brought Benny to the Humane Culture where, and under Holland’s advice and supervision, he was allowed to go on a stroll with a chain and kept in line with simple commands.

Slowly, as he started to trust more in humans, his growling and cowering reduced significantly and soon, the 3-year old grey and white pittie was ready for adoption!

“It’s outstanding what Lucas and his team have actually accomplished with dogs like Benny,” stated Deirdre Snyder, the Humane Society’s director of growth, “He’s literally saving their lives.”

Holland, 33, of Germansville, has actually enjoyed working with dogs for as long as he can bear in mind, yet has not been sure exactly how to transform his hobby right into a profession. That altered previously this year, when Facebook video clips of Holland training his 5 pets captured the interest of Hal Warner, the Humane Culture’s executive supervisor.

“They were remarkable to watch. I kept tabs on his video clips as he updated them over the following couple of months and I just grew progressively curious about the idea of bringing a licensed trainer onboard at LCHS,” Warner said.

Unlike other animal sanctuaries, the Lehigh Region Humane Culture accepts pit bulls and other breeds that have a history of hostility and aggressive behavior. These seemingly vicious canines simply lack basic training or require special care because they have experienced trauma in the past, however, this behavior should not be their death sentence:” Many of these pets, like Shiba Inus, are fantastic animals yet don’t ‘show’  it well since they have never been given a genuine chance at life.

Including an area specifically for pet dog training program was among Warner’s long-term objectives for the independent nonprofit, which has moved much of its focus in recent times to rehabilitating animals and helping them find forever homes; as well as, campaigning for a low-priced neighborhood veterinary clinic that will help trap, neuter, and return feral pet cats. Last month, the shelter reached a turning point of sterilizing 1,000 free-roaming pet cats with the help of the volunteer group Let’s Catch Around the Lehigh Valley, preventing the births of tens of thousands of kittycats in the Allentown area.

Warner reached out to Holland to discuss beginning a pet dog training program. Holland told him that his objective in life was to open a dog training academy. Additionally, as a result of the pandemic, he would certainly just lose his task as an individual treatment assistant, so he was readily available quickly.

“It really was destiny,” Warner stated.

Holland started as a kennel technician while he finished the 300 hours of training, which were needed to become certified through the Certification Council for Professional Pet Trainers. He is currently investing his time and efforts into collaborating with dogs like Tootsie Roll, a 4-month-old pit bull mix that was separated from her mother too young, and therefore, developed behavior problems, like snapping and growling at other dogs.

“She was in a foster home, however it really did not work out with the household’s pet, as well as they returned her” remarked Holland, as Tootsie Roll ran excitedly around the Humane Society’s exterior backyard on a recent afternoon. “She needs to learn socialization from her mother and other littermates, yet since she hasn’t, we need to teach her, or she will continue her self-destructive cycle.”

Maintaining Canines in Home

Holland creates an individualized and personal training program for each canine, which he and staff members Jennifer Ganey, Angel Vega and Julio Ruiz direct the canines with to rehabilitate their behavior. The pet’s actions are examined on a daily basis, and they must constantly be monitored and vetted prior to them obtaining the green light to satisfy adopters.

According to a 2015 ASPCA research, about 6% of family pets– about 6.1 million animals over 5 years– were “rehomed” after being adopted. While real estate issues among pet owners who lease is one of the most prevalent factors for rehoming, behavior concerns are high on the listing of reasons individuals surrender their dogs. The company aims to end that issue, as well as avoidance programs, like pet dog training classes that could boost retention rates. Furthermore, informing potential adopters about canine habits might also aid acclimation to their homes according to the scientists at Tufts College Center for Sanctuary Dogs.

Allowing site visitors know that some pets may behave aggressively in feedback to the stress and anxiety of remaining in a shelter, while others may do repeated habits, bark much more or have shower room concerns will aid adopters understand that most sanctuary dogs’ bad manners are temporary. Holland hopes the Lehigh County Humane Culture’s brand-new training program will certainly transform the outcomes of the shelter dogs that the majority of people have surrendered on.

“I believe humans can be worthy of a second chance, as well as these dogs are entitled to a second chance,” he said, “They have a lot of love to provide.”.