A few minutes later, the same animal jumps six feet into the air and throws her body against the kennel door, growling and straining to reach a cat that wandered by. Webber also keeps a list of dogs in need of adoption. Paula Mitchell, director of the Humane Society Waterville Area, said Tuesday she had four pit bulls or pit-bull mixes at her shelter. A few weeks ago, she had seven.
Pit bulls are a big problem.
The problem has been around for years, she said, but for some reason has gotten worst in the past six to nine months. Often the pit bulls come into the shelter because the owner has moved or can no longer keep the animals in an apartment. Once abandoned, they are often difficult to find homes for because prospective owners are leery of the dogs' fierce reputation. Mitchell said the dogs' reputation also leads some people to adopt them for the wrong reasons. They are breeding them and raising them to be fighters.