Kill a Pit message worries advocates

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) - It is an announcement that has animal lovers angry and worried.

Someone has proclaimed Halloween as ‘National Kill a Pit Bull Day’ encouraging people to go out and actually kill the controversial dogs.

“It’s pretty horrifying,” said Santa Fe County Animal Shelter Director of Behavior and Training Suzanne Fuqua.

In the last few days an announcement has popped up on Tumblr and YouTube it reads in part, “I’m here by announcing October 31 National kill a pit bull day. After you take the kids trick or treating keep your costume on round up some friends and kill as many pit bulls as you can before midnight.”

“I was stunned, I don’t understand where these things come from and I feel very bad that anyone would put that out,” said Mary Martin, the Santa Fe County Animal Shelter and Humane Society Executive Director.

KRQE News 13 tried to track down the author of it but it has been reposted too many times.

It’s not clear if the original poster really wants the dogs dead or if it’s just a hoax either way a couple hundred thousand people have viewed it.

Martin says whatever the intent the damage maybe done.

“Whether its a hoax or not it absolutely does cause real concern because even if this person thinks he or she is being funny other people might take it very seriously, one never knows,” Martin said.

The message itself even suggests ways to kill the dogs saying in part, “Baseball bats, knives, bricks and poisons (a hotdog soaked in radiator fluid works well) are all suitable tools.”

The justification, that all pits are dangerous, deadly even.

“We’re trying to dispel some of those myths but they absolutely have been vilified,” said Martin.

Pit Bull advocates admit some pits, just like some labs or terriers can be bad dogs, usually because of the owners.