Can I adopt a child in North Carolina if I own a pit bull?

Question

Hello, I would love to adopt a child. I have a pit bull and a golden retriever. If there are any breed-specific ignorant people out there, he is the sweetest dog in the entire world; they were actually bred to be nanny dogs. Anyhow, it is difficult to find the answer online. I heard a rumor about it. Anyone know for sure?

Answer 1

I live in NC too, and honestly, I think it depends on the agency you go through.  Pitt Bulls just have a bad reputation, I don't think that all of them are bad.  Plus, most dogs are really good with children.  So, I'd say just try it.  Good luck with adopting!

Answer 2

if you're so sure these dogs are safe, why are you so concerned?

Answer 3

Unfortunately, because pit bulls are America's  dog fighting breed of choice, their history as protectors and nurturers goes largely unnoticed.

Even more unfortunately, because of extensive inbreeding, even the best pits have a possibility of going crazy at some point.  I have friends who had a sweet, loving  pit bull *****, who one morning, out of the blue, with no provocation, put 167 stitches in their 10 yo daughter's face.  That dog had brought that child up from a baby.

As to your specific question, call your local DSS and ask if there are any restrictions on dog ownership if you are adopting, and if there are any breed specific restrictions.

Good luck.. I hope things work out for you!

Answer 4

of course.

i live in the tarheel state too : ]

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 5

I used to be all for all dogs.  For years, I've worked for animal shelters, mainly doing fundraisers.  I used to would have been the person fighting for these dogs rights.  Now, I won't let one live if it is near me.  In the last 7 years, I've been attacked 4 different times by 5 different dogs.  The 1st-riding a horse down the highway, dog pulls my boot off, bloodies up horse, injured my ankle.  We're off rodeo season full year.  2nd time-leading a foal down the road (different state), on opposite side of the road.  Dog is on clothesline held by a logging chain.  I talked friendly to neighbor, asked if dog was friendly, they said yes, got 200 feet down the road, dog breaks clothesline, puts horse on ground, turns on me, owner jumps on dog just long enough for me to get down the road.  I called police, and then I get my life threatened, and told "my little baby couldn't have done that".  3rd time:  On my own front porch by a stray that I was stupid enough to try to help.  I was trying to set some food out, I tripped, dog bites my buttocks.  4th time:  On my mom's front porch (house I grew up in), neighbor's 2 dogs are in her yard.  I'm carrying my 7.2 pound companion dog of 4 years, both dogs attack.  My dog was lucky, and got under a bench where they couldn't get to her.  My son had left a baseball bat out on the porch, which I killed one dog with it, my son, hearing my screams,  had to knock the other out until owner got there(both females).  It was the deacon from church's dog, and now it has 17 different pups running around.

I not only see a pattern with these dogs, but their owners too.  Not any of the dogs had a current rabies tag (we've had 9 cases of rabies in that time in our county).  Not any of the dogs were properly kept up on the owners property.  Never once was I on the owner's property.  All of the dogs that lived were bred to other dogs after they had attacked me, and each owner called me names, or threatened my life, or called me a liar because they believed that "their babies wouldn't attack anyone" and that "it is your fault you were a: riding a horse or b: leading a colt or c: carrying a puppy.

WHAT IF I HAD BEEN CARRYING MY INFANT SON, OR IF I HAD NOT HAD HELP EACH TIME???????  If I were the person doing your home study, I wouldn't consider the dog safe.  Each home study person can be different.  I am praying these dogs get outlawed quickly, because so many igonorant people breed them to fight (even if they were bred for different reasons to create the breed).  I personally know of 6 different children who have had SERIOUS and permanently scarring facial and bodily injuries from pit bulls.  If they were all nice, and all bred to be good, there wouldn't be so many laws against them.  I also wouldn't let my children play at your house.

Answer 6

I'm not sure...I'm an adoption social worker and I have to say I would be VERY concerned....call me ignorant, call me whatever you want, BUT...in the last year a 1,000 pound horse, 3 elderly people and 3 children were mauled by pitbulls...not other dogs PITBULLS.  

I personally would not want one around my child....right or wrong, I wouldn't....but professionally, I would not be allowed to let that bias interfere.

At this time there are no laws against it for adoption, but there is extreme caution and concern.

Answer 7

In order to adopt a child, a home study will be required by an independent agency.  The reviewer will probably have questions for you concerning your animals but each situation is judged individually.....they should not judge your situation based on stereotypes but by their own assessment of your specific dogs in the environment.  

What does concern me is that most people that want to adopt focus more on their personal education of the adoption process than defending their dogs on line.  Seems a little strange to me....what is your first priority?  your dogs or the child?

Answer 8

a kid is way more important than a dog get rid of it and adopt a kid plus nice pit bull's will still attack kids because there used to adults or for hormonal or jealousy reasons its a accident waiting to happen.

Answer 9

I live in North Carolina and I have a friend who adopted 2 children and they never mentioned a pet issue with them, and they have like 5 dogs and an extremely mean cat.

Answer 10

I'm sorry but I don't know.

That's really interesting information about Pit Bulls that I didn't know.  You learn something every day.  I'll be less afraid of them in future :)

Answer 11

Dear Samantha,

I also live in NC! There is no law preventing adoptions to people with certain breeds in NC. As long as your pets are well behaved and well cared for you should have no issues adopting because of the dogs unless you run into an ignorant person directly involved in your case who causes a hassle. If you can prove your dog is not a threat and your are a responsible pet owner, even this shouldn't be too much of a  problem.

When I was a GAL,  I was part of a case which concluded with a girl being adopted by her cousin who owned two. they were required to show proof of shots, license, etc. and I met the dogs several times on home visits and they were included in my reports. Unless they have recently passed a new law, things should be the same.

I checked my answer with my sister, who is a local magistrate and former ADA (That means she has a Law Degree and is usually updated on these things!) and she agrees with my answer.

Good luck!

Answer 12

Samantha that is a really good question I have never thought about adoption agency possible having breed-specific bans. It might even depend on the agency/SW  you wanted to work with, they probably would want to see how any dog was with children or at least with people that don’t live in the home.

I volunteer at a shelter and we just about 4 months ago started allowing pit bulls and pit bull mixies and I will say they are some of the sweetest dogs. I would love to get one some day maybe when my current dog passes away. Pit bulls are from what I have heard rarely people aggressive, animal aggressive yes but that is often due to poor ownership of not properly socializing them or they were forced to fight. One of the ladys I volunteer with  her daughter’s family got a pit bull they have a 3 year old son and the dog is completely good with him, the little boy can tug on his ears, hug him hard and he doesn’t care. Just like with any dog young children should not be left alone unsupervised even if your dog is the sweetest again children don’t understand dog language or respecting animals, those are things that their parents need to teach them vital in any home that has dogs or any pet.

Answer 13

I work with animals, and yes, small dogs (especially poodles and dachshunds for some reason) are the worse biters.

However, with a pit-bull the problem is when they do bite it is VERY hard to get them to let go.  They latch on and you cannot pry their jaws apart.  This was not to answer your question, but to put some validity as to why Pits are considered bad (I have nothing against the breed, though I have seen one latch on and not let go...but on the flip side, I have personally been a "victim" of a poodle bite that needed stitches, so...yeah)

To answer your question:

I think, with adopting, it really depends on the social worker who does your home study.  If you have a SW who loves dogs, and sees your dogs acting, well like dogs, I think that there shouldn't be a problem.  However, if you have a SW who is a little timid around dogs (especially big dogs) and sees your dogs rough housing (which is totally normal) you may have a problem.  I think though, references for your dogs (both the Golden and the Pit)  could help this.  You can have your vet, dog walker, kennel, dog trainer, anyone who has spent any time with your dog, write a reference letter about your dog.  Some of these people may be reluctant to do it, so those people you don't want to ask...ask people who know you and your dogs AND like your dogs, and ask them to be honest.  Your vet  and dog trainer would be the best references for this, as the vet sees the dogs in stressful situations and obviously the trainer because he/she has helped you mold the dogs behavior.

Good luck!

Answer 14

I sure hope so.  We were raised with Staffordshire terriers, and they were the most loving dogs.  Our dog, Tiger Lilly, saved my life more than once by taking on packs of wild dogs that, literally, tried to eat me.  She had to have surgery and have tubes put in her wounds to drain excess blood and "infection ickies", but even after all that, she went and did it again.  She "raised" kittens, puppies, babies - any baby that came in the house was HER baby.  All our Staff's were that way.  Amazing, beautiful, loving animals.

Of course, depending on their owners, they might be aggressive, but that's not about breed, it's about training.  If your furbaby is calm and loving, then it shouldn't stand in the way of a child finding a loving home.

Can't speak to the laws, though, unfortunately.  I have no idea what the law says (or what individual adoption agencies say).  Best of luck to you and your furbaby!  Give that baby a big squeeze for me!

Answer 15

Pitbulls were bred for baiting (killing animals), fighting, stock work, hunting, and farmwork.  They were bred for strength, speed, and "gameness" (in dog fighting breeds gameness is valued as it gives the dog the ability to maintain the attack in baiting, despite ripped flesh, dehydration, exhaustion or broken bones).

So the real truth is that pitbull terriers were bred to be strong, vicious, to kill, and be relentless in spite of injury or danger to itself.

Do us a favor and stop spreading lies just because you like your pet; pitbulls are often aggressive, and they don't tolerate abuse.

It's common for children to be rough with/abusive toward dogs, so a pitbull's natural reaction will be to attack, especially because children are smaller than adult humans and may be unfamiliar/strange to the animal.

Pitbulls that are properly socialized are well mannered and generally not dangerous, but you need to be careful.

Answer 16

My aunt has adopted and she had a huge dog. I don't really think that it matters. I think it depends on what agency you go threw but I really don't think they care. I know that they make sure it doesn't have any records of injuring a person or child. But no don't worrry about it.

And goood luck thats amazing.

Answer 17

it's going to depend on who does your home study.  i have a shep mix and a rott mix.  both are considered to be dangerous breeds as well.  neither were a problems.  but both of my dogs hold AKC Canine Good Citizens too.  if where you live there is a ban on pits, then you might have some problems simply because you are breaking the law by owning one in your area.  other than that i can't see a reason why.

our social worker wanted to meet our dogs and see how they greeted strangers.  she was impressed with both dogs and never made a second mention about them.  except with how well mannored they were.

some of you keep your BSL c**p to yourselves.  boxers, boston terriers, were bred to fight.  labs, pointers were bred to hunt.  german shepherd, border collies and aussies were bred to herd.  all do well with children if owned by an intelligent human who knows the breed and trains it appropriately.  personally i would be more likely to say no to someone who owned a chihuahua than a pit.  i think a child is more likely to be bitten or harmed by any chihuahua than a well mannored large breed dog.  these little dogs are known for being a land shark, but never mind if they are because they're small and cute.  it's a huge pile of you know what.

pits can and often are great with kids if raised properly, like any dog.  and as with any dog if they have teeth they can bite.  period.

ask your agency and social worker.  don't try to hide anything.  if your dog has completed an obedience class mention it.  if not find one that trains toward the canine good citizen, it will help with teaching a dog how to properly react and behave in noisy and sometimes stressful situations all around.  this is very helpful when brining a small, fast, noisy child into the home.

Answer 18

Go to:

http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/dss/adoption...

and see if they have requirements and regulations listed on their site.  If they don't, call the number and ask the question of them, they'll be happy to give you the information.

I wish  you well in your quest!