Pawsitively Pit Bulls

Red Cross: Dog tried to pull baby out of burning home!

2010-07-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/Red-Cross-Family-dog-tried-to-pull-baby-out-of-burning-home-98024604.html

Pit Bull in a Wheelchair Inspires and Comforts Kids with Disabilities

2010-05-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Pit Bull in a Wheelchair Inspires and Comforts Kids with Disabilities

Elephants save stray Houston pit bull!

2010-05-13T11:08:00.000-07:00

Houston residents who'd like to adopt a pit bull still can't rescue a friend from local shelter: the Houston SPCA is still holding to it's no-adopt policy, which means literally thousands of beautiful homeless pit bulls die in the shelter each year without help or hope.

But the bully gods refuse to let their beloveds be forgotten, and have seen fit to send Houston a special ambassadog that thousands can gaze upon and adore. He's in - of all places - the Houston Zoo. Oh what sweet bully karma!

The dog - named Max - was once a stray but now has a home in the elephant's habitat and he provides companionship to both the elephant and the keepers. He's being called a 'mutt terrier,' but don't let him end up at the SPCA or that face of his will buy him a quick trip to the freezer. If his face isn't enough of a give-away, Max's personality style is all about it: He's reported to be brave and unaffected by the noise and chaos that can come along with zoo life, and his working drive helps the keepers fine-tune their training skills, which are incredibly important when managing multi-ton elephants. He's also a classic social butterfly and likes to greet zoo visitors. Of course he is .. he's a pit bull, after all!

The keepers knew the pup had the makings of a good barn dog because he wasn’t frightened by the elephant noises or skid loaders used to clean the yard. He goes inside during the elephant baths that draw an audience in the morning. While the elephants are scrubbed and rinsed, Max stays close to the windows to greet guests and stay dry.

The zoo sure seems proud of him. He has his own placard outside the elephant habitat his own: Zoo Page ... and a facebook page too (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maximus/104871389634?v=info), with lots of photos and videos. Go make yourself a fan!

A deaf American Stafforshire Terrier saved a 2-year-old toddler's life outside of Philadelphia!

2010-05-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/05/08/news/doc4be4cfc0d4a6a671143125.txt

Man escapes house fire with help from service dog.

2010-03-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

SPOKANE, Wash. - A man who has been on bed rest for the past five months after breaking both his legs is crediting his service dog with helping him escape his burning home.

Jake Vernon was sleeping in his home near Howard and Dalke Wednesday morning when he says his service dog, Gracie, woke him up by pulling on his blanket and barking.

Vernon says he couldn't figure out what his dog was doing until he saw his room filling with smoke.

"I didn't hear no fire alarm. I didn't hear nothing," said Vernon.

Vernon immediately crawled out of bed and to his wheelchair and was able to make it out of his home with his dog and without injury.

"If it wasn't for my dog pulling on my Snuggie and barking, I don't think I'd of made it out the house," said Vernon.

Fire crews arrived on scene shortly after and quickly knocked the fire down, keeping it contained to one bedroom.

Jake is married, though his wife was not home when the fire broke out.

Fire investigators are working to determine a cause.

Check out this amazing 2 legged Pittie that is looking for his FUREVER home!!

2010-03-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6vBuGsJt0s

Pit Crew Facilitates Special Adoption

2010-03-13T12:34:00.000-08:00

March 09, 2010
By Melissa Lipani

Age and distance proved no barriers when it came to Melindy finding her perfect home.

Recently, Best Friends' Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog campaign coordinator Melissa Lipani, who also works with the Salt Lake County Pit Crew project, got a call from a friend. Andrea Allen, whose mother-in-law, Floy Allen of Lewiston, Idaho, was looking to adopt a dog.

Floy, a single 80-year-old grandmother, wanted a dog just like Andrea and Dave's dog Otis. Otis is a sweet brindle and white pit bull terrier that the couple adopted from a shelter in Salt Lake City four years ago who loves everyone and everything in life, especially the couple's 10-month-old son Zane. In other words, Floy wanted to adopt a pit bull terrier just like Otis.

It's not every day that the Salt Lake County Pit Crew team gets a call from a grandmother looking to adopt a pit bull terrier. Floy was looking for a companion and family dog that would be a breed ambassador, calm and affectionate and would not require a lot of training.

It just so happened that there was a wonderful dog in the program named Melindy, who was in a dedicated foster home and was just about to finish and pass her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training and certification. She was one of the longest running program dogs and had been overlooked by many adopters for reasons unknown. Melindy is about as calm, well trained and affectionate as any dog could be. Her obstacles seemed to be superficial — she was an older girl, 4 or 5 years old, a pit bull terrier and a former back yard breeder whose underside showed a lifetime of neglect and the tell tale signs of a mother who had borne many puppies.

But Melindy had so many wonderful things going for her — a terrific calm temperament, wonderful soulful eyes, affectionate nature, great skills with other dogs and a genuine desire to please whomever she was with. She isn't much of an exerciser and would prefer a good cuddle on the couch with her person. It was just this combination of sweet attributes that led Melissa to immediately jump to recommend Melindy for Floy to adopt.

Melissa told the Allen's of her idea for the perfect match for Floy and sent some photos of Melindy at recent Pit Crew events. The whole family fell for her, and when Floy made her next visit from Idaho to Salt Lake City, the group set up a meeting. Melindy happened to have a stomach bug that day and was turning up the sad eyes and charm to win Floy over. It worked, and Floy quickly declared that Melindy was the one and she wanted to adopt her. She decided that her new name would be Lucy and she couldn't wait to bring her home.

Arrangements were made for Lucy to finish her last week of CGC and be tested while transportation was arranged. Floy was to fly back in two weeks and she and Dave would drive Lucy back up to Idaho. Floy was so excited to have Lucy come home, that she eagerly bought toys, a soft bed and other things to spoil her new companion upon arrival. She even made sure to have her hair done ahead of time so she wouldn't have to leave Lucy at home alone while she was adjusting to her new environment.

On the day Lucy left for Idaho, her whole fan club of staff, volunteers, her new extended family and her foster parents met to see her off. When Floy arrived, Lucy was smitten, and everyone took pictures and gave Lucy some treats to see her off on the journey. The news media also came, because they heard about this extraordinary adoption. Lucy made the 10-hour trek back to Lewiston, stopping in Boise to charm more of the Allen family along the way.

Now that the two are home safely, Andrea reports that "Lucy did excellent on her road trip. She is becoming attached to Floy and Floy is becoming very attached to her! I think they are a very good match. Floy has been very excited for friends and family to meet Lucy. Of course, everyone loves her. What is not to love? Thank you for all of your efforts."

Lucy reminds us that pit bull terriers can be perfect family pets for people of any age.

How you can help:

Become a fan of the Pit Crew and to learn more about Best Friends Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog and our exciting efforts, join us on our campaign site. http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/pitbulls/default.aspx

The goal of the Pit Crew program, which is a partnership between Salt Lake County Animal Services and Best Friends' Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog campaign, aims to reduce the euthanasia of adoptable pit bull type dogs in the shelter by offering free spay/neuter services to all pit bull terriers and pit bull mixes within the county jurisdiction, free Canine Good Citizen training to all dogs adopted and fostered through the program and low-cost to the community, access to a Best Friends Community Training Partner, and special events and outreach for the community including workshops, adoption events, and more. The partnership also strives to change the misperceptions of pit bull terriers in our community and shelter system.

http://network.bestfriends.org/14577/news.aspx

Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog by Best Friends Animal Society

2010-02-24T10:09:00.000-08:00

We all all love and respect Best Friends so here's just another reason to love them more!! This is a great resource! Please read and pass along to all you know, thanks.

http://www.bestfriends.org/nomorehomelesspets/pit_bulls.cfm

Three-legged pit bull saved from dog-fighting trains to help Chicago kids

2010-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

by Cat Mayin Koo
Feb 17, 2010

A three-legged pit bull rescued from the biggest dog-fighting ring bust in U.S. history in July has found a home – and a future – in Chicago, where she is training to be a therapy dog for children with disabilities.

Rescuers found Dharma tethered on a tow-chain outside, living in a dirty wooden box near St. Louis. She had only a feeble stump for a right leg – what veterinarians at the Humane Society of Missouri suspect was the result of an amateur amputation after trauma.

Despite coming from abuse, the fawn-colored dog showed no aggression in behavioral assessments.

“She’s just the sweetest dog in the world,” said Dharma’s owner, Suzi.

Suzi is training Dharma to work with disabled children because she said she hoped that “if kids see that Dharma is disabled, it can maybe make them feel more normal.”

“I was volunteering in Missouri [with rescue dogs] and just fell in love with her,” Suzi said. She asked that her last name not be used because Dharma’s previous owners have not been sentenced and she is afraid of them.

Suzi adopted Dharma and brought her to Chicago in October, a few weeks after her leg was amputated. Veterinarians suggested the full amputation because she was walking on her stump, causing severe muscle and tissue damage.

The July raid that freed Dharma was the result of a year-long investigation involving the FBI, multiple law enforcement agencies and several animal rights groups. Roughly 350 dogs were seized and 30 people arrested in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Iowa and Oklahoma, according to the FBI.

Those arrested face up to five years in prison and maximum fines of $250,000. A federal law passed in 2007 makes it a felony to participate in dog-fighting.

Dharma, who couldn’t fight because of her disability and gentle nature, was used as a breeding dog, Suzi said.

“[Breeders] did not fight, but produced litters of fresh fighters. Others were bait dogs. They lacked bloodlust and so served as punching bags in training fights. Such dogs often get the worst of it,” Randall Lockwood, an official from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said in a press release.

Initially too scared to walk through doors or hallways because of her past, Dharma now trains every Saturday in the South Loop to become a therapy dog for children.

“Dharma needed to learn how to be a normal dog. She’s come a long way,” Laura, Dharma’s trainer, said. Suzi asked that Laura’s last name not be used because she worried about her safety.

Laura, a professional animal trainer, has worked with Dharma for three months without pay because of how inspiring the dog is, she said. Laura has helped other dogs move from trauma to become therapy dogs.

Several Chicago hospitals offer animal-assisted therapy. Two that use dogs like Dharma to work with children are Shriners Hospitals for Children – Chicago and Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Dogs “can be a good distraction. Kids sometimes will walk further or reach further because they aren’t thinking about being sick,” said Darlene Kelly, who runs the animal therapy program at Shriners, where dog therapy sessions occur weekly.

At Children’s Memorial, staff notice that sick children will perk up around animals.

“They are just so excited,” said Willow Troy, who organizes animal therapy for sick children every few weeks at the Children’s Memorial.

“Most kids don’t like being in a hospital and it just puts these huge smiles on their faces.”

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=157006

Snaps the SeaTac pit bull finally finds a happy home!

2010-02-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

By Lee Ryan
February 14, 2010

Just mention the word "pit bull" and mothers grab their children, homeowners lock their gates, joggers cross to the other side of the street and insurance companies up their rates.

The pit bull is a canine that is built for survival, with a bowling ball head, huge powerful jaws, a thick muscular neck and a body that looks like the boxcar of a train.

Yep, I have to agree that they're not the dog you want to meet up with, if you're breaking into someone's home.

However, how are they any different, inside, than any human being who might look a bit scary? We, as a society, are so quick to judge. And at that moment, our treatment of another human being or an animal can prompt their reactions and ultimately decide their fate.

It's been almost a year, since Snaps brutally attacked two women in the SeaTac area. It's a wonder that we even care what has become of him.

However, we do care - because Snaps, a pit bull mix, was as much of a victim as the two women he bit.

For those of you, who haven't heard the story, which appeared on many radio and TV stations around the nation, and in all the local papers, let me give you a brief rundown.

On June 21, Inga, a 63 year old woman spotted four teens, who were kicking a dog. When she stopped to chide them, one of the teens pulled her out of the car and sicced the dog on her. In the midst of the scuffle, another woman came along and the dog was also sicced on her.

When the fur and flesh settled, both women needed medical attention, the teens were arrested and the dog was hauled off to be locked up and then euthanized.

If the truth be told, Snaps' original gesture was to kindly lick Inga. It was only after he was beaten into submission, that he did the bidding of his 15-year-old owner, and attacked.

We can easily pin the tail of guilt on the young owner, but perhaps we first need to walk a mile in her shoes.

"If we can forgive a dog for biting, then we need to forgive the teenager for forcing him to bite" are the words of Steve Markwell.

Steve, if you remember, was allowed to rescue Snaps from being euthanized. He runs a compound called Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, which is actually an old logging truck shop, which he has converted into a home for special needs animals.

These aren't just abandoned or abused animals; these are the animals that no one wants to talk about. Animals who have been burned with cigarettes, shot with guns, given drugs, chained up, driven mad by shock collars, and unmentionable crimes that we don't want to even believe could happen.

These are the animals that have been deemed dumpster refuse by a complacent society.

However, Snaps is but a "poster pooch", because he is only one of millions of dogs and other animals who have been abused. He has found a friend in Steve - a safe home where he fetches sticks, rides in the front seat of the truck, gives and gets kisses and playful body slams.

Steve tells me that he's also a bit of a geologist, as he likes to collect rocks and sneaks them inside the building.

Yes, there are many more details, but let's get to the heart of the matter. Why do we have a society that is riddled with kids that are so emotionally hurt and angry that they'll take it out on a dumb animal? I use the word "dumb," only in comparison to the intellect and reasoning capacity of a human being. And why is our way of dealing with these animals to just kill them, before we understand the whys of it? We'll hit on some of these things in Part Two of this story.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to go out and bite some pet owners. However, in the spirit of good will and staying out of jail, I might suggest that we simply support those people, such as Steve, who are willing to do the heartbreaking work that we are either unqualified to unwilling to do.

PART II

"There are no bad dogs, just fearful and misunderstood dogs. Why is it that cats, birds, horses and other animals can bite and it's okay, but if a dog bites, they're deemed vicious and a menace to society?

"There are TV dog trainers that are teaching people the wrong way to handle their dogs -- they're practically challenging the dog to bite them," says Steve Markwell of Olympic Animal Sanctuary, who ended up rescuing Snaps, the SeaTac pit bull.

Snaps was slated to be killed after he bit two women, under the direction of his teenage owner. Instead, Snaps was sent to Markwell's animal sanctuary on the Olympic Peninsula.

Markwell continues, "All animals bite, but 4.7 million dog bites are reported, each year. We need to revamp the 'dangerous dog' legislation, because most dogs that get reported are usually killed.

"The reactions are disproportionate to the problem. We need to take logical, reasonable steps to prevent a bite situation."

In spirit, Steve is an easygoing guy, but he can get easily fired up, when he talks about things that matter. "Animals should not be held morally responsible for what they do. How can we justify killing or getting rid of them? It's not a coincidence that we have more people in prison than anywhere else in the world. We throw people away and throw animals away."

I spent five years working for a local veterinarian. Most people take wonderful care of their pets and treat them like beloved members of the family.

However, there were those rare occasions, when an abused or abandoned animal came into the clinic and I'd find it hard to sleep at night, wondering what would become of them. I also volunteer at the local jail and prison, so I know, first hand, what Steve is talking about.

This young man, of 34, has dreams of a 20-acre, no-kill model compound, where he could have a behaviorist that rehabs the animals and prepares them for fostering and adoption.

Steve's dreams include having it located at the beach, where the dogs can play in the healing salt water and all of them can have their own quarters, with the freedom to go outside and enjoy the fresh air, at will.

If you remember, Snaps had attacked a woman named Inga. However, she could see that he was abused and she wanted to adopt him, but he had already been sentenced, without a trial.

Every day, she called the Kent Animal Shelter, to check on his condition. The fact is that this abused dog wasn't allowed any human contact, no walks, no blanket, no attention and no treats.

I have dealt with the management of KCACC and seen the shelter conditions, so I wasn't surprised when Steve told me, "KCACC made me sign a contract to not say anything bad about them."

One has to wonder what they're concerned might be said, doesn't one? You see, I've seen the animals, in the back that the public isn't allowed to see. For many, death isn't such a bad option. Snaps got a break.

As darling and innocent, as Snaps has been proven to be, he isn't welcome in King County. He is forever banned from coming through the pearly gates of our fair community.

But, considering the raw deal that he got, I don't think he really spends much time pondering his past digs - no pun intended.

Those of us who have our pets safely tucked into their plush beds, with their food bowls neatly filled and a box of toys waiting for them, have a hard time imagining that anyone could do some of the heinous things that have been done to these beautiful creatures - but they do.

And because they do, people like Steve Markwell have had to come to the rescue and dig into his own pockets to create a safe place for these animals to experience hope, kindness and a desire to live.

Do you want to help? Steve Markwell has set up a non-profit organization and can be reached at Olympic Animal Sanctuary, 1021 Russell Road, Forks, WA 98331 or at www.olympicanimalsanctuary.org

http://www.federalwaynews.net/2010/02/14/opinion/slideshow-snaps-seatac-pit-bull-finally-finds-happy-home

Hero pooch saves 7-year-old Queens girl!!

2010-01-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

A barking dog and an alert woman scared off a pervert in Queens after he lured a girl into a backyard by promising to show her worms, police and witnesses said yesterday.

"Mommy! Daddy!" the 7-year-old girl screamed as she fought off her attacker between two garages about 7:45 p.m. Friday. "Help me!"

Her cries for help startled a dog on the other side of a fence. Bleu, a mixed pit bull, began barking incessantly, which brought his owner, Heather Fretes, to the window.

"He was going wild barking," Fretes said. "I looked out and I saw two people. The girl was screaming."

Fretes ran outside and yelled at the man, who witnesses said had been watching the girl and her friend before the attack. The suspect tore down part of a fence to escape the backyard on 171st St. in Flushing. The girl wept as she told Fretes about the attack.

"He took my hand and led me back where he tried to pull down my pants," the girl said, according to Fretes.

"Everything is fine," the victim's uncle said late yesterday. "She's okay. As long as she's okay, we're fine. She wasn't hurt."

Paramedics took the girl to a nearby hospital, where she was examined and released. She was shaken up, but not injured. No weapon was used, police said.

A police source said detectives interviewed the girl again yesterday in hopes of putting together a sketch of the suspect.

Cops described him as a white man, in his late teens or early 20s, with sandy brown, spiked hair. He was wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt.

"There's no indication at this point that it's part of a pattern," the police source said. "Obviously, we're checking that out, but it's early in the investigation."

Neighbors said the suspect was sitting on the steps of a nearby home, watching the victim and her 10-year-old friend as they rode their scooters. He then got up and approached the girls, telling them he had a bird and liked animals.

"My sister didn't like what the guy was saying to her, so she went in the house," the 10-year-old's sister said yesterday.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/07/08/2007-07-08_hero_pooch_saves_7yearold_queens_girl.html#ixzz0db4nBS8t

Pit bull 'burglar' leaves behind big mess in home

2009-10-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

By KEVIN REECE / KHOU-TV

HOUSTON—Rosie Sanchez rushed home Wednesday morning when a neighbor called to say her home was being burglarized.

She made it home in time to see the suspect was a real animal who was being led away on a leash.

Neighbors near the intersection of Antoine Drive and West Gulf Bank have been complaining for several days about a pit bull roaming from house to house.

Wednesday morning, Diana Session noticed the same pit bull clawing at the front window of Rosie Sanchez’s home. Sanchez was away at work and her Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier were inside the home alone.

Session was shocked when she looked at the house again a few minutes later. This time the pit bull was on the other side of the window. It was inside the house.

“I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ I couldn’t believe that dog was in there,” Session said.

The dog had pushed open the back door of the Sanchez home and wandered inside. He was inside playing with the smaller dogs for at least an hour, according to the neighbor.

Diana Session, an amateur photographer, took several photos of the “burglary.” She found it remarkable that the smaller dogs were OK.

In fact, in the photos she shared with 11 News the pit bull can be seen inside the house at the same window it was clawing to get through. And it is side by side with the Chihuahua. They were apparently getting along famously. The pit bull is male. The Chihuahua is a girl. Her name is Princess.

Session continued to take pictures as an animal control officer went through the same unlocked back door and removed the pit bull from the Sanchez home.

Rosie Sanchez returned home in time to see the "suspect" taken into custody. She's still cleaning up the evidence of his visit.

“It’s just a mess,” she said as she gave us a tour of the damaged furniture, scattered trash and dog food. The dog also overturned stereo and gaming equipment and left a puddle of urine underneath her dining room table.

“I mean, you can just see the dog just tore through so much. It’s very amazing to me that he got in. It really is,” Sanchez said.

She's laughing now about the unusual burglary by an unlikely suspect, but Sanchez will never forget the fear she felt when she got the original phone call. She has three children who would soon be coming home from school. She pictured them walking in on a burglary in progress.

“I thought that maybe one of my kids was at home already. So yeah, there are no words to explain the feeling,” she said.

“You know, I can clean up a mess. But you know a child’s life and a pet you know you can’t replace," Sanchez said.

Houston’s Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care confirmed to 11 News it does have custody of the pit bull burglar and is searching for its owner. If no owner is found, it would likely be put up for adoption even with its unusual criminal record.

Our version of the Pitbull Blues by John Shipe featuring Vegan, Sid, Sandy, LuLu and Kitty!

2009-10-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

My little ones love the song "Pitbull Blues" so we listen to it a lot. Actually, I love it just as much as they do. The other day we were listening to it and they were singing along and hugging one of our pitbulls, LuLu. It was just perfect and I had to get it on tape. This is the result. Hope you enjoy it.

SNAPS IS SAFE!

2009-09-18T13:56:00.001-07:00

Many of you may remember back in June when a group of teens in Sea-Tac, Wa attacked two woman and then forced their dog, Snaps, to bite by kicking and beating him. At first things looked very dismal for Snaps and as he was labeled a dangerous dog and scheduled for euthanasia. Many concerned citizens, including one of the victims, began pleading for his life to be spared.

Well, today he is finally safe and spending his first day of freedom at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Wa where he's finally experiencing love and compassion! Sparing Snaps life and allowing him to be loved and cared for is the greatest justice! And I'm so pleased that I'm able to share Snaps happy ending here. It's all I've been hoping for since June!

Please click on the link below to see Snaps at his new home. And thanks to everyone who stood up and fought for him! Please help spread the word for the Olympic Animal Sanctuary.

http://www.olympicanimalsanctuary.org/2009/09/welcome-home-snaps.html

Also, another sanctuary, Smiling Dog Farms, was willing to give Snaps a furever home too. Please check them out and help support them. These sanctuaties are vital to saving many lives, like Snaps, that would otherwise be lost. They can't continue to help these animals without our support so please if you can make a donation please do.

http://www.smilingdogfarms.org/

First ever in Georgia!

2009-08-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

ON SATURDAY, LUCY LU, A SECOND CHANCE RESCUED DOG, BECAME THE FIRST EVER AMERICAN PIT BULL TERRIER, TO BE A REGISTER THERAPY DOG IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA!

Big congratulations go to Kim Murphy who rescued Lucy Lu. After being up for adoptions for a short time, Lucy Lu became the Second Chance mascot, and finally a permanent family member in the Murphy home. After attending obedience training and passing all of her tests with flying colors on Saturday, Lucy Lu is a registered therapy dog.

AND SHE JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE FIRST AMERICAN PIT BULL IN GEORGIA TO DO SO. (AND DID WE MENTION SHE WAS RESCUED ALSO?) Way to go Lucy Lu, and Kim!

Second Chance: Rescuing without regard to breed, colors, or national origin.

Little Litter Dog: Pit Bull Doing Its Part to Keep City Clean!

2009-06-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

You sometimes can't help but attract attention if you're a dog...

"No, she doesn't get ice cream if she does a good job," Anne Vaini tells the three kiddos clustered around her dog, Emma.

But when you're a dog that picks up litter from the sidewalk, runs to the nearest garbage can and drops it in, you're pretty much guaranteed instant fame.

"I just wondered what it was doing,” says Justin Webb, the owner of Midwest Tattoo on Water Street. “I’d just see it walk up and down the street and pick up trash."

"The first reaction is always 'oh my gosh! Did I just see that?' Yeah, you did. She does that and puts it in there by herself," Vaini tells us laughing.

You're best bet to catch Anne and Emma walking Water Street: Friday or Saturday nights when there's more people and more litter.

"When the students came back, I noticed the street was looking really trashy and really dirty,” Anne tells us. “I though 'hey, I have a dog that can pick things up and put it in the trash cans.’ I thought it'd be good training.”

Vaini’s hope: That Emma will one day leave her trash tasks to help someone in a wheelchair.
"I love it because a lot of people think American pit bull terriers can't be trained and I can show them very quickly, without having to pull their leg or tell them that whole story that 'yeah, it's a dog and it can be trained.'"

And trained well. Emma was a little out of practice after a recent surgery. But, after a couple seconds of prodding she picked right up on her litter picking skills; much to the delight of the Water Street faithful.

"At least somebody is picking up the trash," laughs Webb. “There's a lot of it left here at night. Maybe we can get some more dogs down here picking up the trash."

But, it's not all work for the little litter lady....

"Emma is absolutely a love bug. She's always ready to give kisses," Anne says cuddling her pup.
Making Emma one itty bitty pit bull with an extra large heart.

American Police Beat magazine features Pit Bull kissing cop!

2009-02-20T06:23:00.000-08:00

Pit Bull kissing police officer who made arrest in dog fighting case! That just says it all!!!

Carla Lou, Pinups for Pitbulls founder, needs your help! Vet bills are mounting.

2009-02-11T17:41:00.000-08:00

Deaf, stray pit bull finds lovable home

2009-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

By Steve Phillips - bio emailBILOXI, MS (WLOX) - A Pass Christian police officer is learning some life lessons from a stray pit bull. It's the story of officer Rebecca Hengen, a dog named Gunther and an amazing adoption.What are the chances a stray, disabled pit bull could be matched with a loving owner? Officer Hengen saved him from the streets, took him to the shelter and later returned to take him home."This is Gunther. Gunther is a pit. He was adopted from the Humane Society of South Mississippi," said Officer Rebecca Hengen, as she petted her friendly pit bull.She first met Gunther while responding to a stray dog complaint."No one knew where he had come from. So, I transported him to the Humane Society of South Mississippi. And he was going to be there for five days until someone claimed him. Or not," she explained.This playful pit bull was a far different sight back then."Gunther was malnourished. Gunther had worms. Gunther had fleas. Gunther had red mange. He had an imbedded collar, where the skin had grown around the collar," she said.And one more thing: Gunther is deaf.After she first brought Gunther to the animal shelter, Rebecca Hengen checked on the dog daily and thought about taking him home.When she finally decided to adopt the deaf, lovable dog the decision was confirmed in a comic strip.Hengen reads a daily comic called "Mutts." That day's strip was about a deaf dog looking for adoption."And the last panel says 'Listen to your heart.' Now, how could I not adopt Gunther after reading that?" she wondered aloud.Humane Society employee Timothy Sartin helped arrange the adoption. He calls Gunther an "ambassador for the breed.""He holds up the breed's standards of being loyal, being smart, being obedient. That's what pit bulls are. So, when they're used for the right way and adopted by a loving family, they can be the most loving animal in the world," said Sartin.Gunther enjoys playing with his new owner and her other pit bull Maggie. This playful, lovable, deaf dog brings pure joy to the one who rescued him from the streets."He goes with what he's got and he does so well with it. He's just, he shows me what life can be like. To live in the moment and be happy with what I have and with what each day brings," said a smiling Hengen.Gunther's adoption was a quarterly winner in the ASPCA's "Adopt a Bulldog" contest and is now eligible for grand prize honors. You can vote for Gunther on the ASPCA web site.

Please show your bully love and sign!

2009-02-01T12:17:00.000-08:00

Stop Legislation Against Certain Dog Breeds
Target: U.S. State Representatives
Sponsored by: American Humane Association

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/399090619?z00m=19320475

Tell PETA that nice families do adopt Pit Bulls!
Target: PETA
Sponsored by: Jennifer O

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/tell-peta-that-nice-families-do-adopt-pit-bulls

Canine Cops Help Police

2009-02-01T09:47:00.000-08:00

By Phil Schwarz

January 26, 2009 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- When we think of police canine units, the breed that most commonly comes to mind is the German shepherd.

But rookie canines on the job now are anything but ordinary.

The two newest members of the Cook County Sheriff's K9 unit are unique and are already performing beyond expectations.

A big bloodhound puppy named Melanie helped police rescued a suicidal man from a forest preserve earlier this month.

The point of starting her on the trail where this individual had come into the woods...she solely hunted out that odor by her abilities," said Jim Pacetti, Cook County K9 Unit.

Melanie found the man in the nick of time. He was semi-conscious and partially submerged in a creek.

The K9 unit consists of a variety of dogs, including bloodhounds and German shepherds, but the most recent member of the force is a very loving, very friendly pit bull.

A pit bull named Elliot Ness is anything but untouchable. Loving and friendly, these traits keep most pit bulls from being good police dogs.

"The main problem we're finding with pit bulls is that they're too darn nice. All they want to do is just sit at your feet or crawl in your lap. They're very nice dogs," said Deborah Thedos, Cook County K9 Unit.

Police officers main contact with pit bulls is when they break up dog fighting rings. When encountering these dogs they found that they were anything but vicious.

"We knew from the get-go that these dogs, they aren't made this way," said Sheriff Tom Dart, Cook County.

For Elliot Ness's partner the pit bull is much more than just a dog.

"He's my best friend. He's my friend. He's my baby and he knows it," said Thedos .

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=6625698

Norton, Purina's Hero Pit Bull

2009-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

A LITTLE over five years ago, my husband and I heard of this "loser" dog needing a home, loser because he was a pitbull that 'wouldn't fight!' We had two dogs at the time, a Rottie and an Amstaff, so we weren't looking for another dog, but something made us call these people to find out about Norton. The owner said thanks but they'd already found a home for him.
Two days later we got a call from this person saying Norton had been returned and would we like to see him. We loaded our dogs into the car and told ourselves that we were just going to look but it would be a good idea to see if there was a chance all the dogs would get along. I won't go into the horror we saw or the condition that Norton was in but we knew immediately that we couldn't leave this 6-month-old pup there.
His scars weren't just physical, he suffered from severe separation anxiety as well. Norton could not be left alone, he would eat his way out of any enclosure or room he was left in. He had to be with people or he panicked. We were lucky enough to be able to have my husband take him to work every day but on the rare occasion we had to leave him alone he had to be heavily tranquilized. We tried all sorts of training and meds but nothing worked.
We resigned ourselves to the fact that wherever we went, Norton came too, then tragedy struck. Our Amstaff, Hillary, passed away. We were devastated, but it was worse for Norton - he lost a very important member of his pack. The separation anxiety got worse, he followed us everywhere. He took to sleeping in our walk in closet as long as the door was open and he could see us in bed. We knew our Rottie was aging and Norton needed a pal. Well, I'll be honest, I needed another Amstaff, not to replace Hillary in my heart, but to help fill the void her death had created. I found a beautiful Amstaff pup at Barberycoast Kennels in Nova Scotia. I was still reeling from the loss of my precious pup so I knew how Norton must be feeling.
Maybe a pup would be good for him and make him feel he had a larger pack to depend on. Little did I know that we would lose our rottie three weeks after our perfect Haley came to live with us. I'm so grateful that we found Haley, she filled my aching heart with love and Norton's life with joy. You could see the love of life in his eyes for the first time. He had a true companion.
During all of this our city passed a bylaw restricting pitbulls but allowing pedigreed Amstaffs (go figure!). We would be allowed to keep Norton if he could pass a 'Good Citizenship' test (same as a temperament test). Norton may have his problems but temperament isn't one of them, he passed with flying colours, after all, we were there so he felt safe. He was 'grandfathered' and the only restriction is that he had to wear a large tag saying "restricted" on it. Oh, he also had to be neutered and microchipped but we had already done that when we got him. One night about a month after we got our new pup Haley, I got up to go to the bathroom, making sure the bedroom door was shut behind me so that Haley wouldn't wander out and have an accident on the carpet.
While I was in the bathroom I was bitten by a spider. I was on medication at the time and it inhibited my body from producing any antihistamines, so I went into anaphylactic shock. My throat closed and I got very light headed, I felt like I was being put under anesethic. I couldn't make it out of the bathroom and I couldn't make a sound. For some unknown reason, Norton got up from his bed in the closet and went over to my sleeping husband and kept pushing him with him nose until Barrie woke up.
When Barrie saw how upset Norton was and that I wasn't there he went looking for me and found me almost unconscious. He called the paramedics and by the time they arrived I had stopped breathing. I spent two days in intensive care and a week at home recovering from a simple non-poisonous bite.
To this day I don't know how Norton knew one of his pack was in trouble but I do know that I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him. We had rescued him from a 'bad home' and he took returning the favour very seriously. Norton was inducted into the Purina Animal Hall of Fame this year for his heroic act. We received a beautiful oil portrait of Norton from Purina and Norton got a medal and a year's supply of dog food.
He had a wonderful time for the three days we were in Toronto with him, he had his own stretch limo to take him to the TV studios and awards banquet and he was allowed into all the restaurants we were taken to.
The Toronto Humane Society also honoured him in May, he received another medal and a gift certificate for a month's worth of treats. Of course he shares with Haley, he literally allows her to take food out of his mouth.
Boy, for a restricted dog he sure is a good ambassador for his breed.
As for his breeding, I don't have a pedigree for him so who knows, all I know is that he's my hero and I owe him my life.Time, love, and Haley have done wonders for his separation anxiety, we can now leave him home with Haley for 4 or 5 hours without causing him stress and it's getting longer all the time.
Life without Norton? I don't want to even think about it. When the time comes I'll deal with it the best I can, but until then I spend every day loving him. Everyday is a precious gift he gave me.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/norton.html

Kool K-9 Popsicle retires

2009-02-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

During an investigation of reports of gunfire in 1997, a Buffalo police officer opened an abandoned refrigerator and found a black garbage bag. He poked the bag with his flashlight and something in the bag started moving. At first he thought that there was a baby inside the bag. The "baby" turned out to be a 5-month-old puppy. After recovering from bite wounds on his head and neck, hypothermia, and dehydration at the Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the pit bull that would be named Popsicle was selected as a possible candidate for the U.S. Customs Service canine enforcement program. Popsicle joined the ranks of other dogs nobody else wanted: dogs that dig up back yards, chew furniture, and are constantly on the go. Just the sort of dog Customs is looking for.
At the end of his training at the Canine Enforcement Training Center in Front Royal, Va., Popsicle went with his handler, J.J. Trevino, to work at the Pharr and Hidalgo bridges in Texas. While working at the Pharr bridge, Popsicle alerted to drugs in a tractor trailer. It turned out to be a ton and a half of cocaine with a street value of $139,605,000, the largest cocaine seizure in the McAllen area in 10 years.
Popsicle and J.J. worked together for a couple of months before Popsicle was returned to Front Royal for additional training. At Front Royal, he was teamed with Rudy Carr, a handler looking for a new canine partner.
Popsicle and Rudy graduated and went to work at the Port of Roma, Tex. While working in Roma, Popsicle made 24 seizures of Marijuana: 12,080 pounds with a street value of $640,000; one cocaine seizure of 148 pounds worth $6,719,200; and two currency seizures with a total value of $65,144.
Popsicle and Rudy have done more than work hard detecting drugs, they've also made numerous public relations and outreach appearances. Popsicle is a dog who overcame his abusive start in life and had his chance to get back at the crooks. While working at Roma, Popsicle suffered a career ending injury to his knee - an injury that required surgery. Popsicle is now retired and is living a life of leisure at Rudy's house. "Only we know that he's a pit bull," says Carr, "he thinks he's a cocker spaniel."

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/CustomsToday/2002/October/k9.xml

Weela

2009-02-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

This story is from the Ultimate American Pit Bull Terrier by Jacqueline O'Neil. Weela was also featured in the October, 1996 Outside magazine as an example of the kind of dog one would like to have in a life-threatening situation.
Gary Watkins, eleven years old, was absorbed in chasing lizards when Weela, the family Pit Bull, plowed into him with a body slam that sent him sprawling. Gary's mother, Lori, saw the whole incident and remembers being surprised at first, because Weela always played kindly with children. But her surprise quickly turned to horror when she saw a rattlesnake sink its fangs into Weela's face. Somehow Weela had sensed the snake's presence from across the yard and rushed to push Gary out of strinking range.
Luckily for thirty people, twenty-nine dogs, thirteen horses and a cat, Weela recovered from the snake's venom. Luckily, because that's how many lives she saved a few years later. For her heroism, Weela was named Ken-L Ration's Dog Hero of the Year in 1993. The press release read in part:
In January 1993, heavy rains caused a dam to break miles upstream on the Tijuana River, normally a narrow, three-foot wide river. Weela's rescue efforts began at a ranch that belonged to a friend of her owners, Lori and Daniel Watkins. Weela and the Watkinses worked for six hours battling heavy rains, strong currents and floating debris to reach the ranch and rescue their friend's twelve dogs.
From that experience, the Watkinses recognized Weela's extraordinary ability to sense quicksand, dangerous drop-offs and mud bogs. "She was constantly willing to put herself in dangerous situations," says Lori Watkins. "She alsays took the lead except to circle back if someone needed help."
Periodically, over a month's time, sixty-five pound Weela crossed the flooded river to bring food to seventeen dogs and puppies and one cat, all stranded on an island. Each trip she pulled thirty to fifty pounds of dog food that had been loaded into a harnessed backpack. The animals were finally evacuated on Valentine's Day.
On another occasion, Weela led a rescue team to thirteen horses stranded on a large manure pile completely surrounded by floodwaters. The rescue team successfully brought the horses to safe ground.
Finally, during one of Weela's trips back from delivering food to stranded animals, she came upon a group of thirty people who were attempting to cross the floodwaters. Weela, by barking and running back and forth, refused to allow them to cross at that point where the waters ran deep and fast. She then led the group to a shallower crossing upstream, where they safely crossed to the other side.
Stong, gentle intelligent and brave, Weela,CGC,TT, is the ultimate American Pit Bull terrier, epitomizing the best that the breed has to offer. But her story also highlights an important yet often misunderstood fact about the breed. The Pit Bull is a dog that loves to please its owner and tries to become whatever kind of dog its owner desires. Weela has had two owners.
The first owner dumped her in an alley to die when she was less than four weeks old. Her present owner, Lori Watkins, found five starving Pit Bull puppies whimpering in an alley, took them home and raised them. later, the Watkins family placed four of the puppies in loving homes and kept the little female they named Weela. They believed Weela was special, and she proved them right. Most Pit Bull puppies grow up to become a reflection of both their owners' personality and the care and training they receive. One can only imagine what a different dog Weela would have become if her original owner had raised her, and she had done her best to please him.

http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/articles/weela.html

Hardworking Pit Bulls Buck Bad Rap

2009-02-01T09:33:00.000-08:00

The missing woman would not have survived another night if Dakota hadn't found her when she did. The elderly woman suffering from dementia had been missing for several days when the pit bull—trained to assist law enforcement agencies in search and rescue—located her at the bottom of a steep ravine, her motionless body partially submerged in a small stream.
But when Kristine Crawford, Dakota's guardian, was approached by newspaper and TV news reporters after the successful rescue, she was confronted with an unusual question.
"The first thing they all asked was 'Did your dog bite the woman when she found her?'," Crawford said. "That's something no search and rescue dog handler with another breed is ever asked."
Media Advisory
Take Action!
What laws does your community have regarding dangerous dogs? Educate yourself by getting involved in your local legislative process, by learning more about dangerous dog legislation and getting to know pit bull guardians in your neighborhood.
They've been called killers and monsters in the media, yet thousands of beloved pit bulls live peacefully with families across the country. So where's the disconnect?
Pit bull guardians and animal welfare groups say that it is irresponsible owners and poor breeding—not an inherently vicious breed—that are to blame when pit bulls exhibit aggressive behavior towards humans.
"The media's image of the pit bull as a natural human aggressor is attention grabbing, but false," said Crawford. "In spite of their propensity to challenge other dogs, the typical pit bull is stable, reliable and adores people. Any display of human aggression, whether due to genetic mischance or bad environment, is an aberration. Pit bulls that bite humans are not typical of the breed."
Yet, across the country, communities reeling from shocking press reports involving dog attacks and pressure from nervous residents are increasingly turning to breed bans in an attempt to control the pit bull population in their area.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pets_related_news_and_events/hardworking_pit_bulls.html

Pitbull puppies save family from fire.

2009-02-01T09:22:00.000-08:00

Tiger the hero
HAMPTON, Va. - A Hampton family is thanking their 6-month-old pitbull puppy, Tiger, for saving their lives during a fast-moving house fire.
The family says Tiger woke them up around 1:30 Monday morning as the smoke and flames spread across their house on Old Buckroe Road.
The parents and all three children escaped, but the fire destroyed everything they own.
As firefighters scrambled to put out the last of the hot spots, Rachelle Bradley stood there watching, dazed.
Her two teenage children and nine-year-old nephew had also been inside when the fire started.
"Everything was in flames. All I could think was, 'Get the kids out!' I ran down the hall trying to get them out," cried Bradley.
Twelve hours later, in daylight, Bradley, still wearing her nightgown, got a sobering look at the charred shell of her home.
"How do we move on? We have nowhere to go. Our house is gone, all our belongings are gone, we don't know."
The entire family was asleep when the fire started, everyone but Tiger.
"And he was scratching on my door trying to get our attention. I opened my bedroom door to see what he wanted and I saw all the smoke."
Bradley made a desperate attempt to extinguish the fire herself.
"And my son grabbed my arm and said, 'Come on Mom. You can't save nothing. C'mon let's go.'"
As if losing their home was not bad enough, the family learned Monday afternoon that someone allegedly climbed into their burned house and tried to steal from them.
The Hampton Fire Marshall, Anne-Marie Loughran, says one of her investigators spotted 47-year-old Jacob Pritchett, Jr. trying to get away with a DVD player and about 35 CD's.
Loughran says Prichett jumped out a side window and tried to run off with the stolen goods, but Fire Investigator Gomes captured him and arrested him. Pritchett is now in jail charged with burglary, grand larceny and crossing a fire line.
The Bradley family has three days in a hotel room provided by the Red Cross, before they must find a new place to live. Tiger is alive and well with the family.

Rufus the hero
Fairmont, WV - Amber Barse said her 6-month-old pit bull mix saved her life and the life of her boyfriend by alerting them to a Sunday morning fire at Barse's apartment near Fairmont.
The dog started barking at about 5 a.m., waking the couple from a deep slumber.
The boyfriend, Cam Myles, fought off the blaze with a fire extinguisher longenough for Barse to get Rufus, a cat and two ferrets outside.
A family who lived in a ground-level apartment also made it out safely.
Though Barse lost just about everything in the fire, she said she's thankfulto be alive and that all of her pets are safe.
"If we didn't have that dog, we'd be dead,'' her boyfriend said.
On Sunday night, they showered Rufus with treats, praise and a trip to a petsupply store. It "was pretty much Christmas for him,'' Myles said.
The cause of the fire has not been determined, but fire officials think itwas accidental and may have been related to a gas heater.