08/31/2010 10:34 AM
During my entire time in NOLA after Hurricane Katrina I handled MANY pits and pit mixes in the shelter system and was NOT bit one time! These dogs were traumatized from the hurricane and being seperated from their families....many were fighting dogs covered in old scars and were completely dog aggressive and yet these same dogs laid in my lap and covered my face in kisses daily. Never once was I afraid to handle these dogs and in fact brought home 2 adult female pits to VA to give them a new chance at life. Many rescue groups absolutely refuse to work with pits or pit mixes because of their bad reputation and do not give them the chance that they deserve. Countless pits are put to sleep each and every day in the shelter system because of their breed alone....not because of their temperament...but purely because they are pit bulls and that is NOT FAIR. I personally have adopted 2 adult pit bulls (1 from a local rescue group and 1 from our high kill pound) and I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world. Molly was my first pitty....she is a red female of small stature and a huge heart. She was a foster who I adopted within the first few days she was here with us because I couldn't imagine my life without her in it. She lives indoors with our cats, other dogs, ferrets, and my family (including 2 children) and is a part of our family. She travels with us and is used for education so that people can see what a pitty is REALLY like. She sleeps in the bed under the covers, plays with "her" pony, washes "her" kitty cat, and goes to visit Grandma. She doesn't know she is seen as a "dangerous/vicious" dog and doesn't understand why people don't want to pet her when she meets them. I have watched her lay on the ground so children can crawl all over her, watched a friends Yorki pull her ears and tail, and never once have I seen her act nasty towards another animal or person. She loves everyone and will wash your face for you if you let her. She is working now on obtaining her certification to be a therapy dog...and I have no doubt she will pass her test with no problems. ~Molly now is certified through the Cold Nose/Warm Heart pet therapy program and visits nursing homes, battered womens shelters, and works with the mentally retarded! ~ Ms. Annie is my other pitty who I rescued from our local high kill shelter after she had been thrown away by her teenage owner. Ms. Annie had 2 litters of puppies by the time she was a year and a half old and was treated with nothing but anger by her former owner yet she is now a big part of our family and lives inside with us and travels around to meet people like her big sister Molly does. Ms. Annie & Molly also serve as "surrogate moms" to our orphan kittens and puppies. The most dangerous part of both of these girls is their tongues....they can lick you to death in nothing flat. We also brought back 2 adult female pits from NOLA....Missy and Tootsie Roll. I know little of their lives prior to the hurricane but I can tell you the life Missy lived was not filled with hugs, kisses and love yet she was not a mean dog even though she was treated poorly in her life. That little old brindle girl loved my children and would have defended them to her death if she had to....she liked nothing more than to lay on the bed and look out the windows. Sadly because of her untreated heartworms she died when we sought treatment for her or she would still be with us. Tootsie Roll is a big black female who although big (over 90 pounds) is a very sweet girl who loves her siblings (a Shepard mix and a terrier mix) and her cats. She is also a bed hog and will take up as much room as you allow her to... Many pit bull groups are out there who are working hard to change the perception that all pits are "bad dogs." Before you decide that a pit bull is not for you why don't you check out their websites or visit their dogs? You might be suprised at how wonderful pits really are....but don't be suprised if you adopt more than one. Pits are like potato chips....you can't just have one :o) Bad Rap Pit Bull Rescue Misunderstood Pit Bull Rescue http://mprgroup.net/misc/breedinfo.html |
