Happy Tail: Sacrificing to save an abused, overlooked pit bull

Just wanted to say as a little girl I was attacked by a black German Shepard. It was my own fault the dog wanted to play with me and I showed fear I tried to run away and the dog became more agressive attacking me. With that being said my husband wanted to get a Pitt Bull. A dog he could run with. I had two small children at the time and had a fear of dogs let alone a Pitt Bull! We went to the library and read about the breed. Well there was nothing that indicated this was a hostile breed it was use for bringing down bulls because of the strength in its jaws however it also stated what a GREAT pet the breed is. They are so willing to please and welcoming as long as I are welcomed you my dog welcomed you. Yes they will protect your pack! My husband once snuck in the house w/ a ski mask and snowsuit on and my dog went straight for his throat we had no idea that my husband had come in we were all pillow fighting dog included no work no school 3:30 am we never heard him come in but the dog did. It was the only time I ever heard my dog snap seriously! Once he heard my husbands voice his whole demeaner changed we had always wondered if he had it in him to be aggressive becaused he loved everyone and we never allowed any one to be agressive with him, no pull toys no running around getting him hyper till he got older . I had my dog 14 years he passed in 2008. I would like to say he never chewed any thing but his toys, he never urinated or crapped inside the house,he would go to the fence only. Not all over the yard because the kids played in the yard. He knew all of his commands, lay, sit, stay, come, roll over, shake my hand, release, go get your treat, he would retreive his leash if you said go for a walk? He knew what a gun was and would become aggressive if you pulled one out! I could put his treat on his nose and say dont touch it and he wouldnt till I said so. When he was a puppy we constantly touched him while he ate we also massaged him and applied pressure to his paws so that he would not be sensitive should a child handle him in the wrong way. He would play foot ball with the kids when he was around a year old. We didnt allow them to get him excited his first year as a puppy we wanted him to understand his strength with the kids. So when he got excited we would calm down and massage him lots of big wet kisses! After his first year of training with us it was on. We went rollerblading together he jogged w/my husband he loved walking the neighborhood, in the woods, at the parks. His name was Chopper because his jaws were so big, If I clicked his leash he would freeze up and wait for me to come hook it ! He walked on my right side and if I tapped his lease he would pause for 3 or 4 seconds so I could switch his lease to the other hand behind my back and never break stride to allow a passerby the right of way. They would always comment great dog! He was never aggressive with other dogs they would yap and attack him he just stared and waited for me to be his pitt bull! We loved this dog so much he became so much a part of our family that when he passed away you would have thought he was a person. Friends and family came to see him the night before we were to put him down Im talking people who havent been to our home since the kids were young when they heard they came to honor such a great animal and say goodbye. Like Highlander there could only be one! All of this from a girl who feared dogs we were blessed to have him not the other way around! Staffordshire was his breed forever in our hearts!

I only wish I could convince everyone how special bully breeds are. My two were adopted from the city shelter and have been such a big, special part of our family. They are great to my grandchildren always giving big sloppy kisses to them! They are tremendously intelligent and so willing to please. I never believed 6 years ago that I would own a pit bull but now I can't imagine ever owning any other dog. They just need a chance and the press needs to stop portraying them as vicious and show how wonderful they really are.

I own 2 dogs one is a chow that was rescued after someone had dug a hole with a excavator and put the puppies in there. Her name is Dixie and she is the love of my life. We were visiting friends and she was having her period we were really careful about letting her out because he had a pit and we didnt want puppies. I was raised with a pit my dad got when I was much younger and with my name being Bonnie the pits name was Clyde. Well we were not as careful as we thought and Dixie my chow ended up pregnant. She had 8 puppies but everyone said they needed to be killed because they were a pit and chow mix. All the puppies were givin away with the exception of one. We named him Bear he has short hair like a pit but big ears that stand up like a chow. He will soon be 2 and bear goes to work eveyday he runs heavy equiment with my fiance and all he requires is a hug he loves people and children and I wouldnt trade the two of them for anything. We have had to move up too a king size bed so everyone fits to go to sleep. Dixie is about 50 lbs and Bear is 92 lbs and babies from the word go. But I understand the concerns about pits we have a neighbor who raises little dogs and Baer runs them off the property. Well the lady fillied a lawsuit saying Bear was mean a vicious after meeting with animal control and the local sherriff they both told her she was full of it.

Thank you for a wonderful story!

We have 2 pit bulls of our own and we are fostering a third one after she was found by the police department running the streets. She was going to be put down at the local shelter because they had too many pits.

I don't know the histories of any of my dogs, and there have been issues with shyness, some food aggression between each other with two of them (they have not been food aggressive with humans), and they have all needed to learn house manners. Since they are so trainable and just want to please, they have been wonderful to work with and we have resolved almost all of their issues.

I wish everyone who owns a pit bull would post stories so that the perception of the breed can be changed.

Pits get such a bad rap. It's too bad. People are missing out on the best dogs!

Wonderful story. And just a heads up for those in the midwest area, Farm Bureau does not rate insurance based on dog breeds. They don't even ask if you own a dog at all. I write insurance for them.

Bless you for your commitment to animals in need!
Jennifer

This is a wonderful story- I love pitbulls and hate the bad repuation humans give them- because after all it is humans who make a dog mean- not the dog. I would like to know the name of the insurance company that dropped there insurance so that I never use them for any type of insurance.

That was a wonderful story!! I am a Pit Bull lover and totally agree with you. They get such a bad rap and it's just not fair. It's all in how they are raised. They are the most loyal and wonderful dog I have ever owned! I am so thankful for Dog lovers like you who are willing to take a chance!

Punish the deed and not the breed!

Nicole

My hat is off to you! I just found out what the world is really like and didn't even know that "bully breeds" existed or were not adoptable from a shelter in Maryland, only able to be rescued by a rescue group. I volunteered at Tri-County Animal Shelter and fell in love with a mastiff mix and she was NOT adoptable because of her breed. She was the sweetest dog you could meet. I didn't understand this. Although I was unable to adopt her (I have 2 min pins scared of anything bigger than they are -- which is everything!) I promised her she would NOT be put down. That's what they were going to do to her if she was not rescued. I went to work and within 1 week I had a rescue group put a hold on her so she wouldn't be put down and the following week we had her out of there and on her way to a foster home. However, she was adopted prior to making it through the door to her foster home!!! She will always be loved, just like I promised her!!! I cannot beleive the stories I heard in there and the owner turn ins, the abused and the "bully" breeds! (I believe it, it's just TERRIBLE!!) Needless to say, anyone wanting a dog, I say rescue one or adopt, but don't buy from a pet store or breeder. There are too many out there that need love!!! The world needs to change. They say for us not to discriminate against people! Well I don't beleive we should discriminate against animals either!!!

You are awesome! Not everyone can see past looks and stereotypes. I look at my bully and see a loving dog. I wonder what the hype is about discriminating against an innocent animal. Society believes the media and such is pathetic. The bully truly brings together great people.

Ill tell ya that is amazing story and i do to hope that Obama will help america out of this on coming 2nd great drepression
i have pet finder on my top friends because w/o them i would never have found my baby Jingi on there she makes me so happy my friends said i should of named her shadow not for her colors but because how she folows me everywhere around the house its soo cute too she even sits outside the bathroom door and waits for me to get done with my shower she is such an affectionate cat i love her to death so thank you petfinder for all you do for loving pet owners or better yet for lover pet momys and daddys

What a wonderful person you are for adopting her. Yes, there are insurance problems, but I have two rescued Pit Bulls, and my husband and I are willing to pay the extra premiums to keep them. People like you and me are the ones that are going to change the minds of the people who stereotype the "Pit Bull" without ever having owned one.

What a wonderful story. And you are wonderful for rescuing Lola. My dog Betty is a pit bull mix that looks like a pit bull and is one of the most affectionate dogs ever. I'm so glad we rescued her...and with all of the other sweet pit bulls lying in shelters...I'm thankful anytime I hear about people like you in the world. Thank you. Thank you.

This is a wonderful story with a really happy end!. Unfortunately, I had to face the prejudices and stereotypes that most of people have about pit bulls for the last months. It's incredible that "our" Lola looked so much as yours. We found her on the streets of Mexico City, but because my friend and I live in very small places with other animals, neither of us could take her home. That day we were on our way to a local shelter, and we thought that they would help her... But they didn't, the answer was "we don't want pit bulls"... We received the same answer from every shelter we called or e-mailed in Mexico City, so, we decided to take her to a pension for "big" dogs, where she was looked after. The owner is a really nice man, and he took good care of her while we tried to find her a proper home. We went to visit her as often as we could.
Unfortunalety, she died after being spayed, because she took the stitches away and it was too late to do something when the owner of the pension found out. I needn't say how sad my husband, my friend and I still are. This was our first rescue and we didn't want it to end this way. But the thing is that I am very dissappointed with the shelters here, because they did not help us. We didn't wanto to leave Lola and wash our hands off her, we only wanted a place where she could stay while we found her a home. It was really cruel of one of them to tell us "to leave her where we found her"... Anyway. I'm sorry to spoil the good news, but I think it's important to show the other side.
It's encouraging to know that there are people who really care about pit bulls and dogs in general, and that have no prejudices about taking one of these dogs home.

We wish you all the best with your wonderful family!!! You are an inspiration and a G_d send to all the animals you have and will help, nurture, and love.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this story!!!
Colette Gale

It is very nice to hear a another Good Story involving another Pit Bull. Everybody who has a positive story to share about this wonderful breed needs to share it. People are accustomed to hearing negative stories drilled into them, that they come to look at the breed in a negative way. If we can send out the positive stories to people, letters to the editor, magazines, etc, it will certainly help our breed.

I have an American Pit Bull Terrier, and she is wonderful. She lives with our 3 dogs, our 3 cats, and our 3 children. She is with me when I go many places. People love her and she loves people. I have a few people that are standoffish once they realize she is a pit and not a boxer, but this is after they have had many kisses, smiles and butt wiggles. They have to walk away from Kiya thinking a little different about the breed. Plant seeds and let them grow .....

I love pitties--and agree they are much maligned. I found that through taking the American Kennel Club Good Citizen course we could lower our insurance rates. I have a shep mix and a bully of some sort (the DNA says beagle, lab and spaniel but that big old head says bully/mastiff). The course did wonders for my dog and she continued to therapy dog classes. I am testing our boy soon. He was also abused--neglected, chained to a tree with little shelter, hardly any food or water and a badly damaged back leg from being hit by something (person? car?) that was never attended to. It took months of daily visits to teach him to walk on a leash, then harness. We had him fixed and microchipped. He learned quickly and his eyes pleaded with us every time we left him with the promise to come back. He had never had a toy, play time or a doggie friend to romp with. Eventually when the Northern weather go to be too much we rescued him from his outdoor habitat. The family signed adoption papers and after 6 hard years he became a real dog. He is great--so friendly and sweet with everyone. Some are afraid of him because he is brindled and looks pitty but he has become quite an ambassador of looks being deceiving. Your story is a reminder that those of us who reach out are rewarded by companionship, love and trust. Even though the insurance companies may not understand St. Francis does and rewards those caretakers and rescuers who make a difference in stopping abuse one dog at a time! Keep up the good work!

I too adopted the un-adoptable bully breed. I had just lost my sweet Paradise, an American Eskimo, and felt the need to place my love somewhere. My fiance and I went to several shelters looking for the perfect dog. I had found a Ridgeback at the Sacramento City Shelter that was 11 months old. When we went to meet her, she was just too big for our house, so we kept looking. I wandered off to the puppy section of the shelter, thinking that I needed a puppy to fill the place in my heart left by Paradise. While I was searching for a puppy, my fiance stayed in the older dog section, and made his way to the "Boxer" kennel. He fell in love, instantly, with an all white "Boxer", which really was a Pit Bull. The kennel attendent said that she had already been adopted, so he wandered over to the German Shepards. I had no luck in the puppy section, so I went back over to meet my fiance so that we could leave when a beautiful brown brindle and white face caught my attention. She was gorgeous, but a pit bull. I have worked with bully breeds for more than 6 years, so I knew the work that it would take to keep this dog, so I passed her up. As I started to walk away, she came up to the front of the kennel, sat down, and just stared at me with the softest and most beautiful brown eyes I had ever seen. I asked the kennel attendent about her. She was 13 months old and had allegedly been brought in after being found wandering the streets of Sacramento. I asked if she had any behavioral issues, and the attendent said that I could take her to the play yard and spend some time with her. When she saw the leash, she wagged her tail, then stopped, possibly because she thought that it wasn't her that we wanted to spend time with. She had also seen many roomates leave her behind. When my fiance and I got her to the play yard, it was magical. She smiled when I knelt down to pet her. I put my fingers in her ears, mouth, rolled her over onto her back, all the while becoming more impressed, and more in love with this sweet girl. My fiance and I had found the dog we wanted, and she was a bully breed. We went directly into the office to find out what we needed to do to take sweet April home with us. We were told that she had to be spayed first, that we could take her Monday. We had to wait 5 days to take her home, and that made us sad. The office worker told us that if we hadn't chosen April, she would've been euthanized the very next morning as she had been there for 13 days already. Monday morning couldn't come fast enough for us. I woke up early that morning, filled with joy and anticipation, feelings that I had lost when Paradise died. When I picked up my sweet girl from the vet's office, my heart was filled with so much love I thought I was going to burst. I got her home, and she went directly over to the new bed and toys we had gotten just for her, and picked up the stuffed heart we got. She laid down with it in her mouth, and went to sleep. She was home. We've since named her Princess Layla, and she now has 2 other dogs to play with. She has become the mother dog in our house. When we get foster dogs in, they're often scared and unsure, but Princess Layla shows them her toys, and gives them so much love that they're tails wag within minutes of meeting Layla. Adopting her was the best decision we've made. She will never be without a home of her own.
Thank you all for the love you give to this so misunderstood breed. They are the best dogs to have.

This story is very touching and one that everyone should read. I have my own pitbull story as well. My wife was attacked by our neighbor's pitbull mix. She had followed proper dog-meets-person protocol and she let the dog come to her. The dog wagged his tail, came up and licked her fingers. Then he bit clear through her hand and lunged a second time taking a chunk out of her arm. No provocation. No sudden movements. Happy seeming dog just went completely the other way.

I had never had personal contact with a pitbull. I, myself, had never even met our neighbor's dog. But I got a new job this year and my new boss has a pitbull. I was a little nervous about meeting him. He's small for a male, only 70 lbs., but he's all muscle. And he is possibly the most affectionate dog I have ever met.

He barked at me when I came into the apartment, but I was carrying a huge travel bag. He looked at me and sized me up. I let him do what he wanted and I took my seat on the couch. He took a minute or two and that was all she wrote. I love dogs and dogs usually love me, too. He came over and put his head in my lap. I pet his head. He grunted a happy dog grunt. I put my face down near him and he just licked and licked my face.

I have a basenji and he is as stubborn as a mule! My boss's dog responds to every command instantly. I was amazed. And I see how terribly badly the breed is generalized. Any dog can have a bad moment. Some dogs are more prone to attacks than others. And many have bad people who don't treat them right. Here was a pitbull, raised and treated the right way, that should never cause anyone raised insurance rates or cause someone to be dropped altogether.

I'm sorry you had the bad part of the experience, but I applaud your commitment and I'm sure Lola repays your goodness in spades! Best of luck to both of you!

I am owned by 2 rescues. One I adopted nearly 9 years ago and the other a little over 2 years ago. The youngest was a nearly ferile Katrina rescue GSD. A great challenge but worth every bite! We are an unbeatable trio! Both can be seen on my Facebook. (Hattie M Barnes) I have worked on and off with rescues for many years, but starting last November and into January of 2009, I experienced one of the most heart wrenching personal rescues I can recall. Not so much because of the situation, (it was disgusting and could have been deadly) but the fact that it involved a young Pittie female, (just a puppy herself), and her 4 out of 8 puppies, (Lab/Pittie Mix).
The first wave hit in November after the first really hard freeze. The little pups were out in a dark cold garage filled with garbage and old appliances and just trash in general. Dirt floor, foul smelling, open to the elements and the temp dropped to -3 degrees. The next day, I was able to talk the 18 year old Daughter into surrendering the puppies so they could be made healthy and go to loving homes. After 5 days the rescue that I had adopted my GSD through, and who I was working with now, found a foster to take the puppies. During the 5 days, I discovered that my big Shepherd was a Gentle Nanny and followed my directions to a tee when I jokingly told him it was time for him to work and make sure that the pups did not get into trouble. He took me seriously and did what Shepherds do.
He gently herded them around and kept them out of trouble while I would clean their area about 3 times a day. He would pick them up in his huge mouth like a Mother and move them back where he wanted them ever so carefully. This from the Dog that would have made me a sieve had I allowed it! He made me so proud! On the trip to take the pups to the volunteer who would take them the rest of the way to the Foster parents, he watched them from his rear seat until they fell asleep. When we met up and started the transfer, he supervised, when they were in the other van I asked the other Gal if he could see the pups and when he had, he returned to our Van and was ready to go home. All was well. This was Wed. 26 Nov 2008. They became known as the Thanksgiving Puppies.
Now the Major problem reared it's ugly head! How could or would I be able to remove the little female Pittie from these awful destructive hateful people? The pups were easy, the little mother would not be. There is a ban on Pitt Bulls in this little village and these people had already been served a citation for letting her run un leashed and unattended. Complaints were filled. They lied to the Sheriffs Deputy and told him that they had given her away when they instead had her hidden in the dirt cellar throwing down table scraps and when they thought of it giving her water. No daylight or human contact to speak of. Finally the Sheriffs got too close and they gave her to the 18 year olds boyfriend. He left her alone in his house while he ran all over and she, being still pup herself, and alone, ate his house! He showed up at my door the 30th of Dec and asked if I could let him sleep here. His car had quit running. I allowed it. The next day he told me that he had "Roxie" and she was causing a problem. I was angry, but, held myself in check while I began to plot a RESCUE. It didn't take much. The night of the 31st I took him to his house and saw her through the window. Another of her pups had been found and turned over to him as well, but, that night he was no where to be found. We looked and looked. It was so cold that I was afraid he had gotten out and frozen to death. Later I was told that the boys Uncle had come and taken the pup to a vet. He had been Kicked by the person he had been given to for messing the house. Lazy Evil Man!! I can't swear to that, but, sometimes you just have to hope! I was so close t being able to help Roxie that she was on my mind all that night. On 02 Jan 2009, I got the young man up and out into my Van and we went to his house (yes he was still here)....Roxie went into my Van and into my house, 3 blocks away from where she started. (I had taken steps on the Wednesday before to contact the Authorities in case I could get her to make sure they would allow me to keep her for a few days until we could work out arrangements for her fosters. I was told I could keep her a month as long as "those people" never got their hands on her.) On the 3rd I took her and my 2 who were due for their yearly shots to my vet and shots as well as dewormings were had by all! The jist of this is that after 5 days and another catastraphe with my GSD Roxie finally made it to the next stop in her flight to a better life, a spaying and her next temp foster. She has since twisted the hearts of everyone she meets around her wiggley happy self. She has become the beautiful little girl I knew she was and I am so proud that I was a part of her story as I am sure the others are as well.

thank you so much for that story. it was beautiful just as your new addition is. we have a wonderful lab- pit mix that is at our shelter in wyandotte, Mi and she is the sweetest thing in the world. right from the get go she let us do whatever we wanted to her days old pups to make sure they would be ok. her name is liberty and she is so very awesome, people need to know that pits are not bad the owners are bad!!! i hope you many years of devoted love, which i am sure you all will recieve from her and to her. God bless you all and good luck with your new addition to the family you all including her will be Blessed with years of happiness and love.
mary g.

I love that you posted this story! About 3 weeks ago, we had a pit bull show up pretty much at our doorstep. She looked tired, weak, vold, and like she recently had puppies, although she never should have had a litter so young. I was a little hesitant at first. Not because of her breed, but because she was an unfamiliar dog, and I have 3 small children and 5 other dogs. My worry was not needed however. She is such a sweet and loveable pup. She thinks she is a lapdog. The second day she was here she jumped on my lap, put a paw on each of my shoulders and nuzzled her head against my neck. She does that every morning and every night before bed. Yes, pit bulls are such vicious dogs, aren't they? Now my biggest problem is that I really want to keep her. She has worked her way into my heart as well as my home. I refuse to take her to a shelter because in Ohio they kill any breed that even looks like a pit bull. And I'm terrified to put her up for adoption because there are so many people that would only be interested in her to fight her. But I'm not sure that I can afford the insurance for her right now. Ohio requires a min of an added 100,000 insurance liability. SO ABSURD!! Please, if you know anyone who'd be able to help us in this matter, let me know!
Thank you again for posting. It was a great and heartwarming story.

Love the story, I was one of those ignorant people who didnt believe that pit bulls should breath the same air we do, but I found out that I WAS WRONG.
These dogs are very faithful and loving companions, they can live with other dogs, cats and small children,
These dogs are very gentle and I know lots of people who own them.
I always say it is not the dogs fault there is no mean dog, it is the irresponsible, person who pretend to call themselve the owner.
My son has recently acquired a pit that had been left at his friends house the friend was going to shoot the dog, he is wonderful he is afraid of the cat, and loves his new labrador brothers.
Thank you and others who help these wonderful dogs find forever homes
Deb

As a former supervisor of an animal shelter and a proud owner of a Staff. Terrier also. Your story is awesome. To many times when going on calls or re-writing ordinances I always heard ban pitbulls. It is the owners of these dogs that need to be banned. Our state law is that you can not be breed specific, yet there are towns that are doing this, as for insurance companies. If you look at the numbers, small dogs are the most likely to bite. You don't see them being banned or threatened. It upsets me because mine is a family member. Never give up on this breed. And to make you feel better - we go to animal shelters when we go to a town with them. No Exceptions!

Thank you for sharing your story. I urge you to do so to local papers & governments that are trying to "ban the Pitbull". I work at a vet clinic and volunteer at a shelter, I just love the pit breed and it breaks my heart to hear what people are capable of. Thank you for giving a Pit a chance. A Pit only wants to behave in a manner that makes the owner happy, so what we need is better Pit owners, not less Pit's.
Enjoy Lola as I am sure she is enjoying your family and thankful everyday for the love she receives!

This is a great story. Dogs are man's best friend, and pitbulls are some of the best dogs to come by. Their reputation for viscious maulings should be preceded by their undying loyalty and devotion to their owners. Any dog can attack; it is only a matter of how it is raised and cared for that determines whether it will or not. No animal deserves to be abused.

I hope more people step up to care for cats and dogs in this country, like Joan has. She made sacrifices that most people wouldn't even think of making. But her example is one that everybody should follow. I'd say she's a hero.

Nick
Kalamazoo, MI

Awww...this is an awesome story! Pitbulls are not bad dogs...
They just had bad experiences...
We need more people like this to take in pit bulls....they aren't bad!

I am glad to see that some people are still intelligent enough to know that a breed's reputation doesn't apply to all of them. I hope that the man that hurt your little girl gets exactly what he deserves. Thank God for good people, good vets, and the resilient character of a dog! :)

I truly admire you! Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving a world of comfort and love to Lola, you are a huge inspiration to me.

I wish you and Lola nothing but, peace, love and happiness together :)

My husband and I have adopted 2 Pit Bulls and we have another that we got from a breeder. Pit Bulls is the only breed that we have had, minus my Mini-Pin. These dogs deserve so much more than the life they are given. These dogs are so loyal, clowns, and constant companions. I believe this breed is the ones who love the most! I would love to give every Pittie out there a home. People did this to them, I will go tooth to nail for these babies, someone has to fight for them!

great story. it's too bad pit bulls get such a bad reputation. Great dogs and they are excellent with people and exceptional around children.

WOW! this story touched me in so many ways! I adopted a female,Pitt bull her name is Tess i got her form the Homeless hounds in Princeton MN and she is a lil love and my lil baby gurl, she came form a very bad pass, but even though she got abused she has the biggest heart and an incrediable personality, she is my pride and joy!, I think people dont understand alot about Pits, Its all in the way you treat any dog, and for those people who cant do such things to any animal should be shot or abused how these presious beings get abused, Give them a taste of there own medicine! I just wanted to let you know that your story really touched me and how awesome pits are and how loving and loyal these paticular breeds are! Treat your animals as you would want to be treated they are part of your family!!!

Thank you much
Brit and Tess