Tough on the Outside, Soft on the Inside!

So you think Pit Bulls are tough? Take a look at THIS guy! His name is Bernard Hopkins. True, that does not sound terribly tough or scary but then you may not know his profession or nick name. Mr. Hopkins is a professional boxer known as “The Executioner.” He not only help ALL FOUR middleweight championship belts (the only fighter to do this at any weight class,) but successfully defended his belts over 20 times in 10 years.

This is a very, VERY tough man.

Why is this important? Because Mr. Hopkins is also a very soft, loving man that has partnered with another VERY tough but VERY loving partner – Pit Bulls. Together they are trying to dispel some myths about Pit Bulls, specifically the myth that spaying or neutering your dog will ‘make it worse’ or otherwise change your dog negatively. The truth is that Spaying and Neutering your Pit Bull is a GOOD thing. In a recent article on Phily.com Mr. Hopkins said:

"I'm a dog lover. At the end of the day, if you don't spay and neuter dogs like this, it can cause chaos."

Mr. Hopkins will be featured on billboards in primarily inner-city areas to help get the message out that spaying and neutering is not only a GOOD thing, but is very important to the health of the dog and their socialization. These billboards will also feature some more very though people like Ivan “Mighty” Robinson, and an Olympic Hopeful by the name of Mike Jones. The hope is to show inner city males (the prime demographic for this issue) that their manhood is not tied to their dogs testicles, but that they are actually more of a man by taking care of their dogs and being a responsible owner.

One of my favorite quotes from the article is from Kathy McGuire, president and founder of NJAFA:

"Neutering your pit bull doesn't make it any less of an animal, but it makes you more of a man," said McGuire.

Take that you guys!

This program is being sponsored by the New Jersey Aid for Animals (www.njafa.org)

Pinups for Pittbulls - 2 Birds with One Stone!

Those of you who have read anything on either our blog our our main website know that I LOVE Pit bulls. No matter the color, size, sex, I love them. They are beautiful creatures that I have trouble taking my eyes off when ever I see one.

Another thing that I love are Pit bull Activists. People that do their best to raise awareness and change the hearts and minds of the general public about these wonderfully loving dogs. Well, here is a group that, as a red-blooded male, it is easy to like for a couple of reasons. Those couple reasons are (not THOSE!) beautiful 40's-esque pinups and gorgeous dogs.

Pinups for Pitbulls is a wonderful organization. Instead of me telling you what they do, I will let them do it. The following quote is from their Mission page:

"Pinups for Pitbulls, Inc works to educate the public about the history and temperament of the American Pit Bull Terrier and pit bull type dogs, to raise awareness about Breed Specific Legislation and Breed-specific abuse, and to raise funds for "bully-breed" friendly rescues and dogs in need."

What does all that mean? Well, like many other groups, they are working to increase the collective intelligence on these dogs. To help John Q. Public realize that these are NOT killers, but loving family dogs. Please take a few moments to at least watch the video above. If you have a couple double lattes you can give up, please make a donation, as money is always the biggest need.

This is a tremendous group and do a lot to raise funds, however one of their biggest is their annual Pinups for Pitbulls Calendar. Please go have a look as you will not be disappointed. NO, it is not dirty. Think Marilyn Monroe. You can see more of their photos on their Peep Show page. Again, there is nothing here you would not see in at WORST a PG film.

So, where are the 2 birds? Well, there are 12 of them in the calendar, but in all seriousness they are YOU getting a nice calendar and the DOGS getting a couple bucks to help the breed. Please help as you can, and thank you.

Stop Fighting the Dogs Video

 OK, anyone that knows me can tell you as far as the world of Rap and Hip-Hop music goes, I am not up on who the stars are, who is current the most popular, etc. Old white guys are not really the demographic for this musical genre. So when I say I have NO CLUE who K-Lethal or Lady Bishop this is a solid fact.

I will tell you now however, that these 2 individuals are now hero’s of mine. They have teamed up to do a music video called “Stop Fighting the Dogs” which is aimed at another demographic I am not part of, and that is the people that fight dogs. These people are statistically also very likely to be in the target demographic of these 2 rap stars, so they are speaking directly to their ‘peeps’ as the saying goes. I applaud K-Lethal and Lady Bishop for this. They are helping to spread a vital message among those that are the most likely to know of or participate in this horrible practice (I will not call it a sport ever.) They have also involved a number of younger children in the filming, which is a brilliant move. Enroll them when they are young and you will have pro-dog deciples for the rest of their lives!

This video activism is a fantastic first move, and I hope it will inspire many more Rap and Hip-Hop artists to do likewise, and tell those that they have influence over that Dog fighting is  nothing more that torture for sport and should be stopped at ALL costs!

Please help spread the message. After watching this video, please SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE.

Thank you for your support.

The Vick Dog Blog

As the responsible owner of a Pit Bull I have been following the updates on the Michael Vick dogs with great joy and appreciation to those that did so much to save the innocent victims, or Vick-tims as they should be called. If you have read the book The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick's Dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption then you know what exactly happened to many of his other dogs, and the horrible pain, suffering, and torture that was inflicted upon them.

If you have not followed this or followed it closely you may not know that a group of people fought, very hard, to be able to rescue and rehabilitate almost all of the dogs that were removed from Vick's property at the time of his arrest. Most of them are now wonderfully 'normal' dogs that are working Therapy Dogs that bring joy to others.

I do not want to use this post to again rail about Mr. Vick and the fact he should still be in jail, but instead I want to share with you the Vick Dog Blog. A wonderful place with wonderful stories and images of the Vick survivors and what they are doing now. Please, take a couple minutes and visit their blog, read a little and (hopefully) make a comment or two to show your support. Their blog really helps put a 'face' to the victims and survivors of something that is still happening every day all across America. Hopefully we can begin to stamp out dog fighting in this country. A lofty goal for sure, but one that is very close to my heart.

Another great place to visit FREQUENTLY is BadRap.org. These are people that are on the front lines of the Vick specific dogs, as well as Bully Breed Rescue. They are wonderful people and deserve your support and donations!

For more information on Pit Bulls or BSL you can read more at CapawbleHands.org!

The Pit Bull Training Team; Changing Hearts and Minds

Just about every Saturday morning in one of the most depressed areas of Chicago, Jeff Jenkins can be found setting up home-made obstacles and dog agility equipment at the Carrol Care Center on the Chicago’s west-side. Jeff is something of a brand-new hero of mine, because not only is he on the front lines of the fight against dog fighting, and making progress, but because he is also helping at risk youth in that same neighborhood.

Jeff’s program, called the Pit Bull Training Team, began in 2006 with a simple goal; To reintroduce the concept of a dog as a pet and family member to at-risk youths. This sounds really silly until you consider many of the targeted demographic have never known a a dog as a loving pet, but only as a participant in blood sport for fun or money. All they have ever known of a Pit Bull is that is is entertainment at best, perhaps the source of a few dollars in their pockets. But Jeff is changing that perception, and perhaps significantly more as well.

In any class of 20 or so, at least half of the students have fought dogs. In an interview with Time Out Chicago,  Jeff said: “To a lot of these guys, fighting their dogs was like a pickup game of basketball.”  This shows in very real terms just how much these kids have invested in or care about their dogs. But the Pit Bull Training Team is making real progress in changing this perception. These 20 kids and their dogs come every week, and help a Pit Bull stay out of the fight game, and in the pet game.

During the course of a class, the handlers are tasked with leading their dogs through a series of obstacles and challenges. Some dogs are less than thrilled and it is the handlers job of finding some way of engaging and encouraging the dogs to complete the task or overcome the obstacle. Whether is is getting silly, getting excited, or getting down on the ground and just silently encouraging a frightened or unsure dog, the handler has to find a way.

Another excellent quote from Jeff in the article: “You gotta pick your energy up, get silly. Your dog could be 90 pounds of angry, but if he’s intimidated, you might have to sit on the ground, pull out a treat, wiggle it around and encourage him. Sometimes you gotta get little for your dog to get big.”

It is precisely this philosophy that makes is pretty clear that, in the end, it is not only the dogs that are being trained and learning confidence. Jeff’s program targets “both ends of the leash” as he says it. As with any teenager they are only trying to fit into their environment as best they can: “Oftentimes, these guys are scared and they’re looking for something to be tough with. If it ain’t a gun, maybe it’s a pit bull.” Jeff’s program helps the trainer develop pride in themselves, pride in their accomplishments, and pride in that they have been able to “rehabilitate” a fighting dog into a wonderful pet and beloved family member.

For more information on Jeff’s program, please see the links below. Most especially PLEASE use the ‘donate’ link. A tax deduction, and a very worthy program:

• Full Time Out Chicago Article (with a LOT of GREAT pictures!)
• The Pit Bull Training Team
• End Dog Fighting Program
• DONATE to the Humane Society!

A "Vicious Pit Bull" at WalMart

As you know we own a Pit Bull names Jethro (who is specifically an AmStaff) so we are always hearing the 'bad stuff' about these wonderful dogs. I received an email from a friend in Florida with some pictures of a "Vicious Pit Bull" he and his wife encountered outside WalMart about a week ago, and I laughed so hard I just had to share it.

Apparently this man and his dog were outside WalMart playing music and asking (ok, begging) for money. He would play, and the dog would stand there, or aly there, looking about as scary as someone in a coma! The 'vicious dog' was arrayed in some very intimidating clothing designed to enhance his natural intimidation factor of the Pit Bull - an ugly tie-dyes shirt shirt that would have made a Grateful Dead fan proud, and sunglasses that never moved from his head.

By all reports, this vicious dog was terrorizing patrons as they approached him. If anyone got with in 5 feet, he would immediately roll to his back in an obvious attempt to draw them closer by letting them rub his fat, white belly, with the obvious plan to rip them apart once they fell for the oldest ploy in the world. Fortunately for the indented victim the attack never came, as he apparently fell asleep while being petted. The truly amazing part is despite all his vicious rolling over on his back and standing back up, his sunglasses never once moved (my friend actually looked to see if they were screwed to his head.)

Ladies and Gentlemen, in all seriousness, this is really the true nature of the Pit Bull - a warm, loving dog that adores not only their people, but ALL people. Please, share this everywhere. Please help others to see what MOST Pit Bulls are really like, and to share a positive message about these wonderful animals.