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When I see how society has demonized pit bulls just because they are pit bulls, I become so frustrated.

It is wrong and unjust to paint a picture of a certain breed of dogs as all being vicious or unpredictable. Pit bulls have been labeled “dangerous” because of the reputation forced upon them from people using them as fighting dogs. It could have been any breed, but it was Pit bulls who are tortured and forced to fight and are pawns to human greed. They are bred specifically for the purpose of fighting and have no chance for a normal life unless they are rescued. If these pit bulls do not want to fight or lose a fight they are punished by the most inhumane methods and die unimaginable deaths. They are beaten, hung, starved, electrocuted, slammed onto the ground, shot and set on fire when they are still alive and thrown away. Have you ever seen a frightened pit bull in a ring that does not want to fight? It is pitiful how they claw at the sides of the wall trying desperately to escape the insurmountable torture they know they are about to face. Only the heartless would not shed tears after seeing that. And when they are injured they are improperly and superficially bandaged up and set in a dark place alone and in pain without any compassion. Pit bulls that are used as bait dogs are not medically tended to at all. A bait dog is one who has his teeth taken out or a tape bound around his mouth so that the training dog could attack and kill this innocent, defenseless and terrorized pit bull without injury to the dog in training. They feel pain, they feel fear and they feel and express love. These dogs are afraid and they should be because they see more horror in their short lifetime than most humans see in theirs.

SO TELL ME WHO IS THE REAL VICTIM??

This reputation of pit bulls is sadly misplaced. It is the people who train and abuse these dogs who are completely at fault and yet ignorance and sensational reporting has led to a deception that all pit bulls have an innate desire to attack anything in its path. Pit bulls have been banned from communities and as this happens people are forced to give up their family members whom they love. These pets face death and again they are victimized by a uninformed government that is supposed to protect them. It’s time to set aside the misguided prejudice about pit bulls. Reporting only on pit bull attacks has caused society to take a defensive posture against them. How can it be that a “breed” is accused of being vicious, when the truth is that not every single pit bull has bitten or attacked or even shown aggressive tendencies? If the reputation they have received is true than why aren’t there attacks every single day. It doesn’t make sense that millions of pit bulls have been family members that enjoy playing with other dogs at a park or love to sit on the lap of those they love and snuggle with their guardian. Those of us who have never had a pit bull as a family member but only met them on the walking trails have found them to be very engaging and loveable mutts. They approach with their tails wagging so hard that their whole body shakes. It’s kind of comical. I have met up with pit bulls I didn’t know and taken their huge heads in my head and kissed their noses, only to be met with wet sweet kisses back. If this is aggression bring it on.

It is nonsense and outrageous that a whole breed of dogs would be considered as “dangerous”. I don’t think there is one dog breed where at least one member did not bite someone at some time. This is not exclusively pit bulls. It is shameful how these dogs have been targeted and how this witch-hunt has been allowed. Even our government operates on fear based and untrue information which condemns all dogs that fall under this breed. Each dog has an individual personality. It is not a collective personality. They respond independently of one another.

We ask that our Representatives learn the truth about Pit bulls. We need Representatives who will try and understand about Pit bulls. Visit a pit bull rescue. Talk to people who are well versed in the understanding of pit bulls. With this knowledge, you may save an innocent life. These dogs are thriving members of society when placed with the right person who cares. There are countless stories of pit bulls saving lives and helping people. These stories remain untold and in the shadows. If we are not helping to stop the victimizing of pit bulls, we are re-victimizing them all over again.

Ace’s law – (in honor of Ace, the pit bull in Detroit who was unjustly put down because he was a pit bull) we ask our Representatives to introduce a bill that will stop the banning or discrimination of a certain dog breed in the United States and in Europe. For a state to ban a breed is leaving countless dogs abandoned in shelters, creating overpopulation and, these dogs, once in familiar and loving homes are than euthanized because of breed specific legislation instead of anything they did wrong. It is based on discrimination. Isn’t that what America has fought against with people and now our government is encouraging discrimination out of fear. It is a shame that the guardians of these pets are left grieving and distraught because of this error in judgment. When you take away the rights of people and treat these innocent dogs as “dangerous” it produces fear and more discrimination.

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Title: The Truth About Pit Bulls

If you’d like to hear from someone who has A LOT of experience with Pit Bulls, well… here I am. I’ve been bitten by a lot of dogs in my life… Labs, Chihuahuas, Spaniels. But out of the thousands of dogs I’ve worked with, I have never been bitten by a Pit Bull.

In animal rescue, I deal with the worst of the worst… and these Pit Bulls come to me in the most broken, fearful, and vulnerable state. If a dog is going to bite someone, it’ll most likely happen when they’re in that fragile, uncertain state… only because they are terrified.

And yet — not one of those Pit Bulls has ever bitten me. I work with them daily — many of them. Do you honestly believe that I’d put my life in danger every single day?? And if they’re truly so vicious, wouldn’t I have been bitten or attacked by now? If they were really so dangerous and unpredictable, surely I’d be at greater risk than anyone else… dealing with so many of them on a daily basis… right? And yet, nothing has happened. Hmm…

The truth is: Pit Bulls aren’t any more dangerous than other large breeds, and they aren’t any less loving or deserving than any other dog. Wouldn’t you choose to believe someone who actually knows these dogs… over someone who has never even met one???

I don’t fear them, so they don’t fear me. I love them, so they love me. That’s critical. Because when fear is present and love is absent, any dog can become terrified.

Read the entire post at: The Truth About Pit Bulls

If you love dogs (of any breed) then you really need to read her whole post. This girl truly cares and obviously knows what she is talking about. Trust me, it is incredible! The link is above, click it.

I also encourage you to donate whatever you can to her rescue: Donate

And no, I don’t get anything out of this other than the satisfaction of knowing that maybe I have helped her in some small way. We aren’t friends, we’ve never even met and probably never will, but I am a huge fan of what she is trying to do with her dog rescue.

Ashley, if you happen to read this… THANK YOU!

When you look at some statistical facts by the numbers it doesn’t seem like it should be so newsworthy when a pit bull type dog kills someone…

In the United States there are only around 26 people killed on average by dogs each year — That’s ALL dog breeds, not just pit bulls. At the same time there is an average of around 17,000 people murdered by other people every year in the USA. And more than 200 women kill their OWN children in the United States each year!

Taking those numbers into account, you are MUCH safer sitting in a room full of pit bulls than you are sitting on the couch next to your own mom!

Oh and let’s not forget that somewhere around 15,000,000 dogs are killed by humans every year! Yes, that’s 15 MILLION. It’s no wonder they get a little pay back every once in a while.

Fact: According to the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) for dogs, the American Pit Bull Terrier receives a passing score of over 86% — That is better than Beagles, Golden Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, German Shorthaired Pointers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzu’s, Weimaraners, and many others that people typically consider to be “friendly” breeds! The pit bulls score is also better than the average among all dog breeds.

Also, according to the CDC there are about 4.5 million people bitten by dogs each year. Almost 1 in 5 of those who are bitten — a total of 885,000 — require medical attention for their dog bite related injuries. In 2006, more than 31,000 people underwent reconstructive surgery as a result of being bitten by dogs.

So, that means every day about 2,425 people are bitten seriously enough by a dog to go get medical attention for it. How many of those did you hear about today? I’m guessing it was ZERO — maybe one or two at the most. But I bet the next time a pit bull sends someone to the hospital you will hear about it. That’s the only time the news cares enough to report it. Which is exactly why they get an undeserved bad rap perpetrated by the media.

I would be willing to bet that every person who reads this has been around a pit bull at least one time in their lives. How many of those same people were bitten by that “vicious killer” of a dog while they were around it? I’ll guess NONE!

I’ve been around thousands of dogs in my life — many of them Pit Bulls, Rottweiler’s, German Shepherds, Dobermans and all the other breeds people say are killers — and the ONLY one that has ever attacked me was a cute little Beagle! I don’t hear anyone saying how vicious Beagles are, and I certainly don’t think they all are just because that one was.

Please don’t fall into the trap of false fear and myths perpetrated by the media!

Still don’t think the media is at least partially to blame? Then, check this out…

An article from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states:

“Animal control officers across the country have told the ASPCA that when they alert the media to a dog attack, news outlets respond that they have no interest in reporting on the incident unless it involved a pit bull. A quantitative study by the National Canine Resource Council (NCRC) of dog-bite reportage in a four-day period proves that anti-pit bull bias in the media is more than just a theory — it’s a fact.

1. August 18, 2007 — A Labrador mix attacked a 70-year-old man, sending him to the hospital in critical condition. Police officers arrived at the scene and the dog was shot after charging the officers. This incident was reported in one article in the local paper.

2. August 19, 2007 — A 16-month-old child received fatal head and neck injuries after being attacked by a mixed-breed dog. This attack was reported on twice by the local paper.

3. August 20, 2007 — A six-year-old boy was hospitalized after having his ear torn off and receiving a severe bite to the head by a medium-sized, mixed-breed dog. This incident was reported in one article in the local paper.

4. August 21, 2007 — A 59-year-old woman was attacked in her home by two pit bulls and was hospitalized with severe, but not fatal, injuries. This attack was reported in over 230 articles in national and international newspapers, as well as major television news networks including CNN, MSNBC and Fox.

Along with over-reporting, false reporting is a major contributor to the public relations nightmare currently facing pit bulls. There is an emerging tendency for all short-haired, stocky dogs to be called pit bulls—and when a dangerous dog’s breed is unknown, the media is not above assuming that the dog involved must have been a pit bull. The National Canine Resource Council terms this phenomenon “Everything is a pit bull, whether it is or not.” In the rush to publish, the pit bull label is often inaccurately applied—and even if a correction is later made, the damage is done. Not all media bias is necessarily intentional, but it forms an impression on the public and on legislators nonetheless.”

They will hunt any kind of animal but it was their ability to hunt and protect against bears that earned the breed its name. This dog will chase a bear off or attack it with great tenacity to the point of sacrificing its own life for its master, if needed. The Karelian Bear Dogs quick reflexes and fearless nature have also made it very popular for hunting other large or aggressive game, such as the wild boar.

Temperament:

The Karelian Bear Dog is a robust, persistent, and powerful dog that is willing to take on virtually any game animal. They are typically loyal, sensitive, independent, intelligent, skillful, determined, and energetic. This breed is also very protective and will protect their owners with their life.

Proper socialization and training is absolutely necessary due to their disposition. They have been bred to be independent but they are very loyal to their masters and make good household companions when they have owners who know how to display leadership and the dog is trained well. This is not a breed for inexperienced dog owners.

They are silent hunters that alert only when they have the prey at bay, and they are very tenacious when need be. They are also very territorial and will alert their master to the presence of any danger, strangers or other animals nearby. They can often be naturally aggressive towards other dogs. True outdoors enthusiasts and dedicated hunters would be delighted with this hard working breed.

They love people and love to play, but are not recommended for a family with small children because of their size, strength, and potential for rough play. It is very unusual for a Karelian Bear Dog to bite or attack a person but they will certainly kill another animal if they feel threatened or the opportunity arises.

Exercise:

The Karelian Bear Dog is a very energetic breed as a whole. This is not a dog breed that can be tied to a chain outside, stay in an apartment, or never allowed to run. They should have an acreage or a farm so they can run, or at least plenty of other exercise. A brisk walk for at least an hour each day is the minimum for exercising them.

The KBD does not like to be confined for very long. They can be kept in an outdoor kennel as long as they are allowed plenty of chances to get out. They are hunting dogs and they need plenty of space to roam free and get lots of exercise. If they get bored, they will dig up the yard or try to get out to go hunting. These traits tend to prevent the breed from becoming popular companion dogs.

Size and Health:

They are a fairly healthy breed. Life expectancy is 10-12 years. Weight is around 50 pounds.

The KBD hasn’t been in the United States for very long but it is gaining popularity. This is especially true in Alaska where their skills are required frequently. If you have the time and experience to properly own a dog of this nature a Karelian Bear Dog might just be the breed for you!

I know I have already written about some of these pit bull myths before but I think it is a very important topic, so I wanted to talk about a few more false assumptions as well as some truths about this wonderful breed.

Here are 10 things you may not know about Pit Bulls that are either true or false…

1) Pit Bulls Often Serve as Therapy and Service Dogs.

This is true.

Pit Bulls have long served as therapy dogs for people in need. In fact, Helen Keller had a Pit Bull for her canine helper. Organizations such as the Chako Rescue Association have Pit Bull therapy dogs all across the country.

2) American Pit Bull Terriers Can Lock Their Jaws.

This is false.

Expert scientific studies prove that the jaws of Pit Bulls are no different than any other breed of dog. There is no evidence that any kind of locking mechanism exists in the American Pit Bull Terrier or any other related dog breed.

3) Pit Bulls Brains Swell and Never Stop Growing Until they Go Crazy.

This is false.

This is a myth that began a long time ago with the Doberman Pinscher and has now grown to include many game-bred dog breeds. The assumption of a dog’s brain continuing to grow or swell until they become violent is a complete myth.

4) Many Well-Known Celebrities Own Pit Bulls.

This is true.

Here are just some of the known celebrities who own or have owned at least one pit bull…

Madonna, Brad Pitt, Humphrey Bogart, Pink, Jessica Biel, Jon Stewart, Ken Howard, Alicia Silverstone, Adam Brody, Jamie Foxx, Rachael Ray, Joey Porter, Jessica Alba, President Theodore Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, Kevin Federline, Ira Glass, Fred Astaire, General George Patton, Michael J. Fox, Jan Michael Vincent, Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison, Bernadette Peters, Sinbad, Linda Blair, Usher, Mel Brooks, Ann Bancroft, Jan Michael Vincent, Eliza Dushku, Kelli Williams, and Rachel Bilson.

5) Pit Bulls are Mean and Violent.

This is false.

According to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls pass their test with flying colors. In fact, the Pit Bull scores a little over 85% which is better than many dog breeds that people consider to be friendly or nice.

To put that score into perspective, it is better than the Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, Collie, Golden Retriever, Pointer, Pomeranian, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Vizsla, and most other dog breeds actually. The average score of the general dog breed population is only around 77% so the Pit Bull scores much better than the average.

The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The success of Pit Bulls in this series of tests proves they are not naturally mean or violent.

6) America’s First War Dog Was a Pit Bull.

This is true.

The first official war dog in the United States was a Pit Bull named Stubby. He served in World War I and was honored with medals and even got to visit the White House. He then went on to inspire the United States Military K-9 Corp.

7) You Shouldn’t Adopt a Pit Bull from a Shelter.

This is false.

When looking to adopt a dog, you definitely should not exclude the Pit Bull. Reputable shelters and animal rescues will not adopt out any dog that shows signs of aggression. It’s always a good idea to bring your entire family to the shelter when considering adopting a dog of any breed. Talk to the rescue organization about your concerns and ask questions before adopting any dog. Most Pit Bull adoptions are very successful. An adoptable Pit Bull will make a wonderful pet and companion for you and your family.

8) Pit Bulls Have Made Many TV, Movie and Print Appearances.

This is true.

The faithful dog on the TV show “The Little Rascals” was a Pit Bull named Petey. He spent countless hours with children day after day on the set of the show. It has been said that he was one of the most intelligent dogs in Hollywood. Pit Bulls have also been in many other television shows, movies, and music videos over the years.

Also, the Pit Bull was so respected in the early 1900′s that the military chose an image of a dignified pit bull to represent the country on WWI propaganda posters.

The pit bull is also the only dog breed to have graced the cover of Life Magazine three different times.

9) Treadmills are Only Used to Train Pit Bulls for Dog Fighting.

This is false.

Many responsible dog owners, especially those in cities, use treadmills to help exercise their dogs, regardless of breed. Pit Bulls are naturally athletic dogs and responsible use of a pet treadmill is a great option for having a happy and healthy dog.

10) Banning Pit Bulls Will Cure the World of Dog Biting Incidents.

This is false.

The United Kingdom banned pit bulls in the 1990′s and afterward a study showed that the number of dog bite cases remained the same even though the number of pit bulls in the country had steeply declined.

11) A Pit Bull named Weela saved 30 people, several dogs, horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California.

This is true.

After a dam broke on the Tijuana River stranding several dogs and a cat on an island, Weela crossed the river to take food to them for an entire month until they could be rescued. She also led a rescue team to a bunch of stranded horses and ran back and forth barking to warn a group of 30 people of the deep water they were attempting to cross. For her bravery, Weela was award the Ken-L-Ration Dog Hero of the Year in 1993.

12) Here are a few more facts about some various Pit Bulls that you might want to know:

* A pit bull named Dakota is a search and rescue dog that searched for the remains of the astronauts who lost their lives in explosion of the space shuttle Columbia.

* A pit bull named Popsicle, who police found in a freezer during a drug raid, is now famous for sniffing out drugs for the DEA.

* A rescued pit bull in South Los Angeles was County Fire Station 14′s mascot for years.

So, as you can see, pit bulls are not the evil beasts they have been portrayed as being in recent years. If you ask any dog expert or knowledgeable dog breeder they will tell you that the American Pit Bull Terrier is a wonderful dog breed that does not deserve the bad reputation it has been given.