When advocating hurts...

When will we stand as a people and hold those we elect responsible and demand change? There comes a time in our lives when a cause that’s close to our hearts forces us to get involved socially. That’s what happened to us a little over a year ago.  With the fire burning inside of us to seek change and justice for ALL pit bulls or dogs that “resemble” a pit bull we took to social media outlets, participated in rallies, sat in committee meetings, wrote legislators, wrote proposed legislation, joined alliances with other advocates/groups, shared posts,answered e-mails from concerned pit bull guardians, and the list goes on however, change cannot come from the bottom, it must come from the top.

Pit Bull guardians have been under attack for many years and the attacks are relentless.  The writing is on the wall this bully breed is not wanted and will not be tolerated.  Time after time after time this sediment is evident. From the senseless killing of Lennox, who wasn’t a pit bull, justlooked like one to the overcrowding at shelters.  Shelters and rescue organizations are overworked and underpaid, what keeps them going is the pure love for this animal.  People are forced to make a decision for some is easy to make and for others the thought is debilitating, the decision to prematurely euthanize a beloved family pet/member or up root their family and find another place to live due to ignorance, fear and discrimination.  Those that have the power to listen and make wise and correct decision refuse to listen to those that put them in power.  Marylanders have been fighting this fight for a while, long before Maryland Court of Appeals handed down their ruling naming pit bulls “inherently dangerous.”  They have been fighting the stereotyping of pit bulls in Prince George’s County since 1996 when pit bulls were outlawed.  Mayor Joe of Laurel, Maryland has been fighting this fight and asked the now jailbird Jack Johnson to review and repeal the ban to no avail.  The now County Executive Rushern Baker mentioned in his campaign he would change the environment at Animal Control however, when contacted by Mayor Moe and us aletter patronizing us is all we received. It was a letter hiding behindMaryland Court of Appeals ruling. 

Maryland legislators had an opportunity to get it right for many renters, landlords and families to set the bar for the nation when it comes to pit bulls.  Instead of looking at the all the facts and making a logical decision it was politics as usual.Yes, we understand the law would affect many people and they want to make sure they get it right but the legislators did not do that, instead they let the bill fail which means the court ruling stands. Many families will be impacted because of the lack of empathy and frankly lack of concern.  To further solidify our position of those not caring, a follower of a known advocacy group had the pleasure of meeting Governor Martin O’Mally prior to the special session asked the Governor if there was a chance the pit bull ruling will be on agenda (at this time it was still unclear if the ruling was going to be on the agenda) per the gentleman who had the encounter with Governor O’Malley said the Governor said “he hopes not.”  It is this kind of callus thinking many families will have to make that agonizing decision to uproot the family and find another place to live or take their family member to the shelter knowing her/his fate ultimately is death.

Where you at?

On Sunday, August 26th we held our second event titled “Sips with Sweet Pits” benefiting Ambassador Pit Bull Rescue.  Though the weather didn’t cooperate overall the event was successful.  There were several pit bulls attending the event with their guardians as well as other breeds of dog.  All of the dogs got along, where playing and greeting each other nicely.  The guardians of these dogs were surprised to see the many adoptable pit bulls or rescue dogs behaving themselves.  The musician acknowledged this fact by stating “how he was excited to see so many pit bulls on the premises and look no one is being attacked.”  One might look at his statement as being condescending however, he was telling the truth.  Upon entering the winery with the adoptable dogs some patrons looked appalled the winery would allow “that” breed into their establishment.  After getting all people and dogs settled the event and the day went well.

Our sister who was afraid of pit bulls due to the misinformation she received from the media was one of those that came out and supported us.  Although we’ve had Sasha and Krush for over a year it was not until April 28th, at our inaugural event, “Pits & Pumps” Dog Fashion show that our sister mustered up the nerve and walked Krush confidently, boldly and quite stylish may we add down the dog walk.  As she walked down the dog walk her wall started to come down and she started thinking that this bully breed might not be as bad as previously thought.  However, her motto was, “we’ve changed her perception but, not her mind.”  We were ok with that because once a person’s perception is changed you can change their mind.  Krush and Sasha were doing just that for our sister as they have done with other members in our family and the community.  To solidify the change in perception in her mind was when Krush saved our family from a possible intruder. Upon hearing the story her wall came tumbling down like the Berlin wall.  Krush and Sasha had WON, another pit bull had changed the perception and mind of a productive member of society.  Our sister attended “Sips with Sweet Pits” on Sunday to find her “Brutus” and of course support us.  There were several pit bulls to choose from however, one caught her attention, grabbed her heart and would not let go. His name is Moosh aka Brutus to our sister.  Moosh was all she could talk about, the entire family was excited about Moosh however, there was a dark cloud that loomed over the situation…the pink elephant no one wanted to talk about but, needed to be spoken on….our sister lives in a county that bans pit bulls.  The ban has been instituted since February 1997.

Our family knows how much we love pit bulls and how we have been on the forefront of abrogating this ban from Prince George’s County, Maryland.  Now the fight has become personal.  After our sister posted on facebook that she would be getting Moosh aka Brutus, posting pictures and providing a play by play of her filling out the application; the pink elephant in the room moved.  She received an e-mail from the rescue stating because she lives in a county that has BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) she would not be allowed to adopt Moosh aka “Brutus”. She was deflated and off to social media she went to vent about the situation.  Everyone showed their support for her in this dark hour as they did when the sun shined.  Many, apologized and others googled and provided facts we already knew.  A huge debate ensued which we indulged separating fact from fiction.  Our sister knows we have been fighting for this ban to be abrogated however, it went in one ear and out of the other, now that it affects her decision and the type of dog she wants it’s time to sound the alarm.  Where was this same passion when we sent invitations to the public to come together to form a formidable plan to take to the council members to review and repeal the ban.  Many members in the community have suffered in silence for so long, many animals are dying daily, many neighboring counties, cities and states are suffering due to this ban, yet many that showed support for our sister will do nothing to change the law that inevitably will affect them some day.  To all those that sit on social media to vent instead of writing your council member, senate, delegates, sheriffs, police, animal control etc. WHERE YOU AT? Stand up and make your vote and voice heard.

Star Pupil & Ambassador for his breed

When adopting an American Pit Bull Terrier from any rescue organization they’ll be the first to say and put in print “make sure your dog is an “Ambassador” for the breed.  When we adopted Sasha we had no clue what that meant, all we knew was we had a dog and not just any dog but a Pit Bull! Many family and friends weren’t happy with our choice of breed however, it’s our life and Sasha was going to be an “Ambassador” for her breed (whatever that meant).  As family and friends met Sasha their defenses surely came down.  Then the light came on and we finally understood what the rescue had meant.  Sasha stunned us and all she encountered with her smile and loving demeanor.  What a joy it was when our neighbors would stop us as we walked Sasha some even allowing her to come in their yard to play with their children! Not only was Sasha a local celebrity but, an “Ambassador” for her breed.  Many of our neighbors never encountered or interacted with a pit bull and only knew what they heard and seen through the media.  Here this white, stocky, female dog who smiled while her backside wagged so hard she could barely stand in one place was changing the mindset and perception of this bully breed.

Then came a 5-month old hyper, mischievous, reddish brown and white male pit bull mix. Clearly our family, friends and neighbors figured we had lost our minds.  The community was accepting of one pit bull however; were we pushing it by adding another pit bull let alone a male?  Having a clear understanding of what an “Ambassador” for the breed meant, we let Krush’s mannerisms speak for themselves.  Krush was no Sasha by any stretch of the imagination, he was younger, hyper, had little to no regard for personal space, a nipper and he was jealous. How in the world could this pit bull be an “Ambassador”? He appeared to be the menace that the media screams about.   We enrolled Krush in puppy training when he was 6 months and who knew....there was an “Ambassador” in him.  Krush was the calmest, most respectful, confident, obedient, food driven PIT BULL in the class! As the training went on, Krush continued to improve and be the star pupil of the class.  The majority of the dogs in the class were German Shepherds and they were whiny, lacked confidence, and darn right annoying (before folks get their panties in a bunch we love German Shepherds, had one growing up best darn dog ever, Love you Tobi).  When they would whine, Krush would look at us as if to say what’s wrong with them. Krush became the instructor’s favorite (we’re taught to try not to favor a dog or breed) dog to use for demonstrations.  You can only imagine the smile on our faces.  What solidified Krush as a true “Ambassador” was at the end of the class when many of the other owners came up to us to say how impressed they were with Krush and his behavior and how they wish their dog was as obedient as he was.  Many of them never interacted with a pit bull nor had any desire to because of what they “heard” from the media.  Krush smashed their negative perception and changed their minds about pit bulls.  What impressed everyone even more was when they met him, Krush must’ve known they wanted to touch his handsome self because he would stick his head out of the window to allow them to pet him.  That day we cried and our jaws hurt from smiling so much. In the parking lot Krush was a true “Ambassador” and celebrity like his big sister.  Clients from the other classes would stay around for a chance to met the “magnificent” pit bull named Krush!   Krush showed why he’s a true “Ambassador” in every sense of the word.

We’re in the final stages of our training certification. During this phase we have to bring a dog that we’ve worked with (our own or another) to see if we’ve been practicing our techniques as well as get assistance on the nagging things that keep our pups from being all they can be.  Again Krush is called upon and he doesn’t miss a beat.  As usual he’s the only pit bull and the looks on the faces of the clients are priceless.  Krush walked in like any other dog and began to  sniff around.  Most of the dogs were off leash which helps them socialize.  Krush didn’t have an opportunity to roam free but he was respectful and enjoyed smelling all of the new butts he was meeting. Class started shortly after we got there and Krush shined as bright as the northern star.  The energy in the room was high however, Krush remained calm. There were a few instances where he whimpered because he wanted to play however, after receiving guidance from us, all was well.  Krush knew all of the cues including hand signals so he laid down watching the other dogs and their handlers learn.  Again the instructor/mentor was impressed with Krush so she had to acknowledge him, which was another proud moment for us.  Finally we know and have a true understanding what rescue organizations mean when they say “be an Ambassador for the breed” we have two “Ambassadors” for this bully breed....Thanks Sasha & Krush!

Iowa's Sentator Steve King

Moving forward with our goal of helping the bully breed thrive, we have seen changes in minds and perceptions within our circle of family and friends.  Now it’s time to change the world!  It is disheartening when you have folks in power who are out of touch with reality.  Recently, Iowa’s Senator Steve King is proposing an amendment titled “King amendment” (how egotistical) which will prevent states from developing anti-cruel standards regardless of whether or not local voters were in support of such measures. "It’s wrong to rate animals above human beings."  There are many things wrong with Senators King’s statement but we’re going to focus on one aspect of it.  No one is putting animals on a higher plane than humans because humans have the ability to remov themselves from dangerous situations. Humans have a voice and a choice, animals do NOT.  Animals do not have voices that speak to someone (some may disagree, that’s another blog).  Animals do not have a choice in which conditions they arrive or live in. Animals were put on earth to help cultivate the land, help ease loneliness by being a companion, helping children to read, and help humans to know and understand what unconditional love truly means.  Animals help in many ways yet we have individuals such as Senator King, Maryland Court of Appeals, The founder of dogbite.org and many others attempting to silence these animals.... NOT on ourwatch!

We will continue to move forward and be a voice for this bully breed and animals in general.  It has been well documented those that kill, maim, mutilate animals tend to be a danger to society.  It’s safe to say Senator King is a menace and a danger to society with his ideology.

Let Senator King know how you feel about his ideology and proposed amendment:

1131 Longworth Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.4426
Fax: 202.225.3193

A changed mind & perception!

 It's a breath of fresh air to know you're making a difference and to see those that you surround yourself with make a change.  This is how we feel.  Late Monday night someone attempted to come into our house however, Krush wasn't having it.  The most damage they did was taking a purse out of our vehicle.  Let me add someone left the garage door open which lead to the incident.  There were valuables in the purse that can be replaced.  The alarm rang (Krush) and the perps did not get into the house.  Why is this important? What does this have to do with a breath of fresh air? With all of that going on our sister has been warming up to the idea of loving Sasha & Krush (whether she'll admit it or not).  After hearing how Krush saved the evening our sister was extremely impressed with our alarm and has decided to adopt an American Pit Bull Terrier!

This is a huge feat for our sister for she's scared of pit bulls and by the way media portrays them initially I was too.  During our inaugural event "Pits & Pumps" dog fashion show our wonderful sister took Krush's leash (with the assistance of our son) proudly walked Krush down the red carpet.  They looked smashing; it was hilarious because Krush did a double take (literally) when he felt our sister's energy when she took the leash. Again she was impressed with Krush which helped her to see pit bulls aren't savage beasts the media and others make them out to be.  In her neighborhood there are plenty of American Pit Bull Terriers with responsible owners our sister encountered daily.  Then it was Sasha's turn to spread the love.  While at our sister's house one day she got the nerve to pet Sasha.  Sasha being the true pittie she is, when our sister went to pet Sasha her entire body was hanging out of the vehicle ready to welcome our sister with open paws and plenty of wet kisses! Guess Sasha & Krush have done their job of changing perceptions & minds!!
        Way to go Sasha & Krush we're so proud of the two of you!!

It's our 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

It’s been a year since The Pretty Chic with the Pits was founded and what an incredible year it has been! It’s been a year of ups and downs,  tears of joy and tears of sadness, fostering and rescuing dogs, volunteering,  and advocacy!  Within our first year many accomplishments were made. July 2011 started the ball rolling.  The Pretty Chic with the Pits was founded due to the overwhelming need to protect this bully breed.  After adopting Sasha & Krush the love we had for pit bulls was unimaginable.  Never in our wildest dreams did we think  a dog let alone a pit bull would set us free.  That a dog let alone a pit bull would change our lives and take us on a journey of volunteering, fostering, advocacy, blogging, rescuing, traveling, fundraising and changing careers & minds! Along this journey we gained momentum from family, “old” and new friends, formed alliances with various people plus organizations and we’re just getting started!
What a difference a year makes! Happy Anniversary to The Pretty Chic with the Pits!!

Kemo, Piper & King Tut

The physical and mental anguish humans put animals through, especially our pets is inhumane.  Since working at the shelter our eyes have been wide open and our hands covering our mouths after hearing the “reasons” one brings their "beloved" pet to the shelter. As we’re working with the dogs in the yard a car pulls up, a healthy, happy pit bull is taken out of the van and brought into the shelter.  The feeling that came over us was despair, sadness and a sick stomach.  The woman was in the office approximately 2-3 minutes, she comes out wiping the tears from her eyes; not wanting to judge we kept working with Kemo.  After our session we  were told the woman dropped the dog off after rescuing him from death row a year before ONLY to bring him back to certain death.  Anger and confusion filled us, a brief discussion was had and it was time to leave.  The dog being bought into the shelter replayed in our heads all night.

The shelter is closed on Mondays soTuesday rolls around and our usual routine resumed; we pulled  into the shelters driveway, got out of vehicle, walked in the shelter only to be told Kemo & Piper the two dogs we were asked to work with had been euthanized.  Tears filled our eyes immediately.  As we attempted to gather ourselves to work with Danny (a fairly new pup to the shelter) it was evident our spirits were broken.  Yes, we knew that dogs that go into the shelter usually come out in trash bags however, we were going to be the difference maker, and no dog was going to die on our watch.  We’re trainers in training; we’re here to make a difference! What a smack in the face and a punch in the gut did we recieve? The shelter worker informed us more dogs were being bought into the shelter due to the heat.  Although the shelter informed these people that the shelter did NOT have power due to the storm folks didn’t care and bought their dogs to the shelter.

Can’t help but wonder what hurt Kemo & Piper most the pain of the needle pricking their paw as the concoction of meds flowed through their veins to take their lives or the pain of their once beloved family member bringing them to the shelter for certain death.  As for 6 month old King Tut, what hurt him the most? DC’s summer heat or being betrayed by mankind? King Tut was killed as he slept, a center block of concrete was smashed into his skull killing him instantly. The mental and physical abuse humans inflict on these animals are cruel and inhumane, yet these crimes go unpunished, these people are allowed to have pets and possibly repeat the same behavior yet these pets are left brokenhearted, broken spirited and forced to cross over the rainbow bridge far too soon!

Rest in Peace all of the pets that have crossed over the rainbow bridge because of the carelessness of humans! Kemo,Piper & King Tut your death isn’t in vain!