Interview with Lynn Heun from Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

1) How long have you been involved in animal rescue?

Pretty much my whole life. The dog I had growing up, Lady, was a lab/shepherd/hound mix adopted by my family when she was 6 months old. Her first owner had tied her to a tree when she was just a puppy. She came into our family and gave us 13 amazing years, and was an incredible companion to my parents, my 3 sisters, and me. Last year, my husband and I decided we were ready to bring a dog into our family. Having had a Jack Russell Terrier as his family pet growing up, he wouldn't settle for any other breed, and having grown up with a shelter dog, I wouldn't settle for bringing anything different into our life. That's how we ended up finding Lucky Dog and our pup Ollie.

2) How long have you been involved with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue?

adopted Ollie 1 yr and 3 months ago, and I started volunteering not long after that because my life had been so completely enriched by the work of Lucky Dog's volunteers and my dog. My adoption experience was seamless, well organized, and thorough, so I was surprised to find out that it's 100% volunteer based (even Mirah Horowitz, the founder and Executive Director, works a full-time job outside of all she does for Lucky Dog). When I learned that volunteers were the backbone of the organization, I wanted to get involved, and started out by handling dogs at weekly adoption events. Shortly after, I took in my first foster dog, and now I help coordinate events and screen adoption applications. Every layer of volunteers is crucial in saving lives and making happy adoptions happen, and I really enjoy the opportunities that Lucky Dog offers to do as much or little as its volunteers are able to fit in their schedules.

3) How do your core values of animal care fare with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue's mission?
Dog's adoption process is based on placing our pups (and kitties) in the best homes for them as possible, and knowing there is a place for every adoptable. Sometimes it takes a little longer to find a home for a dog that needs a second dog because of shyness, or on the flip side, a home without a second dog because of some reactivity.

What I love about Lucky Dog is they don't give up on their fosters. While some adoptions happen more quickly, sometimes it takes months, or even over a year to find the right family for a Lucky Dog. Sometimes that means when a dog is in our foster care they require extensive training or medical resources, but we don't give up on them. Our incredible network of volunteers, vet partners, and trainers make it possible to put every dog in the right home.
The other thing I love is that our forever families are equipped with resources to be successful, and the relationship with Lucky Dog doesn't end once the adoption contract is signed. I've had adopters come back to me months later with a question, or a training concern, and we are there to help them work through it.

4) With so many sad stories and the condition some animals come into Lucky Dog Animal Rescue how do you stay positive?

It's true that some of our dogs come from really sad situations, but when they become a Lucky Dog I know they are in a good place. We might not be able to save them all, but we have saved over 4,000 since our inception in 2009, and that's a really big victory. And with every transport of new dogs, I can't help but be overwhelmed with joy for the new life these dogs are getting. I don't know how my own Lucky Dog ended up in a high-kill shelter, but I like to think his story really began with us once we became his forever. Even to see all of our Lucky Dog in-shelter pictures and compare them to their faces at their first DC adoption event, it totally warms my heart. It's like the second they walk into their foster or forever home, know that it's the start of a new life for them.

5) Lucky Dog Animal Rescue is very active in the community how do you manage it all?

It takes a village, and we are fortunate to have an extensive volunteer network from as far north as Baltimore County, MD to as far south as Prince William County, VA. It helps that we have volunteers in many pockets of our area to help us reach a vast audience, but it also helps to have incredibly committed volunteers willing to do anything for our dogs. For example, we have some dogs who stay with a boarding partner in Southern MD, and one volunteer who consistently drives from is home in Fairfax to pick them up and ensure they get to events all over the map. It's really incredible the lengths people go to show their support for our pups.

6) Are you a guardian of pets (personally)?

Yes. I have adopted 2 cats (age 9 and 3). and my own Lucky Dog, a 2 year old JRT. We also usually play guardian to a Lucky foster dog (or as Ollie tends to think, a live-in playmate for him:)). Our current foster, a super sweet but slightly shy Dachsund/Shepherd mix, has been with us for a little over 2 months now.

7) How did you hear about The Pretty Chic with the Pits, LLC?
Thanks to Kelli's invitation to participate in the first Pits & Pumps event, which we are so grateful for and excited about!

8) What do you expect to come out of Pits & Pumps?

My hope is that people will walk away more educated, and therefore more accepting, about bully breeds. Lucky Dog works to adopt out all breeds of dogs, and we do face challenges with these guys because of county laws related to Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), housing restrictions about specific breeds, and a general unfair stigma that is attached to them. I had fostered a rottie/lab mix a couple months back, and people we encountered on walks were visibly uncomfortable to come near us, simply because of her looks. What they didn't realize was that she was a giant lap dog, and completely friendly to adults, kids, and dogs. Once people saw her in action at the dog park, or in her interactions with my nieces and nephew, their perception changed pretty quickly.

It kind of blows my mind that people are willing to assume that banning breeds solves a problem that really lies in irresponsible pet ownership (or in its worst form, abuse and neglect). And really, strong and energetic dogs like these guys aren't for everyone. But Chihuahuas, Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, and Jack Russell Terriers also aren't for everyone, and you'd be hard pressed to find breed specific laws against any of them.

We do careful additional screening with adopters interested in our bullies and rotties to explain the extra responsibility that comes with adopting one, and to instill a sense understanding about how important it is to be an extra good dog-owner so our adopted bullies can be ambassadors for the breed.  It's really only a small portion of the battle, but I hope continued educational efforts in events like this help keep us on the right track in making forward progress.

Love is defined as a deep and tender feeling of affection for or attachment or devotion to a person or persons.

Love Affair is defined as an intense or eager interest in something.

After reading and comprehending the definition of these words it’s clear that both of these words and definitions describe our emotions, love and love affair for American Pit Bull Terriers! Haven’t met one yet we didn’t love.  Some say love is an emotion and others say love is a verb “action word” a philosopher we’re not however, if we had to chose it would be both an emotion and an action word.

They play on your emotions because you know what they are capable of; love, happiness, joy, companionship, healer and mind & game changers.  Yet, they are so misunderstood and strike fear in those who never met them but want to ban them because of “possibility.”  The possibility of what... them stealing your heart or kissing you to death? On the other hand they make you spring into action to save them from the terror of fighting, neglect, abuse, torture and death.

It is because of love & love affair for this beautiful bully breed we feel love and spring into action to save them whenever we can.  Sometimes that means traveling, putting miles and miles on a vehicle,  educating, training and a stern talking to the guardians.  Whatever drives us to this bully breed we don’t know but what we do know is we have LOVE & LOVE AFFAIR for  them!

Who's at fault?

Who’s at fault is something we’ve pondered for a while when it comes to American Pitbulls Terriers, StaffordshireTerriers, American Bulldogs and other breeds of dogs that are used for fighting? Is it the foolish folks that breed them to fight for their own idiotic non-amusing entertainment or is it the folks of this modern age that know better? With so many stories in the news regarding the many dog fightingbusts from our backyard to those across seas (Philippines being the latest),who’s at fault and what can we do to eliminate this blood sport?
Michael Vick went to jail for 23 months had his career taken away from him and continues to be ridiculed by the dog world yet Joe Blow down the street posts bail and all is forgotten until he gets caught again. Although there are laws that protect animals from cruel and unusual punishment they’re not being enforced regularly so who’s at fault? In Memphis,TN the head of the animal control is heard on tape saying “any dog that looks like a Pit Bull is to be killed immediately” from the agency the head veterinarian is interviewed by the local news anchor; when asked if they attempted to find homes for Pit Bull he admits “they do not actively seek homes for these dogs” who’s at fault for hiring this guy as well as the head of the agency who’s heard on tape saying killing any dog that comes in the facility that looks like a Pit Bull.  This same agency has been linked to selling the same dogs they’re supposed to protect to a local dog fighting ring. With so much corruption going on in one city agency who’s at fault? Whereis PETA? Who’s at fault when these dogs suffer, abuse, neglect, prejudice atthe very hands of who’s supposed to protect them?

Where is the accountability? Where is the pittie family thatshould ban together to stop this foolishness? Where is PETA in all of this mess? They pick and choose their battle, which celebrity to go after however, forgetting about the very foundation in which they were founded on which is to protect the welfare of animals.  Ensuring these animals have rights because they’re voices can’t be heard. It’s about political notoriety, seeing their name in lights, who’s at fault when those that need their voices heard the most are silenced by discrimination, folks desiring to see these animals extinct like dinosaurs? Once known as America’s dog, who’s at fault fortheir tarnished image, their down trotting spirit, the abuse they suffer because they’re born a bully breed?

Thou Shalt NEVER Trust Thy Pit Bull Not To Fight

A couple of weeks ago something tragic happened at our house, Krush & Sasha got into a fight.  Rule number one in the Ten Commandments of Pit Bull ownership “Thou shalt NEVER trust thy Pit Bull not to fight” after all that’s what they were bred to do (not happy about it) but hey truth hurts.  Sasha & Krush have had their sibling growl and Sasha letting Krush know she was here first and she’s the dominant one although Krush is bigger than Sasha. Correction in the dog world is expected and accepted by the dogs and humans.  This however, was different...this was again human error.  Muchd ebate went on in the household as to whether or not we should blog about this incident.  The decision was made that we would.  We don’t want to be hypocrites...if we report others we will report ourselves.  We were getting ready to train Sasha & Krush when a member of our family thought it would be “funny” to put the treat bag around Krushs’ neck (Krush was neglected as a pup and has food aggression, which we had a handle on) the bag was full of treats and of course Krush was trying to get to the treats, Sasha went for the treats and a full fledged fight ensued. It was horrible, we were scared, everyone was scrambling, none of the techniques we saw Cesar do worked, all of the research on how to separate them didn’t work.  Sasha &Krush fought from side of the room to the other, in the hallway and down the stairs.  Finally, they were separated however, tensions were high on both sides.  We were pissed at the family member and Sasha was ready for another round.  Krush didn’t want any parts of Sasha.  We were thankful their injuries weren’t as bad as they could’ve been.

This is what we advocate about ignorance! How could the very thing we advocate for happened in our home? How will anyone listen to us, join forces with us, believe in us? The questions kept running through our heads.  It was a couple of sleepless nights and tensions ran high for a couple of days again on both sides.  Finally we agreed it had to stop and walking with both Sasha & Krush resumes which seemed to make amends, however, we were still on high alert.  It has been a couple of weeks since the incident, the physical scars both Sasha & Krush had have healed. They’re playing and enjoying themselves as if nothing happened.  On the other hand the incident is fresh in our minds and as Cesar stated dogs live in the moment but it’s the humans that keep the incident fresh in our minds.
We learned something about ourselves and the situation.... it’s important to live in the moment and never forget to educate those closest to you as well as the public.

Changing Minds & Careers

We’d never thought we would find ourselves in the middle of the ring in the biggest fight of our lives!  We’re at a crossroads...What are we thinking? Surely you know we have a family, bills and a life? The reaction has been: you’ve gone too far and I’m not sure if I can stand by you on this. This was a conversation had when I decided to change minds which includes changing careers.  After careful thought and many, many, many, many, many and many more conversations it was decided we would make the necessary changes to change the mindset, perception of pit bulls and change careers to do so. For better or for worst we’re in this together (ok sometimes one is in  than the other) however, we’re together and we’re going to change the pittie world for the best!
We’re in training like Floyd Mayweather! Our sparring partner are the lawmakers, abusers and anyone who stands in our way.  Back toschool it is for us as well as Sasha & Krush (they’re such good troopers). Our vision is armed with the proper information and right techniques those that find wonderful furever homes will stay in them! Besides training we’ll offer other resources for those that are unable to keep their furvever family member due to financial hardships.  We’re building a community while strengthening the bond between canine and human kind while/perceptions & careers!

Who saved who?

Who saved who? Many in the world of rescue ask this question.  Those on the outside looking in don’t seem to understand this phrase or question let’s see if we can make it clear.  Often times our companions, pets, furever family members come into our lives when we least expect them.  Meaning we’re looking for something but don’t know what it is. Trying to fill a void but not knowing what’s missing. 
Circumstance(s) have brought us together yet we don’t know why.  We’re thinking it’s a picture, the sad story that goes along with the picture, being on our own fort he first time, needing a companion, needing a new love because the old is gone. Whatever the reasoning there’s a connection between us and I need to save you from your horrific current situation.  Once in my possession feelings that weren’t there before are now here and have me feeling some kind of way. A way that I never felt before! All I seem to do is speak about you and all of the wonderful things you do, even the not so wonderful things you do. Everywhere I go, you’re there or I’m thinking about you and how lonely you must feel without me being there.  You’re my new BESTFRIEND! I tellyou everything and when I’m not feeling so hot you put your paw on me, nuzzle/snuggle up and give me kisses only you can and all is well in my world again.  You make the cloudiest day sunny!

The shopping cart is now filled with only the best food for you, treats, treats and more treats for you.  And while we’re on the topic of shopping; can’t go past the clothing aisle without picking up a cute sweater or t-shirt that fits your personality to a “T.” I’m thinking I’m doing you a favor by taking you out for a walk to do your business but little do I know I’m getting stronger, lungs are opening up and filled with good air, my heart is stronger and my over allhealth is great (doctors love you for what you’re doing for me).  Your silly antics keep me laughing which add years to my life.  Your visits at the vets office provides you with a clean bill of health as well so we’re going to be together for a long time!.  Being the first face I see when I get home from work or running errands brightens the day, snuggling with you calms my fears and walking with you gives me courage to talk to folks that I would otherwise not speak to.  Having you in my life has made me a better person, a better mother, a better father, a better friend, a better companion, a more responsible child.  The list goes on and on and the question comes up again who really saved who? I would have to say YOU saved me!

Finding Purpose in our Passion

Passion is defined as any emotions as hate, grief, love, fear, joy, extreme, compelling emotions intense emotional drive or excitement.  We’ve all experienced “passion” at one point in our lives (hopefully on the high side). Passion causes movement; it makes us get involved in whatever it is we’re passionate about.  Some are passionate about cars, video games, sports, clothing, shopping, animals etc.  It’s evident what we’re passionate about here at The Pretty Chic with the Pits LLC.

 At one point we were scared to share our passion because its “unusual” in our culture or circle of friends to love our pets as we do.  Everyone rejoiced with us when we adopted Sasha, it was almost expected  for us to get a dog considering we’re homeowners. The excitement intensified with each conversation.   It was all about Sasha, no more about the kids it was all about Sasha and what Sasha did or what we and Sasha did. Now we know how the young girl from the Brady Bunch felt when she said the infamous saying “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha it’s all about Marsha.”  Sasha was the highlight of our lives and we wanted everyone to know about her.  Sasha bought so much love into our lives that we decided to adopt Krush.  The questions began: Why did ya’ll get another dog? Are ya’ll becoming hoarders? With the questions we began to feel a certain way towards those we thought supported us.

Still feeling more needed to be done we signed up to become fosters.  That was it..it was the end of the world!  “Ya’ll are doing too much; We’re going to call Animal Planet hoarders etc. is what we heard and faced from our circle of family and friends.   To us it was apparent we were passionate and love the feeling of saving these dogs and putting them in loving homes.  Again the feeling of not being accepted was a bit much for us so we became secluded and introverts which isn’t us at all..we are very much extroverts.

 Everyone who would listen we talked about pit bulls and the love we and others have for them.  Many have contacted us after we posted facts about pit bulls saying they didn’t know this or that and wow these dogs sound awesome.  Then the next question comes...Why do they have such as bad rap? We explain and continue to educate & advocate for them.  Some have jumped on the wagon others are ok with the information and keep it moving.

Finally finding our purpose was like being reborn again! We couldn’t stop thanking God for finally showing up and showing out in our lives and the lives of this wonderful, loving bully breed! Once we decided to not allow anyone to steal our joy we moved forward with our passion and to our surprise found was many who shunned or talked about us began showing their support.  We have a vision, a dream, a goal & a PASSION and we’re running with our heads held high!

Stay tuned in there is  much, much, much more to come in the very near future!