If We're So Mean, Why Are We Always Smiling?

Many of us have had pretty tough lives.

I was tied to a Stop sign when I was 10 weeks old; some of us were abandoned at PAWS; one spent a very long time in a cold, damp pound before being rescued by PAWS; countless others were physically abused or neglected.

So why are we Pits known for our smiles? Because we really are loving and happy animals! I thought I'd share some pictures of my smiling friends. Be sure to check the captions for their stories. Enjoy!

May 18-24: Dog Bite Prevention Week

No one wants to be bitten by a dog, right?

My mom told me about a little girl, about 6-8 years old, going up to my brother, who's the biggest, mushiest Border Collie in the world. She stuck her face right in his. When he growled in warning (thank goodness he didn't bite) the girl's mom gave my mom a dirty look.

Did I mention that they were at an agility center and the girl's mom was a trainer? A "dog-savvy" trainer? So why didn't she teach this eight-year-old that walking up to a dog, staring at it eye-to-eye, and putting her face the dog's face was a really, really bad thing to do? No! Sit. Stay! Bad girl. Bad.

Here's the thing. When a dog and a child are at eye level, the dog feels threatened. When the child is a stranger, the threat doubles. (When the parent is an idiot and lets the child do whatever it wants then blames the other party... Well, you get the picture.)

Seriously, folks, countless children are bitten by dogs because they aren't taught the correct way to approach a strange dog. Here are some simple tips that both children and adults can benefit from:

• Ask the owner if the dog is friendly. If it is, ask for permission to pet him/her.
• Once you have permission, don't crowd the dog or bend over it. Squat down, DON'T stare at it, and offer a closed fist, palm down. Let it sniff your fist and come to you. It will decide if it wants to make contact; if it doesn't just leave it alone.
• If you do look at the dog, look away quickly. Staring is a dog's way of "daring"another dog.
• Don't go near a dog that's eating, playing with a toy, or chewing a rawhide bone.
• Let sleeping dogs lie. A sleeping dog can startle easily and snap or bite.
• Don't run from a strange dog. Fold your arms and LOOK AWAY! Don't threaten it with a stare.

Lots more tips and information can be found here. Animal Planet is a great resource (and I like to watch the animals on TV!). And here is more info from Best Friends Animal Society. Be safe!

Francois Makes His Modeling Debut

Check out my mom's new vanity plate, and her hot male model, sure to make Vanity Fair's cover in the months to come!

All inquiries about this exciting new talent should be directed to PAWS!

Breed Specific Legislation Ticks Me Off

What do German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Greyhounds (yes, Greyhounds), and pit bulls have in common? They're all great dogs who have become the target of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in many countries around the world, including the United States.

And it burns me up. It makes me want to stomp my paws and bark at the mailman!

Often, if a dog is aggressive or violent, it's due to poor breeding, poor upbringing, or a combination of both.

BSL doesn't solve the root of the problem: Humans who have trained their dogs to be fighters or otherwise dangerous. Rather than addressing the need for responsible pet ownership, BSL ignores the human factor and punishes the animal.

It's time to hold owners responsible for their despicable actions. The Michael Vick case was a disturbing event that will hopefully show officials that it's the humans, not the animals, who are the responsible parties. Of the 49 dogs that were seized from Vick's property, all but one will be placed with families or live their lives in peace as loved members of sanctuaries.

And besides, how would you ban pit bulls with Breed Specific Legislation? We're not a breed! Us plain old pits are a mix of as many as 35 different breeds of dog including Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, Spanish Alanos, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bandogs, Dogues Brasileiros, Dogo Argentinos, Guatemalan Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Akitas, Chow Chows, and even Labradors. Look for a Lab with a purple tongue. They're quite common.

One Fine Brandy...

It never ceases to amaze me when my pretty friends are overlooked at PAWS. So I thought I'd tell you about a few now and then.

This is Brandy. And she's a beauty. She's been at PAWS for a couple of years now, and who knows why. Probably because she's not a puppy, or a small cuddly designer dog, or a Golden Retriever, or a who-knows-whatadoodle. She's just a dog's dog.

And she loves people! She just wants a home with a fenced-in yard, a dog bed to call her own, and a couple of toys. Just add water, and you have a family pet! More about Brandy.

Apply to adopt Brandy! (PAWS only adopts locally, within the Connecticut area. That way they can make sure you take good care of us and help you out if you need it!!)

My Old Home Rocks!

They're having a Spay/Neuter day today for feral cats. This is one way to reduce cat population among cats that can't be placed in homes because they just can't be "tamed" enough to live among humans. TNR programs (trap-neuter-release) can be found anywhere across the country, and have been so successful... When they did this at PAWS just a few weeks ago, they spayed and neutered over 70 cats. I'll give you an update on today's numbers when I hear my mom talk about it later.

Don't be a Vick

Former NFL star Michael Vick's dogs are now stars in their own right!

Check them out on Bad Rap's home page. Just look at those meeeeeen pit bulls. Six of them in one room, eating each other alive. Or is that one on the floor sleeping, while the others on the couch are cuddling, and the other one on the floor is jamming his way in for pets, and another is... well, you get the picture. These poor dogs were never meant to fight. We pit bulls are so misunderstood. Take a look at Bad Rap's pups today.

Best Friends Animal Society took in 22 of these great pups. It was a long haul for both of these rescue groups, and many of these guys are ready for their forever homes!

Thanks to rescue groups like Bad Rap and Best Friends, my peeps will have their second chances at love!

Paris Hilton is the Root of All Evil

There. I said it.

Let's face it. Don't get a dog if you really want a new bag. Or shoes. Or a pretty blouse. That's not what we're about. We're not the latest fashion accessories. If we were, it would mean that we'd end up out of style, and we'd fill up shelters across the country. Imagine if that were the case!! Okay, it IS the case.

Chew on this: The HSUS estimates that between 3-4 MILLION unwanted dogs and cats in shelters are euthanized every year. That's 3-4 MILLION! You can help put an end to this craziness by spaying or neutering your pet. If you don't have a pet, support spay/neuter programs in your area.

Look, an average cat can produce up to three litters a year. Each litter averages 4-6 kittens. An average dog can have up to two litters of 6-10 pups a year. You do the math. And besides, unneutered male dog or cat pee really stinks. Jeez, guys, gimme a break, wouldja?

Welcome to my blog

This is nothing new, a dog with a blog. Go ahead. Google "dog" and "blog" and you'll get zillions of hits. And, it's easier for you to do with fingers than for me with pads and claws.

Anyway, this blog is necessary. You see, I was unwanted once, but I got lucky; I found a place to put up my paws and call home. Now I have to help my furry critter friends at PAWS in Norwalk, CT find their forever homes. And, I have to make people understand that we pibbles are good dogs, not the maniacs you see on the evening news.

I'll tell you about these gems if you promise to pass the word on to a friend or two. Together, we'll find these beauties loving forever homes. Deal? Okay!