Today I ran across another story of a heroic pit bull that warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. This story is about Lilly, an 8-year-old pit bull rescued by Boston police officer David Lanteigne to become a therapy dog for his ailing mother. Nearly three months ago, Lilly answered her call to action and saved Lanteigne’s mother from certain death. Her owner passed out on some railroad tracks near her home at about midnight on the evening of May 4th.
Many of you out there are feeling the same way I am. We are in need of some positive stories! It’s a hard job to be an advocate for such a misunderstood breed.
Today I ran across a story from “Operation Positive Pit Bull” on Examiner.com that was written by Penny Eims. According to the article, a 3-year-old pit bull named Milo was adopted by the McComsey family near Detroit and had bonded very strongly with their 15-year-old son.
Titan, a six-year-old pit bull, saved his owner’s life not once, but twice. Last July Gloria Benton’s husband was leaving for work when Titan started acting strange and blocked the door. His barking and growling sent husband John upstairs to check on his wife. He found Gloria unconscious, having suffered an aneurysm which led to a fall that fractured her skull. According to doctors, if it had not been for Titan, Gloria would have died. Recently, Titan woke up John at 4:30 a.m.
We talked about play time earlier this week, and I thoroughly enjoyed your feedback on Facebook. Keep it coming! I want to make one final mention on the subject that I think is possibly the most important of all: interactive toys. This is especially important for intelligent dogs with a great deal of energy – a description most of our dogs likely fit. The first interactive toy to hit the streets is the Kong, or as I like to call it, “King Kong.” The granddaddy. The leader in this category. I have included a favorite Kong recipe below for you to try out and share.
“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.”
― Samuel Butler
Earlier this week, Chloe Kupfer rescued an emaciated pit bull she found along a road in Atlanta, Ga. Kupfer took the dog for immediate veterinary care and named him Charlie. He weighed an alarming 34 pounds – half of what he should - but still had a loving attitude and a “wiggly butt.” She sent out a heartfelt plea for help for Charlie.
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive. ~Gilda Radner
In light of the recent tragedies we have heard or read about concerning our beloved breed, I thought we could all use something light to smile about.
Pit bulls continue to be a challenge for the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts in Brockton. They come with a stigma and some insurers will not provide homeowner’s insurance for pit bull owners. Some landlords will not allow pit bulls at all because they are a liability. As we well know, some owners feel the powerful, muscular dogs give them a tough image, but they can be wonderful companions and loyal friends if cared for properly.
Happy Independence Day!
As we celebrate this holiday at barbeques, gazing at the blaze of fireworks that sparkle above, let’s not forget the many four-legged heroes that have come before us to help make this land free.