Pit Bull Rescue That Led to My Volunteering

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Pit Bull. That’s the answer I got when I took the latest Facebook quiz: “What Dog Breed Are You?” I take that as a compliment. Characteristics of this breed include their genuine love for people, their affection, their friendliness, their warm-heartedness, and their willingness to please.

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I can attest to the truth of that description, having volunteered at the Humane Society for the past year and getting to know numerous dogs – including many pit bulls (or pitbulls as many spell it). They are the polar opposite of how they are often portrayed: as vicious fighters. Sure, any dog…any animal…any person has the potential to do harm or to do good. The outcome is dependent upon many factors – one being the conditions to which he/she has been subjected. We humans don’t take that seriously enough. Unfortunately, the wrong party often gets the blame in a tragic situation.


Find pitbull clothing here.


My Pit Bull Rescue

Because of all that I have seen and heard about pit bulls (our society seems to thrive on negative publicity), I will admit that I was slightly apprehensive about inviting a stray pit bull into my car last September. While driving around a local neighborhood, I spotted the tan and white pit bull running free and continued to follow it. I witnessed it dart haphazardly across several streets and watched (in vain) for signs of a person chasing it. Being an animal lover, I could not bear the thought of this dog being hit by a car or suffering any kind of abuse. So, I stopped my van, opened the door, and called for the dog to get in. He enthusiastically jumped in and proceeded to inhale the turkey sub that I had just purchased.

Knowing that my own three dogs might not welcome this stranger and not knowing whether or not he already had a family, I could not take him to my house. As the dog settled himself in the very back of the van, I decided to drive the mile to my vet’s office. I kept my eyes on the road, save for the few times I glanced into the rear-view mirror to observe my quiet passenger. Halfway to my destination, he slowly approached the front of the van. For a fleeting moment, my mind let me visualize him clamping his massive jaws around my head and causing me to crash. That thought quickly vanished, though, when he gently jumped into the seat beside me and pushed his nose against the slightly opened passenger window. He seemed to be smiling.

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The pit bull I found

The flimsy shoestring collar around his neck was not accompanied by an ID tag or a leash. After borrowing a leash from the vet, I cautiously tied it around his neck and led him into the vacant waiting room. He sat patiently while the technician scanned his neck for a microchip. Negative.

My next stop was the police station to inquire about any missing dog reports, hoping there was one for this pit bull. The policeman calmly accompanied me into the front office and quietly waited with me for any pertinent information. There was none. The police officer did provide me the document needed to surrender an animal the the Humane Society, which I was not yet ready to do.

After a quick surprise visit to my husband’s office (secretly hoping that he would welcome the opportunity to rescue yet another animal, but instead becoming my voice of reason), I drove around for part of the afternoon with the pit bull. I got my new friend a 16 ounce bottle of water, which he lapped up in about that many seconds! At one point during the drive, while I was contemplating my next move, he inched closer to me and put his head on my shoulder. How I wished I lived on a big farm and could bring all of the stray dogs (yes, there have been more!) home with me!

Reluctantly, and only when I had exhausted all other options, I drove to the Humane Society. I am certain that they had a hard time believing that I had just recently come upon this animal. My tears were evidence that I had already grown attached to this special pit bull. I took a picture of him (that I keep in my journal) and left him with the girls at the intake center. Their genuine concern for this dog was my only condolence.

Becoming a Humane Society Volunteer

My genuine concern for this dog was my impetus to become a volunteer dog walker at the shelter. I went through the application process and the training and immediately began my twice a week visits to socialize with the four-legged “residents” (to which they are referred). I have gotten attached to numerous dogs and am always thrilled to watch them find their “forever homes.” Some of my very favorite residents are the pit bulls, which holds true to many of the other volunteers as well. They have proven to be gentle, loving, playful, and extremely appreciative of human affection.

Human affection, unfortunately, is often negated by human prejudice. Breed discrimination is so unfair. The pit bull is one breed that is often misrepresented, misunderstood and mistreated. For example, did you know that a “Pit Bull” is one of several breeds, including the Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, Presa Canario, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso, or any mix thereof. I would encourage you to learn more about pit bulls and the wonderful companions they can be when given the opportunity. Now that I have had first-hand experience with this amazing breed, I can say that I am happy to be compared to it.

21 Comments

  • Dallas says:

    Keep on working, great job!

  • Mike says:

    We rescued a pit bull and she has been the best dog. I’m not sure how they get such a bad rap.

  • Louis says:

    It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d without a doubt donate to this fantastic blog and to the Humane Society! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!

  • Tara says:

    Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my zynga group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thank you

  • Sally says:

    Greetings! I’ve been reading your website for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Austin Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!

  • Jose says:

    Pit bulls rule!

  • Gary says:

    So happy to hear about people promoting pit bulls. Thanks!

  • David says:

    My spouse and I absolutely love your blog. We have adopted 2 pit bulls that have become a special part of our family. We have had other breeds in the past, but must say, we are really enjoying our new family members. Again, awesome blog!

  • michigan girl says:

    Sweet blog! Gotta love pit bulls!

  • C.F. says:

    Thanks for your marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it. I want to encourage you to continue your great job, have a nice day!

  • F.A. says:

    Very good blog you have here!

  • michael says:

    Howdy! Here’s a shout out to pit bulls – the best dog breed!

  • Monica says:

    Great post! I still can’t believe how many people are afraid of pit bulls. There is such a stigma for these dogs. I have a passion for them and loved your story!

  • GF says:

    Howdy I am so grateful I found your web site, I really found you by accident, while I was searching on Aol for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a fantastic post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to look over it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the awesome job.

  • LKM says:

    Hello! I’ve been reading your blog for some time now. Love this post about pit bulls! They are my favorite breed. Just wanted to say keep up the excellent job!

  • Michael says:

    I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often.Superb work!

  • Jo says:

    Great article! I love reading about dogs being rescued! I have a pit bull myself and must say they make a wonderful companion, but as you mention- there is a stigma that make people afraid, even though my pup would never hurt a fly.

  • Sheri says:

    Thanks for the wonderful post!

  • cbv says:

    Hello there! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading through it reminds me of my old room mate! He always loved pit bulls.

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