5 Pit Bulls Who Are Giving the Breed a Good Name

Petful ^ | March 28, 2013 | Kristine Lacoste

[kanawa]

Many dogs have been victims of breed-specific legislation (BSL) in the past, and no breed knows this better than the Staffordshire bull terrier breed.

Purebreds, mixes or dogs with “block heads” get labeled as pit bulls, and media stories have sensationalized the supposed dangers of these dogs. Their owners have been fighting back for years and continue to advocate for them.

Despite these reportedly “dangerous” dogs, there are many of them contradicting the hype by being ambassadors of the breed through their work. Here we look at some of the pit bulls giving the breed a good name.

[kanawa]

1. Blueberry

The 6-year-old pittie with a fruit-related moniker was adopted from the Milton Animal League and works as a therapy dog in Massachusetts.
Blueberry, affectionately called “Booberry” by her owner, visits rehab hospitals, nursing homes, humane societies, hospice patients, universities, and homes for the deaf and blind.
When this dog is not working, Blueberry’s favorite activity is rolling in the grass.

Patients confined to a facility, some temporary or permanent, look forward to Blueberry’s visits to ease the loneliness or remind them of life at home.
One of Blueberry’s regular visits is to a patient named Dottie, who said the visits make her happy.
“I am so lonely here. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to feel a dog — her ears and body and soft fur. It is so … perfect.”

When Blueberry isn’t spreading cheer with patients, she attends BSL awareness walks with her owner
and continues to change people’s minds “one pit bull at a time.”

[kanawa]

RDO ping... if you'd like to be added to or removed from the list give me a shout.

[be-baw]

Kill them all. I’m serious.

[raiderboy]

hold a steak in your right hand and then yank it out of their mouth and then call 911. Those things are liability machines. I think you should have to be bonded for 1 million dollars to own one.

[Hugin]

They’re wonderful, affectionate pooches until the switch flips and they kill or maim someone or something in a few seconds. I’ve seen it firsthand with a pitbull I spent many hours around. Anyone who allows one into a nursing home is crazy.

[elcid1970]

Gentle or not, they all have jaws like a steel trap. If a chihuahua goes rogue, it’s not the same as one of these shark toothed monsters.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...hold a steak in your right hand and then yank it out of their mouth and then call 911.

Raiderboy, why don't you dare Kanawa to slather his face in steak sauce and let some pit bulls have a go at him?

[kanawa]

2. Lilly

The dog that made headlines when she moved her unconscious owner off train tracks
and took the hit of a freight train continues to be an ambassador for the breed.
The 8-year-old pit bull named Lilly was adopted by David Lanteigne from the Animal Rescue League in Boston a few years before the event,
and he and his family were by her side continuously during her recovery.

Despite losing a limb and having regular therapy appointments, Lilly bounced back and has been a familiar face in the fight against BSL.
She attends BSL awareness walks with Lanteigne, makes public appearances and even has her own kissing booth.
Lanteigne and his family set up a charity in her name to help other pitties in need.

The Lilly the Hero Dog Fund tries to help place homeless pitties by regularly listing dogs up for adoption
or in need of fostering in addition to donating time, money and supplies to shelters and rescues.
The fund regularly advocates against BSL, spreads awareness, holds events and fundraisers, and provides financial assistance to dogs in need.
Lilly’s so busy with her fans (and meeting new ones) that she has a schedule!

Dog Pulls Owner Off Train Tracks FOX 47 News

[lee martell]

I understand there are exceptions to any general statement, so some Pit Bull dogs make fine pets, but I’ve heard so many stories opposite of that.
Good luck to both dogs and owners.
The three legged dog may need to be put down soon if he is in a lot of pain. The owner has to take sentiment out of the equation and assess the dog’s quality of life.

Nevertheless, the moment I see an image of that kind of dog, I can feel my heart rate pick up the pace.
Sort of a conditioned response.
I’ve always wondered why they use the name Stafford Terrier.
When I hear ‘Terrier’, I think of Scottish Terriers, not a breed such as this one that resembles a cross between a boxer and a bulldog, but with it’s own kind of snout.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

What’s amazing to watch is that here, on Free Republic, there are people who have chosen a dog breed to be the bitch that they are willing to die on. Sorry, every pitbull in the world needs to be put down.

[lucky american]

The pack mentality is strong with this breed. They can be passive until a situation occurs that switches on the attack mode and once engaged it’s hard for them to stop. They cannot be trusted.

[kanawa]

Thanks for your comment, lee.

The ‘Staffordshire’ moniker is related to the region in which it was developed and appeared as a separate breed.

This site has additional information....

https://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Breeds/Staffordshire-Bull-Terrier/Overview.aspx

[libertylover]

Kill them all. I’m serious.

Me too. They're too dangerous.

[kanawa]

Pack mentality is strong within all dogs, handed down from their wolf ancestors.

Here's an article on pack mentality we all might find informative and helpful in dealing with our dogs.

Understanding Dog Pack Hierarchy, and Why it Matters

[dainbramaged]

See my tagline. It’s true.

[Revel]

“and media stories have sensationalized the supposed dangers of these dogs.”

Right there you know that the author of the article is delusional. I won’t bother to read the rest.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

All existing pitbulls neutered, not allowed in public without a muzzle, all owners must take a course and be licensed.

No new pitbulls allowed to enter the USA.

[Reno89519]

As I have said before, ban the breed, kill them all. Anyone with one in the interim should be charged and jailed if they so much as touch anyone.

My 9mm will be happy to meet a pit bull. I know who wins.

[Nifster]

American strats are great dogs

[kanawa]

Yeah, might as well not, because the media is known for not sensationalizing.