High price tags don't keep these dogs out of the system....

As a follow-up to our "American Bully" blog, we thought we'd post some pix of bully-style dogs that showed up in rescue recently. These dogs are often paraded around like expensive accessories by their humans. But despite paying wads of cash and status earned among peers, at the end of the day, when the person at the end of the leash decides a dog is too much work these pricey "American Bullies" often get dumped in the shelters like trash. This is happening at an alarming rate - but considering how many bully-style breeders there are out there, the numbers are not surprising.

If you are looking for a nice companion, maybe you'll consider one of these sweet mush-faces. And remember, Don't Feed The Unethical Breeders - keep your money out of their hands.

Guiness was heartworm positive and very sick when he ended up in the loving care of Bama Bully in Alabama.


Odie wasn't far behind - pneumonia-stricken, this boy needed help, and he got it, once again thanks to Bama Bully.


Sassy was emaciated when she came to New Hope Pit Bull Rescue in South Carolina. She's filled out a bit since then, as you can see.

Both Bama Bully and New Hope PBR are members of the Pit Bull Rescue Alliance, founding members along with The Real Pit Bull.

Rescuing High Profile Dogs

The opinion mill is stirring now that the dogs seized in the raid of Wildside Kennels have been killed and the cries of grief are being heard from rescues, sanctuaries and individuals. While many groups wanted to go out of their way to save these dogs, there is another side of the fence that is saying something doesn't seem right or fair when rescues and other organizations make room for these 'big name' dogs when just as many if not more typical, everyday Pit Bulls are dying locally every day.

RPB's stance is that a group should work within its home base state to rescue dogs and not spend unreasonable time, money, and resources trying to bring dogs in from all over the country because some dog somewhere else has some special appeal. It is the duty, afterall, of a rescue to look after the welfare of the Pit Bulls in its own area.

However, Pit Bull rescue people are in a unique situation, because of the prejudice our breed faces. Sometimes, bending over backwards to accomodate a nice dog from a far-away shelter that hasn't exactly been Pit-friendly up to this point ends up helping more dogs in the long run. The power of a successful adoption and team work between organizations - even across states - should not be underestimated.

In these fight bust cases, the overall message that gets sent when these dogs are given a chance is that Pit Bulls, regardless of where they came from or what their breeding is, are worth something and are dogs that can live within society; they aren't the monsters of media infamy, nor do they deserve to die just because HSUS or PETA says they do. The success of the Vick dogs surely has made some people stop and notice. What if no one stepped up to help those dogs? We would be short a heck of a lot of really powerful media that would have never been generated by rescue of those 'everyday' dogs. One reason RPB joined the other groups that had filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Vick dogs was specifically to help future bust dogs - big name or not, here in NJ and beyond - get a chance. If the Vick dogs could get a lot of positive press, proving that fight bust dogs could certainly make wonderful pets, what could that do for other dogs down the road? And the Pit Bull breed in general?

Although from the vantage point that allows one to see the grand scheme of things, the BYB bred dog whose owner just got sick of and dumped at the shelter is worth the same as any of the Vick or Faron dogs, rescue people need to make difficult decisions about rescuing some dogs over others. Every ethical rescuer asks themselves before making these decisions, "Which action ultimately has the most positive, far reaching effect on the breed as a whole?"

On a more everyday, mundane level, rescues make choices like this all the time - when they choose the happy, correct, friendly Pit Bull over the adorable, sweet, but extremely fearful or reactive Pit Bull. Why? Not because one dog has more or less worth, but because rescue is NOT just about *that dog, in the moment* - it is about all future Pit Bulls that are effected by the actions of every rescue, and the actions of rescued dogs.

Pit Bull rescue isn't straightforward. All dog rescues deal with issues of money, limited time, and limited resources. But additionally, Pit Bull advocacy groups must deal with breed image, public scrutiny, anti-breed laws, and the powerful large-scale humane organizations like HSUS and PETA often preaching very anti-breed rhetoric, all as they juggle their ultimate goal of helping as many dogs as possible and reclaiming the dignity of and a future for the APBT.

Rescuing a Pit Bull is never just about rescuing 'a dog'. It is about saving all Pit Bulls that come after; it's about saving a breed. And the actions of ethical Pit Bull rescuers reflect that reality.

Cultivating Gratitude

On this day held aside to give thanks and count blessings, we may sit and take stock of the previous year, spend time with our family, look into the eyes of our gentle dogs and offer a silent 'thank you' to the universe for having blessed us with such amazing Pit Bull-shaped souls. This is the one day of the year where gratitude is the main focus and being thankful takes front and center stage. But in life in general, and particularly in our work as advocates and activists, it can be difficult to cultivate a grateful attitude that becomes a part of who we are and how we live day to day.

We see much pain and suffering we are unable to ease, feel trapped because 'there is only so much' we can do, feel hopeless when the problem seems so big. Focusing on these things can become draining, and too much attention drawn to 'failures' can be defeating and actually undermine our cause and the work we do for Pit Bulls. Sometimes, we begin drowning in the negative, virtually ignoring the life-rafts of our successes which are right within our grasp.

It is important to take stock daily of what we DO have to be thankful for in the Pit Bull advocacy community, and to cultivate gratitude for what we've personally been able to accomplish for the dogs, as well as the wonderful people working for the same causes.

This past year we have a lot to feel grateful for, and we've seen things we never thought we'd see: More groups & individuals than ever working and sacrificing for Pit Bulls; people willing to come together to work for the greater good; the results of a celebrity fight bust which generated more positive press for the breed than seen in the last 1o years combined; a day set aside for country-wide celebration of the breed that seems to be growing more every year; and all the little, quiet successes that you may not hear about - the dogs that have been saved, their wounded souls made whole again. Every single one of these rescues is a miracle and we should all feel a strong sense of gratitude for each and every one.

Cicero said, "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.

Gratitude props us up, and is a platform on which we are meant to use our other virtues. It is a mindset of positivity, of thankfulness, of gratefulness that gives us strength do what we have to do for the dogs.

So today, on this Thanksgiving, take stock of what you feel grateful for. And each day, cultivate an attitude of gratitude for what's been accomplished, for all the success - both big and small - and for all the other people who are doing amazing things for the APBT. Perhaps we can take a lesson from our dogs, who, in many cases despite incredibly hard, abusive, painful lives, show us more gratitude than could ever be measured, each and every day.