When living in Upstate NY I rescued a horribly abused 3 month old Pit Bull. It was November 2000, she was left outside a building in Schenectady NY, her leash frozen to the ground when my ex found her. I told him to bring her home to me.
When they arrived I had to carry her from the car. I didn't know what I was going to do with this 30lb bundle of frightened fur with big brown eyes, I just knew I had to get her help. She had scars on her face and forelegs that appeared to have come from another animals teeth. She would keep her head down at all times. She had been beaten emotionally and physically.
It just so happened that very night that meteorologist Steve Caporizzo from WTEN News out of Albany who does Pet Connection was going to be in my village of Ballston Spa that very night with Pat and the Greyhounds As Companions folks.
I took my little Pit Bull right into the Greyhound Adoption Clinic and met Steve and Pat, I knew right away I did the right thing. It just so happened a former partner of Pats now ran a Pit Bull rescue organization! Pat also arranged to get a crate for my little Pit Bull as we did not know her past and what she was capable of (would she eat the couch?). Pat, I've never forgotten you!
The very next day I called Pat's former partner Cydney Cross with Out Of The Pits.
She explained she had no room for my little dog at this time and would I be willing to foster her. I said yes, as she was getting along fine with my 2 cats and cocker spaniel. I ended up keeping the little Pit Bull and naming her Snoopie.
Cyd does wonderful things with her organization:
She has EIGHT certified therapy dogs that she takes to nursing homes, rehab centers and hospitals. The patients love them!
She brings these dogs to elementary schools to teach children about the breed, to learn to love them and other animals, to show children that animals love to be loved.
Cyd holds Public Education Clinics so they can learn more about the breed, see their agility, and how easily trained they are and their real history. She also offers Owner Counseling, people don't get how intelligent this breed is! They don't understand how much energy they have, and the love of the Pit Bull for his or her family is incredible. Ownership of a Pit Bull can really be overwhelming if you don't understand them. I didn't get it at first. Snoopies love for me is/was indescribable.
Out Of The Pits has wonderful adoption program. The dogs go through a lengthy testing process before they are allowed into the adoption program. Once they pass they get to go to new homes and have very happy healthy lives. Go have a look at some of these faces. I think you will be surprised at what you see. The faces here are beautiful puppies that just want to be loved.
OutOfThePits.org has 3 touching stories about Pit Bulls, Remembering Van Gogh is a story about how loyal Pits are.
Please stop by OUT OF THE PITS and read more good things about Pit Bulls. You will notice the site mentions at one time they were "America's Favorite Dog". Do you remember this? I will elaborate more on that fact as I continue this series.
In light of the recent media coverage of Dog Fighting I decided it was time to shine a light on the bright side of this beautiful animal.
Pictured here is a Red Nosed Pit Bull named T-Bone. He is my friends brothers 110lb baby.
I have no photos of Snoopie online or I would have posted them. She always had a smile on her face.
Comments(19)