Hiatus

Hey Everyone! Sorry for the delay in posts. I have been busy working and keeping up with Hemingway that my blog unfortunately took a back burner.

Recently I have been looking into how to stop dog fighting and how I can become a part of the fight against this inhumane act of violence towards an animal. There are several organizations that are around, and I am currently a volunteer for HugABull Rescue Society. But I can't help think that there has to be something more that I can do.

Some days I serf the internet looking to research on how dog fighting came to be. Often I stumble upon the most horrific and gut wrenching sad stories. Dogs who have lived their entire life, from puppy hood to the second they die not knowing what it is to feel loved. And when they fail their human they are often tortured, burned alive, severed limbs, noes, ears, until they bleed out.

When I hear/read stories like this, of course I get sad and even cry. My mind then goes to Hemingway and how I could never imagine him being anything other then the goofy, happy, loyal friend that he is.

These dogs don't want to be put in a ring and to fight another dog. They do it to please their handlers because they are such loyal dogs. Of course there is an element of survival in most cases where a dog needs to fight back in a dog fight situation, to save its own life.

My heart breaks. Man created this breed. They just want to be and feel love, like anyone or living thing. We need to abolish cruelty to animals and put a STOP to dog fighting. Until then, I encourage people to get educated and start to understand the truth about pitt bulls.

Would You Hug A Bull?

No friends, I am not talking about a Bull with a nose ring. Im talking about a bulldog!

One thing that I have learned while educating myself more on Pitbulls and Pitbull breeds (or other bullies) is that they are often used and abused, or tossed to the wayside because they are "too much dog". Meaning that they have too much energy or are demanding of your time. News flash folks! If you are getting a dog, you are getting a 12 to 15 year commitment no matter what breed you decide on. However, if you walk up and down your local shelters you find large dogs and pitbulls/pit mixes. This being said it is so important for us Pitty lovers to know where our local rescue societies are.

My favorite is HugABull. And I recently became a volunteer for them. I have yet to volunteer at any events, but I am looking forward to it.

This weekend I attended the WestCoast Tattoo and Culture Show (yes I met Chris Nunez he touched my shoulder SQUEAL!) and there was a booth for Pinup Perfection Photography where the beautiful alternative model Lou'la Massacre was holding down the fort and raising money for HugABull. If you are in the Greater Vancouver area you should really go check this show out. Lots of funky vendors, and lots of great artists there!

This got me thinking... What more can and should I be doing  to help raise awearness for Pitbulls? Gears are turning.... Stay tuned! I can't tell you everything!

xoxo
Kitty and Hemi

Restrictions

I am planning a vaction home for a month in the summer. Where is home you ask? Ottawa, Ontario. I am really looking forward to seeing my family as well as my friends. I would really love to bring Hemi with me to meet everyone, but a few years back the City of Ottawa passed a by-law, like many other cities/provences/states, a Pitt Bull and Pitt Bull type breed ban.

Here I go tonight looking for a loop hole in the banning of Pitt Bulls, in hopes that I can bring my dog to Ottawa with me for the summer. But I really doubt that will happen. There are so many stipulations on what dogs are okay, they have to have been born or owned before some time in 2005.

If you want to travel through the City of Ottawa with your pitt bull, think twice. Read this;

5. What if I am just passing through Ontario with my pit bull?

You will be in contravention of the law if you are found to have imported a pit bull into the province. Your pit bull may be subject to seizure and you may be subject to a fine and/or jail time. Please note that exceptions exist for Ontario residents who are out of the province with their pit bulls for less than three months. Limited exceptions also exist for individuals coming to Ontario for purposes of participating in recognized dog shows and flyball tournaments.

(copy pasted from the City of Ottawa - Public Saftey Related to Dogs Statute Law Amendment Act 2005)

Jail time? Charged? your dog maybe taken away from you! And we all know what that means. 

This really needs to come to an end. People need to start realizing that these dogs are not bad. They are just dogs, that love like no other breed.

(To read more on the City of Ottawa by law Pitt Bull breed banning, click the link above.)

Xoxo

Kitty and Hemi

Don't Bully My Breed!

Very rarely do I take work home with me. But sometimes I feel attacked and I can't let it go. So here I vent.

Last night a woman, a regular face in our shelter, came in with a dog on a leash. She went and got some food in the dining area then left. Not a bark from the dog, not even a whimper. In fact, the women who were enjoying their dinner and movie were happy to see him and pet it! (Pets really warm up the women. They adore them).

After this lady left, someone came flying out of the kitchen and said, "Since when do we allow pit bulls in here!?" Demanding and answer not knowing I proudly advocate and own this breed of dog.

I simply responded that we are a pet friendly facility thinking it would end the conversation. But no, it began to escalate to, "Pit bulls shouldn't be allowed in here! They are vicious. They will attack someone then we will get shut down." Etc, etc.

As hard as I fought it, at this point I could no longer reiterate that we are a pet friendly shelter, all pets are welcome. I had to speak up on my knowledge of the breed and i felt I needed to defend these dogs.

So I went on to explain that it is not the breed that is vicious, its the people that own them. I then let her know that I have a pit bull who comes to work with me, and he is the most loving and affectionate dog ever.

Just like the people who frequent the Downtown Eastside, this breed is very misunderstood. And just like a person, they need to be given a chance. You don't hear about chihuahua attacks, which happen more regular then pitty attacks, because you can throw it across a room should it bite you. Pit bulls aren't even number one one the most dangerous breed of dog list.

If you treat any animal with hate and are abusive it will attack back eventually, just like a person. If you treat it with love, it will only know love and be loving.

The person then got defensive saying that the dog was stolen, that she isn't suitable for that breed of dog etc etc. With out any afirmed knowledge of her accusations.

Her argument had become very circular and she back tracked. So I decided to end it by telling her to speak to Caren our shelter manager. Little does she know, Caren also owns and advocates pit bulls. ;)

I was just astonished to hear someone of such a misunderstood population of people stereotype and judge a dog based on his breed which is equally misunderstood.

Anyway, that's my rant to help me get that off my mind. And if you still think Pitbull breeds are ALL vicious killers, you need to meet my Hemingway. He will smother you in wet puppy kisses and demand back scratches!

(Please note: I realize there are aggressive dogs (non breed specific. Animals are wild in nature, it can, and does happen. A very sad reality :( but they often can be rehabilitated)

Hemi wasn't to impressed with someone bullying his breed!

Nothing says cute like Pin Up girls and Pit Bulls!

Today is April 2nd, 2001 That means it is today that all the applications for the Pinups for Pitbulls 2013 Calendar Model Search need to be in! This is my first year participating in this competition and I couldn't be more excited to be a part of it all. So now its the waiting game to see if I am chosen amongst several other applications.

IN the summer of 2011 I was looking online for pit bull awareness t-shirts and clothing, as well as online shopping for pinup style clothing (as it is my favorite style), when I stumbled upon a t-shirt that said "Take my Leash. Not my Life". I saw the website name on the top and went straight to the site and fell in love with everything they are about.

Here is an organization, created by a woman who loves pinup style and who is advocating for pit bulls! I immediatly thought, this is totally up my alley! When I found out you can apply to become a pinup model for their calendar I got very excited. My friend Jen Kaboom, a local aspiring pinup model and designer herself, told me that I should apply. So when this years competition opened up I jumped all over it. <Hemi is sleeping at my feet and having a dream so cute!>

So friends, fingers crossed I get picked! The chosen models will fly out to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to have their photo for the calendar taken by Celest Giuliano Pinup Photography. Amazing right? Stay tuned for results.

Even if I don't get chosen, I will always support this organization and keep trying every year. It is such a great cause!

                                      Here's a pic of me and Hemi when he was just a little boy!

Woof Woof Welcome!

Welcome to Van City Pitty! Exactly one year ago today a dog came into my life at the perfect time to save me and I came into his life at the perfect time to save him. I was lost, lonely, heartbroken, and betrayed. I needed something to lift my spirits up to get me through the storm. His name is Hemingway, but we call him Hemi, and it couldn't be a more suitable name. Always revved up and ready to go Hemi is a Pit bull breed advocate.

When I found Hemi he was in a backyard garage with over 24 puppies and 4 mothers with their litters. I soon learned that Hemi's mother had drowned a week after his birth when she walked on a covered pool in an unsupervised backyard. Hemi and his litter mates were being bounced around to nurse off other nursing mothers. I also learned that several puppies had died of parvovirus.

Hemi, the other puppies, and the mothers were living in their own filth. Urine and fecal matter was everywhere, and when walking into the shed they were penned in your breath was taken away by the smell. I knew that I had to save this little dog. I didn't care about the breed, I just knew that I had to do something, and if that meant giving one (I could only take one) a chance at life, then so be it. (I know now that all the other puppies found good forever homes).

As Hemingway grew, I noticed that people stopped approaching me to pet my dog. Questions started to be asked from several feet away whether or not he was friendly. Parents started to pull their children closer to them. This is when I realized how uneducated society really is it when it comes to this breed of dog.


It wasn't until I had a verbal altercation with a volunteer about someone bringing in a pit bull into our shelter where I work that I knew I had to do something to protect, educate, and help advocate for this breed of dog.


My goal you ask? One day I would love to own my own animal rescue. I know pit bulls are always looking for good homes, and are always being rescued from unfit homes and terrible people. But until then I will cross post, educate and take you on mine and Hemingway's journey to advocate for the world Best Breed!

Love,
Kitty and Hemi
WOOF WOOF WOOF xoxo