News Flash: Trixie finds a forever home!

I'm so psyched! My friend Trixie has found her forever home!!

Trixie is an older dog, blind, and a little hard of hearing. She'd been at PAWS for a while, and we were beginning to worry. But a really nice family came along and took this sweetie home yesterday.

She's a truly amazing dog. You'd think a nine-year-old, blind dog would want to put up her paws and sleep all day. Not this girl! She loves long walks, and is great at maneuvering her way around. She learned the layout of PAWS and I'm sure she'll quickly learn the pattern of her new home.

All the best to Trixie and her new family! Kisses and hugs to you sweetie!!

Mom! What's that "L" on your forehead?!

"Mom, why's your hand all bandaged up?"
"I don't know what you mean, dear."
"What's that "L" on your forehead?"
"What "L" is that, dear? It's probably just a shadow from the sun, honey."
"No, mom, it's clearly an "L." As in Loser."
"All right, dear. I broke the first rule of interacting with dogs."
"And that is...?"
"Never let your guard down when two strange dogs are near each other."
"English, please, Mom?"
"Okaaaay... I put my hand near an angry dog's mouth, and it became an hors d'oeuvre, okay honey? Happy now? Your mom is an idiot."
"I see. Was it a big, mean pit bull?"
"No, dear, it was actually a small breed. I've never been bitten by a big, mean pit bull. Just those little ones. Always the little ones."
"Stitches, mom?"
"You're enjoying this, aren't you honey?"

LA Times correction - It wasn't a Pit after all!

Earlier this month, the LA Times reported - then corrected - that a family's pit bull bit their toddler. The LA Department of Animal Services later reported that the dog was actually a shepherd mix, not a pit bull. Thank you, LADAS, for clarifying this for us!! (Best wishes for the child's speedy recovery!!)

Did you know Helen Keller had a Pit Bull?

It's true! And so did Fred Astaire and Thomas Edison. So many of today's celebs are pit lovers, too.

Little Red: A Vicktory Dog

Little Red is one of Michael Vick's former dogs, now at Best Friend's in Utah. Her story is sad and uplifting at the same time. Even though she had her teeth filed down so she couldn't fight back, her love and trust still shine through. It's amazing how forgiving animals can be!

If We're So Mean, Why Are We Always Smiling?

Many of us have had pretty tough lives.

I was tied to a Stop sign when I was 10 weeks old; some of us were abandoned at PAWS; one spent a very long time in a cold, damp pound before being rescued by PAWS; countless others were physically abused or neglected.

So why are we Pits known for our smiles? Because we really are loving and happy animals! I thought I'd share some pictures of my smiling friends. Be sure to check the captions for their stories. Enjoy!

May 18-24: Dog Bite Prevention Week

No one wants to be bitten by a dog, right?

My mom told me about a little girl, about 6-8 years old, going up to my brother, who's the biggest, mushiest Border Collie in the world. She stuck her face right in his. When he growled in warning (thank goodness he didn't bite) the girl's mom gave my mom a dirty look.

Did I mention that they were at an agility center and the girl's mom was a trainer? A "dog-savvy" trainer? So why didn't she teach this eight-year-old that walking up to a dog, staring at it eye-to-eye, and putting her face the dog's face was a really, really bad thing to do? No! Sit. Stay! Bad girl. Bad.

Here's the thing. When a dog and a child are at eye level, the dog feels threatened. When the child is a stranger, the threat doubles. (When the parent is an idiot and lets the child do whatever it wants then blames the other party... Well, you get the picture.)

Seriously, folks, countless children are bitten by dogs because they aren't taught the correct way to approach a strange dog. Here are some simple tips that both children and adults can benefit from:

• Ask the owner if the dog is friendly. If it is, ask for permission to pet him/her.
• Once you have permission, don't crowd the dog or bend over it. Squat down, DON'T stare at it, and offer a closed fist, palm down. Let it sniff your fist and come to you. It will decide if it wants to make contact; if it doesn't just leave it alone.
• If you do look at the dog, look away quickly. Staring is a dog's way of "daring"another dog.
• Don't go near a dog that's eating, playing with a toy, or chewing a rawhide bone.
• Let sleeping dogs lie. A sleeping dog can startle easily and snap or bite.
• Don't run from a strange dog. Fold your arms and LOOK AWAY! Don't threaten it with a stare.

Lots more tips and information can be found here. Animal Planet is a great resource (and I like to watch the animals on TV!). And here is more info from Best Friends Animal Society. Be safe!

Francois Makes His Modeling Debut

Check out my mom's new vanity plate, and her hot male model, sure to make Vanity Fair's cover in the months to come!

All inquiries about this exciting new talent should be directed to PAWS!

Breed Specific Legislation Ticks Me Off

What do German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Akitas, Greyhounds (yes, Greyhounds), and pit bulls have in common? They're all great dogs who have become the target of Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) in many countries around the world, including the United States.

And it burns me up. It makes me want to stomp my paws and bark at the mailman!

Often, if a dog is aggressive or violent, it's due to poor breeding, poor upbringing, or a combination of both.

BSL doesn't solve the root of the problem: Humans who have trained their dogs to be fighters or otherwise dangerous. Rather than addressing the need for responsible pet ownership, BSL ignores the human factor and punishes the animal.

It's time to hold owners responsible for their despicable actions. The Michael Vick case was a disturbing event that will hopefully show officials that it's the humans, not the animals, who are the responsible parties. Of the 49 dogs that were seized from Vick's property, all but one will be placed with families or live their lives in peace as loved members of sanctuaries.

And besides, how would you ban pit bulls with Breed Specific Legislation? We're not a breed! Us plain old pits are a mix of as many as 35 different breeds of dog including Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, Spanish Alanos, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Bandogs, Dogues Brasileiros, Dogo Argentinos, Guatemalan Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Bull Mastiffs, Bull Terriers, English Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Akitas, Chow Chows, and even Labradors. Look for a Lab with a purple tongue. They're quite common.

One Fine Brandy...

It never ceases to amaze me when my pretty friends are overlooked at PAWS. So I thought I'd tell you about a few now and then.

This is Brandy. And she's a beauty. She's been at PAWS for a couple of years now, and who knows why. Probably because she's not a puppy, or a small cuddly designer dog, or a Golden Retriever, or a who-knows-whatadoodle. She's just a dog's dog.

And she loves people! She just wants a home with a fenced-in yard, a dog bed to call her own, and a couple of toys. Just add water, and you have a family pet! More about Brandy.

Apply to adopt Brandy! (PAWS only adopts locally, within the Connecticut area. That way they can make sure you take good care of us and help you out if you need it!!)