Blog the Change: the real heroes

Lately, we’ve been talking a lot about American pit bull terriers because of the dog fighting issue and how these dogs have been abused, traumatized and killed by you know who. There are many other issues that we have not addressed including how badly maligned these innocent dogs are in the media, banning the breed in places like Denver, (breed specific legislation), spay/neutering the dogs so less of them end up dying in shelters across America, and so on.  A whole host of problems that need solutions.  Mostly, I have joked about polka dot discrimination here until recently.

Some of us dog lovers and pibble lovers specifically are working towards getting better press for the dogs. Better press, positive press in the media, can lead to changes in the way our society perceives the breed and ultimately help end / solve the other problems. And since I am a media person, what you didn’t know that about me, read my bio, hah. Anyway, I am a newspaper reporter/editor, freelance, and I also do PR, assist authors, small business owners and others obtain all the media attention/coverage they can handle. I say that because many people don’t really want a lot of media attention. Just a little. But I digress.

We have a HUGE opportunity with promoting the Lost Dogs book and banning Vick from EVER getting a dog to move the breed’s reputation from vicious bad mean dogs to who they really are, the sweet adorable dogs we know and love, in our society’s minds. And that’s why I get so crazy if you will, and want everyone to jump on the bandwagon with me. Ok, I admit I am annoying.  But it’s up to us to step up and speak out for these sweet adorable dogs. Because if we don’t, who will. Ok, sometimes my passion turns into obsession. I admit it. Am a crazy fan of the breed because of my Cici, who I rescued from out of the hands of a homicidal maniac. Have issues. I get it.  For me, it’s personal, as it should be.

You know that you are a pit bull rescuer, owner, lover when you realize you have not slept again all night because you found another crazymaking article, poll, or list saying how wonderful sick Vick is and you’ve just got to tell the world, that ain’t true.

How many pibble rescuers, owners, lovers does it take to turn the tide, tell the press/media, and the world how great these dogs are before we make a difference?  I know we are making a difference every day when people come up to me and tell me how great, sweet, gorgeous and silly Cici is. Or when I read a hero story about a pibble who saved someone. Little steps can add up to BIG change.

It is easy to feel discouraged especially when ignorant media people like Petside name ick (not a typo) a pet hero, ugh.  Now, hmmm choose, should we applaud a dog serial killer who used his own pet dog as bait and killed dogs with his own bare hands or should we choose BADRAP and Best Friends as pet heroes? DUH… And just when we thought we were doing good with the Lost dogs project, we find out that some of the books were returned to owners. This is  unclear at the moment. Seems like just part of the White House process of approving gifts. Hopefully.

But what other choice do we have but to keep on keeping on, every day, in small and big ways to help these dogs? I take my inspiration from heroines like Donna Reynolds from BADRAP and the heroes and heroines at Best Friends who have taken care of the v-dogs and are taking care of them and other dogs, as well as Our Pack, Monterey SPCA, the gang at Pit Bull Positive and the other pit bull rescuers who are so dedicated and committed to the breed. If they can patiently, lovingly and daily do the work of caring and training these dogs, and have for years, then so can I and so can you.

Since the mass media has yet to name the REAL heroes, I am calling them out here right now and so I hope you will too. Give them a standing ovation, a big cheer, a huge shout out, folks, yell from the rooftops. Also translate that into donations to keep them doing this great work. For the breed, for the dogs. I know you care. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have read this far.  Translate that caring into action. Baby steps every day have a ripple effect in the long term.

Also, I consider it an honor to tell people about The Lost Dogs book because imagine how much it took for author Jim Gorant to not only write this tale but also now to deal with the press/media about it.  He deserves a lot more kudos, too.  As I tell people every day, not only should they read the book to learn the facts about ick, (again, not a typo, heh heh 🙂 but also because IT IS the best written book I’ve read in a long long time.  Gorant is a GREAT writer. He wove a tale with suspense, not much gore (2-3 paragraphs tops), and a TON OF HEART, for the dogs. The book honors the dogs and is a living testament to the TRUE HEROES of this tale.  I pray that I could write like that some day. So please buy the book, send it to the media, your local media, the national media, Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg, specifically need to read the book. Write a letter to your editor at the local newspaper. Everyone benefits when you do. The dogs, their rescuers, Jim Gorant and our world. Win, win, win win win.

I also want to thank all of the crazy people who sent the books to the White House. Anna B., Catherine HB, Katie M., Dawn SB and 200+ others, you know who you are. None of you sent the book for the limelight attention or even the gifts some will be winning at my contest, They all did it because they love the dogs and want to help BADRAP and Gorant. Hats off to you nutty dog / animal people of the world !  (Below are photos of Anna’s sweet rescue dogs and Dawn’s glass tile charms). You, too, are my heroes and inspiration.

Last but definitely not least is this hero who speaks out so eloquently about this. You gotta read the article the Pit Bull Guru Drayton Michaels wrote called Sympathy for the Devil: Softening M. Vick’s image click it and pay it forward.

Now that is my soap box and I will go gently back into the night, actually into my bed to cuddle with Cici.  She is the best dog ever.  Does she have a sweet face or what?

oh well, it’s 6 pm I posted this early early early this morning, but just realized now I was supposed to put the code here, duh, oh my dog, no wonder, early to post, late to link/code 🙂