(Photo by Fadel Senna/AFP/Getty Images)

This event is near and dear to our heart because we LOVE pit bulls!!

So much so that we rescue them, and we presently have three of our own!

The Bully Bash! benefiting Operation Kindness is set for THIS Thursday at Sambucas in Dallas.

It’s a celebration of bully breeds, but ALL dogs are invited!

There will be cool raffle packages, a pooch kissing-booth with pittie puppies, a bully beauty pageant and for love of all things holy, get one of their Bully-ritas!

And whereas pit bulls get a bad rap, THIS guy’s press is right on!

He is weird, reeeeally weird…

But that’s what a lot of us want to see at a concert, right?

We don’t want to see our freakin’ neighbor on stage, we want to see a dreg of society!!

And that’s exactly what you get with Marilyn Manson!

He, along with Alice Cooper, will be at Verizon Theatre on Monday, June 10th, so just go here to get your tickets.

All you beautiful people, click on that player below:

Follow Jack on Facebook or Twitter @JACKFMDFW for JACKTIVITIES updates!

My family at Pit Bull Rescue San Diego
needs your help!

We are doing a fundraiser to help out my friends Blossom and Jazzy. Both Jazzy and Blossom are senior pit bulls that need a bit of extra care.

Please take a moment of your time to vote for Pit Bull Rescue San Diego: http://myinstapit.com/insta/charity-poll/

Xoxo B!

Of course I would never actually hurt any of my dogs.  A lot of them have already endured physical abuse at the hands of humans, and so we’re pretty darn careful about how we interact with them when we are frustrated.

But sometimes I do want to pull my hair out or run out the door screaming.

We have had rain (like, downpours every 20 minutes rain) and thunderstorms for three days straight.  That means much more indoors time, in a smaller area, and much less play time (ever seen pit bulls play indoors?  Trust me, it’s not in the best interest of your furniture’s survival).

So, as a consequence, H has been barking.  Nonstop.  And because she has Boston Terrier in her, she has a little dog, headache inducing, annoying as hell bark.  She barks when she’s in the crate.  She barks when she’s out of the crate.  In between barking she annoys the hell out of the other dogs by jumping on them, chewing on them, and chasing them.  And in between that she’s been chewing up and tearing up our furniture.  Or trying to chew on me (ow).  Even though she has about 4 different toys all her own to play with, and 10 others to choose from.

G has been having the crazies: jumping up onto the furniture (sometimes from the back of it while we are sitting on it–that’s always fun), rolling around like a lunatic, “digging” the furniture, barking at the other dogs, trying to chew on me, barking at me, and trying to show dominance behavior with me (he should know better, but I’m cutting him a bit of slack in the “driving-me-crazy-o’meter” because he’s only recently been back with us and has been showing some testing behaviors in general to see if the rules are still the same.  They are).

W has been barking in her crate like a lunatic any time there is any disturbance with the other dogs (which is frequently), wanting desperately to eat the cats, and never (N E V E R) settling.  And M has very understandably been losing his patience with the other dogs and barking at them to correct them–and then chewing on the couch in frustration when they don’t listen.

Believe me, I know it’s not their fault.  They are bored and frustrated and have had several solid days of not getting enough exercise.  And I know that for at least one of them the repeated thunder storms is psychologically tough.  The energy has to come out somehow.  And because it is rainy and cooped up they have limited ways to do that.

But at the same time…man, it’s really hard to not let the rainy day crazies get to you after a while.

Oh, and we’re not supposed to have any sun until Monday.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

- Pit Bull Foster Momma

All but one was in rescue at some point, even though Goldie, the chug (a Chihuahua-pug mix) was born in rescue. She has been coddled every day of her 30 months of life, so she doesn’t understand hardship (unless it is in the form of being told “no”). Four of the pugs and Ernest Hemingway — aka Ernie — know what it’s like to be neglected, abused, and abandoned. Those days are long past for them, and I hope remain a vague memory.
After feeding the dogs and spending time with each one of them, I decided I had to take a deep breath and watch “Roots of Rescue,” a documentary that is being shown tonight at the Helena Amphitheater. The event, sponsored by Faithful Paws Mission, is free. The organization is based in Helena and it works to support rescue groups and educate the public on issues regarding animals.

Gates will open at 6:30 p.m.; the 53-minute documentary will be shown at 7. No children younger than 13 will be allowed to attend due to the graphic nature of the film.

This is an outside, so take lawn chairs, blankets, and bug spray. No food or drinks will be served, so take your own. Leave the adult beverages at home; you’ll need one — or several — once you leave the amphitheater, though.

Several rescue groups will have information tables set up. Ask questions, volunteer, or donate to their very worthy causes.
I admit I kept putting off watching it; I knew I would burst into tears more than once.

And I did.

Two University of Maryland students — Joe Olivieri and David Cowardin – came to Alabama in January 2012 because they had been told that there was a high incidence of animal neglect in our state. When they arrived and started filming, they soon realized the extent of the problem. They also discovered what they call “a culture of cruelty.”

In 2012, Alabama was ranked 45th in the nation in animal protection laws by the Humane Society of the United States. We’ve moved up from the 50th spot about four years, but this is nothing to be proud of.

“We traveled to Alabama not as animal activists but as journalists trying to learn more about a culture,” Olivieri and Cowardin write about their project. “A culture of animal cruelty that we, as Minnesotans, are unfamiliar with. We found that the issue is largely going unnoticed, but there are people fighting to bring it to the light. People pouring their retirement funds into helping neglected animals. People who seem to be in the cultural minority.

“The culture shock that we experienced was much greater than anticipated,” the two write. “We expected to see animals tied up improperly and some situations of abuse. We expected to have to look hard for the problem, but instead it presented itself to us: we found dead dogs on the side of road everywhere (one nearby an elementary school). Those sights were new to us but common and overlooked by many who live in the south.”

The documentary follows several local rescuers, including Greene County’s volunteer animal cruelty investigator Bonnie Miller. Bonnie and her husband, Tim, came into my life two years ago when they fell in love with Jada, a fox terrier I was fostering at the time. I loved Jada, too, and I was absolutely nuts about her puppy, Lucy. The Millers adopted Jada, and while I left their home teary-eyed, I knew Jada was in a wonderful place. Lucy had already left the Compound when Jada found her new humans. She is also living a great life as Pippa.

Bonnie went to school to learn the proper techniques for investigating animal neglect and cruelty on her own. She does her job without pay. It is, truly, a labor of love.

The documentary also highlights the work of rescuers Sandra Nathan, of Two by Two Animal Rescue; and Richard Burgess, who was with Birmingham-Jefferson Animal Control at the time of filming but is now with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society.

The duo plans to return to interview more rescuers, animal rights activists and legislators.

If you cannot attend tonight’s showing, you may view the documentary at a cost of $12 at vimeo.com/ondemand/rootsofrescue/55547174.

(Photo courtesy of The Modified Dolls Tri-state Chapter)

Some of the girls were handing out fliers and I ran up to one of them to see what they were about because their slogan already had me intrigued. On the flier had the name “The Modified Dolls”, a list of upcoming fundraisers and the address to their Facebook page. As soon as I arrived home (and finally changed back into some warm clothes) I went onto their Facebook page and found out that they are a nationwide organization focused on breaking the negative stereotypes that are often associated with being a modified woman while participating in local and national charities. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of what these women were doing.

After going through the application process, I was accepted into my probation period as a Doll. Throughout this process I became more and more impressed with the organization and how they present themselves to the public. As a Doll you must have a personal Facebook in order to communicate with your chapter and to share events and information with your friends. You must share at least three TMD related posts a week and be present for meetings and events. Also, my favorite challenge during my probation period was having to put up three TMD fliers and take a picture of where it is posted to post onto the probation group as proof of having done the challenge. This task not only allowed me to post fliers in areas where I thought a large amount of people would see it, but it also gave me the opportunity to tell many people about the group firsthand. I went to a few tattoo parlors, a café, a restaurant, and some shops (I hung more than three fliers) and asked each of the owners or staff members if I could not only hang the flier, but also if I could take a picture of it hanging up. Each encounter presented an opportunity to tell someone new about the group.

Flier posted at The Other Fish Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Bethlehem, PA

I have found that it is in all of these ways that we are reaching people. By having an online presence, not just on the main Facebook, but also our official website, and local chapters have their own Twitter and Instagram accounts. We are constantly reaching new people and able to tell them all about each event and fundraiser that we do. The girls use these forms of social media, physical fliers hung up in each community, our magazine, and each public event as a way to show that modified women are just as beautiful, kind, and passionate as women without tattoos or piercings. These women genuinely care about the charities that they raise funds for and are active members of their communities.

While each chapter does work with local charities, their main goal every month is to donate to the designated national charity. Each month the charity changes, so TMD is always helping out various causes and this allows each woman to participate in a charity that she is personally passionate about, while also helping other women donate to the charities that they are passionate about as well. For example, the designated charity for April was Pinups for Pit Bulls and now in May we are fundraising for The March of Dimes.

Personally, I am part of The Modified Dolls Tri-state Chapter and some of our most recent events have been a table at the South Mall Non-Profit Expo, The Skindustry Expo, and a fundraising concert event called Misunderstood: The Breed and The Blues.

At the South Mall Non-Profit Expo we were able to set up a table and talk to people about the organization, upcoming events and try to recruit potential Dolls.

Featured: PA Dolls Crimson Morphine and Divine Chaos

The Skindustry Expo allowed us to do the same, in a setting where we were surrounded by modified people. We were also able to sell some donated items that were made by the girls in our chapter, along with TMD merchandise, which ended up raising $235 for Pinups for Pit Bulls, who also happened to be at the event.

(Photo courtesy of The Modified Dolls Tri-state Chapter)
Featured: PA Dolls Divine Chaos, Missa Mulisha, Gracie Mae, Von Sprinkles and ladies from Pinups for Pitbulls

Finally, our last event for April was the concert, which featured blues music by The New Kings of Rhythm with James Supra and The Rev. Mr. Capwell. Also there, raising awareness for the pit bull breed, was The Lehigh Valley Pit Bull Awareness Club, The Center for Animal Health and Welfare, Sunray’s Pit Bull Rescue, Last Chance Ranch, and of course, The Modified Dolls.

The New Kings of Rhythm

There was an entry fee for the concert and then we raffled off various donated items from local businesses or members of the community. This event raised over $2,000 for the charities involved, including over $300 for Pinups for Pit Bulls. This was an all around wonderful experience (as you can probably tell by how cute the puppies are).

Baby pit bulls up for adoption at Sunray’s Pit Bull Rescue

Every month there are different events and the funds go to different charities, but these women show enthusiasm just the same. It is through their personal passions, their bond with each other and the community that they are out making a difference for so many groups of people.

It almost seems like an extra perk to also be representing the modified women of the world and showing that our tattoos and piercings do not make us any less compassionate.

I am now in a different position than I’ve  been in before.  I can work part-time and pick & choose  where I work.  I   now work part-time for a very experienced groomer  several days a week, and that gives me a base, and I’ve been all over the north side of Chicago in the past few weeks.

I had been interested in providing job shadowing, and have signed on with http://www.PivotPlanet.com .  We will see how it goes.   I am also networking with others to provide  services.  I am absolutely shocked at how many people want to enter this industry, and think that if they just open a business, it will come.  I had to tell one of the people I contract with that , in the past, I had over  40 once a week clients with very long-haired dogs. As those dogs  expired, those owners didn’t replace those long haired dogs with other high maintenance  breeds. They now have  Bostons & Frenchies   You can  bathe one of those in your laundry tub.  The business owner I  was talking to didn’t have a clue. She really doesn’t know that some breeds are more popular than others.  Worse, she  feels that since she  has a  college degree, she is too good to do  physical labor. Even worse,  her  social media is non-existent.  I think she is going to lose her business.  Half  a million dollars  just  disintegrated because she really didn’t know  what she was doing, she blames it on more competition.  It’s part of the problem, but not all of it.

Over the years, several people have told me they have wanted to open grooming businesses in certain locations because they’ve seen a lot of people  with dogs.  To me, that is not a business plan. it’s like saying you see a lot of fat people , so  you want to  open a bakery.  people have just enough capital to get themselves into real trouble.  I feel it is a matter of integrity to warn  people who have a fantasy notion of being in a pet industry  service business that  they have to cost it out, step by step, and not think  that all these people they see walking their dogs  even have their dogs groomed, or  are unhappy with  the people grooming them.  Dog daycare may be an option, and in some locations, possibly retail, but  they have to be prepared to lose a lot of cash before they make any, and marketing  will be a constant activity.  But more; these  businesses are generally too marginal to support  an owner who does not ad value.   if you  don’t have experience training dogs, or working with animal shelters, or  showing dogs, you really can’t  advise people who have pets what is  best for their dog.  when you are in business,  pet owners tend to see you as an expert.  It’s a matter of integrity to not tell people  the wrong thing.  If you really love dogs, that is.

Fewer hobby breeders are breeding dogs. They just can’t handle the expense. That leaves the puppy mills.  All the designer dogs : the Morkies, Shipoos, Doodles, Chiweenies—come from irresponsible people breeding dogs as livestock, as do most Boston Terriers and French Bulldogs.  I won’t even go into  where pit Bulls come from.  Most of these dogs have e painful, life  shortening genetic defects.  Most dog groomers are now trained  by grooming schools, who  are not concerned with styling, but teaching people to not injure dogs.The independent dog groomers are going to go the way of the video store.  Maybe not next year, but soon.

BarkBox’s New Look

Instead of the shreds of blue paper that used to come inside our BarkBox, we now have the classy, branded paper wrapping our goodies! So fancy! Take a closer look:

BarkBox’s New Paper Wrapping

It’s lovely, I just wish it didn’t have some of the words that typically have a negative connotation, like growl, yap and guard. Along with the new packaging also comes a new little tip card, with a cute little cartoon:

BarkBox Tip Card

On the back, it reads, “Our dogs love their goodies, but their favorite thing in the world is to spend time with their humans. A great spring activity is to simply take out the leash and go exploring to a new park or neighborhood.” We completely agree! Get out there with your pup and explore! Now to the good stuff…

May 2013 BarkBox

First up, from Planet Dog, we got an Orbee-Tuff ball! These durable toys are great for fetch, as well as just keeping your dog entertained on its own for a while. Best of all, they’re minty-fresh so they help cover up the sometimes unpleasant odors that come from your pup’s mouth!

Orbee-Tuff Ball

Next up, we got a pig femur bone from Barkworthies! The best kind of distraction for a pup when you need to get some work done around the house, this will keep your dog busy for quite a long time!

Barkworthies Pig Femur Bone

To represent the joy of a spring/summer time BBQ, we got Loving Pets’ Grill-icious Beef Treats! Made with sweet potato, these are super healthy and all natural. They’ll make a great special snack when Lucy is behaving especially well.

Loving Pets’ Grill-Icious Beef Treats

And finally, from one of our favorite local dog treat companies, we got Bocce’s Bakery’s Green Juice treats! These are the perfect treat for Lucy, who has allergies to certain proteins. Made exclusively from spinach, kale, apple, spirulina, flax seeds and mint, these snacks are right up our alley!

Bocce’s Bakery’s Green Juice Treats

And don’t forget, if you want to join the fun, sign up using our discount code! You’ll get $10 off your first subscription and BarkBox will donate $10 to Bully Project. In fact, if we get over 100 referrals before June 10, we’ll get $20 for each referral! Here’s the code:

“HELLO beautiful how are…..” Inconveniently interrupted by little missy beautifuls’ owner! ” Super! Hey I hear some kids over here, think I’ll check it out on my way home”

POP!POP!POP!

I am Jack. A pit bull by birth, loved and adopted by a human family.

I was shot and killed on May 9,2013, because I snuck out when the kids opened the door, ran to a neighbors house where a female dog was in heat, was told to go home, so I was on my way home and I walked through the wrong yard. The home owner decided to shoot me three times with his rifle while his children, his step children and some neighborhood kids were all outside in the same yard at the time. Yes, the children saw the whole thing. I have no idea what I did wrong.

One of the little boys who was in the yard at the time I was shot, ran home and told his mom. He was so upset. I’ve never seen him like that. Luckily, his mom put him in the car and drove him over to my owners house. She grabs him and hugs him and tells him shes so sorry. I’m not sure she understands what he has told her. He said which yard he was in and that her dog had ran across the yard and “he” shot him with his rifle and scope 3 times! She said she had heard the shots just as she got out of the shower. See, she had gone running and my dad was working in the garage, so they didn’t know I was gone.

She went inside and called 911, told them exactly what the little boy had told her. My dad got in the car and came in search of me. He couldn’t see me.But I heard him. He asked that lady if she shot his dog, she said no. He asked her if his dog had been shot and she said yes. He asked if his dog was being aggressive, which I have no idea what that even means, and she said no he should have kept his dog in his yard. Oh man was he mad!

At home, my mom gets a call back from dispatch, told her he had an officer with her dog and gave her an address asked if she knew where that was. Of course, it’s the next street over. But, they didn’t tell her! She doesn’t know.

Oh! NO! She has gotten in the car with dad. ALL THESE PEOPLE STANDING AROUND….SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL HER!

Her and dad walk around the back of this house where they see the police man. He points, she can’t see me. My dad turns and tells her to ” GO GET IN THE CAR!” I think before he could even get it all out she saw me. I have never seen her act like that. She was trying to throw a boat I think. She ended up in handcuffs while all those people standing around watched.

No-one told her I was dead.

The town Marshall told my family the man at that house admitted to shooting me. He said I wasn’t being aggressive,I still don’t know what that means, nor did he feel threatened. He said he shot me because I was in his yard. I don’t understand , who does that?

I AM JACK. I WAS A PIT BULL WHO WAS LOVED DEEPLY BY HIS FAMILY. I WAS SHOT AND KILLED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

Here are five more panda drawings to add to the ever-expanding collection. In the first one there is a cheetah, but if you look closely, there are also two kitties on the purse.

These two are obviously magicians. You tell by the bright colors they wear in the clothing and nail polish. It is likely they listen to the blackest of black metal and drink from the most forbidden of forbidden juice boxes. In the unlikely instance that they are not magicians, they must surely be wizards.

An American and a Manchurian debate the virtues of getting rich. The contest ends in a draw.

A young prodigy challenges the piano to justify its own existence. The piano responds slowly, completing its defense long after the earth is consumed by silence. In the end, the boy and the piano become great friends.

Vintage lovers try to keep warm in the winter months by cuddling, snuggling, and juggling. Besides pandas, what other animals start with the letter P?

The dogs who are most commonly bred for fighting are generally known as “pit bulls”:  Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, American bulldogs, and American pit bull terriers. Dogs who are used for fighting are usually kept penned or chained (often with heavy logging chains), and many are taunted and starved in order to trigger extreme survival instincts and encourage aggression.

Some dog fighters  train dogs by forcing them to tread water in pools; run on a treadmill while a caged rabbit, cat, chicken, or other terrified animal is dangled in front of them; or hang on with their jaws while dangling from a chain baited with meat. Many dogs are injected with steroids, and some dog fighters even sharpen their dogs’ teeth, cut off their ears (to prevent another dog from latching on), and add roach poison to their food so that their fur might taste bad to other dogs.

Dogs who “win” fights are forced to fight again and again and are used to breed puppies for profit. One dog who was described as a particularly successful fighter generated $100,000 in stud fees in a single year. Female dogs are strapped down on “rape stands” to prevent fighting while males impregnate them. Many of the dogs who do not fight or who lose fights are used as “bait” animals.

Photo Bullit Marquez

WHAT HAPPENS AT DOGFIGHTS

The “pit” where these bloody events take place usually consists of a dirt or carpeted floor measuring 8 to 16 square feet, surrounded by a wooden enclosure that is about 3 feet high. Dogs are taken to either end of the ring and released at the “face your dogs” command. Sticks are used to pry apart the dogs, who clamp down so fiercely that it is not uncommon for dogs to “fang” themselves (i.e., bite through their own lips). Dogs are encouraged to fight to the death, and the fight can go on for hours—until both dogs are exhausted and at least one is seriously injured or dead.

Continue reading at …. 
http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/dogfighting.aspx

As we were leaving the beach, Sarge asked me to write this message to share with you all:
If you want to add a beach loving dog to your family, pleas fill out an application for Sarge here.

Today’s Dog Quote:

“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”
- cowboy wisdom

Image taken and processed with iPhone and Photo Toaster

For today: Auteur! Auteur!

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night . . .

I had my concerns about feeding raw–the biggest being bacteria.  Could feeding raw make my dogs sick?  What about their poop?  Would it become even more toxic?  Could I get sick from getting kisses from my dog if they ate raw?  And of course cleaning up after meals would become much more intensive than the usual swish out the bowl with hot water that we were accustomed to.

Well, other than the cleanup being more time consuming, I’ve discovered that my fears were a tad overblown.  Here are two great links which addressed my concerns:

http://rawfed.com/myths/bacteria.html

http://rawfed.com/myths/zoonotic.html

I’ve also noticed since my dogs started the raw diet that:

- They have more energy and are much more playful with each other than they had been previously

- Their poops are smaller and less smelly

- M’s allergies have completely disappeared.  We previously had him on Taste of the Wild “High Prairie” food, which was grain free, but he still was itchy and licked his butt and paws red (even with benadryl on board).  Now his paws and feet look completely normal!

I’m still grossed out by the raw food.  Preparation is just…icky, and the first couple of weeks every time they cracked on a bone I felt literally queasy and had to leave the room.  I know, I know, I’m a big wimp, and I’ll get over it eventually.  But seeing the differences in them since we’ve started, I’m starting to get behind this whole thing.

I know the raw diet can be pretty controversial…what do the rest of you out there think?  Anyone completely against, or completely for?  Anyone else who has recently switched?  Did you see any changes, positive or negative, if your dogs?

- Pit Bull Foster Momma

Today’s American Pit Bull Terrier

The majority of professionals agree that today’s pit bull is a short-coated canine characterized by a broad head, effective jaws and a muscle, stocky body. But there is excellent variation in the pit bull’s appearance. Normally 35 to 65 pounds, some consider as little as 25 pounds, while others tip the scales at 80 pounds or even more. Some have bulkier frames and colossal skulls; others have leaner, more muscle bodies. All are sturdy and athletic. With their impressive stamina and staunch work ethic, pit bulls take pleasure in a range of tasks, consisting of agility, disc dog competitions, flyball, freestyle and competitors obedience. They commonly excel in weight-pulling contests and schutzhund. Some pit bulls work livestocks in herding trials, and some still feature as hunting dogs.

Want to know even more… Learn the truth about pit bulls.

Before anybody seeks to outlaw or ban something, shouldn’t they first be able to define it? Then, if they can define it, shouldn’t they seek to understand it?

There’s a popular quote which sums my point of view up quite succinctly, “Punish the deed, not the breed.”
There are many people on both sides of the debate surrounding “pit bulls” and the issue of whether or not they should be banned. A large percentage of those people can’t accurately define a pit bull or don’t even realize that the term “pit bull” doesn’t refer to a specific breed but rather a loosely defined group of breeds- none of which are inherently “bad” or “dangerous”. What makes a bad dog is usually a bad owner.

This picture is of Dillon, my “Pit”, he’ll be 14 years old in August and has NEVER bitten anyone- as a matter of fact he’s so far from dangerous you can reach in front of him & take away his food (that he’s eating) and all he’ll do is look at you and pout.

With all dogs, especially larger ones, the key to them being “good” or “bad” comes from training and socializing them when they’re young. Dillon is both. I made sure of that because I’ve found that his behavior isn’t just a reflection on him- or on me- but on pits in general. If people only see the negative press or bad behavior they’ll believe all pits are bad but if they see a well behaved, loveable, and well trained dog they’ll (hopefully) start to realize it’s not inherent in their nature to be mean. Like with any dog, their behavior reflects their training.

My experience, as someone who has had dogs her entire life including three American Staffordshire Terriers (one of the breeds referred to as Pit Bulls) in addition to a Basset Hound, Maltese, Cairn Terrier, Beagle, and three Dobermans to name just a few, is that these dogs are extremely loyal and intelligent dogs that will do anything to please their owner.

Marcy Setter is the director of education and public relations for a large rescue group known as Pit Bull Rescue Control which is based in Missouri. She points out that pit bulls are merely the latest dogs to be targeted as dangerous or vicious and that the fear of aggression toward people is overblown, “This is really easy. It rotates every 10 years or so. Back in the 70′s it was the German shepherds. In the 80′s it was the Dobermans. In the 90′s it was the Rottweilers. Now it’s the pit bulls.” She pointed out that while pits may have some tendencies toward dog aggression other breeds, including the Great Pyrenese and Australian Cattle Dog, have been bred for that same tendency. She insists “pits were never bred for human aggression”.

By contrast, of all the dogs I have ever owned or known only one has ever been determined by animal control authorities to be a “dangerous dog”. The dog wasn’t a pit, a Doberman, or any other medium to large dog. It was my dad’s seven pound miniature pinscher, Bud, who bit, of all people, the homeowner’s insurance adjuster. Yet, nobody is seeking to ban miniature pinschers or any other small breed. (I should point out that Bud’s behavior was a reflection on my dad having not properly trained or socialized Bud when he was a puppy.)

There is no such thing as a bad breed but there are many bad owners. It is up to people to be a responsible owner and take proper care of their dogs. This includes obvious things as providing proper shelter, food and water but it also includes less obvious things such as training, socialization, and supervision of all pets. It also includes strengthening (and enforcing) “dangerous dog” laws which are not breed specific and animal cruelty laws that help to protect dogs from the harm they suffer at the hands of people.

So, what do you think? Are there breeds which are inherently bad? Or do you agree that it is the owners who are at fault when dogs aren’t well trained and behavior problems arise? Should we blame the breed or the deed?

Don’t forget to follow my daily adventures on Instagram.

Agh! I am now going to school and I am not properly doing my homework. Eek!

Anyway, check it out: www.instagram.com/Bonitaintraining

Animal Farm Foundation!

We’re big fans of AFF, if you couldn’t tell. We always share their adoptable dogs, many of whom have now been adopted! Dudley Do-Right is in a new home. Tutti Frutti, Stitch and Wanda all are too! They do amazing work placing great dogs in great homes and providing essential resources to their adopters and the people in their community. We try out best to model much of the work we do after the work done at Animal Farm Foundation.

We’re also going to visit our former adoptable, Chester, who we transferred to AFF when we realized that city life really was not for him at all. We’re excited to see the big lug, and we may even have a new friend for him in tow! Updates to come later next week…

First of all, the book is awesome. Even if you are just a dog lover, and not necessarily a pittie addict like me, you will enjoy the beautiful photographs and lovely stories. Ken was great to meet in person. He is from New Orleans, so I told him about our Nola and how she was named after the Crescent City. He took tons of photos of the Sarge-meister and signed my book!

Ken, Sarge and I

Second of all, the title of Ken’s book summed up how the experience went with Sarge. He.was.awesome. Like amazingly awesome. It was hard for him to sit still in the store, there were just too many things to smell and look at.
This was especially true when he discovered the box full of 14 inch bully sticks- his FAVORITE thing ever. He was in heaven. I, not so much, as it took all my might and tons of cheese to get his face out of the box.
Since Sarge seemed to be too much of a shop-a-holic in the store, we spent a majority of the time outside of the store entrance on the sidewalk. The store is located on Commercial Street, one of the busiest streets in the city as it is the beginning of the Old Port Shopping district and the only street that runs parallel to the ocean. Being the day before Mother’s Day is seemed like the sidewalks were extra busy. And big ol’ Sarge, with his almost too small ‘adopt me’ vest on, attracted crowds like it was his job. I personally think it is the combination of his size XL white head, black eye-liner raccoon eyes, and his always wagging kinked tail. People came up from behind him, little kids put their hands in his face, and people bent down right at eye level to him, and through it all he was cool as a cucumber.

Sarge got some treats from a visitor.

Team Sarge!

I gave him a bully at one point when the crowd was light and he happily chomped away on the sidewalk. Even when people came up to him while he was eating it, he didn’t mind at all. (I did end up taking it when people came up to him, I just didn’t want to risk any resource guarding since he loves his bullies.)
Jessica stood outside with us and was awesome to talk to! It is so nice to have someone so knowledgeable as her to ask advice in person. She was so gracious about answering my 50,000 questions about fostering, rescue and how best to market Mr. Sarge to potential adopters. And as if I didn’t know it already, she could not stop saying how wonderful Sargent was. She reminded me that this was a hard environment to be in for any dog, with tons of distractions, strollers, cars, bikes you name it. My old guy was handling it like a pro.

We stayed about an hour and a half, and he probably could stayed longer, but I wanted to leave on a high note. I was so proud of the old guy, he handled himself like a distinguished gentleman. I gave out a bunch of cards with his info on them and talked about him a lot. I’m not sure we’ll get any serious inquiries, but it doesn’t matter. Just knowing that he does so well in these situations made the day worth it. It was a great event for Sarge, and selfishly, I was so happy to spend time with Jessica and to meet Ken. It was a win-win for both of us!
Oh, and Sarge was exhausted after. He was asleep 2.5 second after we got back to the car.

If you want to add a cool, calm and collected pup to your family, Sarge is your man! Fill out an adoption application with BURN or check out his Pet Finder profile.

Lawrence Buchér is an  actor who appears in Josh Mitchell‘s new film, Helen Keller had a Pit Bull. Here is a link to his IMDB page:

www.IMDb.me/LawrenceBucher

Q: What role do you play in Helen Keller had a Pit Bull?

A: I had the opportunity to play the role of the Antagonist in the film. The director, Josh Mitchell posted an ad on AA for the project which I submitted for and we stayed in touch with each other on Facebook– which was a first for me regarding film related opportunities. I did my “due diligence” (sorta-speak), and in turn stumbled across his video, “My Girl Does E.” I tell you what (LMFAO), I about fell outta my chair. It was BRILLIANT! I knew then and there this dude had that artistic edge that is not learned. You either have it or you don’t. We stayed in contact through a slow-and-go process eventually meeting up in person. But as I look back on it, I don’t think I was someone who Josh (initially) envisioned for the role. I knew he struggled from a creative standpoint in casting as this Antagonist was not your Hollywood-movie A-typical, see you coming a mile away kinda bad guy. Josh needed to capture that, “Something’s not quite right” to the character, without giving away the premeditated aspect all-together. But through the mentioned correspondence, couple with my conditioning and the body of work he had seen me do, he finally caved in (lol) and offered me the role… And I guess you’ll just have to wait and see his film to see what we came up with

Q:  What experiences did you draw from in playing the role?

A: Sadly, from an Antagonist perspective there’s too much to draw from– especially living in Hollywood.

Q:  What has been your greatest triumph  as an actor?

A: Large or small, all reel-worthy roles are a pivotal step in the right direction. With that said though, what enabled me to realize my ability was my performance in the feature (inspired by true events), MUTILATION MILE. It was a difficult and physically demanding role which landed me in the hospital twice. It was beyond rough. A two-week hell-bent method approach to anger not often paralleled in film. And for me I can’t fake it. Every performance is do or die for me. I have to come organic. The director, Ron Atkins needed a cocaine-fueled rage to my character tore up at both ends, so on top of him leaving me unsettled by intentional sleep deprivation, in turn I slammed myself with continued Red Bull’s and coffee. I’d safely say I had roughly hundred+ servings of caffeine in the first week of shooting. This, and on minimal sleep, my body was crashing. First trip to the Hospital I discovered Pneumonia was setting in. O2 levels where dangerously low; in the 80′s. And still I walked out ADR (Against Doctors Request) after three hours of combined breathing treatments, a shot in the ass, and antibiotics– as we were not finished shooting that night. Second trip to hospital they though I was having a heart attack as blood pleasure was through the roof. And that night there was no walking out. Was it worth it? Sure. Did I leave a little bit of my life on the table? Yes I did. But as I look back I see it no different than the sacrifice Christian Bale made when he lost all that weight when filming, The Machinist. And while Mutilation Mile failed to see a properly executed exit-strategy yielding the notoriety I should (or could) have gained, my performance in this hard-ass ultra-violent movie and the movie itself gained global reviews, and yielded me a 2012 ”Award of Merit” for Best Supporting Actor from, The Indie Fest– which was kool being mentioned along-side projects like “Silver Case” starring Eric Roberts which won “Best of Show” in the Festival.

Q:  What was your greatest let down?

A: Oh, boy. This one comes crystal clear. But it’s actually a two-part ordeal. It was the summer of 2005 and like most things which come in three, I not only ended up being better-dealt after being cast as the lead in the feature, Awaken The Dead replaced by Gary Kohn (Almost Famous), I was simultaneously cast in another feature, GASP which the city of LA ended up shutting the set down and had an arrest warrant for the director. Too boot all in this two-week, life-shattering fiasco, I discovered that my girlfriend (at that time) was back in Vegas banging someone who I thought was a friend. Yeah, “let down?” That was an understatement. It was a time in my life that the thought of taking a pipe-wrench to my face was a good time. But we’re not done… After picking my teeth off the ground in LA, I find myself with tail between legs and back in Vegas. But through this immense struggle, I find a strange inspiration to first-time write. So, there I go, off and running on my first script, flying away at the keys with two very slow index fingers. It was ugly. My writing was awful (and still is), but my ability in story-telling was solid. My screenplay, 40 BELOW ZERO received MULTIPLE looks and in late fall, 2008, a producer out of SLC read my script, fell in love with it and offered me a 15MM Letter Of Intent to produce my script– only for the producer to go MIA two months after signing paperwork… So, if you who/ever find yourself feeling some sense of misplaced self-pity, give me a buzz. I’ll get you feeling right as new.

Q:  What sort of day job do you have and how does it affect your pursuit of acting?

A: Day Job? Well, you should know I get paid to chew bubble gum and kick ass… and I’m all outta bubblegum!

Q:  What sort of training have you had?

Extensive. I was really lucky to have had the opportunity to train under Joseph Bernard (IMDb). Joseph, an American actor, was best friends with Jerry Lewis and long-time friend of Marlon Brando. Joseph appeared in over 25 Broadway plays and several movies,including Murder Inc., Judgment at Nuremberg, and a number of other films that included Ice Station Zebra. His television roles included appearances on Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Mission: Impossible, and he was the executive director and teacher at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute (1968). Joseph later made Las Vegas his new home leaving his mark not only on me but on hundreds of local-based actors and the Vegas community abroad. Sadly, in April 2006, Joseph passed away, but not without equipping me with tools necessary for my journey ahead. But following his passing, it took two years (seriously) to get past the fact he passed away. In 2009, I slowly found my way back on stage and continued my studies with a number of coaches including Doug Warhit. In 2013, Doug really helped confront a number of challenges (and fears) I was facing as an actor. He was named “One of the Top Ten Acting Coaches in Los Angeles” by Back Stage Magazine and The Hollywood Reporter.

Q:  What is the biggest lie anyone in Hollywood has ever told about you?

A: That making it had to do with talent.

Q:  The character you play bad mouths someone on the internet. Do you think the internet is an easy tool for revenge?

A: Yeah, the internet leaves anyone with a voice now. The director of Mutilation Mile used to kid that there should be some kind of aptitude test before being allowed to get on the internet. It’s kinda funny to think about it like that, but like most jokes, it has a hint of truth. In the entertainment world everyone wants to add their mustard– which unfortunately comes from a great percentage who are angry, somewhat smart, and premeditated in their trespass.

Q:  What is special about pit bulls?

A: Honestly, I know nothing about pit bulls. And it’s been years since I had a pet. Any pet. But like many pets, dogs, regardless of their breed are nothing more than an extension of their owner and environment. I don’t want to give anything away about Josh’s project, but his story is a highly noble journey filled with several heart-felt struggles including a new-shared perspective on one highly misunderstood breed.

Q:  What famous role could you have nailed?

A: Oh, man. GREAT question. I had to take a day to give this some thought but the role that always comes to mind is Brad Pitt’s performance in, 12 Monkey’s. To me his performance was ground breaking. The movie would not have been the same without him. If you replaced Pitt, the whole film’s presentation woulda stood at great risk in changing– yes, lol, even if casting me. But on the real, I’m definitely a character actor. The subtext to Pitt’s character was organic and was a role I would have loved to tackle– and could have. I wouldn’t have pulled off what Pitt did, but I woulda brought wood for sure to that role.

Please note; Eliza’s interviews are done by email. All answers are unedited and come right from the lovely fingertips of her subjects:)