A New Day Dawns
Today marks the final Sunday in the 2016 celebration of National Pit Bull Awareness month. For those of us in southeast Missouri this has been a time of renewing our dedication to a breed who has suffered at the hands of abusers, haters and liars.
Last evening this remarkable month was marked by the coming together of activists from many different fields. Mac’s Mission hosted at bonfire at their planned new facility location. The entire event was made even better by the spirit you feel just by entering the grounds. You can feel the positivity and there is no doubt the future promised by this group will be a bright one. To share the evening with so many amazing people added to the feeling of hope many of us have prayed for over the years.
In addition to Mac’s Mission taking their well-earned place with the activists, we have had several other groups stepping into the “responsible ownership” arena. While they have been there all along, the recognition of their contributions has been a bit lacking. Over the next few months, as we enter the new year, I hope I have words adequate to do them justice.
First I have long been a fan of Mississippi Mutts. I have not gotten to pursue the projects we have discussed over the years but that will all change in the coming months. Some of what we have discussed has been educational in nature. Responsible dog ownership is not exclusive to a single breed but is the basic requirement of all. Mississippi Mutts is not only a fabulous place to shop for your canine companion but a wonderful place to network and explore the many possibilities present when like minds come together. Look for updates and activities, planned, which will benefit dog owners from many different backgrounds.
I have long been a believer training is the first sign of a responsible dog owner. The basic training represented by certification as a Canine Good Citizen gives the skills needed to insure your dog is a valued member within your community. But what about dogs who have special behavior needs or owners wishing to pursue more advanced disciplines? This new awareness of canine activism has brought to the forefront a new group of trainers dedicated to bringing state of the art skills to the table. Over the next few months I hope to share all the possibilities these trainers offer. Small workshop events are being planned which will allow owners to explore the many options available and how they can insure the human/canine bond is built on a solid foundation.
Mac’s Mission is only one of the groups stepping up to take their place in the world of making a difference. Safe Harbor is proving they will fight to shake off a dark past, in favor of stepping into the light of making a difference. I proudly stand with them in their journey to this new level but they are not alone.
The Caruthersville Humane Society is another group who has proven you may be able to knock a group down but you will never destroy them. When you have principal members, who refuse to be ignored, you have the makings of a program which will succeed no matter the obstacles. The direction this group will be leading us all to in the coming months will be something incredible. Beginning next week, I intend to share a small portion of what they represent by sharing the message they brought to the event last weekend in Cape Girardeau.
I have sung the praises of Mutts N Stuff from the St. Louis area for many years. The support and insight they are sharing with southeast Missouri is another incredible enhancement of the groups beginning to rise to the top in their fields. Banding together for the greater good is not about who can top whom, it is about insuring the animals have every advantage within our sheltering/rescue systems.
The celebration of this year’s National Pit Bull Awareness month, will not end with the first of November. This is now a movement which will continue throughout all the years to come. To close this final October entry, I wish to share a story from an adopter I met through the Mutts N Stuff rescue. Our devotion and dedication comes from a love of the dog and this is a story of just one woman who may be tiny but her message is mighty.
Bina Vanmali in her own words because I could not begin to say if half as well:
It's still Pitbull Awareness Month! It's important to remember that banishing a breed because of the bad acts of some humans is not acceptable.
This is my Willie Bear. Willie was rescued from a fighting ring in southeast Missouri, where they had fought him and when he didn't want to fight, used him as bait. Once rescued, he spent many months as in the court system as evidence before the good folks at Mutts N Stuff (Gale Frey) took in his pack to rehab and adopt out. Willie was lucky to end up with his foster parents Jason-Kelly Garrison, who gave him his first taste of what home and love were like.
When we met him, it was love at first sight. His ears were torn, he couldn't bend his front right leg from all the scar tissue built up from many attacks, and his body showed the many scars and aggressions against him by both other dogs and despicable humans. It didn't stop him from becoming Hannah Banana's immediate friend. And charming everyone else, starting with my mom. He bounced around the adoption event and made sure all eyes were on him. Who else could we adopt but him after he chose us.
Willie suffered great physical and mental trauma but had the sunny outlook that only pitbulls have. He was terrified of crowds, loud noises, large men, other large dogs, and so many other things. But when he felt safe at home, he would play endlessly with his doggy sisters and cuddle with all of his family, human and doggy. He learned tricks and language and had a special name for each member of the family. He had countless friends in the neighborhood where we lived, and when we'd walk in downtown CoMO, we'd have to visit all of the shops because he knew everyone!
When Grandma had her knees replaced, he was her faithful companion. He would bring her the paper, the remote control, her slippers. And he would watch the physical therapist and make sure no one hurt her. He spent his weekends with Grandpa, working in the garage, running errands, and watching tv. And he cuddled with Pratibha and hid her shoes and keys whenever she'd visit. He never wanted her to leave.
He was my personal caretaker. If I stayed up too late, he'd come out of the bedroom and insist that he could no longer sleep in that big bed all alone. He'd comfort me after stressful days working on my dissertation, and he'd joyfully play and run and dance and cuddle. He'd go to work with me at Mizzou and visit his favorite biology faculty and staffers (i.e. Christine). And he'd make sure I got enough exercise and never overate.
For everyone who met him, he provided a face and a dignity to what a "fighting dog" is and looks like. His bright eyes were warm and alluring and his demeanor gentle and playful. And when he wasn't sure about his environment, he did what any child would do--he leaped into his mom's arms and wouldn't get down. That just made him more lovable to people who were just meeting him.
That's what you see in this photo. Willie was the guest of honor at a fundraiser. He didn't appreciate all the attention, and as a result, jumped into my arms and wouldn't get down. I quickly had to get strong to carry a 45-50 lb pitbull around for long periods of time. And to be clear, it was only me that could carry him and it could happen at any time. I was honored to be trusted that much by such a remarkable soul.
What Willie represents is the importance of not judging a dog by its breed....if Mutts N Stuff and HMSO hadn't taken a chance on Willie and his pack, many Columbians and I would have missed out on the opportunity to grow and learn from unconditional love and joy.
It truly is a new day dawning in the world of the American Pit Bull Terrier!
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