Since my last post the dog world has seen a whirl wind of activity. The level of input which comes to me can be over whelming. At times I do not know where to begin...

I spent Monday evening watching the live stream of the proceedings in Springfield Missouri regarding the enactment of the Pit Bull ban within the city. It was one of those “shake my head” hearings built on misconceptions and emotional testimony from both sides...

I have shared numerous updates over the past few weeks of Drake’s progress through dog school. In less than a year, he has gone from a bundle of reactiveness to the amazing ambassador of the American Pit Bull Terrier I knew he could be...

The events of this past week require a two-part entry. Because the underlining of theme of these events are based in outright lies, it seemed appropriate to do one entry. Part 1: Springfield Missouri Guess what Springfield; Drake and I spent the weekend in your city turning heads and giving your citizens reason to pause in their judgement. The timing could not have been better since your local news has included your intention to once again ban the American Pit Bull Terrier...

Kansas City has long been a haven for the mentality which dictates if you remove the victim, you remove the crime. That fact was blatantly spot lighted last week when an alumnus of the KC Pet Project, Annie, was denied entry to a performance event called Dock Dogs being held in Kansas City Kansas. Annie was not denied entry in the competition because she has ever caused a problem. She was denied entry because she is a “pit bull type” dog...

Last November my training “burn out” came home to roost with a vengeance. Drake and I participated in the Christmas Parade with our dear friends from Mississippi Mutts. It was not Drake’s first parade but it was the first one since I had removed myself from all things dog training. In short, it was a disaster...

This past week it was announced the Kansas City Chiefs would hire Michael Vick as a “coaching intern”. The reaction in the dog world was immediate and to be expected. While those who will overlook murderers and rapists being given a free ride for the sake of “the game”, those who have cleaned up the messes left by these monsters have a completely different perspective. ...

Death within certain groups seems to run in cycles. We go weeks without loss then suddenly we begin to see the passing of so many individuals. This has been especially true this past week within the dog world. I share the End of Watch notices for both law enforcement and military working dogs. ...

On July 8, 2009, this state turned its attention to what would go down in the history books as the largest dog fighting bust in the history of the United States. What began as approximately 367 dogs quickly became 500 plus after the puppies of the pregnant females were born. This action took place in multiple states with the surviving victims being offered sanctuary in the State of Missouri...

I have made my feelings clear in the matter of the movement toward removing ownership status of dogs and replacing it with guardianship. I will stand and fight the devil himself to ensure that does not happen. My reason for this stance is the fact that property cannot be seized without due process. This is covered under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States...

For the past couple of weeks, I have been providing information to a group out of the Kansas City metro area attempting to overturn a Pit Bull ban and a group out of Jasper Tennessee attempting to block one which is scheduled for a final reading on June 12, 2017. ...

In addition to the physical special needs dogs coming into Mac’s Mission, there are also numerous cases of orphaned puppies joining the rescue which need around the clock bottle feeding. These babies come in highly at risk due to the loss of their mothers. ...

This past week I engaged in yet another discussion on breeding Pit Bulls. My standard question to those who think they have a reason to breed is “Have you done your OFA and all applicable health certifications?” While my position on breeding makes me something of a heretic, I stand by the “set in granite” premise, the only two reasons to breed are to preserve and improve. ...

On April 4 Missourians will once again have the opportunity to take part in the political process by exercising their right to vote. For many, this will be a time of taking part in the hiring process of those employees with the power to initiate positive change in our communities...

Over the years, I have dedicated several entries to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and service dogs. It is no secret I am a defender of the ADA but the one area I have never shared has been those who depend on service dogs to not only get through daily life but to insure their very survival. Thanks to a young woman who boldly shares her story with the world, I hope to be able to impart why the protection of the ADA rules for service dogs is so critical...

Many people may consider the opportunity to say “I told you so” to carry some satisfaction. Is does not carry any for me. Representative Bruce Degroot, District 101 Chesterfield, has sponsored HB905 which would effectively eliminate the use of breed specific legislation in Missouri. The text of the bill is explicit in mentioning no community will be dictated to in the matter of animal control regulations except they must eliminate all breed language...

The week leading up to last week’s entry, Targeting, began as a seemingly simple project. I was aware of a vast number of groups who have experienced this phenomenon but I was startled by how many came forward after the words were put to paper. During this week, more details regarding an assault against one of the groups being hit the hardest, have come to light. For some unknown reason, the aggressor seems to believe I hold the power to “make it all good” in her world...

With the outright stupidity of one of the comments tacked onto last week’s entry, it seems a flood of similar idiocy has been unleashed on the Pit Bull rescue network. As the dam broke, the “targeting” of legitimate rescues and Pit Bull fanciers is something far too many have been suffering for quite some time...

The title for this week’s entry is not my own. I borrowed it from a post on the Facebook page of Mac the pitbull. I fell in love with Raven the first time she showed up as a rescue with Mac’s Mission. In still photos you see a stunningly beautiful, little blue Pit who appears to be at the peak of health. Mac’s Mission has dedicated themselves to the dogs whose chances of survival in other environments are slim to none. Raven is no exception...

It seems the issue of shelter/rescue responsibility for the destruction of the American Pit Bull Terrier will never end. Once again, a shelter in Los Angeles, has ignored the behavior of an ill-bred Pit resulting in the serious injury of one of their kennel staff...