'Pig-Bull' Steals Hearts With Pig-Like Appearance

STATESVILLE, N.C. -- A pitbull that has garnered himself the nickname of "pig-bull" for his eerily similar appearance to that of a pig is in search of his forever home.

"He's my special project," said pitbull advocate and volunteer Jennifer Bradford. "I met him and just fell in love with him, he's so sweet."

"Pig-bull," also known as Casper, is up for adoption through Carolina Big Hearts Big Barks rescue. While he's known for his energetic nature and sweet heart, the two-year-old pitbull has had a hard time getting adopted due to his breed, size and special needs–Casper is deaf.

"He was born deaf," Bradford said. "He knows his hand commands."

To read more on this story, click here: 'Pig-Bull' Steals Hearts With Pig-Like Appearance



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Photographer is Using His Studio to Take Free Portraits of Rescued Pit Bulls: Aims to Dispel Breed's Myths

A Los Angeles-based photographer is using his studio to take free portraits of rescued pit bulls. Headshots Melrose owner Peter Michelena plans to publish the photos in a book with the hope that it demonstrates, despite common misconceptions, pit bulls are just as loving as other breeds of dog. Michelena adopted a pit bull and fell in love with the breed. Proceeds from sales of merchandise using the dogs' photos will benefit animal rescues and charities.












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A Danish Man Has Committed Suicide After His Dog Was Seized by the Authorities and Euthanized

A Danish man has committed suicide after his dog was seized by the authorities and euthanized in compliance with the country’s Pit Bull legislation.

Under Denmark’s law, the dog’s owner, Dan, was given eight days to prove that his canine, Zanto, was not one of the country’s prohibited breeds.

When Dan, whose last name has not been released, could not prove that Zanto was a prohibited breed, the dog was confiscated and put down. Unable to cope with his dog’s death, Dan, 27, reportedly took an overdose of pain medication and died.

Denmark’s breed-specific legislation, titled the “Dog Act”, requires police to seize and euthanize dogs that “savage” a human person or another dog.

The Dog Act makes illegal the ownership and breeding of 13 breeds of canines, including the Pit Bull terrier, the Kangal, the South Russian Shepherd Dog, the Dogo Argentino, Boerboel and the American Bulldog.

The legislation does not take into account the behavior of any individual dog who falls into one of the prohibited breed categories. The legislation passed in 2010 raised the number of banned breeds to 13.

On April 19, the Facebook page Foreningen Fair Dog Fan side, wrote:

"Zanto (the dog) was ripped out of Dan’s arms, (Zanto’s owner) because he looked like one of the now banned dog breeds, or mixture of both.

Zanto had nothing done, he is a good, devoted and happy dog and has never done a fly mischief. The owner had 8 days to prove Zanto’s creator, but we all know that it is not a possible task.

Dan was given eight days to prove that his canine, Zanto, was not one of the country’s prohibited breeds, but was unable to do so.

There have been many attempts to change Denmark’s breed-specific dog laws, including a Change.org petition, none of which has succeeded".

The Animal Law Coalition has cited studies according to which breed-specific legislation and bans have not reduced the number of dog bites in the country. The organization has had this to say about the breed-specific laws Denmark continues to enforce:

Denmark is moving in the opposite direction from other European Union countries that have discovered breed discrimination does not work to prevent or reduce dog bite incidents.

Yet, Denmark’s Dog Act was upheld in 2014.

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William Dodson, The Man Who Taped a Dog’s Muzzle in 2015, Will Spend 15 Years Behind Bars

By now, you’ve likely heard about Caitlyn, the dog whose muzzle was taped so tightly that she risked losing her tongue and suffering permanent damage to her nasal passage.  She’s absolutely thriving now, and her abuser was sentenced to five years in prison for what he did to her, to be served concurrently with a 15-year sentence for other crimes.The 15-month-old chocolate pit bull mix was found in June 2015 on the porch of a South Carolina resident who called 911 after seeing what horrible shape she was in.

She was taken to the Charleston Animal Society, who got her immediate medical attention.  The blood flow had been completely cut off from her tongue, making the situation quite delicate.  When the tape was removed, Caitlyn screamed in excruciating pain.“It was 36 hours of torment,” CAS spokesman Alwin Roman told the court.

Caitlyn’s former owner, William Dodson said he taped her snout shut because she wouldn’t stop barking.  He was charged with felony ill treatment of an animal, and was indicted in February 2016.  He will serve 5 years for what he did to Caitlyn, but it will be served concurrently with a 15-year sentence he received for a federal drug and weapon conviction.Dodson made no apologies for what he did, and Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. told the abuser that he wished the sentence could be longer.Meanwhile, Caitlyn is doing wonderfully in her loving new home.  She has fans all over the world and is an ambassador for animal welfare.

To learn more about this case, please read the following posts:

$1,000 Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest/Conviction of the Person(s) Responsible for Taping a Dog's Muzzle Together with Electrical Tape

William Leonard Dodson Has Been Arrested in the Animal Cruelty Case of Caitlyn the Dog That Was Found with Electrical Tape Tightly Wound Around Her Muzzle

Caitlyn, The Dog Found with Her Muzzle Taped Shut is Making a Remarkable Recovery

Caitlyn the Dog Who Suffered Grotesque Injuries After Her Snout Was Taped Shut with Electrical Tape is on the Mend

Caitlyn, The Pit Bull Who Was Found with Her Muzzle Taped Shut Will Be in Shirtless Firefighters Calendar

Do You Remember the Story of Caitlyn? The Dog Who Had Her Muzzle Taped Shut: Take a Look at Her Now

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Jacksonville, Florida Man Offering His Pickup Truck as Reward for Return of His Dog, Buddy Boy

A Jacksonville man desperate to find his missing dog is offering his pickup truck as a reward to whoever can reunite him with his beloved pet.

In a plea plastered across several Facebook pages, James O’Sicky announced he’ll hand over the 2002 GMC pickup in exchange for the safe return of his 3-year-old pit bull-boxer mix, Buddy Boy.

O’Sicky, 31, acknowledged Friday he can’t afford to part ways with the truck but said he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get Buddy Boy back.

“The truck is replaceable, the dog’s not,” he said.

He said Buddy Boy was nowhere to be found when he arrived at his New Berlin Road home between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“The only thing I can imagine is he jumped the fence going after a squirrel or something,” O’Sicky said.

Since getting the word out online Thursday, he said his phone has been buzzing nonstop with messages from friends and total strangers pledging their time and energy to help search.

None of the handful of sightings reported as of Friday afternoon had turned up any sign of the dog, O’Sicky said, but he’s not losing hope.

“It’s torn me up,” he said. “I try to keep my head up though.”

O’Sicky said Buddy Boy, who’s got a white bib and brindle coat and sometimes flashes an underbite, has been by his side since he was a puppy and traveled with him from New Jersey when the pair moved to Jacksonville.

He said for the past few days he’s been wracked by a mix of emotions.

On one hand, he’s worried about his constant companion; on the other, he’s been moved by the generosity and support from everyone who’s reached out.

“I can’t begin to thank all the people that are looking for my dog,” he said.

Garrett Pelican: (904) 359-4385







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Police Departments Pull Pit Bulls from Local Shelters to Train as Official Canine Officers

Pit Bulls have such a bad reputation that some communities and cities (like Montreal) are banning their breed all together.  Protect Pit Bulls from BSL online (BSL stands for Breed Selection Legislation) is working to stop the ban and change the way people think about Pit Bulls.


Police departments like the Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia Police Department, and the Poughkeepsie Police Department in New York are helping in a big way.  Instead of spending $10,000 to $15,000 on pure breed German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois, they are going to their local shelters and finding abandoned Pit Bulls.  Without their intervention, these dogs would have been euthanized.

Police departments all over the country are now working with programs like Animal Farm Foundation, Austin Pets Alive! and Universal K9 to train Pit Bulls to be official police canines.  They are finding that rescued Pit Bulls can be obedient and hard-working police and military assets.  They can learn everything from narcotics, explosives, cadaver and arson detection and criminal apprehension.

“Any dog that has the drive, confidence, and desire to work can do it! Breed does not dictate a dog’s ability to work,” explained Universal K9 founder Brad Croft.

If this trend continues, Pit Bulls may no longer be the villains of the dog world but a great help in catching villains in the real world!

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New York’s First K9 Pit Bull Is Top Dog

Brad Croft, director of operations for Universal K9, has trained hundreds of dogs for police work. But if you ask him who stands out most to him, without hesitation he replies, “Kiah is one of the top three dogs I’ve ever placed.”

Kiah is a pit bull who was rescued from a shelter after she was found as a stray in a grocery market parking lot with a serious wound on her head.

Now she’s New York state’s first K9 pit bull officer. She is part of the City of Poughkeepie Police Department’s K9 force and her partner is Officer Justin Bruzgul. Kiah is Bruzgul’s first K9 partner, and together they’re patrolling the streets of Poughkeepsie, making it a safer place to be.

K9 police dog, Kiah, with her partner Officer Justin Bruzgul of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, New York

Kiah’s adoption to the city was made possible by a grant from Animal Farm Foundation (AFF), associated with the Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA) in Hyde Park, New York.

To read more on this story, click here: New York’s First K9 Pit Bull Is Top Dog


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Man Rescues the Pit Bull Left By Owners on the Sidewalk Next to Trash When They Moved Out

The heartbreaking photo of a lonely dog left on the sidewalk next to trash, reportedly left by his family, was taken by a Michigan neighbor who said they never returned for the pit bull named "Boo."

A neighbor told Mike Diesel, who eventually rescued the dog, that he witnessed the family move out and leave the dog.

“A neighbor that witnessed the family move out a while ago said they came back once for belongings and not Boo unfortunately,” Diesel, founder of the Detroit Youth and Dog Rescue, told InsideEdition.com.

Diesel initially saw the sad photo on Facebook page for dogs, which garnerned more than 20k likes.

The neighbor reportedly said he’d been feeding Boo for a week and had contacted every dog rescue in the area, but no one would take the homeless dog.

That’s when Diesel decided to take action.

He drove to where the abandoned pup was and took time to get acquainted with him, not wanting to frighten Boo.

“As far as building up the trust that started Sunday the 16th at 2:30 p.m. when I arrived and I stayed that night until 1 a.m. talking and getting acquainted with Boo and feeding him different food items,” said Diesel.

The next day Diesel said he decided to show up with two sausage McMuffins and two hash browns to eat with Boo but ended up giving the dog both, he said.

“It took another 4-5 hours that day before I ended up getting a leash around his neck and then we just sat on the ground and talked for 45 minutes before I had enough trust for him to allow me to pick him up and we went directly to the vet,” said Diesel.

It turned up that Boo has heartworms and as of Saturday he is still at the Groesbeck Animal Hospital getting the help he needs.

"Boo has warmed up to me in an amazing way already and truly shows and proves the Love of the pit bull and Trust they have in humans,” said Diesel.









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Meet Simon, The Pit Bull with The World’s Best Eyebrows and His Dedicated Foster Parents

While many people look at shelter websites only when they’re looking to get a companion animal for themselves, there are others who will look at these sites frequently to lend a hand as a foster parent. These foster homes become a place for pups to escape euthanasia on their quest to find forever homes. 

A woman by the name of Stephanie is one of these people. After successfully finding a family for her first foster dog, Kane, Stephanie decided to try the endeavor again. As she was scrolling through the Secondhand Hounds shelter website, one particular dog caught her eye: a Pit Bull with incredibly expressive and bold, black eyebrows. This goofy-looking pup was so uniquely adorable, Stephanie and her friend Kristy decided to co-foster him. 

They went and picked him up, ushering him into a new chapter of life. Considering all of the wrongful stereotypes against Pit Bulls and the fact that they sadly have a 93 percent euthanasia rate at shelters, this kind act was the difference between life and death for this pup.

This is Simon, likely one of the most unique Pitties you have ever seen.

Simon is a very lucky pup who was a part of a litter of 13 that escaped euthanasia in the nick of time when he was picked up by Secondhand Hounds, along with the rest of his family.

Stephanie and Kristy aren’t Simon’s first parents. This adorable pup was returned by his former adopted family because of housing complications. 
Since his parents spoke a different language, Simon arrived at Stephanie’s home unable to understand basic commands or his name in English.
However, slowly but surely, Simon was able to pick up some of these commands and started getting along swimmingly with Stephanie’s other dogs.

Unfortunately, when Simon arrived at Stephanie’s house, he began coughing. After the sickness was diagnosed as kennel cough, Stephanie knew that getting him adopted would take a little longer than she anticipated. He would have to stay in quarantine for a few weeks.

Since all Simon had learned about life was from within a kennel, he didn’t have many house manners. He’d jump onto tables, steal food from counters, and barked at anything he saw outside.

A few applications were submitted to adopt Simon, but none of them were a right fit. Eventually, Stephanie decided to adopt Simon herself!

Now, Simon is getting better at behaving and even participates in dock diving, a sport where dogs get to jump, swim, and play in water and then are scored based on their jumps.

Simon loves this activity immensely and spectators always recognize the “dog with the eyebrows.”

Stephanie knew that handling and training Simon would be a big project but after fostering him for several weeks, her love for him outweighed all of the work that lay ahead of her.

It can be extremely easy to see a difficult-to-manage dog and deem them as “too big of a burden” to welcome into your home. However, dogs are just like children. Just like it would be wrong to go into an adoption agency and try to pick and choose the perfect human child, it is wrong to go through a kennel and completely ignore all of the dogs with behavioral imperfections. 

Simon may have started off as a somewhat unruly dog who did not know how to follow commands and did not know any manners. However, as Stephanie proves, with a little patience and a whole lot of love, any dog can be turned into a wonderful companion animal. Not to mention, Simon has become an unofficial ambassador for Pit Bulls and illustrates that this breed of dog is just as loving and playful as any other dog. 

Simon’s adorable face allows people to see past all of the negative stereotypes this breed has and see Simon for who he really is, just another dog who wants love and has tons of it to give in return. 

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Judge Extends Suspension of Montreal Pit Bull Ban

A Quebec Superior Court judge has extended a suspension of Montreal's ban on pit bull-type dogs until there is a final court ruling on the SPCA's legal challenge of the bylaw.

The SPCA is arguing that clauses of the new animal control bylaw dealing with pit bull-type dogs should be declared null and illegal. 

Restrictions aimed at pit bull-type dogs, including a prohibition on adopting them and a requirement that they be muzzled when outdoors, will not be enforced until the SPCA's challenge is heard by the courts and a final decision is rendered.

Other provisions of the new animal control bylaw remain in effect, such as the requirement that all dogs weighing more than 20 kilograms, regardless of breed, wear a halter or harness.

Bylaw definition 'vague, imprecise'

In Justice Louis Gouin's decision, he found the provisions dealing with pit bull-type dogs raise numerous red flags and merit further review.

Gouin said the definition of the term "pit bull-type dog" is vague and imprecise and needs to be clarified. 

"The challenge is to establish the limits of the very elastic definition of 'pit bull-type dog' and the court notes that, during the hearings, even the city has been unable to define those limits," the decision reads. 

Gouin also questioned whether the City of Montreal has the right to order the seizure and euthanizing of pit bull-type dogs that may not, in fact, be dangerous.

To read more on this story, click here: Judge Extends Suspension of Montreal Pit Bull Ban

You may be interested in reading:

BREAKING NEWS! Miami-Dade Will Vote This Week Whether To End Their Pitbull Ban

Here's How You Can Help Victims Of Montreal's Pit Bull Ban

Montreal Just Delivered A Death Sentence To Thousands Of Dogs


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BREAKING NEWS! Miami-Dade Will Vote This Week Whether To End Their Pitbull Ban

BREAKING NEWS! Miami-Dade County Commisioners will vote this week to decide whether to end the ban of pitbull s in Miami.

We need your help to e-mail all of the County Commissioners to ask them to End BSL in Miami-Dade and allow Pitbulls in Miami again.

This 20 plus year Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) has caused the death of thousands of innocent pit bulls at the Miami-Dade Shelter.

If the commissioners hear from enough people they may overturn the pitbull ban.

To read more on this story, click here: BREAKING NEWS! Miami-Dade Will Vote This Week Whether To End Their Pitbull Ban




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Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls

Montreal's SPCA will ask the Quebec Superior Court to review the city's new animal control bylaw in a bid to have the sections targeting "pit bull-type dogs" declared illegal.

The SPCA said the action will be presented at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday.

The bylaw, which will ban new ownership of pit bulls and pit-bull type dogs, was passed by city council on Tuesday, and goes into effect Oct. 3.

But the SPCA wants the sections of the new bylaw concerning "pit bull-type dogs" declared illegal on the following grounds:

• It discriminates by creating additional and punitive obligations for owners and guardians of pit bull-type dogs, which the SPCA argues are not dangerous.

• It is "vague and imprecise" in its definition of pit bull-type dogs and makes it "impossible to know which dogs fall into this category."

• It fails to include a means to challenge the designation of a dog as a pit bull-type breed.

• It contravenes Article 898.1 of the Civil Code of Quebec, which grants animals the status of sentient beings, as well as sections of the Animal Welfare and Safety Act.

• It is unreasonable that the bylaw treats all pit bull-type dogs as dangerous dogs despite what the agency says is the lack of credible evidence that they are inherently dangerous.

Animal rights advocates have criticized the bylaw, pointing out that many cities that have implemented similar legislation have since repealed the laws.

A spokesperson for the City of Montreal said the municipality has a "well-recognized" right to pass animal control regulations, especially where it concerns the safety of Montrealers.

To read more on this story, click here: Montreal SPCA to Take Legal Action Against New Bylaw Targeting Pit Bulls

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Here's How You Can Help Victims Of Montreal's Pit Bull Ban

Montreal just put hundreds of shelter dogs on notice: Get out of the city now or get put down.

The Canadian city's new law, which was passed on Tuesday, is a terrifying ultimatum for animals whose only crime is being born a pit bull — loosely defined as American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers or any mix of these breeds.

Since the story broke, hundreds of individuals and rescue groups across Canada and the U.S. have been asking the same question:

How can we help?

It turns out there are a lot of ways to save these dogs. But not a lot of time. By October 3, just days from now, the legislation will prevent any pit bull from being adopted from the city's shelters.

To read more on this story, click here: Here's How You Can Help Victims Of Montreal's Pit Bull Ban








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Montreal Just Delivered A Death Sentence To Thousands Of Dogs

City councilors in Montreal just signed a death warrant for thousands of dogs in the Canadian city.

At a council meeting on Tuesday afternoon, legislators voted in 37 to 23 favor of breed-specific legislation, effectively outlawing any dog that resembles a pit bull — unless owners meet a strict set of conditions.

"I have a responsibility as the mayor of Montreal to protect the citizens," Mayor Denis Coderre told reporters after the vote.

But pit bull-type dogs currently in city shelters need not apply. Under the ban — which loosely covers American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers — no dog considered a pit bull can be adopted from Montreal shelters.

"For dogs that don't have an 'owner' on the day of the passing of the legislation, the way the legislation is drafted, the dogs have to be euthanized," Alanna Devine, of the Montreal SPCA, told The Dodo last week.

To read more on this story, click here: Montreal Just Delivered A Death Sentence To Thousands Of Dogs


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Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan Visits Chicago Braves Deep Dish Pizza

As if a father-son road trip wasn't adventurous enough. Imagine travelling with two pugs, a pomeranian and a pit bull in an RV.

"Dog whisperer" Cesar Millan and his 22-year-old son Andre are touring the country while filming their new Nat Geo Wild series "Cesar Millan's Dog Nation." The duo arrived in Chicago last week and plan to leave the city Wednesday after stops at Calumet Park for the Southeast Chicago Dog Fest; Michigan Avenue for window shopping; and Giordano's for a slice of deep dish pizza, despite the elder Millan's lack of cheese tolerance.

Along the way, the longtime dog behaviorist and his son shared tips with the Southeast Chicago Dog Park Committee about building a successful dog park and 20somethings about adopting their first dog.

"I want Andre to come in and teach the youth about prevention, what it means to be a responsible dog owner," Cesar Millan said during his visit to Tribune Tower last week.

To read more on this story, click here: Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan Visits Chicago Braves Deep Dish Pizza




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Montreal Passes Controversial Pit Bull Ban

Nearly three months after a brutal dog attack that claimed the life of a Montreal woman, the city has passed its contentious pit bull ban.

City council voted Tuesday in favour of changes to its animal control bylaw that include a ban on new ownership of pit bull and pit bull-type dogs. The final vote was 37-23 in favour of the ban.

"My duty as mayor of Montreal is making sure I am working for all Montrealers," said Denis Coderre. "And I am there to make sure they feel safe and that they are safe."

The bylaw vote was supposed to take place Monday, but was pushed to Tuesday due to a busy agenda.

The city announced that the new rules, including the ban on new ownership of pit bull or pit bull-type dogs, will go into effect across all 19 Montreal boroughs starting Oct. 3.

Members of Opposition Projet Montréal questioned whether the Coderre administration would be able to enforce the new rules.

"This is going to create a bigger problem than a solution," said Coun. Sterling Downey.

To read more on this story, click here: Montreal Passes Controversial Pit Bull Ban

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A Stray Pit Bull Stabbed While Saving a Woman from a Knife Attack: Looking for His Forever Home – Now ‘Hero’…Needs a Hero, Will It Be You?

Baldwin, Georgia - A stray pit bull came to the aid of a woman in Georgia last week and saved her from a knife attack, it's been revealed.

Known as 'Hero', the dog can now be yours.

He got the woman away from a man in the July 22nd incident, which took place in Baldwin, WATE reported.

Officer Timothy Clay told the local news station in an interview: “The dog then lunged toward the male and the male came out with the knife and stabbed the dog several times.”

Hero was stabbed five times and was brought by police to the vet, the station said.

Clay explained: “I don't think we could have let that dog suffer and die. We felt like we needed to get that dog some help after what it had been through.”

Carla Welch with Fighting for The Bullys Pit Bull Rescue in Knoxville, Tennessee, told WATE in an interview: “He has had a really rough life. He has had a bum back leg and a bum front leg, but he gets around fine and he's looking for a good friend.”

She discovered what happened to the dog via social media and raised money for treatment, the station reported.

She said:  “I thought he was very courageous and very brave.”

Welch also said: “For those two officers to go to the extent they did to save him is very heroic and very awesome.”

If you're interested in giving Hero a home, visit the website for Fighting for The Bullys Pit Bull Rescue. 

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Baltimore Ravens Center, Jeremy Zuttah’s Pit Bull, Ace, Walks with Him Down the Aisle at His Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life. Almost every moment of the day is captured on camera, either in photos or video.

When you get married, you want the most important people in your life there. Or, the most important animals!

One NFL player refused to get married without his pup! Jeremy Zuttah, a center for the Baltimore Ravens, was not going to get married unless his pit bull, Ace, could join him! I like your style, Jeremy. I’d definitely want my dog to be able to join me as a witness on my big day!

Jeremy and his fiancée Heran planned on getting married at city hall, but when they found out Ace couldn’t join them, they immediately looked for a different venue!

Ace has been with Jeremy Zuttah and his fiancée Heran for about eight years, ever since they adopted him when they were students at Rutgers University.

The couple looked into different venues for their wedding, city hall being one of the first.

But when they said they couldn’t bring Ace, they quickly changed their minds.

To make sure he was a very well-behaved boy, Haren and Jeremy sent Ace for training classes to prep for the big day at Downtown Dog Resort!

Jeremy and Heran are actually big advocates for adoption. They both take credit for Jeremy’s teammate Ronnie Stanley publicly adopting the most “unadoptable” dog at a shelter in Baltimore!

Ace was definitely the center of attention at this wedding! He was the star of the show walking down the aisle with his dad.

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Pit Bull Saves Domestic Abuse Victim: Michigan Town Lifts Pit Bull Ban

Isis is a Pit Bull. She’s also a hero, having saved Jamie Kraczkowski, her owner,from her drunk, abusive boyfriend.

Said Kraczkowski about the incident:

“Finally, when my head got hit against the wall [by my boyfriend], [Isis] just grabbed his pant leg and she was done. She was done with him abusing me – and abusing her.”

But when the police arrived on the scene to help Kraczkowski, they told her she had a mere five days to get rid of her dog, her baby, her hero Pit Bull, because Hazel Park (the Michigan town where she lives) had banned Pit Bulls in 2013.

Kraczkowski continued:

“Thank God they’re allowing me to do home quarantine now. But, you know, it’s been pretty traumatizing for me. I don’t know what’s going to happen with my dog. I definitely don’t feel safe without her.”

That was two months ago. In the time since, there’s been a pretty massive uproar from people in the Hazel Park community and across the country in support of Jamie Kraczkowski and Isis. It turns out that people aren’t too keen on dogs – especially hero dogs – being punished just for looking a certain way.

At last Wednesday’s city council meeting, many of those supportive Hazel Park citizens stood up in defense of Isis and Pit Bulls in general.

Suzanna Rondeau was one such person. She spoke to FOX 2 after the meeting:

“When I heard there was a ban on Pit Bulls [in Hazel Park], I was pretty upset. I have Pit Bulls. So I basically couldn’t live in Hazel Park with my dogs.”

Also at the meeting was Magan Bouchard, who said:

“I’ve got a niece and they have a Pit Bull and live up north and the dog protects the baby.”

The incredible support was enough to convince the City Council to lift the ban on Pit Bulls altogether, though City Manager Edward Klobucher did come out to defend the original decision:

“We can’t ban stupid owners, so we looked to try to address what was a serious public health situation when we had 40-something bites by Pit Bulls in the past few years.”

(It’s worth noting that studies have shown that visual identification of Pit Bulls is notoriously unreliable. Studies have also shown that, in places that have banned Pit Bulls – like Council Bluffs, Iowa – dog bites didn’t really decrease overall, and significantly increased among other breeds, like Labs and Boxers.)

While Pit Bulls are indeed once again allowed to live in Hazel Park, there are limitations – Pit Bulls have to be licensed, they have to be spayed/neutered, they have to have shots, they have to go through behavioral assessment to determine whether or not they’re dangerous, they have to have insurance, and owners have to have a fence.

It’s not a perfect situation for Pit Bull owners, but it’s certainly better than the alternative – having their dogs put to death for their appearance.

Though the fight against Breed Specific Legislation is ongoing, there’s no doubt that laws against Pit Bulls are softening in the United States. Moreaville, Louisiana tried to ban Pit Bulls back in November of 2014, but a public outcry (thanks to a girl named O’Hara Owens and her Pit Bull Zeus) got the ban overturned. Furthermore, more and more states are outright prohibiting BSL, like New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

It’s the sort of trend that might make stories like this one a whole lot more common, due in no small part to bonafide hero dogs like Isis.

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Some of the Dogs Seized from a Rockville, Maryland, Home on January 1, Are Available for Adoption

More than 60 dogs seized from a Rockville, Maryland, home on Jan. 1 are in legal custody of the Montgomery County Animal Services Division.

Authorities came to the house in the 13000 block of Glen Mill Road for the first time on Dec. 31, following up on a dog bite case. While there, they began to suspect the presence of many animals, but police said the homeowner didn't cooperate with their requests.

They returned to the home on New Year’s Day at about 6:30 p.m. with a warrant and searched the home. Officials removed 66 dogs and took them to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center in Derwood, Maryland.

Several of the dogs required immediate medical attention. Three of the 66 dogs had to be humanely euthanized because they suffered from severe medical conditions that were likely a source of extreme pain.

The rest of the dogs were evaluated, bathed and groomed. The shelter said some of the dogs are ready for adoption while others, about half of the group, will go to rescue partners or other regional shelters that can support the special needs of the dogs.

Because the case is still under investigation, the shelter has not released information about the homeowner or the environment in which the animals were kept. Investigators have not filed charges to date.

For information about how to adopt the dogs, please visit the Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center. 

Related: Animal Control Officers Seized a Total of 66 Dogsfrom a Home in Rockville, Maryland

                   Kenya is an 8-year-old female Pit Bull available for adoption.

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