Monday, May 25, 2009

PBPP is going on a Hiatus

Hello
I am writting this with a heavy heart.

Due to recent and unforseen changes in the organization I, the founder and executive director of PBPP , have made the heart wrenching decision to cancel PBPP's June event and go on "a hiatus of sorts" so that we can regroup and reorganize so that we can come back as a better community oriented based organization that is truly for the breed and their owners.

I have heard the numerous requests for the "want and need for low cost training and socialization" so this is where PBPP will most likely be headed with the emphasis on the Canine Good Citizen and Temperment Testing being our main goal. Training , understanding your breed ( breed education) and promoting a positive image is so important especially in the world we live in today and the prejudices that the Pit Bull and their owners face.

Right now "Putting the Best interest of the Breed first " must be our top priorty and to do so PBPP will need to take time off, regroup and come back stronger .

We appreciate your patience and would like to hear any comments, concerns and ideas.
IF you would like to be part of the new changes please let me know

thank you for your patience as we do our best to "Be there for the Breed"
Crystal
Founder and Executive Director

Saturday, May 23, 2009

SPATS HAPPEN!!!! By D Reynolds

1. Spats Happen! It's a fact of Dog Life; even those dogs that generally get along can break into an argument if one or both are
offended or challenged.

2. Study your dog. Understand his body language so you can know when he might be reaching his limits with another dog. If a real
fight does happen, learn from it so it doesn't happen again.

3. Avoid triggers. As with children, fights can spark up from the most seemingly insignificant triggers, even between dogs that are
buddies. Some common triggers: Arguments over toys, food, favorite dogs or even favorite people (resource guarding). A perceived
challenge such as intense eye contact, tug-o-war game or rough play can set a dog off. Know your dog's triggers and work with a
trainer to desensitize him to these as much as possible so they lose their charge.

4. Nix nose-to-nose greets. In the quest to make dogs more dog-social, resist the temptation to allow your dog to do rushed nose-to nose greets between dogs that don't know each other. Instead, create a ritual of slow, uber-relaxed intros that include side-by-side
walks in neutral territory. Taking your time will give you the chance to read signals that say, "I don't really like this dog."

5. Be leash savvy. Leash reactivity (an annoying behavior of lunging or growling on leash) can start when dogs become ever more
frustrated about greeting other dogs. Handlers can create fast improvements by curbing leash greets and taking on the new role of
confident clown and animated leader. Look for training classes that teach pet owners how to motivate their pets and capture their
attention with fun and rewarding distraction exercises that teach a dog that other on-leash dogs are off-limits.

6. Know the realities. Studies ( Cornell University , NY ) have shown that same-sex housemate pairs, especially females, have more
problems than opposite sex pairs. Excitement is one of the biggest fight triggers between dogs of all breeds. The study indicated that
conflict in the home is much more common between female dogs while males were more likely to instigate fights outside of the
house. Treatments most often recommended for household aggression are desensitization with counter conditioning and obedience
training.

7. Know your dog's tolerance level. Do you know your dog's limits with other dogs? Does he has a short fuse, a long fuse or
somewhere in between? Be realistic about what he can put up with from other dogs and what kind of play or behavior he will not
tolerate.

8. Protect your dog from a bad dog-dog experience. Not all dogs want or need to be friends with other dogs. Smart socializing
involves respecting your dog's quirks and setting him up for only success with other dogs. Appropriate play partners and positive
dog-dog interactions will increase his tolerance for all kinds of dogs and dog behavior. The more positive interaction any dog gets
with other dogs, the more likely he will develop and maintain dog-tolerant behavior for life.

About the Author:

Donna Reynolds is the co-founder and Executive Director of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls (BADRAP). She lives
in Oakland with her husband, four dogs, and ever changing foster dogs. She can be reached at donna@badrap.org

The Bitter sweet story of Van Gogh




All of us who share life with the Pit Bull know that tales of their loyalty and courage abound. THis blog is about one such story that forever touched me and just wanted to share with all.. it is so bitter sweet

Remembering Van Gogh
Written by Cydney Cross, President of OUT OF THE PITS rescue-

Recently New York State's Capital District newspapers and TV stations ran an account of a fire in Copake, NY in which Lydia Bulger, a longtime Copake resident perished. The tragedy further deepened when it was learned that the fire had claimed another victim, Lydia's Pit Bull Terrier, "Van Gogh". I'd like you to read my brief account of Van Gogh's life, a true hero-one whose presence changed lives– the seven-year-old dog who stayed with his 77-year-old friend, Lydia, to the very end.

As part of a rescue organization, I had been rescuing Greyhounds from New England dog tracks a few years back when I and Valerie Lennie of Bar Mike Kennel, (the kennel that helped us with the greyhounds), began to learn of another breed being badly exploited in this country, the American Pit Bull Terrier. It was then when we began to learn of a very special brindle Pit Bull being held in the Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park, NY–one who, according to a shelter volunteer, "just has something that goes right through you when he looks at you." He had been waiting for a home for months, and had been dubbed "Van Gogh" by shelter staff because of his very short ears (crudely cut off by someone.) Finally, after hearing about him over and over again, we called the shelter and told them that we would pick him up and find him a home, just as we did with Greyhounds. They were delighted, as he was very special to everyone, even though 40% to 60% of their large facility was occupied by Pit Bulls or crosses. The staff was especially delighted because some "suspicious-looking" visitors had looked him over more than once. Like most urban shelters, this one tries very hard to keep Pit Bulls out of the hands of those who would abuse them for fighting or drug-guarding purposes.

The day before we were to pick up our new charge, we got a distressed call from the shelter telling us that the night before, someone had broken into the outside kennel runs and stolen Van Gogh and another Pit Bull, Pinkie, who had been spayed only the day before. Everyone was devastated; police were contacted; newspapers and TV stations ran stories and pictures; shelter staff walked the streets searching. Animal Control Officer Kathy Thorpe joined the effort, and volunteers began to stand guard at the shelter nightly. We were haunted with the knowledge the Van Gogh and Pinkie were now almost certainly living a hellish life.

Three months later, on a frigid January morning, an auto mechanic at a Poughkeepsie, NY repair shop climbed into a customer's car to drive it into the garage. As he sat in the vehicle, two dogs leaped onto him from the back seat. Terrified, the mechanic jumped from the car and called police. The police in turn called Kathy Thorpe, who later told me; "I arrived and these two skeletons all slashed up were jumping up on me tails wagging like crazy. Only after I saw the stitches on her belly did I understand that this was Pinky. Never have I wanted to have a cell phone as much as I did during that drive back to the shelter. Van Gogh and Pinky were back!"

Van Gogh's wounds were such that he had to be hospitalized before coming back into the shelter. But as soon as he did, shelter staff called us and asked if we would take both dogs. They were afraid that the individuals who had stolen the pair, would be back. We drove to Hyde Park that afternoon, and brought back the two skin and bone creatures. Van Gogh was still torn up and bumpy with deep abscesses; Pinky's white face and black body was a road map of nasty red gashes. Within a couple of months both were somewhat recovered, and Pinky was adopted and adored by a local family. Van Gogh was being fostered by member of the Greyhound rescue organization and her twelve Greyhounds. With her, Van Gogh began attending all of the New York Capital District Greyhound Adoption Clinics. Everybody there could feel the power of his presence, and what Cydney coined the "all-knowing" expression in his eyes as he looked onto the world. Glossy brindle now and imposing, he not only represented his breed magnificently, he had a dignity that was almost spiritual.

Some time later, we were very happy when an old friend, Phil Luning, decided to take Van Gogh home and make him his own. This was so clearly what Van Gogh wanted and needed, that within weeks his total devotion to Phil and his mom, Lydia Bulger, was almost palpable. Out in public, Van Gogh's eyes never left their faces and Lydia began calling this majestic creature her "baby". For Van Gogh, it was a well-earned paradise at last. The Bulger home was part of a family compound and every member of the family was a dog lover. Van Gogh loved, and was loved by, an extended family that included Lydia's grandchildren which he delighted in pulling through the snow on a sled. When Phil's mother fell and broke her hip, Van Gogh became her constant companion.

Last March, just over four years from the day Van Gogh finally found his home, Lydia and Van Gogh were alone in the house when a fire broke out. Due to her broken hip she was still an invalid. True to the legendary loyalty of his breed, Van Gogh stayed by her side to the end. Many at Lydia's funeral mourned the great dog's passing, and tried to comfort Phil who had lost not only his mother, but also his best friend.

Van Gogh did not live and die in vain. It was he who provided the original inspiration for Out of the Pits Inc. He showed us what a Pit Bull was meant to be. Without him this website would not exist, and more importantly, hundreds of Out of the Pits adoptions would never have taken place. Each of these now-beloved dogs would have completed their already-started journey to an early death.

Van Gogh will stand forever in our minds and hearts as the quintessential Pit Bull–a dog that continues to offer only love and loyalty in spite of mankind's brutal treatment.

Friday, May 22, 2009

pit bulls on the patio has been cancelled

PIT BULLS ON THE PATIO" HAS BEEN CANCELLED



OUR MONTHY DOG WALK HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE NATION WEATHER CHANNELS WARNING OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING



OUR TOP PRIORITY IS THE SAFETY OF ALL OUR WALKERS
(2 LEGGED AND 4).

WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE LATE NOTICE AND WE ARE TOTALLY BUMMED AS THIS WALK WAS SURELY TO BE ONE OF OUR BEST ONES YET AND GASPARS WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING US AGAIN.

wE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT EVENT ON JUNE 27TH AT MAC FARLANE PARK IN TAMPA . PLEASE CHECK OUT
http://www.msplinks.com/http://www.meetup.com/Pit-Bulls-Pounding-the-Pavement/ AND http://www.msplinks.com/http://pitbullspoundingthepavement.blogspot.com/ FOR UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Fundraiser for PIT STOP BULLYS





Come out and Show PSBR Support Thursday, May 21st! from 5pm-8pm

Please come out and support Pit Bulls Pounding the Pavement's all time favorite Pit Bull Rescue group PIT STOP BULLYS in their efforts to raise money for their rescue organization and two of their very needy and deserving pitties: Clancy and Johnny Boy.

Sweet Tomatoes on Dale Mabry just south of Bearss has offered Pit Stop Bully's Rescue to 'Fun-Raise'!
All you have to do is come in and eat on the above date between the set time frame! Make sure to order a beverage and present the attached flyer for it to count!
Sweet Tomatoes will donate 15% of all sales to PSBR!!!
All you have to do is plan to go out to dinner!!!! How easy is that???

**All money made form this fundraiser will go towards Clancy and Johnny Boy's
needed medical care. Please pass onto your friends!**

***** ALL WORDING IN PINK OR BLUE IS A LINK TO THE EVENT *****

Pit Bulls Pounding the Pavement is so thank for and truly appreciate the great efforts and sacrifices that this organization as well as other pit bull rescue organizations have made to ensure a brighter future for once unwanted and homeless pit bulls in the Tampa Bay area. We are so humbled.

Please come out and show your support and give thanks to the ones who put their hearts on the line everyday for our beloved breed.

Hope to C-YA there
CJ

Saturday, May 9, 2009

New Jr Associate Board Members


Congrats to Junior and Renae Biggs in Becoming PBPP's first
JR ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS

Junior and Renae have always given 100% of their time and energies towards the betterment of PBPP and are true advocates for the breed.
Where ever PBPP was so where they, from helping set up and break down at events, passing out event flyers, contacting media outlets, and assisting others at our events.

Because we recongized thier true love for the breed and thier true commitment to PBPP we as the board aggreed that they would make an excellent addition to our board.

We look forward to having them be part of our organization!

Monday, May 4, 2009

ARTHRITIS AWARENESS WALK




PBPP BLUE SHIRTS EVENT-
From time to time the PBPP Board members (blue shirters) are invited to participate in and or are involved in Community events such as Adopt-a-thons, awareness walks and just getting out there to promote responsible ownership any time an opportunity knocks. Even though we would love nothing better than to have a bunch of responsible Pit bull owners show up to represent our breed These events are not official PPBP events therefor we can not open them up to the general public or our monthly "pounders" to participant in.

This past week end was such an event :
THe Arthritis Foundation
THe Blue shirters participated in the one mile dog walk event and was able to donate a few bucks to the cause. We had a great time and was able to show the public that upstanding community oriented citizens do own this breed. So we were again honored to represent our breed in positive image at a positive event .. "CHANGING PERCEPTIONS ONE POSITIVE PAW STEP AT A TIME "

"GOING ORANGE TO FIGHT ANIMAL CRUELTY "PBPP STYLE










AND PBPP'S GIRL PITTIE WINNERS IS : Ms Lucy Loo

Runner Ups Stanley ( fake dreads ) and Tejas ( Handsome Blue)

Our last walk's theme was centered around "GOING ORANGE TO FIGHT ANIAML CRUELTY" which was a campaign that the ASPCA was sponsoring.
Our fundraising efforts didnt go as well as we had hoped but we plan on doing it again and this time we promise to make it bigger and better as the ASPCA is an awesome organization who are huge supporters of the Pit Bull Community so in turn we need to show our appreciation and support for them at every opportunity possible...

We had a wonderful stroll through the park on such a nice day with so many responsible owners in a sea of orange !!!! ..
Please check out our pictures of the event at http://www.myspace.com/pitbullspoundthepavement