The short answer is, by using this blog to share information about a terrific website and it’s founder dedicated to doing just that.
The mere term “pit bull” stirs negative emotion, not because of the breed itself but because of what an inhumane element of society has done to the reputation of the breed and how they have used them. This is a post of hope for the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Michael Mountain is the founder of StubbyDog.org. His website reads as follows:
StubbyDog is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), focused on changing public perceptions of pit bulls. Our vision is a world where every pit bull has the right to a good life.
Our mission is to help people rediscover pit bulls as lifelong friends.
Recently, Michael and his website were featured in the September 2011 issue of Dog Fancy Magazine (yes, it’s an early edition; no, this is not an affiliate link). According to the article titled “Website Goes To Work For Pit Bulls”, Michael reports roughly one million “pit bull-type” dogs are euthanized each year in the United States. To put that in perspective, that’s the total estimated human population of Tampa, FL, Atlanta, GA and Scottsdale, AZ combined. If the number is just a tad low, you can add all the residents of Sunnyvale, CA to the mix. That is as heartbreaking as it is shocking…but there is good news.
Michael makes an excellent point that until people realize there’s so much great about the breed, “…all the rescues in the world aren’t going to make that much difference.” His next move is fascinating and may just change the “pit-bull type” dog’s image in a massive and amazing way. He envisions enlisting the T.V. world to make these dogs T.V. stars, thereby changing how we view these breeds. His point in the article is excellent, when he reminds us “Rin Tin Tin changed the whole perception of German Shepherd Dogs in the 1960′s…Everyone saw this wonderful, loving, heroic dog.”
So why should you be helping Michael and his .org? Click here to read about Michael or just read the following excerpt from his website:
Michael Mountain: Editor-in-chief – One of the founders and past President of Best Friends Animal Society – the largest sanctuary for companion animals and flagship of the successful campaign to bring an end to the killing of millions of homeless pets in shelters every year. After the arrest of Michael Vick, Best Friends led the drive to save the dogs from being killed, and all but one of them were indeed saved, with Best Friends taking most of those. Several were featured on the Best Friends show Dogtown on the National Geographic Channel and have appeared around the country. Today, nonetheless, due to public fears and misperceptions, pit bulls remain the single most intractable challenge for shelters around the country. More than a million are still being killed every year – hence Michael’s new focus through StubbyDog.
Click here to read about the impressive advocates he has assembled, coast-to-coast, to mount this life-saving effort. This list is beyond impressive. Also, be sure to visit the site to learn what you never knew about these great pets. The site features news, stories, a blog and information on the breed(s).
We salute Michael Mountain, his website and his team for rescuing these pets and believing, on such a large-scale, that their lives can be better and for also believing that we are all capable of seeing them as the wonderful pets they can be. We hope in some small way, this blog post helps the cause to change public perception and showcase these dogs as “new friends” that need loving homes. Join us in saluting Michael and helping his cause!
As always, we thank our Facebook Fans and Lost & Found Pets America Network for not only helping lost pets get back home, but for also helping pets like these find loving homes!
StubbyDog.org's Sweet Little Pup
StubbyDog.org's Sweet Little Huck
