"Water Proofing" Dog Beds

When searching for a new dog bed for your k9 kids, try to find something that has a zipper cover that can be removed.

After you get your dog bed picked out, pick up some garbage bags that are the same size or bigger than your bed. We use 55 gallon drum liners that fit perfect for our large size beds.
You can also use smaller ones for each side of the bed. 

By placing a garbage bag over the entire cushion it will prevent spills or messes from leaking through. Not to mention it is way easier to clean just the cover and not the entire bed. 

Small beds are doable, but med to large, is just a pain in the butt.

Using a simple garbage bag will also cut down the cost on "water proof" dog beds, which can be expensive due to the size of bed you may need for your pup.

This idea is great if you have a new puppy, a messy dog, dogs that lick their paws, dogs that drool  or for senior dogs. It is also great for people that like to wash their dog beds once a week... 

like us haha.  

Looking Past the Headline

Several months ago, an employee of Plains Animal Hospital, in Plains Pennsylvania, contacted Modified k9 a to see if there was anything they could do to help assist in an "Aggressive" Pit Bull Dog case. At that time, a very upset owner was bringing in his pet pit bull dog to be euthanized. The dog was given the title of "Aggressive Dog," after being part of " Two Dogs at Large" incident.

The employee of the vet hospital reported this dog was extremely friendly with the entire staff that had seen him, and his temperament was very friendly and accepting upon arrival of their clinic. The owner came to the decision to euthanize his pet because of the weight that comes with the "Aggressive Dog" title. Also, the title does not allow the owner to have his dog off property at any time throughout the dogs life aside from, relieving itself, or when going to the vet, and was required to have a muzzle on at all times when outdoors. The dog was not allowed to be re-homed or adopted out, and the owner was required to pay heavy monthly/yearly insurance fees on the title. The fees unfortunately became un-affordable, and the owner felt he had no other choice.

After receiving the call and hearing the story, Modified k9 contacted the owner of the dog to go over the situation at hand. He explained everything that went on, and that he understood the responsibility was on him that his two dogs were outside in a pen and had gotten lose. While they were lose and "at large" the two dogs had come across some pedestrians, one dog had nipped at the pant leg while the other dog (kaos) kept his distance. When the police officer arrived, the instigator dog had nipped at the officers pant leg while the other dog (kaos) kept his distance again. In defense, the officer shot the first dog at point blank range, immediately killing the dog. The second dog (kaos) was shot from a distance, resulting in injuries to its jaw, and front paw, (Per Owner Testimony, and Court Account.) The owner then provided us with a link to the television news report.

After hearing the case from the owner, a spectator, and seeing the court report and the media coverage, members of Modified k9 made several appointments with the owner, his family and the surviving dog. During these visits the dog was evaluated on response/interaction to strangers, and acceptance of new people upon approach. Now given the extreme news report and having this be a dog we never met before, members approached with caution to take a safe approach. Once our members arrived, we were greeted by the owner at the door, and no barking from the dog. When welcomed into the house, the dog greeted our Modified k9 members with friendly low tail wags and relaxed gestures. He sat at our members feet with his back turned, welcoming their petting, and showed zero signs of any human directed aggression. The owner introduced his family and his children who all played and interacted with the dog while in the presents of our members. On a few visits, our members noticed there were also cats living with the family that interacted well with this dog.

After the several successful visits with this family and their dog, a Lawyer was found. Modified k9 members approached the lawyer with the case at hand and what we would like to do to help this family, educate this family and secure the property for this dog. The lawyer agreed to take on the case. He filed an appeal to extend the trial so they could present a plea to remove the "Aggressive Dog" title. During this extension, the owner had the dog neutered, micro chipped and updated on all the vaccinations. A fence company was also contacted for an estimate on cost to secure the property with proper fencing (see estimate below). When the court case arrived, the owner willingly pleaded guilty to charges for lack of rabies vaccine and dogs running at large. The lawyer then requested the "Aggressive Dog" title and restrictions be dropped as the owner and family receives help and takes measure to secure their property.

Through the cooperation of the law enforcement officials, the Court and everyone else involved, the parties reached an agreement that could save this dog. It is required that Modified k9 assist the family with training for their dog, which we have undoubtedly agreed to provide. However, part of the agreement requires the installation of a fence at the owner's residence.

If the fencing can be put up in a few months time, the court is willing to drop the aggressive dog title and this dog can live his life muzzle free, return to attending hikes, camping trips and outings with his people as a loved family companion.

_______________________________________________

On a side note:
There are several lessons learned through this case.

One being the up most importance of responsible dog ownership.

Your job as a dog owner goes beyond walking them securely on a leash. It is the law to have your dogs under control at all times. This includes when you place them in a outside run, on a theater on your property and in a fenced area. You should know where your dog is and what your dog is up to.

It is the law to have your dogs properly updated on the Rabies vaccine. (no if, ands or buts).

As a responsible dog owner this day in age, having your dogs spayed or neutered is another great way to do your part not only for your dogs but for the community. Spaying and neutering your dogs decreases their will to roam, it decreases some dominance behaviors and can aid in the health of your pets, not to mention population control.  We at Modified k9 HIGHLY recommended spaying and neutering your dogs. If you visit our site you will find links to local low cost spay/neuter/vaccine clinics, please take advantage of them.

Last, but definitely not least. Please, do not allow media coverage to affect your outlook on specific breed of dog or in this case specific families at hand. What took us back were the comments we read under the media coverage article, people not knowing the family or the dogs and automatically accusing them of abuse, health neglect and harboring "aggressive" dogs. When Modified k9 met this family and the surviving dog from this case we found none of this to be true. This family adores their dogs and is heartbroken over the entire situation, not only for their dogs, but everyone involved. They never expected to be in this position (and this could of happened to any one of us). Which they now know could of been avoided from day one. This family is taking steps to learn and make better decisions for all, including their dog and their community. 

We all make mistakes. Now, what you do and how you learn from your mistakes will determine weather you will have a future with positive or negative life changes.

Lets learn from them, not allow them to happen again and move on.
Thank you all for taking the time to read this and also staying opened minded about the case at hand.

ALL dogs are results of human responsibility or human negligence.
ALL dogs are individuals and SHOULD be treated as such.

Sincerely,
The Modified k9 Family
www.modifiedk9.org 

________________________________________________

Please meet the dog and family you are about to help move forward towards a better life.

This is Kaos or K Bear ( as we call him ;) 
and the Rimmer family.

• © 2009 modified k9 inc. all rights reserved. you may not take content or images from this site without written permission.
  
  

• PLEASE BE KIND
  comments that are deemed inappropriate, including general or self-promotional spam, offensive or harassing statements, rude language or comments unrelated to the post will be deleted.

Thank you to Rutkoski Fencing Inc of Swoyersvile, Pa

for taking time to give an estimate and the offer of installment if the funds are raised in time. 

Fencing estimate from Rutkoski Fencing Inc.

 

Here is the fencing project, the hard working volunteers, the family & the happy pup all together. 

click here:

Teaching "Down"

As you know, when training a dog, there are several different methods to teaching a behavior or a command. When it comes to our dogs first learning a specific gesture we prefer to use positive reinforcement. Which includes a clicker, small soft treats (or their meal time food) and a happy ready to work pup. There is a communication barrier between us and our k9 kids. They do not understand what you are asking of them UNLESS you show them. Dogs in general are not naturally defiant so if you have to keep repeating a command to your dog over and over and over, that means your dog does not fully understand what you are asking of them. To learn more about clicker training please take time to visit one of our favorite sites Karen Pryor Clicker Training. 

Today we are working with rescue dog Uma. She is learning the basic concept of the "down". We start off by getting her attention and luring her into the position we want, which is - down. At this time you will not be saying the word "down". You want your dog to get the gesture/motion of "down" first. When you give the hand single and your dog downs a few times, then you will be adding the word. Now, some dogs take a while to understand what it is you are trying to get them to do, so have patience and allow the dog some time to think.  You may have to click and reward for the dog just looking at the floor. Eventually, that will bring the dog closer and closer to a "down". It's like a puzzle, you have to figure out all the piece to make it come together. You have to figure out how to HELP your dog understand this new command. It takes time and lots of patience.

Once your dog is getting the hang of the "down" motion, you will then add the vocal command "down" with the hand gesture. Click and treat for them going into position. Keep training sessions short. If you notice your pup getting bored get their attention, lure them into a down and end on a good note. Try again later on :)

Over time your dog will get better and better at understanding what you want of them. You will be able to replace the clicker with the vocal "marker word" - YES and their treat will be a pat on the head or back from you.

Quick break down:
1) Have on hand clicker, treats (or meal feeding) and a ready to work pup.
2) Get your dogs attention
3) Lure your dog towards the ground. When they go into a down (or even look at the ground) CLICK & TREAT.
4) Lure your dog to the ground a few times with OUT saying a word.
5) When they start to grasp the "down" motion THEN add the word "DOWN".
6) Keep sessions short & end on a good note
7) Have patience
8) Have FUN!
9) Do this often

Here is a video of Uma learning the basics of DOWN

**FUN TIP FOR BLIND OR DEAF DOGS:

If you have a deaf dog, use a small flash light in place of your marker/clicker. Flash the light towards their eyes and then treat. Deaf dogs also pick up on face expression so be happy when your dog is learning and gets what you ask of them. Some times we use a "thumbs up" for the dogs we are working with as a marker.

If you have a blind dog, hold the treats to your dogs nose and slowly bring your hand with the treat to the ground. Let your dog try to get it out of your hand, you will see their body get lower and lower to the floor. When they "down" click and open your hand so they can have their reward. 

Mk9's "Stop & Go" Game for the family

Throughout our days, there is a learning experience in just about everything we do. Here at them mk9 home we love to make learning fun, for all.

Since we have a multiple dog family, we love to designate "one on one time" for each of the pups. "One on one time" helps strengthen bonds between you and your furkids. 

Today is Bella Vita's day for some special one on one time. During our walks we like to play a little game called "Stop n Go". Dylan (aka Monster) is in charge of the orders and mom has to help Bella Vita listen.

On our walks Monster will randomly say "Stop". When he does we all have to stop, but Vita has to not only "stop", but "sit" and "look" at mom. Then we continue on when Monster says "go". Sometimes Monster has us stopping and going every two feet lol.

What this game does is, well, #1 causes Dylan to laugh like crazy because of all the fast random stops, but it helps Bella Vita work on her basic commands. Walking on a loose leash, sitting every time we stop and looking at mom for the next move.

The randomness of Monsters commands also keeps Vita (and mom) on her toes watching and listening for what we may do next. In turn keeping Vita's attention on us and not the dogs in the house next to us barking mad through the window.

**Rules are:
-Little Monsters must hold moms/dads hand.
-We never "stop" in the middle of any street.
-We must look both ways before crossing streets.
-Mom makes sure we have plenty of tasty treats on hand for Vita and she keeps those "good girls" coming.
-Make sure you change the pace of the walk.
-When you start to walk, make sure your dog is looking at you and always lead with your left leg. (the leg closest to your dog). 

Have fun on your outings all and enjoy your family. 
www.modifiedk9.org

Homemade Tug Toys

1.) What you will need is (3) long pieces of material from old jeans, blankets, clothing or any type of fabric.

2.) Tie the one end into a tight knot. We like to tie a few knots to make sure it is secure. 

3.) Have someone hold that end so you can "very tightly" braid the three pieces of fabric. If you do not have anyone to hold it for you, put it under your foot. 

**The tighter you braid the tougher it will be for the dogs to pull it apart.

4.) Tie the end piece into several knots as you did the first, find a pup and let them enjoy their new toy!

Rope toys in stores range in price anywhere from $8.00 to $25.00 depending on length and size. Using recycled fabric you will save a load of money. ;)

Making homemade toys for our fur kids is a lot of fun! We think so and so do our dogs.

Plus it tires them out. ;)
!!Enjoy!!

A Cat Toy for Dogs

The flirt pole is a super-sized cat toy made for our canine buddies

Made of 5ft - 6ft PVC pipe (on the thinner side), 13ft - 15ft rope (adjust as needed), & a favorite toy of your dog's. Total cost? About $9.00 - $12.00!

Besides the treadmill & nose work, this is one of our favorite tools for tiring out our dogs. It is used for basic obedience, training, & positive reinforcement. All the while making the time with your dog fun, exciting, & rewarding!

*To make:
after stringing the rope through the PVC pipe 'pole', simply tie a knot at one end & tie the toy with the other end. 

*Your dog should already be familiar with the following commands:

sit, stay/wait, look, down, leave it/drop it, & take it.

When using the flirt pole, make sure your dog does not grab the toy without your command.

If he/she does, stop the game & calmly ask your dog to leave it/drop it. Remain patient & non-interactive until he/she does so & then start over from a sit or down.

The combination of mind stimulation & exercise will make for

 a very happy & content pup by the end of the session.

& the best part. . .the reward C:

ENJOY!

Dog on a Treadmill?

We say yes, YES, YES!!

Chelle & Alumni Polly Pocket

Treadmills are a great energy re-leasers and come in handy on days where we can not get out doors with our dogs. The treadmill will not only kick some of the extra energy your dog may have, but it is also a great mind stimulating exercise! When your dog is on the treadmill they have to think for themselves to stay in time with the treadmill as it moves. Treadmills can come in handy if you have a multi dog home and need to make sure all the pups in your care get their exercise in for the day. 

When you start your dog off on the treadmill (make sure you have treats on hand) you want him/her to get used to the surroundings and this new "thing" in your home. Let him/her walk on and off of it, let them sit on it and even ask them to lay down on or near it so they know there is nothing to fear. 

Guide them by it and reward them for accepting it.

Some dogs take longer then other to get used to this machine, so when you aim to teach your dog to use the treadmill make sure you have about 2-3 hours set aside at first. Be sure there are no to very little distraction in your home, and make sure your pup has done his/her business before you get started. You do not want to rush your dog, let him/her get comfortable at their own pace. In return your dog will accept this new training exercise and will look forward it.

To get Polly Pocket use to this new contraption, we sat on the treadmill and guided her over with some high value treats. We praised her for walking up to it, stepping on it and then sitting on it. Polly loves the praise and knowing she is doing a good job. This little lady catches on quick with just about everything she is shown. **Keep in mind every dog is different and may approach this new challenge in a different way so be patient, be consistent and keep those treats coming.**

After about a 20 minutes we faced Polly in the right direction with Chelle standing over her making sure she wasn't going to jump off or get too overwhelmed when we started it up. Having one hand on the leash over Pollys head and the other hand at Polly's side (so she knew not to jump off) reassured her everything will be ok and she is doing a GREAT job!!

We started Polly off at the lowest setting, letting her get familiar with it moving on its own. At first she wasn't sure what this was all about and was walking a in a zig zag motion, but Chelle stayed in place talking to her, telling Polly what good girl she was.

Holding treats in front of her face helped her keep moving forward and rewarded her for doing so. Polly and treats go very very well together. Along with praise. { Did we mention she LOVES to be told what a good girl she is.}

Keep those treats coming for the first time learning

Polly goes for about 15-20 minutes a day, trotting at a fast pace getting up to 2 miles. Polly enjoys the treadmill and will even go over to it when it is off and sit on it looking at you with that "Well, we gunna do this or what" face. It took Polly a total of an hour and a half to get fully comfortable to where Chelle could stand up and let Polly just trot away. 

After a few more times Polly will be able to jump on without Chelle standing over top of her.

Good Girl Polly!!!! 

 Please note: When your dog is doing more activity then normal you have to monitor their food intake. Make sure they are getting what they need for the exercises they are doing! And ALWAYS check with your vet and make sure your pup is healthy for some extended exercise.

Balance is key to a healthy life. Good food, Exercise, Mind stimulation, Love, Play and REST, make for a happy dog and a happy owner. 

Treadmill donations are still needed for our rescue dogs. 

If you can spare a treadmill that is in working condition please email mk9karen@hotmail.com 

We are located by Philadelphia & Scranton/Wilke barre areas. 

Eye Contact - Teaching your dog to focus on you.

Eye Contact: 

Teaching our dogs to "look at us" is a very simple command for them to learn. Not only is it a great mind stimulation game, works on name recognition, increased the bond you have with your dog, but it will also help teach your dog NOT to pull on his/her leash while out on walks and makes it easier for you to communicate with your dog when there are pesky distractions around that may normally get your dog in a tizzy. 

Teaching your dog to look at you should be an every day interaction. 

The best way to teach your dog a new command is with as little (if any) distraction as possible. 

For this post we chose to use the dogs name - some people prefer to use the command "LOOK". Either can be done by following the below. 

What you will need:

- Leash 
- Clicker
- Soft high value treats 
- Willing dog wanting those treats ;)

Ok, Ready to learn how to teach your dogs to focus on you!?

#1 With little to no distractions, start with your dog on a leash, sitting or standing in front of you, place the treats in your left hand. Wait patiently. The INSTANT that your dog looks or even glaces up at your face, CLICK & then TREAT.

** You may have to be on your toes with this one, as some of the glances may be quick. The faster you are at catching them, the faster the dog will pick up and the glances will get longer.

**If the dog is a bit scattered and looking all over the room, you can make a sound to help pull your dogs attention up toward your face/eyes. 

#2 After your dog eats the treat let a few "seconds" elapse and wait for your dog to look at something else that is not you.
 

#3 Once your dog picks up what you are trying to get him/her to do (look at your eyes), say your dog’s name (or "look"). The second he/she looks up at your face, Click for eye contact & Treat. 


#4 Repeat steps 1-3 until your dog is looking up at you every single time you say his name. (or the "look" command) 


To summarize:
Every time your dog looks at you when you say his/her name, Mark that moment and give him/her that tasty Treat. 


SIDE NOTE:

In the beginning - For some dogs, it may help to hold the treat between your eyes to get your dog to focus on your face.

** But make sure you do NOT rewarding your dog for following your hand from the treat bag up to your eyes.

- ONLY reward your dog for those times that your dog looks away (at something other than you or the treats) and then back at you.

____________________________

Tips:

-Do this ( Before ) your dog eats his/her meal. You want them a bit hungry for an extra boost of attention. ;)

-Be consistent: if you reward your dog for EVERY time he looks at you  - when you say his/her name - you will have their undivided attention. 

-Keep beginning training sessions short and sweet, no more than 5 minutes when first introducing a new behavior.  

** When your dog gets bored you will have a hard time ending on a "positive note". So, stay on your toes and keep it fun!

-Start off in one spot, try not to move around a lot. 

-Do these steps a few times a day until your dog does not hesitate to look up you at your face/eye when you say his/her name, then take it out doors and repeat steps 1 - 4.

- When moving to a new location it may seem like the dog is backtracking . Have patience and help your pup be successful in that environment. You never want to start training in a highly active area. Work your (their) way up to it. You both will have a better chance at succeeding this way. 

REMEMBER ALWAYS: 

Have patience & be consistent.

When you have time also Check out this fun article: 

"Your Dog is Watching You"

Canine Good Citizen

We spent the first part of our day touching up on some CGC (Canine Good Citizen) work with two of our lover boys Brad Pit and Petey. We have been so busy these past few months we were slacking a bit on their training... and it showed. All these two wanted to do when they first saw one another was pounce, play and pull. Yikes. 

But, thankfully since these boys are living the "nothing in life is free" way, they bounced back quickly and it was down to business... treats and then play. 

Here they are working on "Reaction to another dog".
During the CGC test, here is what the run down will be.

"Reaction to another dog test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 20 feet, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 10 feet. The dogs should show no more than casual interest in each other. Neither dog should go to the other dog or its handler."

To check out the rest of the CGC test go HERE:

Anyone up for a challenge?
Work with your pup towards passing this test before 2014 begins.

If your pit bull dog accomplished getting their CGC we would LOVE to hear about it and share it with everyone else.

Send clear photos in JPG format of your dog and you holding up their CGC Certificate along with your experience to: modifiedk9@Hotmail.com

Title email CGC Accomplished!

Looking forward to seeing some really big sm:)es!
Much Love
The Modified k9 Family

Come when called. - Recall Game

We use the clicker (or marker) during a lot of our training sessions. When we use the clicker we never us it to attract our dogs attention. The clicker is used when our dogs are doing the exact action we want.

Today we are going to fill you in on a fun game we do with our pups to teach them how to come when called. This exercise will help your dog understand to come to you every time you call them.

Pick a spot that is safe, fenced in or even start in your home so your pup can't get away from you if they get distracted. Start off with two people standing about 8-10 feet apart from one another. Each person will have some soft, small sized treats and a clicker. We like to use Natural Balance food rolls for our dogs training.

When everyone is ready start calling your pup with the word "come" or "here". Make sure everyone uses the same word in a happy tone. When the pup comes to you click, put your hand on the dogs collar and give him/her the treat.

As your pup learns the game, start increasing the distance and the distractions. You will want to start of at a short distance with little to no distraction at first to help your dog succeed in this game. Have fun and make the training sessions short. Making sessions short will keep your pups attention and your pup will learn to stay focused. Too long of a session and your pup can get distracted easy. You always want to end on a good note and the command you asked of your dog.

Tips on when to call your dog:

-Never call your dog for negative/bad things
-Never call your dog and then lock him up for the day to go to work or leave the house.
-Never call your dog to come in from play time, instead go get him.
-DO call your dog for positive/good things like dinner time, treats, walks, car rides, games, play, cuddle time ;)

When you teach your dog to come when called remember you may need it one day to save your dogs life so every time you call your dog it MUST be related to something positive. Then watch them come flying into your arms.

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) - It can happen to anyone!

Many dog owners are oblivious to the fact that Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) even exists. Then of course there are the huge masses of dog owners who rely on a notion that it only targets "pit bulls", and not the German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Akita, etc. However, here is the reality of the painful concept known as "BSL"...it affects us all and targets dozens of breeds in various countries. Everything from 220 pound mastiffs to 40 pound mutts of unknown origins if the law deems it necessary.

BSL is the sort of thing that mainly affects happy, normal, loving families and their pets, because the types of people who should be targeted by animal regulations will continue to illegally harbor the dogs in question if they so choose. Essentially all that breed specific legislation has going for it, is the fact that it kills mostly innocent dogs and destroys the families which love them. It's easy to turn a blind eye and say it "isn't your job to worry", but one day it will knock on YOUR door, either from an insurance agent denying your coverage, or an official coming to take your dog.

If you live in the United States, there are no country-wide bans put into law at this moment (as a matter of fact, for the first time in years, trends are showing a decrease in BSL, finally), however the Marine Corps has banned or restricted "large dog breeds with a predisposition toward aggressive or dangerous behavior" in base housing and privatized housing, as have many Army, Navy, and Air Force installations. Of course we do have various municipalities putting bans/restrictions into effect, as well as the county of Colorado - Denver with their city wide ban (which has been revamped to not be as devastating as it once was).

The varying restrictions, regulations, ideas and definitions within the laws all over the world are all over the map, so in short this is a brief definition: Breed specific legislation, or BSL, is simply defined as it sounds regulating your right to own or not own a dog based only on the breed of dog, not your responsibility as a pet owner. These practices let people know that no matter how hard they have worked on training, socializing, loving, and securing their dog, none of it has ever really meant anything.

The act of BSL is simply a band-aid for a much larger social or criminal issue and is only a temporary fix which many states eventually realize doesn't solve or really help any of the real problems at hand in many of these dog attack cases which prompt the bans or restrictions in the first place. By volunteering certain breeds as "attack" dogs or "aggressive" by law, we are doing nothing more than giving criminals a heads up on which breeds to own and how to make them that way.

In my personal house, and within many of the homes of Modified K9, we live our lives fearing the day we hear that news or get that memo...the one saying that your dogs could be next. Despite being a pit bull rescue, many of us own various breeds and multiple dogs, in my own home i have 3 separate breeds, all of whom would be banned or restricted if BSL ever knocked on my door. I know that no matter what, none of us would go down without a fight, and i think it's safe to assume the same of most of you reading this. Now is the time when we have a say and our voices as pet owner's should and could be heard louder than ever. In the age of technology, we can get whatever message we must across, and I think we've been changing minds for some time now.

I can name a dozen or more instances in which my pit bulls or Akita have changed people's minds regarding their breeds. I smile every time I recall the events Modified K9 has attended at which our dogs have not only done the same, but also turned those skeptics into pit bull dog adopters. With every well trained, loving, and stellar breed example that exists within the breeds under fire by these laws, we as dog owners get one step closer to a world free of BSL, ignorance, and fear.

The amount of progress that still needs to come is great, however if we think of the ground those of us fighting breed stereotypes have already covered it doesn't seem as daunting. If we come together to spread factual information to the ignorant, shine positive lights on our dogs in every way we can,, and just be the most responsible dog owners we can be, this won't even feel like a fight against BSL....it will instead feel like a victory one day. That is the sort of world that I know will exist one day, and on that day I will finally feel like all of my efforts have been heard and that I had a small part in it by sharing my life with some of the most amazing breed ambassadors, and the most loyal dogs ever.

In closing I wanted to do something corny, but something I think should be done in order for those of you not understanding why we fight so hard: 

Imagine in the middle of the night, you are jolted out of sleep by a thunderous bang on your door and loud voices. You spring from your bed to position yourself between your loved ones and the threat. Your actions are misread and you're suddenly pricked with an intense jolting feeling. Next thing you know you're collapsing to the ground and unable to move as you watch this threat upset your loved ones. Your family is screaming and crying all around you and you can just lay helpless. You're abruptly picked up and thrown into a cell as your little boy tries grabbing at you one last time, still hysterical. You are a pit bull being labeled for "aggressive" behaviors when BSL came knocking on your family's door late one night. Now you sit on death row and wait everyday at your gate for your family, but they're never allowed to come. All you can do is wait and hope for an appeal.

Breed Specific Legislation tears families apart and destroys the lives of everyone around it. 
It is not a solution, it is only part of the problem.

-Nikki