If you go back a few years, you wouldn't find me typing a blog post for a pit bull rescue.  I was hardly a dog person.  I was certainly NOT a pit bull person.  I was pretty sure that pit bulls were dangerous dogs, ready to snap at any moment and not safe to have around.  I thought that we'd be better off wiping them off the planet.  Safer to stick with regular dogs like golden retrievers (I was so deluded).

When we started having trouble with our dog, a scrappy 3 year old Boston Terrier, we were in way over our head.  We needed to fix the problem because giving him up was not an possibility but he needed to live in harmony with my 3 year old son.  We enlisted the help of a dog trainer.  We googled about dog problems.  Somewhere in there, we came across some small clips of the Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan.  We went out and got our hands on every Dog Whisperer episode and burned through them. 

One thing totally caught my eye.  Cesar's right hand "man" was a big, tough looking, red pit bull named Daddy.  He was muscular and strong, with cropped ears and big teeth.  Daddy was the first pit bull that I'd really seen outside of the media hoopla.  But this guy wasn't a snarling, mean, human killer.  He was a big, loveable softy who would rather roll over for tummy rubs than bother attacking anything or anyone.  He was the biggest suck with the sweetest personality.  He was a pit bull, and I was in major love.

Because of him, I started to break down the ideas that I had surrounding pit bulls and what they were like.  I started to notice other pit bulls in Cesar's pack as calm, wonderful dogs as well.  It just snowballed until one beautiful October day when we drove to pick up Daisy, our pit bull cross, from the SPCA.  She instantly became a valuable, loved member of our family. 

Of course, since then we've adopted a red pit bull pup, started a pit bull website, fostered pit bulls and finally become board members for this pit bull rescue.  If you'd talked to me all of those years ago, you'd never have guessed that I'd be sitting here now, typing out this blog post with 3 pit bulls at my feet. 

Today I found out that yesterday, at the ripe old age of 16, Daddy passed away with Cesar and his family at his side.  For me, and for millions of people out there who love Daddy like I do, this loss is as real as if it were my own dog.  Daddy brought me happiness and opened up possibilities that led me here, doing the one thing that I feel I was meant to do. 

You are missed by all who knew you, big guy.  Our deepest condolences go out to the Millan family.  Thank you for sharing him with the world. 

Run free, Daddy.

It's done!  For the first time in his life, Stanley is able to see the world without his lashes digging into his eye.  He did great during surgery.  He's not so happy about wearing the cone, but it's only for 2 weeks while his eyes heal and after that it will be all over. 

I spent a lot of time with Stanley as we were his first foster home, and there wasn't one time that I saw his eyes open this much.  Even with the cone, the stressful day and the stitches, there must be some major relief already.

I used to marvel at Stanley's ability to run through the yard at full speed while keeping his eyes closed.  Somehow he'd manage to not run into trees or the fence.  He was so sensitive with his eyes, but now that is all in the past. 

We're so happy for you, Buddy!  Heal up, get that cone off and get out in the world and really SEE!

As I've said before, we are constantly struggling with the question "what makes a good home".  We have to ask ourselves this everytime we review a new application for one of our dogs.  If we put restrictions and guidelines on new homes, we could very well pass up a loving home for a dog. 

Recently, we've had dogs adopted into homes with other dogs, kids and big, fenced backyards.  We've had a pup adopted into a condo with only a balcony.  Is either one better than the other?  No.  The homes are providing everything the dogs need to thrive, love being top of the list. 

When you see a rescue dog living out it's life in a new home, you can't help but get a wave of happiness.  To imagine where these dogs come from...the strays, the shelter dogs, the neglect cases, the dogs nearly put to sleep due to lack of room.  To then see them living a life full of adventure, exercise and love, you know that you've helped enrich that life and change the odds. 

I've read that 1 in 600 pit bulls will end up in a good home.  The rest will die from neglect, fighting, abuse, starvation or be put to sleep in a shelter.  If you take the time to visit over-crowded shelters you won't dispute this estimate. 

Recently, we placed a dog in a home.  Emily was brought from the shelter into the Respect-A-Bull program and found a home living with another dog and horses.  When you see Emily's photos of life in the new home, you see a content, happy dog who is managed to be the 1 out of 600 pit bulls.  She is a statistic, but a good one.  She followed fate through the hoops until she landed here, and she's won the pit bull lottery! 

Congratulations to Emily and her family.  Thank you for updating us on her life with you, it makes our hearts swell and gives us a reminder of why we do what we do! 

In life, one thing leads to another.  Stanley's story is no different.  His life was saved because Cathy was at the right place at the right time.  She saw him, fell in love and needed to help.  But Cathy didn't go out to the shelter that day to save a white, run down, mangey pit bull.  She was there to pick up a Cocker Spaniel who had been at the shelter for a month. 

Of course, while she was there, she spied Stanley and the rest is history.  That little Cocker's rescue led to the rescue of Stanley.  But now, that same little girl needs our help. 

Please, watch the video, and help in whatever way that you can.  $1, $3, $5...whatever you can spare.  Even if it's just to crosspost this video, it will help.

Things have been busy around here!  Yesterday we dropped off Prancer to his new mom and dad.  They were instantly taken with him and so was Nalla, his new dog sister.  He's already registered in puppy classes.  His new parents noticed what I've always thought about him, that his photos don't do him justice.  He's a super cute, funny little guy.  Prancer will now be known as Tonka.  Congratulations to Kim and Bob! 

And now, the news that everyone waits for....Stanley update! 

Stanley has been doing great.  He's healing from his mange with no problems.  His eye surgery is all booked for the 17th.  He's learning how to behave in a house with no problems.  As cute as he is, he's smart to match.  He's the only dog in our house to figure out how to open the baby gate.  Even Daisy, the border collie brains of the bunch didn't figure that one out! 

For a while, we've seen Stanley's need for exercise grow.  He's a big, energetic boy who could just run all day long.  While we juggle our dogs and a 5 year old's schedule, along with work, we sadly came to the decision that we would not be able to adopt Stanley into our home.  To be honest, this was what we wanted.  But our commitment to fostering and to doing what is right for the dog takes precedent over what our hearts want. 

Another Respect-A-Bull foster home came open after Emily was adopted and it seemed like a perfect match for Stanley.  Active and with one other dog with the energy of Stanley, Teresa and her husband are also ready to handle Stanley's care to help him finish healing.  He'll be closer to his vet now, and that is very important.

The drive to drop him off was long and full of trying to figure out a way to keep him, but in the end, it's best for him to go where it's best for him. 

I'd be lying if I said that I'm not secretly hoping that Teresa will end up keeping him, but only time will tell. 

Stanley has proven that he's very adaptable and we've already had a message from Teresa saying that he's doing great and she's already fallen in love. 

You are always welcome at our house, Stan!  We love you and miss you so much, but we are so excited for you to have new experiences and start seeing more of the world!  See you soon, my big, white tiger cub!  xo

About a month ago, my friend Michelle ordered a book for my son.  The night it arrived, my son and I sat down on the couch and started to read.  It's the story of a little pit bull puppy who grows into a big dog with an even bigger heart.  It became an instant favorite.  As the owners of 2 pit bulls, I love to see them portrayed in a positive light in print or on tv, and here is an entire book!  I also love the age old lesson that we should not judge a book by it's cover.  This day and age, it's something that we can't teach our kids enough.  But more than that, the book is well written, fresh, fun and the illustrations are simply amazing and full of detail. 

At the back of the book, I noticed that there was a photo of a dog who looked just like the Demo in the book.  As it turns out, the Demo in the book was based on a real dog.  The real life Demo was rescued after he was born to a junkyard mom.

I'll be the first to admit that I always start to tear up when I read the part when Demo saves the day.  It gets me because I love when the little guy comes up on top, but also because it's so amazing to see the breed that I love portrayed as the hero in a book rather than the villian in the media.  So, it comes as no surprise that I cried when I learned that the real Demo, just 1 month shy of his 16th birthday, passed away. 

Godspeed, Demo.  You are a hero to us all, a poster boy for all of the pit bulls out there who should be looked at as regular dogs and admired for their breeds.  Your book sits on our coffee table and will remain a family favorite. You are this family's Snoopy.

People ask us all of the time if we are keeping Stanley.  As his foster home, we've watched Stan morph from a skinny, weak, blind dog into a happy go lucky dog.  He's fit in perfectly with our resident dogs and loves my son.  We went into this thinking that we'd love to keep him and I spend a considerable amount of time everyday weighing out the pros and cons.  

We love him.  Love him like he's our own.  But watching Stanley navigate through his new life as a Family Dog it is clear that he needs more than our love can provide.  He needs obedience training, at 2 years old, he's just learning the basics like "sit" and "come".  He's learning stairs for the first time, leash walking and he's fine tuning his potty skills.  While we juggle life with 1 kid and 4 dogs, jobs and the rest of it, we realize that Stanley deserves so much more.  He's come to far to fall onto the back burner.  He's such a warm, loving, wonderful dog who deserves to have all of the attention and love that one person can provide.

It is also very important to me that we keep space open for another foster who might need it.  If Stanley stays, we are at full (or, as some would argue, over) capacity.  This takes another foster home out of the loop, and another dog is able to fall through the cracks. 

It is not an easy decision.  I love this dog, with his big head, goofy eyes and polka dot ears.  I love his kisses and the way he learns in for a scratch.  I love his squeaky bark and how he plays with his eyes closed.  I love that he sleeps on our bed while we are out and I don't care, even though I hate dogs on the bed.  I love how grateful he is for a bowl of food.  I love that for all he's been through, his past is truly behind him and he's in the NOW.  He's over it, he's loved now and he knows it.  He forgave humans for what happened long before his body was even healed.  I love him enough to know that it's better for him to go elsewhere.  

SO, we are now accepting applications from those wishing to adopt Stanley.  This does NOT mean that Stanley is healed up and ready to go tomorrow.  Stanley still needs eye surgery and will not be placed until that is complete and healed.  He will also be needing care and treatment for his mange for a time yet, so if he is adopted before that, his new home must be willing to work with that.

What sort of home is right for Stanley?  At Respect-A-Bull, we struggle with that question on a regular basis.  What makes a GOOD home?  Is it a house?  No.  We've adopted to dogs in apartments and condos, cottages and boats.  What type of dwelling is no indication on how good a home can be for a dog.  Is it a fenced yard?  No, not that either.  While yards are great, they are not the only way to provide exercise to a dog.  So what does make a good home?

A good home is a place where it is warm and safe.  A place free from abuse and neglect.  Where the dog is nurtured both in mind and body.  Where the dog is able to coexist with it's people without being tethered in the rain or left in a leaky dog house.  A home should provide clean water and a good food.  Vet care if needed.  But above all else, a good home should provide the same love and respect that the dog will give back. 

So, if you are thinking of applying for Stanley, please know that we are not looking for a specific home for him.  We will look at ALL applicants and choose the best home for Stanley. 

Applicants for Stanley must meet the following guidelines:

• You must be willing to provide him with proper diet and supplements to treat and prevent his mange
• You must be willing to give us updates that we can share with his fans.
• You must be willing to provide him with quality food or a raw diet to help his skin and deal with allergies
• As with ALL applicants for any of our dogs, you must fill out an application, have a phone interview, meet the dog AND pass a home inspection. 
  

To apply for Stanley you MUST fill out an application form found on this site.  We will NOT respond to emails asking to adopt him.  You may NOT meet him prior to filling out an application.  This is not "first come, first served".  He will be adopted to the BEST home we can find for him and everyone involved. 

Stanley is in foster care with us as long as he needs it. Please remember that Stanley is a real dog with real needs, regardless of his fame. 

On Saturday, Stanley met some of his fans.  Jenn from Furever After small dog rescue met up with some of the staff from the Duncan SPCA and they all drove all the way to Respect-A-Bull headquarters to meet him.

There was no shortage of kisses, and I'm sure that Stanley won the hearts of everyone there.  He climbed up to actually hug Sandi, the manager of the Duncan SPCA.  Jenn loved him, too, and she also managed some super cuddling with Respect-A-Bull's runt puppy, Cupid. 

With so much going on, new people to meet and dogs a plenty, it surely was Stan's biggest adventure since getting off of the plane.  He crashed out for a few naps on the laps of his guests, gave them plenty of kisses goodbye and climbed into the car to go home.

His ride home was squished, though, because his visitors hadn't come empty handed.  Jenn came bearing MANY gifts.  First there was cash donations totalling $367 that was raised by everyone at Your Pet Pals, a pet supply store in Victoria.  Along with that, there were gift cards, around $300 in dog food, $200 in supplements and fish oils to help Stanley's mange, toys and a very comfortable dog bed!  There is no way to thank the staff and customers at Your Pet Pals and Jenn for everything they pulled together for Stanley.  Please know we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. 

But that was just for Stanley.  There were still boxes and boxes of toys and Kongs for all of the other Respect-A-Bull dogs, a puppy pen (and we have no shortage of puppies), dog treats....I'm sure I am forgetting something, but it truly was like Christmas morning. 

PLUS, we still had an entire literal truckload of dog food to unload for Respect-A-Bull dogs! 

In other news, Stanley smells awesome, thanks to his bath with his new neem shampoo, donated to Stanley by Illona at Scruffy Dog Photography in Ontario.  She donated a whole natrual mange treatment that includes the shampoo, organic neem oil and a supplement for dogs with mange.  Thanks you!

This is what happens when we all pull together to do what we can!  We can't save them all, but one by one, we sure can try!

Here at Respect-A-Bull, we do not have a shelter.  We have a website and very few foster homes.  Dogs that enter our program don't spend one day in a kennel, they are all placed in home environments where they live like normal dogs.  

Stanley is fostered right here in my home.  He lives alongside myself, my son, my fiancé and our 3 other dogs.  Daisy, the 5 year old Pit Bull/Border Collie, Olive, the 18 month old Pit Bull and Bez, the 6 year old Boston Terrier.

Bringing a foster dog into the home is no small feat.  It takes everyone time to settle and adjust.  Bringing Stanley home added walks, detailed feeding guidelines to help him get the best meals possible, juggling medications and supplements and vet trips.  Not to mention meetings with reporters and fans! 

To be honest, the last few days have been rough.  We've had some issues arise with our resident dogs, Daisy and Olive and the whole house feels like it's been turned upside down.  I've been frustrated and stressed.  I'm not perfect, and neither are my dogs.  And Stanley, although loved the world over, is still just a regular dog.  A big, loveable, happy, untrained, energetic, sometimes-peeing-on-the-floor, regular dog. 

So, while we work hard to do the best we can, some days are easier than others.  As a foster home you must commit to the dog as if the dog is yours, you will do no good if you enter it half-assed.  But you'd be kidding yourself, and I'd be lying if I said it was always easy and stress free. 

Why do we do it?  Well, that's easy.  The work and stress of having them here and the heartache and longing that you feel when they are gone is all rewarded by knowing that you were one important step in saving a dog who otherwise didn't have a chance.  You take in a sick, run down, untrained dog and give the adopted family a vibrant, obedient dog. 

This morning, while I thought of ways to manage my current issues with the resident dogs, I found a link to a clip from the Oprah show about the state of dogs in shelters and the mass euthanasia.  Now, I get HUNDREDS of links to videos of dog stories and all of them have the ability to make you cry.  I don't cry about it.  I am able to see past the sadness and despair of the sad stories and focus on what I am doing to help.  I'm not shocked by it anymore.  Perhaps it's my experience working with elderly people in long term care.  If I allow myself to feel the pain of the loss of every person, it would be too hard to do what I do.  I remember them fondly, find solace that they are peaceful, and move on to help others.

However, when I watched the Oprah clip, I cried.  I cried because it was very real footage.  I cried because dogs are dying by the hundreds because we can't get it together to spay/neuter.  I cried because the dog that they put to sleep in the video is one I would gladly have pulled if I could.  I cried for the man who's job it is to inject the dogs, because he must live with such a weight on him.  I cried because, despite my frustration of the last few days, at my feet was one dog who once had that fate. 

Being a foster family is rewarding beyond belief.  For every meal, walk, run in the yard, toy and head scratch you give, the dog returns love in spades.  If you would like to foster, please let us know, or find a rescue in your area to talk to.  It's not for everyone and is a serious commitment.  But it is worth all of the effort....Stanley is testament to that.

The most popular question since we've become Stanley's foster home is "Will you keep him?"

The hardest part of fostering is giving the dog up to it's adoptive home.  But that is the goal we want.  Stanley will eventually move on from us, but he will go to a home that is perfect for him.  And no matter where he is, he will always be part of our family.  And he will always be everyone's dog. 

For the Oprah clip, click here.

Since Stanley has come into our care, we've been overwhelmed with people asking us to take in dogs.  There were a lot before, but now it has sky rocketed.  The emails number in the hundreds and that's only in a couple of days.  We are sent postings on facebook of dogs who are days and hours away from euthanasia.  Dogs who, unless somebody steps in, will be put to sleep. 

If you consider that those dogs are only the very tip of a large iceburg, we are looking at a serious problem.  The Humane Society of the United States estimates that in the U.S. alone, there are 3,500 animal shelters killing between 6-8 million dogs a year.  And that is just in the United States.  That number does not include Canada and other countries. 

This number is a good indication that there is nothing special about Stanley's story.  The world was shocked to see Stanley, sick and defeated, sitting in the shelter awaiting certain death.  To animal rescuers, that image is no longer shocking.  It is heartbreaking, sure.  But for us, it is all too common. 

While we struggle in vain to post these lost souls on facebook and email out alerts, we see the same thing time and again.  "DOG NEEDS OUT, WILL BE PTS IN HOURS", "DOG ON HOLD, WILL BE GONE TOMORROW", "WILL BE PTS TODAY".  The reality is, we post and post, but these dogs will be lost.  There are too many, not enough homes and not enough rescue groups or money to house them.  They will, by the thousands, be put to sleep.

I'm not trying to be harsh, although I paint a grim picture.  There are ways we can solve this problem.  We need tougher laws around pet ownership to put an end to the suffering and abuse that bad owners cause.  We need to make it harder for people to own a dog and breed it to stop backyard breeding and puppy mills.  We need to, if nothing else, get people to SPAY AND NEUTER their pets. 

It's not right that at this moment, with thousands of dogs rotting in the shelter like Stanley was, I can open up the newspaper and find litters of puppies for sale.  There is no need to add to the problem.  It costs less to spay a female than to take proper care of her and the puppies.  Many areas have spay/neuter clinics.  

Please, please, please.  Don't add to the problem.  If you want a puppy, shelters have them by the dozens.  If you want a certain breed, think about this; an estimated 25% of the dogs in shelters are purebred dogs.  Adopt, don't shop.

And, as Bob Barker would say, spay and neuter your pets!