Hello Bully said it best...

For the last few weeks, since the story of the 175 lb "pit bull" went viral, I have been thinking that I needed to talk about it here. As someone who has worked extensively with dogs labeled as pit bulls, I can honestly say that the story made me feel more than a little sick to my stomach.

1. Hulk is NOT an American Pit Bull Terrier. 

2. These breeders are raising 'Protection Dogs,' which immediately raises the hairs on the back of my neck. 

3. It's all about the money - $20,000 for 'stud services'. Seriously, this is disgusting!

Photo from the Dark Dynasty K9's website.
Dark Dynasty K9s actively advertised 'protection dogs' and
promotes aggression in the dogs they sell. These are not
dogs trained for police work, as most breeders do,
they sell them to anyone with a checkbook. I love dogs, but
aggression in any breed is dangerous.

So, as I have been following the story, I came across the reaction from a rescue that I adore and felt that I truly could not say it better, so I am sharing their thoughts and publicly saying THANK YOU to this wonderful organization for putting my feelings into words! It saves me a lot of time and gives me the opportunity to share this great rescue's work!

A little background on Hello Bully, they are a Pittsburgh, PA based rescue that began in 2005. This rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit and has no paid staff. With a group of dedicated volunteers, this organization has been a great influence and savior to hundreds of pit bull type dogs. In addition to their rescue program, they have started a free spay/neuter program for pit bulls in their area. 

Tyrion was rescued from a suspected
dog fighting operation and is now
safely cared for with Hello Bully.
(Photo credit: HelloBully.com)

The pup featured here is Tyrion, a pit bull that was rescued by Hello Bully from suspected dogfighters. In April of 2014, Tyrion started his new life and journey as pit bull advocate. Despite a sad background where he, as you can see, was terribly mistreated and disfigured, he is a loving, wonderful dog. 

From the Facebook page of Hello Bully:In the wake of the latest “Pit Bull” story to go viral, Hello Bully would like to address the media in regard to Hulk, the 175-pound “Pit Bull.”

We certainly appreciate the sentiment that Pit Bulls are not bad dogs. Of course, we already knew that. There are, however, some big problems with this story. For starters, there is simply no such thing as a 175-pound American Pit Bull Terrier. The breed standard is 30–60 pounds, and while there’s wiggle room for sure, that’s too far a leap. The American Bully is a “designer breed” (mutt) developed in the 1990s — a cross of an American Pit Bull Terrier and Mastiffs/Molosser dogs. The APBT has never been known for being a good guard dog because its original roots in dogfighting has a silver lining of being incredibly people-friendly. So Hulk, a 175-pound protection dog, is not a Pit Bull.

But what if he was? Wouldn’t it be great to have such good press? Of course, but digging a little deeper, it should not be this particular dog. The Pit Bull community is overwhelmingly made up of people who rescued or adopted our dogs. We are your neighbors, family, and friends. Many of us volunteer. All of us have known and loved a Pit Bull, and have been inspired to put our passion into action and stand up for a breed that has been grossly misrepresented. So, even if Hulk was a Pit Bull, he is not the face of our movement.

While some of us believe that there is such a thing as responsible, ethical breeding, none of us will jump to defend someone who is exploiting animals. Breeding protection dogs and selling them for $20,000 is not ethical. Breeding for weight and head circumference is certainly worlds away from responsible breeding. Ear cropping, completely illegal in some countries, seems to be the cherry on top of an exploitation sundae. Hulk may be a lovely dog. He is not the face of Pit Bulls, and his breeders being the face of our movement is insulting. They are a part of the problem that we are working so hard to fix.

We have to wonder if the reporters responsible for this at its inception did any fact checking at all. If they had looked any further than Facebook, they would have quickly found Dark Dynasty K9, a family-owned and operated operation in rural New Hampshire (a state known for lax laws for dog breeders). This couple and their money-maker, Hulk, have been splashed all over Good Morning America, every news outlet, and social media sites. The reporters may have seen the protection training rates, all including a free shock collar, done by a trainer (the breeder/owner) with no visible credentials. They may have even checked New Hampshire’s state info and looked for a business registration — we couldn’t find one, but maybe the media with all of their clout, knows something we don’t. Or maybe it’s the complete opposite.

We appreciate feel-good stories. There are thousands of great breed representatives and ambassadors out there in rescues and families across the nation, thousands upon thousands who would have been a great face for a movement seeking to set things straight for Pit Bulls, and save lives. Next time, if you need a good dog for a good story, feel free to reach out to Hello Bully or one of the hundreds of reputable Pit Bull rescue organizations. I’m sure we’d all be happy to share our stories.

I could not agree more! Thank you Hello Bully for being a true champion for dogs!

Stephanie Conrad
Pet Studio Art | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Here are just a few of the beautiful pups available for adoption with Helly Bully, a true advocacy organization for our amazing pit bull type dogs!

Pia - learn more about adopting this cutie pie here!
(Photo credit: HelloBully.com)

Veda - learn more about adopting this beautiful girl here!(Photo credit: HelloBully.com)

Little Red, a Vicktory Story

Little and her portrait by Pet Studio Art.

Little Red was rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation in 2007. Well, I guess we shouldn't call it ‘rescue’ right away, since the dogs that were taken from the ‘Vick’ property were actually placed in custody for the next several months before truly being rescued.

Little Red was one of twenty-two of the Vick Pit Bulls that was sent to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. It was here that a dedicated team of dog behavior specialists met and set up a plan for working with these pups in order to rehabilitate them to their ultimate goal; being adopted into loving homes, a place that these pups had never had before.

The 22 dogs that were sent to Best Friends were among the most traumatized of the pups. Little Red in particular was used as a “bait dog” (a dog that is used for the fighters to practice on). Many of her teeth were filed down or removed completely, so she would not be able to harm the other dogs, her body is covered in scars and she has a serious illness called Babesia, a common disease in dogs that experience deep puncture wounds during fights.

Despite all of the outward and inward trauma when Little and her friends arrived at Best Friends, the staff was determined to ensure that these pups were given the best chance at a happy life, even the dogs that are court ordered never to leave the Sanctuary are given the best care both physically and emotionally by the team that looks out for them.

Little at Best Friends.

For every animal lover in America, it was impossible not to watch the story of the ‘Vicktory’ dogs. Little’s now mom, Susan,  was no exception and enjoyed reading all about the pups in the Best Friend’s magazine, where she fell in love with Little’s smile. While she enjoyed reading about all of the dogs, something about Little Red stuck with her and during Little’s 2^nd year at Best Friends, Susan stopped by to visit. Although Little was extremely shy and would not approach the fence, Susan was able to see Little interact with another dog. It was love at first glance and although she was not able to meet Little face to face because of the court order (Little Red was still not ready to interact with volunteers), she did decide to volunteer at Best Friends, even being able to work in Little's Unit and observe her in her ‘shy dog’ class; a class where staff members sit in a room and when one of the ‘shy dogs’ approach them of their own free will, they get a treat! Little loved being around other dogs and would prance and smile, it was hard not to be smitten with her.

It was after seeing Little in her ‘shy dog’ class, Susan stopped by the adoption office to ask about adopting Little. She figured it was a long shot and that tons of applications would be piling up for Little, but to her surprise, Susan was the first person to inquire about Little, she was ecstatic that she would have a chance to be considered to adopt this special pup.

Little enjoying the sun.

Since she had previously adopted a dog from Best Friends, Susan had a great history with them, but because Little Red was a ‘Vick’ dog and had a court order attached, the adoption process for Little Red would be much more extensive this time. Little had to pass her Canine Good Citizenship test (which she passed in August of 2011) and she would need to meet all of the existing dogs in Susan’s home. Susan also needed to provide information on her home, insurance, training resources, yard, fence and philosophy regarding dogs. None of this was a problem and after bringing her pups to Best Friends for their visit in September, Little moved in for the 6 month foster-trial period just a couple of weeks later!

Once arriving home, it did take a bit of adjusting for Little to start to feel at home. Little was very shy and had never lived in a home environment before, so the normal sounds of everyday life were an entirely new experience and overwhelming for Little. She was afraid of coming and going through doors and up and down stairs, she reacted with fear when the washer or dryer was turned on. Sudden noises on the TV, the dishwasher or storms terrified her. Little was even scared of wide open spaces when she first moved in with Susan, but after several months, Little was embracing her new life and learned to enjoy the open pasture at her new home.

She doesn’t play with toys, but Little loves being around other dogs more than anything. She lives with a couple of older dogs that are not as active as she is (even at 10, Little loves to play); Susan mentioned that she even gets her feelings her when the other dogs ignore her requests to play. Little loves nothing more than having a Pit Bull visitor for a play-date. She lights up and loves to wrestle and have ‘pittie play’ a special type of play that pit bulls adore. When a Pit Bull buddy isn’t around, Little’s favorite thing to do is run with Susan. She races ahead of Susan in the pasture, leaps in the air with a big grin, then doubles back to start all over again.

Little and her family.

Little Red’s adoption was finalized on March 19^th, 2012. Little had been home for months, but that official paperwork truly meant that Little would never have to worry again, she would be loved and cared for, in a wonderful home, for the rest of her life. Little is a testament to the sweetness that is inside of all dogs, even those that have been hurt in the past.

The important thing to remember with Little’s history (and all other dogs that come from similar situations) is that she was the victim, not the other way around. The practices of dog fighters are brutally sadistic, these are individuals that will watch another living being kill or be killed in front of them for greed and entertainment. These people are criminals, regardless of their jobs, their family life or their views on other issues in the world outside of the dog fighting arena. People who participate in breeding dogs for fighting, watching dog-fights or even going so far as to bet on the fights are just as guilty as those putting the dogs in the pit. Dogs are feeling, thinking beings. They yelp when you accidentally step on their tail, they slink away after you catch them digging through the garbage, they snuggle with you when they aren’t feeling well. Anyone who argues that dogs don’t deserve a wonderful life should simply click the ‘x’ at the top of this screen and leave because I don’t really want those people visiting my blog.

Little Red and Cheeto.

Vick and his cronies tried to make a mean dog out of Little Red, but they did not succeed. She survived their brutality. She survived their torture. Little is a sweet, affectionate dog that adores other dogs. She suffers from PTSD, but has shown herself to be a truly remarkable dog in her recovery process. The five years that she suffered will always be a part of her past, but Little only has happy things to look forward to. She will live her remaining years with all of the things that dogs should have; companionship, love and respect.

“Dogs have always played a big part in my life. I have 5 rescue dogs and will continue to have rescue dogs for the rest of my life. Little is a remarkable survivor and she is able to forgive people – even though it was people that inflicted such horrible pain on her…. Isn’t that amazing?” – Susan, Little’s mom.

Stephanie Conrad

Pet Studio Art | Owner | Artist

www.petstudioart.com

Little loves her new life but doesn't forget about her Best Friends family. She stops by to visit!

Karma, the Flying Pit Bull

Pit Bull Pride - Day #30

Karma, the flying Pit Bull put on a spectacular show on Sunday at Pit Bull Awareness Day! I have seen Karma perform, alongside her canine family, Justice and BruzAir at several events, but was delighted to catch some great shots of their performance this weekend! 

Karma is a purebred American Pit Bull Terrier who was born in 2005. Once she discovered the frisbee, she was hooked! It wasn't long before her rescued siblings joined in the mix. 

Justice, an adorable sweet brown pit bull, was rescued from a dog fighting operation. While he still bears the phyical scars from his past, Justice is all about the here and now. As he entered the show area, his family holds him upside down, so he is all floppy ears and big pittie smile! 

BruzAir loves to catch multiple frisbees in his mouth! With his big silly grin, he lept up in the air, so happy to be entertaining the crowd! 

It was evident that all three of these pups adore their jobs! They are all very much the showmen of the Pittie World and I can't wait to see them perform again soon!

Stephanie Conrad
Pet Studio Art | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Lenny the Pit Bull

Lenny

• Pit Bull mix  
• Birthday: August 7, 2009 (estimated)
• Rescue Day: August 7, 2010
• Follow "Lenny the Pit Bull" on Facebook!

Lenny checking out his custom portrait by The Pet Studio!

Tell me a little about Lenny’s history? 

We know almost nothing about Lenny’s beginnings.  We know he was fought.  Whether it was as a bait dog, as a potential fighting dog, or just an accidental altercation with another dog… we will never know.  He was riddled with bite wounds on his front legs, neck, and head and these wounds were not treated at the time he was injured. 

He was kept outside somewhere and was at least provided with straw bedding, as pieces of straw had worked their way inside several of his wounds.  One of his injuries was a large puncture wound that went through his jaw and into his mouth.  This made it difficult to keep food and water from spilling out while he ate.  It is hard to say if this is why he was so thin (35 lbs… he is now 85 lbs).  It seems to be more likely that he was not fed or watered at all after he acquired his injuries, but we will probably never know for sure.

Lenny, shortly after being rescued, all skin and bones.

How did he come into your life? 

I found Lenny on the side of the road near our home.  It is unclear if he was abandoned or somehow escaped and wandered there.  However he ended up in that spot, it was purely coincidence that he caught my attention.  Just a few seconds difference and he would have headed into the woods where he most certainly would have died from his injuries and neglect.

He stopped when I pulled up in my car, but I feared I would scare him away so I knelt down about ten feet away from him.  He slowly walked over to me and put his head on my knee almost as if he was asking for my help.  We took him to a veterinarian to help us evaluate whether or not he was able to be saved.  His wounds and overall health were very bad, but after a few days of treatment he began to recover. 

During that time, I started a Facebook page, “Lenny the Pitbull,” to let my friends know that we had a dog in need of help.  I did this with the intention of collecting a few donations from people I knew, as well as to network the dog through potential rescue organizations.  I did not expect that someone would leak his story and the page to a local news network. 

Within four days of finding him, his story was on three different local news channels and one radio show.  Donations poured in to help with the cost of Lenny’s care.  His Facebook page went from a few dozen friends to thousands of fans in a matter of days.  Lenny’s journey has been made successful by the caring and support of really wonderful people that were touched by his story.  Lenny’s fans have given financial, educational, and positive support that we could never appreciate enough.

We did not commit to keeping him until after the first year.  We had planned on placing him either in a new home or a sanctuary, depending on what type of dog he would be once he was healthy.  It wasn’t love at first site for us or for Lenny.  We were not in the market for another dog and Lenny appeared to have never bonded with people before.  Over time, things changed.  We all let our guards down and once that happened we couldn’t stop the love-fest.  Lenny was ours and we were Lenny’s.

Lenny exercising his mind in his training class.

What makes him so special to you? 

Lenny is a survivor.  It is amazing that he has been through what he has gone through and is still a happy, affectionate dog.  Lenny has taught us more about ourselves than we could ever possibly hope to teach him. 

He is a big goofball as well.  A day doesn’t go by without Lenny making you laugh.  And the most special thing about him is that he not only makes us happy, but he makes so many others happy when we share little moments from his life on his page. 

What has Lenny taught you? 

Lenny has taught us that we are capable of much more than we sometimes think we are.  Taking Lenny into our home and adjusting our lives and the lives of our other pets to help meet his needs has been challenging.  Yet, for every obstacle we have developed a solution. 

Lenny also has a good lesson to teach us all and I believe that has to do with forgiveness.  After all that Lenny has been through, it would easy for him to not trust or even want to be around people.  Instead, he trusted in a stranger and over time, bonded with his new family.  He let go of his past and moved on into a happier and more fulfilling life.  If only more of us had that same capability.

Lenny having a play-date with his best buddy Harley!

How has he changed your life? 

Lenny has brought a new focus to our lives.  We see every day what a difference positive care and patience can make in not only Lenny’s world, but in our own world as well.  That commitment to making one life better reflects in all aspects of our life now.

In addition, the opportunity we have been given to share Lenny’s story with others has been amazing.  We have been blessed to communicate with and even at times meet many of Lenny’s fans.  They are incredibly kind and gracious people that have impacted our lives in so many positive ways.  We feel lucky and humbled to be part of Lenny’s journey.

What do you hope to gain by sharing his story? 

We are very proud of the positive message that comes from Lenny and his page.  Even his set backs are a tool to help us as well as others learn from our mistakes. 

As Lenny progresses, we will continue sharing his story in an effort to not only help the reputation of pit bulls, but also other dogs that have suffered abuse like he has endured.  It is a story of perseverance and forgiveness.  Lenny doesn’t discriminate or hate.  He loves everyone equally and sees them as a friend, regardless if they are human or animal.  He and other dogs like him deserve the same respect.

Most importantly, we hope that sharing Lenny’s story will show other people that they can do what we have done.  They can help a dog like Lenny and be successful at it.  We’ve already had people tell us they adopted their dog (sometimes a pit bull) after being inspired by Lenny’s story.  We could really not ask for more than that.

Does he have a favorite thing to do? 

Lenny likes to be outside… running, playing, chasing, etc., but he’s only happy if someone is with him.  He enjoys having his fire hose toy thrown for him and loves a good game of pick up the sticks in the yard.  Of course, we do all the picking up of the sticks and he prefers to steal them and then zoom around the yard.

If Lenny isn’t playing he is most likely sleeping.  Sleeping usually involves a good snuggle partner.  Lenny’s favorite thing in the world is to be hanging out with his people and snuggled up close to them.  In a pinch, a good snuggle with a cat is acceptable as well.

Lenny, looking gorgeous and healthy!

Any other little tidbits about Lenny that you would like to share? 

Lenny is still a work in progress.  Although he has made amazing progress, he still has some social issues to overcome… particularly if he is around a dog that is reactive in any way.  He has yet to show us aggression toward other dogs, but only agitation and over excitement that appears to be based on fear and inexperience.  

We take him to classes regularly to help him work through some of his social problems.  Although we do believe more people can do what we have done for Lenny, it is a commitment in time, patience, and dedication.  It isn’t always perfect, but the happy moments far outweigh the sad or frustrating times.  We would not change a thing about what we have done and where it has taken us.

Why did you choose The Pet Studio for your custom painting? 

I wanted to have portraits done of our pets for quite some time.  After much research, The Pet Studio caught my attention.  The way Stephanie captures the personalities of all of her subjects really touched me.  I particularly love the work she has done with pit bulls, both on the canvas and off.  Stephanie is a wonderful advocate for animals and the positive approach she takes in the work she does is important to us.  We could not be happier with Lenny’s portrait and the portrait of our cats.  Stephanie is a great artist in addition to being a very kind and gracious person.

"Lenny" | 20in x 20in Custom Painting by The Pet Studio.

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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Cherry Garcia: A Vicktory Dog

Like so many dog lovers, I have followed the Vicktory dogs since their rescue. I started a series of paintings 2 years ago, focusing on rescued and abused animals, and decided to include several of the dogs that were rescued from the Michael Vick property in 2007. Since starting this series (it is still a work in progress and new additions are frequently added) I have been honored to get in touch with several of the families that have adopted these dogs. While they all were rescued from the same property, each of these dogs has their own story to tell. I was thrilled to chat with Paul and Melissa, proud parents of Cherry Garcia and to be able to share Cherry's story with those that have also been following these pups as they continue to share their stories. The incredible resilience of the Vicktory dogs continues to open minds and offer hope to dogs that have been neglected or abused in their pasts 

Cherry Garcia

• Age: 5 years old
• Breed: Pit Bull
• Favorite Pastime: Cuddling
• Best Friends: Walter (Cat), Sophie (Cat) & Madison (Pit Bull)

Cherry posing with his custom painting by The Pet Studio.

Tell me a little about Cherry's history from your point of view: 

We don’t know much about Cherry's history.  We know he was 1 of about 53 pit bulls rescued from the property of NFL QB Michael Vick's house.  He is 1 of 22 that was sent to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab UT for rehabilitation.  These 22 dogs were deemed the most traumatized cases that came from the Michael Vick situation.  Cherry was extremely fearful of people.  He would "pancake" to the ground at the site of a person and wouldn't walk.  He had some facial scaring and has a horrible scar on his back.  His fearfulness of people and his lack of confidence made rescuers think he was a bait dog.  A bait dog is essentially a sparring partner for dogs who fought.  Sometimes you hear dogfighters will duct tape the mouth of a bait dog closed so it wouldn’t actually hurt the fighting dog.  Cherry's court ordered name was Virginia Beach #27 and later was named Cherry Garcia.  He was named Cherry because he had a condition called cherry eye.  From what we heard, there were 5 or 6 black dogs that they couldn’t tell apart from each other except for Cherry because he had Cherry eye.  When we adopted him, Best Friends said we could change his name.  He does get mistaken for a girl a lot but the name fits him perfectly. 

What made you decide to get involved and adopt one of the 'Vick Dogs'?

This is a good question.  I had a pit mix named Madison at the time I saw the 'Saving the Michael Vick Dogs' episode of Dog town on National Geographic.  I was a huge supporter of pit bulls and wanted to see what was going on with these dogs.  At the time Melissa and I were just dating and we were actually in the middle of buying a house.  Anyway I was watching the episode and Cherry just grabbed me.  I just wanted to pick him up through the TV and hold him and let him know that everything was going to be okay.  I just really connected with him.  Of course I think everyone who watched the show connected with him.  He has that special way about him.  That night I was in bed and I couldn't stop thinking about him.  One scene really stood out in my mind.  Since Cherry was so shy with humans they thought he would gain confidence from being around other dogs.  They introduced him to Willy Boy, another Vicktory Dog,  He really seemed interested.  Since Cherry has never met dogs before he didn't understand how to communicate properly with them.  Well Cherry elevated his head and started sniffing Willy's ears.  Willy didn't like that and snapped at Cherry.  Though it wasn't a match, you could see being around another dog really helped Cherry.  At the end of the episode it shows Cherry hanging out with Mel (another Vicktory Dog) and playing.  Those scenes really stood out to me because of Madison.  I had Madison since she was a pup.  She is one of the most confident dogs I have ever been around.  Not only is she confident but she has an incredible maternal instinct.  I thought she would be the perfect match for Cherry.  The next day I filled out the application for Cherry.  I told Melissa about it and she wasn't so keen on adopting another dog at the time.  I made her feel better about it by saying "Don’t worry, we don’t have a shot at ever adopting this dog".

What was the adoption process with Cherry? 

The adoption process for Cherry was long but very appropriate.  Best Friends has done an amazing job finding the right families for the Vicktory Dogs.  We stay in contact with 5 of the Vicktory Dog families and all of them are perfect places for these dogs.  Some of the stipulations to adopt Cherry were passing a criminal background check, proof of homeowners insurance that would allow pit bulls, home checks, having a 6 foot high fence, and other things.  The process took about a year to complete.  After those were completed, the final stipulation was going to the sanctuary with Madison to meet Cherry.  We knew going out to Best Friends that Nat Geo wanted to film our visit and I remember the first thing they asked us before we got to meet Cherry.  "Are you nervous about meeting Cherry, you came such a long way, what happens if it doesn’t work out?"  What an ice breaker.  Until that moment I don’t know if we ever thought about it.  That shot never made the air but needless to say everything worked out.  He took to Madison and she slowly introduced him to us.  She was the perfect match for him from day 1.  He loves her and she is the unsung hero of the whole process.  Even today she is his safety net.  He looks to her for guidance and she has been so selfless.  She loves it and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cherry and Madison enjoying a sunny day together.

How has Cherry changed your life?

Cherry has changed our lives forever.  He is such an amazing soul.  He has taught me so much.  Patience being one of them.  Working with shy dogs requires an incredible amount of patience.  Cherry makes it easy though and has taught me patience in other parts of my life.  He has also taught me to look forward.  One thing that is amazing to see is how Cherry has gained confidence and overcome fears.  He does this by looking forward and not looking in the rear view mirror.  He doesn't live in the past.  Yes, his past is with him and will be for life but he is where he is today because he is constantly looking to grow.  As humans I think it's easy for us to blame our past for things, to be a victim, and it tends to hold us back.  Cherry lives every day to his fullest and takes every opportunity he can to enjoy it.  He really enjoys life. 

What is Cherry's best quality? 

Cherry's best quality is his personality.  He is a loveable goofball.  I don’t know if there is a day that goes by where he doesn’t make us laugh.  He is so caring to the people that show him love and affection.  We always say he loves to be loved and that is the key to his rehabilitation.  He has the need to be loved and that overcomes his fears.  It make take time but in the end love wins out every time.

What are Cherry's favorite things to do? 

Cherry isn't much for toys but he has slowly learned that they can be fun.  Once in a while he will play with them.  He loves bones though.  He favorite thing to do is to cuddle.  He loves to cuddle.  There isn't a time when Melissa or I sit down that Cherry isn't right behind us finding his spot to settle down.  Whether it be on the couch or in bed, he simply just wants to cuddle with you.  If he isn't cuddling with us, he usually is cuddling with Madison.  Sometimes one of us will be in bed while the other is on the couch and it confuses Cherry.  He truly has an internal conflict because he doesn’t know what to do.  He ends up with one of us and then he usually switches at some point.  He loves to be pet.  He didn’t know how to ask to be pet so he would just start licking your hand until you pet him.  We taught him how to nudge and now our hands are always a nose flip away from his head.  One thing we have learned about Cherry is he is a very smart guy.  He learns things very quickly. 

What kind of comments/questions do you receive most often about Cherry and how do you deal with the publicity that Cherry has brought into your life? 

First, we would like to say thanks to everyone we have talked to or have met.  Everyone has been so positive and wonderful to meet. 

I think one of the things we hear the most is how small he is.  People picture this big fighting dog in their minds but he is only 47lbs and is a tiny little thing.  Most of the questions involve his adoption and history.  People want to know how Cherry came to our family and what the process is to adopt a Vicktory Dog.  They also want to know his past.  I think that is natural.  We have the same question but like any other rescue animal the past history is not always known.

We are fairly private with the publicity.  We don’t disclose our exact location or our last names for Cherry's safety.  As a matter of fact if we are out around our town we call Cherry, Larry. It's easy for Cherry because Larry sounds like Cherry and it keeps him somewhat private.  We haven't had any issues but we have encountered people who have seen Cherry on TV but don’t recognize him in person.  Melissa and I talked to a lady we came across on a walk.  For 30 minutes she told us about a little black pit bull that was rescued from Michael Vick's house that she saw on TV.  It was hard not to breakdown and not laugh but again it's all for Cherry's safety.  It's kind of fun having a dog that is more famous than you.  All jokes aside it is a massive responsibility.  Cherry's background gives us a voice.  Sometimes we hear the reason we adopted Cherry was because he was Michael Vick's dog. 

We adopted Cherry because we fell in love with him and he needed some help.  Since Cherry has a voice we try everything in our power to use that voice to help other dogs in that come out of similar situations because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter where Cherry came from, there are so many animals being abused that need help and that is what we are focused on.  We hope that people learn through Cherry's story.

________________________

Stephanie Conrad

The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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In Loving Memory of Leo

Leo, known among the Animal Rescue community for his big smile and even bigger heart, passed away last week. Leo was not only special because of the joy that he brought his family, but because he was able to show the world that dogs with a 'bad reputation' really are just good dogs looking for love and guidance. 

© 'Leo' by The Pet Studio | 11in x 14in Canvas

Leo was one of the fifty dogs confiscated from the Michael Vick Dog Fighting Operation in 2007. Even though he had a rough start to his life, Leo didn't let that slow him down. As many people, including Large Animal Welfare Organizations, waited for these dogs to fail miserably in society, Leo (as well as most of the other Vick Dogs) went on to prove that dogs with a 'fighting history' or rough past are just as loving as any other dog, they just need the opportunity to thrive!

Picture taken by Our Pack, Inc

Dr. Leo did just that! He became a certified therapy dog, spending time with seniors and hospital patients. His foster mom and founder of Our Pack, Inc is quoted on the Our Pack website saying, "I've worked with hundreds of dogs. People are drawn to Leo. I've never had a dog that was so magnetic! He has such a tender heart." She calls him her Casanova!

Leo is the essence of the American Pit Bull Terrier.. loving, loyal and kind! He was eager to please and has brought joy to so many faces, mine included! Leo's story will be shared for generations, he has helped the world to see how wonderful a dog, regardless of breed or reputation, can be! 

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As a Thank You for all that Our Pack, Inc does for the Rescued Animals in their care, The Pet Studio will be donating $2 from each sale of our 'Leo' Necklace to Our Pack, Inc until the end of the year! Order your Necklace in loving memory of Leo here.

Necklace Design 'Leo' © by The Pet Studio. 

Stephanie Conrad
The Pet Studio | Owner | Artist
www.petstudioart.com

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