Pet a Pit

I am not proud to admit this, but pitbulls scare me. They're the only type of dog from which I can't help but back away. I am stunned by (and admiring of) families that choose to adopt them, especially with children in the house. At a point in my life when I'm thinking about starting a family, I can't imagine having a pitbull around. All that said, I haven't had any bad experience with pitbulls personally. In fact, I have almost no experience with pitbulls, period - other than backing away when I encounter them at the dog park or on the street. The only one I've spent any time with was sweeter and more gentle than many dogs I've encountered. So let me be the first to acknowledge that my hesitancy around them is based solely on media reports and their battered reputation. If you talk to any "pit people," it is clear these animals have so much to offer when handled and cared for properly. Those that do love the breed, love them in a big way, and seem to get a great deal of love from their "bully breeds" in return.

Due to all the misconceptions out there, and especially due to my own, I'm always heartened to see people working to turn those misconceptions around. The Best Friends rescue organization, which took in twenty-two of Michael ViPet a Pitck's pitbulls, has put together a wonderful page of pitbull information that helps dispel the rumors about their violence and aggression. It's a great service Best Friends is doing - both in caring for all those abused dogs and working hard to educate the public. It is clear that pitbulls, like all dogs, come with a unique set of traits and demands, but also like all dogs, they're just looking for someone to trust, someone to love. The tragic part is that pitbulls haven't earned their reputation - we have ensured their reputation by abusing them for so long.

Shop 'Til You Save Animals

'Tis the season to be shopping. Or at least thinking about shopping. Or at least thinking about thinking about shopping. Whenever it is that you do get around to purchasing gifts for loved ones near and far, big and small, furry and smooth, please consider visiting these animal-saving sites: The Animal Rescue Site (check out their "Fair Trade" section for some great non-animal-themed items, in case paw-print aprons aren't your thing), Humane Domain (the Humane Society of the United State's gift site), the ASPCA, and Defenders of Wildlife (for great wildlife adoption packages). You hear it again and again, but it's true: what could be a greater gift than a life saved? I'm not saying hold back on pure pleasure -- go ahead and buy him the combination breadmaker-and-power-saw and her the titanium snowshoes! I'm just saying throw a wolf and a polar bear in there, too.

Important!: Petland and Puppy Mills

The Humane Society of the United States announced today that their eight-month investigation into Petland pet stores revealed Petland's dependence on puppy mills as suppliers for their puppies. Aside from the outright cruelty associated with puppy mill conditions (the dogs used for breeding are usually kept in cages for years with almost no human contact and no other alternatives but to live amidst their own waste), puppy mills only add to the already out-of-control homeless animal population. Think about it this way: with every purchase of an admittedly adorable pet-shop pup, one homeless animal dies.

With the holiday season upon us, please please please, if you're thinking of getting a new pet as a gift, first of all think again and make sure you and the person receiving the pet consider this a "forever" companion, and second, visit your local animal shelter instead of heading to the pet shop. A quick online trip to www.petfinder.com can introduce you to thousands of animals (young, old, big, small, earnest, wily) just waiting for a second chance.

Jet Vets

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the lengths to which some animal devotees go in order to save an animal life. This is a remarkable story. Sadly, the tiger cub died the morning after her transfusion, but to think of all that these vets gave her in her final hours - including, hopefully, a better association with humans, contrary to how her short life began. 

Dog Pile

There's a new search engine in town and it's gone to the dogs. Dog Pile not only consolidates six different search engines into one "metasearch" engine, but it helps raise money for pets in need (via the ASPCA), too. Bookmark it now!

Massachusetts, Take a Bow (Wow)

In addition to electing Barack Obama to the White House and passing California's Proposition 2, there was another big win for animals this election: Massachusetts voted Yes on Question 3, meaning greyhound racing in the state will be phased out by 2010! Massachusetts, take a bow (wow).

Brave New World

Not only did the United States of America elect their first African-American president last night, who happens to be the Humane Society Legislative Fund's choice for animal-friendly candidate, but the people of California made history of their own, issuing a resounding YES on Proposition 2! Change is on the way, help is on the way. A kinder, more compassionate world is on the rise.