What a sweet story. Pit Bulls are the most loyal and loving dogs. I trust mine with my life and have faith he would have reacted the same way that dog did.

Wow...Pit bull (mixed or not) usually get such a bad rap. Nice to see that they are not all vicious.

Smart dog. She saved him from a life of abuse and he in turn probably saved her. A match made in heaven.

What a great story . BeIng a mom of a 6 yr old child n 13 ye old n 3 yr old pit, it's great to see positive in the breed.

It's all about how they are raised. Much like humans. The breed just gets a bad rap because they are strong and hunky which attracts humans that want to exploit those physical characteristics. When they are raised by lovely kind people like this woman then they are sweet and heroic dogs. Don't buy into the breed hype about pit bulls!

She's a good girl

Not surprised Pit Bulls are smart loving loyal dogs..... we need more stories like this out in the news to help change the bad rap they got from bad people!!!!!!

Fantastic story...I'm glad this pit was saved and loyal to its owner, repaying back the bond of trust and love. I too, believe my boy would do the same. Thank you for sharing<3

wow........

What a wonderful story, Just rescued my first pit ever. He was about four weeks old starved and injury to his eye.Today is is full of energy, looking beautiful and a joy to have.This little guy will grow old with his mama. Have rescued other breeds before, I am sure this will not be the last rescued pittie for me. Love them

Incredible story, I too have a rescued pit and love to see stories that show the true colors of the breed instead of what the media wants to portray. Anybody who actually owns and loves this breed knows they are not at all what is usually portrayed; they are loving, faithful, and total clowns and couch potatoes. Remember Petey from the little rascals? Amazing how the world has turned against what people from that era understood.

Typical pit bull. Loyal, loving, smart. I love this breed. I have had the pleasure of owning one for 9 years. THIS is what the breed is all about. They are devoted to their owners. They will do anything to please them.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdogsbyte.org%2F2012%2F04%2F29%2Fpit-bull-heroes%2F&h=EAQEnlcjM
Dogsbyte.org is amazing. They are putting together a list of pit bull hero's for all to access. A pitbull rescuer, ME

Not Surprised...anyone that has had one and raised it properly wouldn't be...they are FANTASTIC, BEAUTIFUL animals who's intelligence is completely underrated. So glad that this positive story made the headlines!! Best wishes to the owner on a speedy recovery.

Wow, what a devoted dog... No reason that they should ever be taken away.

http://www.nj-court-info.com/

There is nothing like the loyalty of a dog.

My daughter Colleen had 2 pit bulls and loved them very, very much. They were devoted to her and she to them, before she died on 9-11-01. What great dogs, glad to hear something wonderful about them.

" GOOD GIRL, GOOD GIRL.. Heres some Beggin Bacon" awesome story.. i could use a positive piece like this to read Each & Every day !! some1 grill up a nice Filet for this hero!

^hey JoAnn, i'm sure when the 2 pitbulls pass away.. they will run up the rainbow bridge and greet your Daughter Colleen!!

I know I am repeating what all pit owners already know..If raised right they are very loving, affectionate, loyal dogs. I was a pit owner for 11 yrs, best companion I ever had, it's it's been almost 4yrs since he left me and I still shed a tear when I think about him.....

My Bambi is a pit bull/shepherd mix rescue. The MOST attentive and faithful dog I have ever had ... and I have had a lot of rescues! I was apprehensive about the "pit bull reputation", but she has shown herself to be a wonderful pet. I would recommend a pit bull to anyone looking for a pet who has time to spend with it! So, I can totally believe that this dog knew what it was doing in leading assistance to its master. :)

Doesn't suprise me either!! They are a wonderful breed!!!! Mine was a resuce and I love him more each day1!!

This is why dog is man's best friend.Great image for a pitbull as well,time to see how good they can be instead of how bad people can make them.

Dog in photo is not a pitbull.

To know them is to love them! Love dogs and love my pitbulls. Great dogs! But you have to becareful around infants. Sometimes the instinct to go after smaller things is in their DNA. They are hunters too. But love them none the less. They are what they are!

Pitbulls are the best dogs to have I love all animals but I have four rescued pits and a boxer and four cats, pitbulls are loyal and sweet great with children and adults,great with other animals. I am happy to hear this beautiful dog saved the owners life and thanks to the man who helped it become possible.

What a great dog

Another Pit Bull does a good deed! It's the people that are bad, not the dogs.

I am glad to see all the comments stepping up to defend the pit bull. My sister has had one for 7 or 8 years and I have friend who has one. Great dogs, I absolutely adore my sisters pit, he is fun, full of personality and great with all the kids, her kids our grandkids. We're close so we see Dude a great deal and he comes to our house too. I haven't had a dog for 2 years now but wouldn't hesitate or have any second thoughts about owning a pit bull. Great dogs!

ANY DOG THAT IS LOVED AND LOVES THERE OWNER, AND HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WE THERE DOG, WELL DOG ARE NOT STUPID, THEY DO WHAT THERE TAUGHT IF YOU JUST LOVE YOUR DOG, HE WILL LOOK OUT FOR YOU, IF YOU TEACH HIM TO BE MEAN HE WILL BE THINKING ABOUT THAT,SO THE PEOPLE THAT OWN THIS DOG MUST LOVE HIM, AND HE SHOWED IT BACK. I HAVE HAD DOF'S ALL MY LIFE, A ROT NOW, AND SHE IS LOVING, UNTIL SHE DOESN'T LIKE SOMEONE, VERY RARE

yes, these dogs are wonderful. How many people do they maul and either kill or maim each year? While it may not be the dogs fault because itis in their dna to not stop fighting until all signs of resistance cease, they are, nonetheless, unreasonably dangerous. They are wonderful pets............UNTIL SOMETHING SETS THEM OFF. retrievers retrieve, pointers point, and pitbulls fight to the death because thats what they've been bred to do. The dogs are not evil. They don't know any better. But only a moron would have a pitbull in a populated area. That applies exponentially to anyone who would have more than one. Ever hear of a child ripped to shreds by 3 Golden Retrievers?

Pitbulls are GREAT dogs.Pitbulls are simply NOT people aggresive by nature.

The breed, American Staffordshire Terriors, needs to be eliminated. I agree that this is the fault of people and not the animals. That does not change the fact that these dogs are unreasonably dangerous. And they kill more dogs than people. If you love animals, please be responsible. Do not breed these dogs.

I have a pitbull mix who would do the same. Thank you for posting this remarkable story. I hope the owner is recovering, & I am thrilled that Lily is with a family member.
She will no doubt remember this for the rest of her life.

You can't get a more loyal friend. I hope Lillys owner gets well soon and she can get back to her.

This only shows you, its not the breed its the owner.

what state is this in?

we have three small children and two pit bulls. We've owned other breeds in the past, but I've got to say, these dogs are brilliant, loyal, and very sweet. I trust them so much that they sleep in two of my childrens' beds:-)

Thank you for writing this story and shedding light onto the loyal and intelligent character of these dogs - often times so misunderstood by most who have not spent time with them to find out what great dogs they are and the undeserved bad rap they get. See this article on that: http://blogs.denverpost.com/fetch/2010/07/18/the-media-takes-its-lumps-over-reporting-about-pit-bulls/1387/

Where is this pitbull now while the owner is recovering? Please tell me he is safe somewhere and in a foster home! It would be devasting to my heart to even think HE would be a shelter or something ? How could we find out?

For the person who didn't (or wouldn't) state their name above: American Stattfordshire Terriers are much smarter (and less vicious) than those yippy little dogs you probably own. And I personaly feel much safer knowing my dog will gaurd me, not a 3 pound ball of yipping fur!-)

What a great story!! Pitbulls are a strong breed, intelligent , loyal and they do anything to please their owners .They are also the victims of people that abuse them and raise them the wrong way and only use their good qualities to do wrong .This story is another example of the excelllent dogs they are ,loving and caring .Lilly is a beutiful girl!!

For all the commenters about what great dogs Pit Bulls are and what a bad rap they get...... PLEASE! PLEASE! Spread the word to SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE! SOCIALIZE! Pit Bulls with other dogs, cats, etc.

Because pit fighting was a ritualized sport, like boxing, Pits were bred to be human friendly... any pit dog that was not was killed on the spot. A pit dog had to be handled by the opposing dog's owner to assure a fair fight... and they had to be easily treated for their own injuries.

HOWEVER, NEVER EVER forget that Pits were bred to fight other dogs. When they get that focused stare at another dog, WALK the DOG AWAY! This is genetic. ALL Terriers were bred to kill vermin... the playful head shaking is play killing of a smaller animal.... Add that the fact that Pits were bred to NOT give up. That "gameness" the never give up attitude was what was most prized in Pit dogs.... So if you have a Pit Bull that has small animal aggression and it does something... It won't just quit.

Even if your dog is socialized with other dogs.... be careful.... you are dealing with genetics... Pit mixes toss in other breeds' personality traits that can make for other issues. It's not just how they were raised.... tho' that is Extremely important.

BTW.... I have a lot of pit experience. Best dogs I've ever had have been pits. Love 'em! But never underestimate what you have.... because they are strong and the most tenacious of all breeds.

BTW... I have

At the risk of sounding like a bad, aggressive human, if anyone ever tried to take my pit bull, they'd have to get through me and my 9mm, and then they would have to pry her leash out of my cold dead hand before I'd give her up. She is my child and I would gladly protect her with my life. We an unspoken rule, she protects me from dogs, and I protect her from humans that wish her ill-will.

Animals love unconditionally........give totally.........commit completely.........if only people were such noble and magnificent lifeforms .

My son rescued a little Pit Bul many years ago and in return she saved his life in more ways than one. The day he call his family and said it was time to put her down the family gathered to give him the support he needed. He took her out for her last stop at their favorite burger place and then headed to the doggie park for one last romp together. That afternoon he placed his best friend in the hands of his vet and stayed with her until the end. It was heart wrenching for all of us!! She always wanted a ride on the Harley so he rode down and picked up her ashes, and their last ride together was on the Harley. We still miss you Ginger!! RIP

I think pit bulls get such a bad rap because they are so often used in those dog fighting rings. I'm assuming that unless they are rescued and trained and loved after that, they would be vicious. Am I right? But most of what I've heard of late is how sweet and devoted they are to their owner. I must admit that if I see them, like at the vets or the pet store, they scare me a bit. But that's just because they are so big!!

My experience is all pit bulls should be shot. As a deputy sheriff in the Houston area every dog bite case I've been to involves a pit bull, and its usually a family member that gets bit. The owner always says "He's never done that before, I don't know what made him bite" I usually respond with " that what why do, they were breed to bite, not let go and kill. It's in their breeding." I don't want to hear about your sweet family pit bull thats been around the kids and how smart he is, if they do turn and they just might turn on you, someone is going to get hurt. You can not change my mind afer finding a kids ear for the paramedic or holding a lady's face together till ems arrives. Just be careful.

One more comment before I leave this thread....my son's roommate has a pit bull / dalmation mix. It looks more like a pit bull but has brown spots on white skin. But she is the sweetest dog ever. When I come to his house, she just loves to be petted and loved. Even the first time I met her, she snuggled up to me. I didn't realize she was part pit bull till he told me. But now that I look at her, I can see it. If you've never seen a dalmation/pit bull mix, its a sight to behold! :D

Pitbulls are just incredible companions. Once you have a Pit, you just don't want another breed. I have 3 rescue pitbulls and they are the best.

Right now, with this particular dog, ALL that should matter was that she saved her mistress. Yes, she did what ANY good dog of ANY breed should've done. Case closed.

You guys seem to think I have some kind of agenda against pit bulls for unsubstantiated reasons. I told you I studied dog attacks all over the world for 2 years. You that just call me some ugly name are exactly the people who probably should never own a pit bull. Sad.

And they say Pitts r the problem. I have always said its the OWNERS that make Pitts mean. This story kind of make my point. U can have a MEAN poodle if u really want 1. I am VERY glad that this person had a "TRUE" friend on her side that day!! Go Pitts!!!!!

I'm so glad that people are starting to notiice Pitbulls as pets and not something to shoot at. If that were the case here the owner never would have been found and left for dead. Thank God for the questionable leash. The Dog has a good loving home and it shows. Thanks for not shooting him or her. They all need love. ; )'

SO nice to see the positive stories about these fantastic dogs!!

The horrific exploitation and condemnation of these awesome canines resembles of the dark ages. Pitbulls truly deserve more attention to our general public, we need to pursue education on the breed, and thank you to those who do. It is an inspiration. The only way to end the arbitrary and senseless discrimination is countering those with tunnel vision or falling for the media hype. In regards to the never-ending speculation of accounting pitbulls as the child-eating monsters which they are NOT, one should add this link to their library:
www.dogbreedinfo.com/children.htm Check out the safety rating for the American Bulldog and American Bully. There is a wealth of information for those who want to see the truth.The above data ratings on dogbreeds with children... it only represents what so many who love the bully breeds have observed and been fortunate to experience. Research... there is plenty available, it just takes an honest look to portray the breed truly for what it is in general - not to condemn a whole breed because of one's personal naivete or unwillingness to learn the reality and truth as a whole.

Well that story has made the rest of my night! Now one thing on pit bulls is they are mean for many reasons but the man on being the owner. People who dont have a proper home or treat the pit bull or any dog wrong will make the dog bad. It is like a child (not meaning children are like dogs) that the the parent or family can reflect on the child. That is why there are bullies because there is family issues or a bad role model in the home. So for pit bulls or let alone any dog can be good or bad depending on the owner and where it comes from. Above all though i loved this story, it was very inspiring and true! i hope it helped people look at pit bulls in a better way!

Ever since I was a small child my family has always had several dogs. Do you know which one is/was the sweetest, most loyal most Loving most trusting dog of all? Their Pit Bull! It use to sleep with me every night when I was small, and now I own its' puppy {daughter} & she sleeps with me every night! Wow I just Love Pit Bulls! {I trust them with my life}!

For those in the dark ages suffering from oblivion of true knowlegde of the breed, go here, be brave and read this:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/fetch/2010/07/18/the-media-takes-its-lumps-over-reporting-about-pit-bulls/1387/
Once America's favorite dog.. remember Petey ? Now persecuted and victimized by those falling for media hypes and a few incidents who are regrettably feeding that hype, which is what sells. Get educated - simple. Quit smart assing the world when you in fact have not been lucky enough to spend time with or know the breed. Go do that before you have opinions on what these dogs really represent. Go volunteer in a shelter, get to know them. Then educate on being responsible dog owners next.

since people seem to think you gotta be an idiot and gangbanger to own pits, here is some useful information for you: i am in my mid20s and so is my husband. i have a b.a. in business and i own several rentals and i have my own business. my husband is a diesel mechanic and we are doing just fine, better than most people in their late 50s. and the best thing about my family is that we own two pits and we rescued several and we will be getting another one soon. I have no criminal past nor does my husband, so save your comments about gang members, etc. because i hate nothing more than criminals and people living off the state. How many dogs, especially pits have you heard off that were set on fire by humans, they were fought for humans for their entertainment and some money, they were dragged by cars for no reason, etc. so who is the vicious animal in that case. its the human being? so since you people think vicious animals should be eliminated you should start eliminating the human race because they are the most vicious and they have a free will to do so. Once you meet a pit and own one, you will never want to own any other breed. I am very tired of some know it all ppl that have never met, petted a pit but know it all. you dont know jack. Keep watching your fox news and adore the protectors of society ('cops) that shoot dogs for their looks. you are not more than a bunch of sheep that will never succeed in life.

Here is a gorgeous white pit momma with tiny babies. Help her and network. She is a victim of this society, a throw away mentality dooming over thousands of innocents such as her, ignorance at best. URGENT Manchester Animal Control
Daisy Mae and her NEWBORN pups! Need to get out of here desperately. This is not... the place for them to be. Pups were born 5-22 ( May 22nd) They are tiny and cute little puppies. They were just born please help me not let there life end here. Daisy Mae is sweet and a great mom. At Meriwether Animal Control in Meriwether, GA. if you can be a foster or adoptor, etc. Please share!
Contact Info:
Email: ttslterry@gmail.com
Phone: 770-533-1478See More
Located in Meriwether, Ga. This AC doesn't update their website so many lives are lost because they haven't been seen. Please help get the word around about these animals so they can live out their lives. If you would like to adopt, rescue, or pledge please call 770-533-1478 or email ttslterry@gmail.com

If Lassie had been a pit bull, Timmy would never have fallen down the well in the first place.

Lindsay Smith:
Since you have done so much research Im sure you have looked into other breeds and injuries that have occured from bites. Your accounts of neighbors being bitten doesnt exacly count as evidence into the pit bull breed. I was bit by a chow, my parents maltese bit someone and ive personally witnessed a rabid dalmation. I wouldnt claim to be an expert on this subject but Im pretty sure if my little dog bit someone I would expect to be accountable for my dogs actions. The owners are the ones responsible. I will say it is pretty incredible that you can go read a story about a dog saving someone and people will leave comments that the breed should be eliminated. Wow. It must be horrible to be so unhappy that you can turn wonderful things so terrible.

Please see attached story. Maybe you would enjoy finding a new breed to slander.

http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the_poodle_and_dog_blog/2008/07/a-study-published-this-week-in-the-journal-applied-animal-behaviour-science-with-researchers-questioning-6000-dog-owners.html

I wish people would NOT BREED these dogs. Pits in my heart, car, house, Love the heck out of them, RESCUES, each and every one of them. NYC AC&C murders between 10-25 Pit Bulls a day!! Why?? Breeders. Sure they are great dogs. They are very loving, loyal, gental, and in my eyes...."the perfect dog is a Pitty". To many stupid people out their, cluless on how to love and nurture a dog. hitting, kicking, burning, starving a dog will not make it friendly. It is not the dog, it is the idiot on the other end of the leash, and the breeders that have ruined the Pit Bulls reputation.

Dogs... You have to love them.

In response to (lindsay smith 12:23 am on Monday, June 4, 2012):
I'm not religious, but you can make the bible justify any human action/thought depending on how you interpret it. Same with sports stats. So take you're pitt-bull stats & stick em. Say 100 people buy 100 cars, Statistics say 1, 2 or a few may get a lemon, but that doesn't make the whole brand bad, including Cadillacs. So Bite-me.

i apologize this reply is going to be a couple comments long, but i feel that its important infomation to put out there. yes, pitbulls were bred with the intent to be "fighting dogs" what most people dont realize is that fighting dogs were meant to fight other animals.period.dog pit rules shed light on the pit dogs themselves.pit bulls had to be safe around humans,it is 100% wrong to assume that the best fighting dogs were vicious and uncontrollable monsters.the way dog fights were structured,humans had to handle the dogs in and around the dog pit.a savage dog would be a dangerous liability to its owner, the owner of its apponent, the seconds, and the judges. b/c of the potential for "doctoring" a dogs coat w some bitter tasting or poisonous liquid that would affect the biting from the other dog, each pit bull had to be washed, in full view of the crowd, before the fight began. to make sure the dog was really washed, each dog owner would turn his fighter over to a representative (or "second") affiliated with the other dogs owner for the washing. (what would have happened if these dogs were not trustworthy around strangers?) -continued-

much like human pugilism, the dogfighters could have a break in the fight to provide simple cooling off and other permitted ministrations to keep a badly hurt dog fighting. most people in the general public know that it is not safe to approach an injured dog; yet, that is just what the pit buls owner would do when needed and allowed during a dog fight. imagine if a pit bull didnt have a stable temperment. think of the danger of trying to handle an injured dog that was still affected by the heat of the battle!my point?a fighting dog could not be agressive toward human beings and survive. it was common practice to kill off ANY dogs that were vicious and untrustworthy. it should go without saying that such dogs would never be allowed to produce offspring that might have similiar bad temperaments.contrary to belief,theres no accurate scientific data on dog bite statistics.the CDC stopped tabulating dog bites by breed over ten years ago. -continued-

In fact,CDC opposes breed-specific legislation for the very simple reason that you can't back up those policies with reliable statistics.The CDC says that studies that indict particular breeds are unreliable. Dr. Randall Lockwood of the ASPCA calls the focus on specific breeds, "a 19th century epidemiological mindset."
lastly,please check out the, "can you spot the pit bull mix?" w/ photos of supposed pit bulls w/ their dna results.
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/Pit%20Bull%20ID%20Poster.pdf
and "can you spot the lab mix?" also with dna results.
http://www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/uploaded_files/tinymce/Lab%20ID%20Poster.pdf

Last season on the Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan had an episode on which dog breed is the most dangerous. Can anyone of you guess which dog breed it is? IT IS ANY DOG WHO HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY HANDLED AND TRAINED BY THEIR OWNER. IT'S NOT ONE BREED IT IS ALL BREEDS, SADLY THE MEDIA FOCUS IS ON PIT-BULLS', GERMAN SHEPHERD'S, ROTTWEILER'S, BULL TERRIER'S ETC, ETC. A DANGEROUS DOG IS ANY BREED! WE AS A SOCIETY ARE TO BLAME FOR BAD BREEDS AND PET OVER POPULATION. UNTIL WE GET THIS INFO INTO OUR BRAINS NOTHING WILL EVER BE DONE ABOUT IT! END COMMERCIAL BREEDING FACILITIES OTHER WISE KNOWN AS PUPPY MILLS!

I had several dogs all breed, But my Brittany was a fawn red nose Pit Bull she was the most loyal kind and gentle dog. she was the smartest dog I know from all my dogs. i got her at 7weeks old and i never had to train her it was all ready programmed into her. she would heal follow sit lay down stay everything yo would train them she already did them without me telling her what to do. It just so said that I got in a fight with my mother and she took my dog. while in my moms care she got real skinny and went blind she past away on Friday June 1st. But I want you to Know a dog can be anything you want them to be it is how you raise them. kind and gentle they will love you and be loyal forever and be just like on of your kids. mean and abusive that is what you will end up with a mean and hateful animal that will maul anything in its path. Btw you cant teach the dog to fight feed it gun powder put big anchor chains around its neck and expect the dog to love you.

iv got a pit mix named Tina..........we had 40 somthing chickens and now we are down to 20 somthing.......me and my sis love her very much but my mom and step dad say they have given her enough chances and now we are getting rid of her.......shes very sweet and they dont care about her breed......they just dont like dogs that kill chickens but they said that we are not going to shoot her,just find her a loving home with a nice family and no chickens or other loose fowl......they said we could ask our dad about keeping her........but he hates pits and pit mixes...i dont why he believes all this bad rap about them....hes never even had one or even known someone with one that is "aggressive"........i dont even think hes friends with anyone with a pit........i would like some advice.......

Leash? Proper training?

Who's a good dog? Lilly's a good dog, that's who!

my dog is a goldendoodle that is a mix of a goldenreachreaver and a poodle he is great dog me and my freinds play resel alot so wenev im reseling he will jump the other guy his name is boomer i love him

I own a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She is the sweetest dog around. Staffies are the gentlest bulky breed around. My friend has a German Short hair pointer that has attacked a dog,cat and their daughter. The dog & cat lived but were at the vets for weeks. His daughter had stitches in her arm and leg. These were 3 separate occasions. My neighbors Chihuahuas have bitten my hands, fingers and ankles so many times when I go visit her. Those little dogs are more dangerous then my staffie is. She is lovable, loyal and so gentle. Love the pitty breed.

I have 3 dogs, a German Shepherd, a yellow lab, and a pitbull and I can tell you that the pitbull is the youngest of the 3 and also the best behaved. The Lab is the most agressive and also the hardest to train, my Shephard is a good dog but a bit hyper, not my pit she is mellow, loving, and also the only one that plays with my 3 cats.

Lilly saved her owners life. Good thing the man who found her has a better mindset than Mr Lawman or Mr "I hunt", or she'd have been shot dead, and her owner wouldn't have been found in time. Yes Lilly ... Good. Lawman...bad.

Hey James, they shoot injured horses. And who made you Master of Linguistics anyway? The point of the story was that a young dog,a Pit mix, saved her owner. That makes her loyal and intelligent. 'Nuf said.

Pit Bull Kills
Just "Google" pit bull kills.
Most tragic are the newborns, but you can read about the toddlers, children, adults, elderly, etc.....
Spey and neuter until gone

I'm loving my second pit bull mix in the same way I loved my first one. These dogs are phenomenal. This one, like the first one, attracts other dogs like nothing I've ever seen before, and in the most loving way. They climb under gates to visit her. Both of my pits were rescues, and one was surrendered as well at the city shelter. The other just appeared at my doorstep. Neither pit has barked at other dogs, only people they do not know. How protective is that?? Talk about intelligent? This pit figured out how french doors worked and let her and her retriever buddy in and out of doors that were supposed to be off limits. She jumped over baby gates like they were made of tinsel. She is flexible and runs like a deer. Yes, we have watched both of our pits get excited and run in circles, but to no one's harm. They are very, very conservative creatures and they are fine with routine. It's when something out of the ordinary happens that something in them gets triggered. I have never in my life seen animals that are so loyal, however. And as to cats, these pits want to be loved by them, but the cats often taunt them, and I don't know why. I think it's because they like to push their noses into the cats. My current pitbull, together with her retriever buddy, raised a premature kitten who now thinks the dogs are her parents.

i DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ ALL THE POSTS. Breeds were originated (mostly) to do a "job". Registration & pedigrees were instituted so the genetics could be studied in order to match up the right individuals when breeding. Additional info is included yearly in Germany so all health checks are listed, working scores, Names & numbers of all dogs, breeding approval, etc etc.. This is why German bred dogs command a premium around the world. Mandatory quality control gives the best results so the dogs are built & act so they do their job well. Most PB are bred randomly by people with NO clue about ANYTHING related to proper breeding, care, training, etc. PBs were originated to BITE & Kill... not people but dogs. However since they became popular dogs with incorrect temperaments actually & in the pedigree are used for breeding. There are REAMS of PB bites & killings on the web. PBs killed the OWNER in Camden in 2011. Two running loose mangled a mans feet so badly they needed to be amputated in 2012. This subject is TOO complicated & deep to cover in this space.

i DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ ALL THE POSTS. Breeds were originated (mostly) to do a "job". Registration & pedigrees were instituted so the genetics could be studied in order to match up the right individuals when breeding. Additional info is included yearly in Germany so all health checks are listed, working scores, Names & numbers of all dogs, breeding approval, etc etc.. This is why German bred dogs command a premium around the world. Mandatory quality control gives the best results so the dogs are built & act so they do their job well. Most PB are bred randomly by people with NO clue about ANYTHING related to proper breeding, care, training, etc. PBs were originated to BITE & Kill... not people but dogs. However since they became popular dogs with incorrect temperaments actually & in the pedigree are used for breeding. There are REAMS of PB bites & killings on the web. PBs killed the OWNER in Camden in 2011. Two running loose mangled a mans feet so badly they needed to be amputated in 2012. This subject is TOO complicated & deep to cover in this space.

Pit Bulls are "kissy bulls" and will leave no make-up on your face! They naturally smile and are happy which is why they can be pushed to such an intolerable limit by abusive human beings. They are magnificent creatures that should be held in the highest regard. Very silly at times and great fun :) Please adopt...don't shop!

We had our Jasper for 12 years. He was a 125lb Pitt. and we loved him to distraction, He also loved us. My husband cried with me when we had to put him to sleep. He had Cancer. that was so tragic. Before our grand-daughter could walk she rode him like a horse. He loved her just as much as he loved us.

I have just a few simple facts to add to this. First every dog through the history of the world whether it is a big dog or a small dog has served a purpose in the human world. Whether it be protection, hunting, or companionship, we have groomed them for our purposes. We have used them as protectors, whether it is simply barking when someone or something has come inside their territory lines, or going full out protection stance and ready alertness, to, like the dog in the article, finding help for the ones they love who love them back...We have honed them to be the hunter, which for most breeds is part of their natural abilities, some have honed, others have exploited, Jacks were used to clear out any burrowing vermin on farms and in communities, to the very big and lanky Irishwolf hound who we sent out to chase/fight wolves to save our livestock, to Akitas that were bred to ward off bears, as were Chow-Chows, but our greatest use of these friends was we "wanted" them in "our" worlds and homes. I have 2 Pitts now, I have had a Golden who suffered in her older years from "red-eye", which is a very, mean and agressive temperment change that has no trigger other than chemical imbalance, I have owned an Akita who was a total baby, A german shepherd who was excellent at protecting her "children", which was my brothers and myself, to a Cocker Spaniel. I have loved each and everyone of these dogs, and each one brought something special into my life.

Remember that dogs are descendants of wolves.
study and understand their laws and all is well.
Leaernto commun icate with our animal brotherin and we will all be able to live on in relative peace.
I have fed wild birds feom my hands, petted tigers, communicated peacefully with orangutans, and wlked in the woods with wild bears. The only time I waa ever injured was when I had to catch an ape barehanded, who was in fear of being harmed. Aftrer the capture he held my hand through the day until his handler arrived.

I only say leafn to communicate with all creatures and be kind..

Remember all dogs descend from wolves, learn to u nnderstand their needs and help to befriend them an d be kind.

As the dominant species, you are needed to help the lesser species.

Remember trhat if you take their space on earth, you are hurting their lives and denying them a place to live in peace.

Finally a positive story about a pit bull. I have three and they are the most loving dogs I've ever had. For all those people talking bad about pit bulls, if you owned one you would know why pit bull owners love their dogs so much. My vet told me he gets bitten mostly by chihuahuas and poodles, but rarely by a pit bull. ANY dog will bite if they're being teased by a child, and unfortunately a pit bull has a very strong jaw, but that doesn't mean they bite more than any other dog. It only makes the headlines because it's more sensational. Not too many people would read a story that said "poodle bites child." Pit bulls are normally very calm dogs. My babies were very gentle around my grandson. They adored him and followed him around everywhere he went. Of course, I would never leave him alone with them, but I wouldn't leave a child alone with ANY dog. My dogs were very well-behaved and easily trainable. They always wanted to please because they loved getting praise and affection.

To say any "one" dog is more agressive or mean or monsterous than another, forgets the basics....all dogs have teeth, all dogs have tempements, and all dogs are territorial. We as humans and supposedly the smarter creature,have the capabilities to help socialize, teach and nurture them to be our companions, our friends, and they rely on us to keep them safe too, not to be abused, then accused, and even worse refused. I love and loved everyone of them. therefore I believe we are the responsible party for thier behavior good and bad.

Nobody...NOBODY loves dogs more than me. But look at the statistics for hospitalization and death from dog and there is no question that Pit Bulls should be sterilized out of existence. We selectively bread into them the capacity to unnaturally go into rage blackout and not register submission.

I always had a dog or two. My grandfather love animals and dogs were his 1st love. Most of them were mutts. I can only say the love from a dog is better than people. And very, very faithful to us , asking we take care of them. I know they stay with us when we are sick and sad. My child was was protected by our dog and everyone I had I miss to this day when they pass away.

It is astonishing to me that so many people continue to think pit bulls are vicious dogs just waiting to attack. Just tell that to the man whose pit bull took a bullet in the neck, or, the woman nearly hit by a train whose pit bull pulled her out of the way, taking the full brunt of the hit and losing a foreleg in the process. Any dog can bite, but, I will bet you any money that it was the human being who precipitated the occurrence at least 90 percent of the time, and, I am being generous to humans with my percentage.

Well my son and I rescued a young pit from what we truly believed to be a breeder of fighting dogs. Our little girl ended up just being too little and wasn't going to be a good fighter for them. The only good she might have been would have been a "bait" dog. I honestly have nightmares thinking about how she might have had that fate. We have had her 4 years now and I must say that even though I was more than concerned in the beginning (as a result of all of the media hype) I can honestly say now that over the course of my lifetime I personally have never had a better companion. She is so smart and so loving. I became terminally ill 3 years ago with a very serious and rare neurological pain disease. It began in my feet and legs. My pain is excruciating. Our sweet pitty Jules would literally lay by my side for hours and I would wake to her licking my feet and legs. She KNEW that this was the area of my severe pain. It would just amaze me!! She would just lay there beside me and cry, never leaving my side. I have 2 grandchildren that are now 8 and 10. They were 4 and 6 when Jules came into our lives. She has loved these children just as much as they have loved her. The only complaint that I have about our pitty is that she has to be right there with you at all times. She gets SO excited and wants to share her love with you. She still believes that she is a 10 lb pup. She loves to romp and play with other doggies.....she just loves everyone1!

I am a pit bull

I am a pit bull , I am big and strong
Tell me what did I do wrong
I will follow you do whatever you ask
There is for me, no impossible task
Yet some of you see me and you run
Don’t you know I want to play, have fun
You spit at me, kick me, set me on fire
Why do these terrible things transpire
There is no more loyal, loving friend than i
Just think about it, please give me a try
by KLK ♥

Bucket1010
We have been involved with my sons two pits & have now taken ownership of one about 8 months ago. He has become another child of ours. He is truly loyal & our baby at age 5 this week. If people really follow the bad ones its usually a rescue pit. I have talked to many trainers & they are the bad ones. I know that mine would react the same way & rescue me if a medical issue should ever arise. Just remember the little rascals Peate.

Doga are our guarding angels.Their name is the same as GOD.How can anyone mistreat them or anyother animal.

At least a cop did not shot this dog!!!! Great story for the pit....

Why do you see more pit bull attacks in the news than any other breed? I know, they are just being picked on! You people keep''em!

PLEASE READ THIS !! Animals are just like people. There are good ones and bad ones. DO NOT show hatred because of the actions of the BAD ONES. R.D. Grey

animals best friend than humans

Great story! Although my family and I are not pit bull kinda dogs.. we WOULD NEVER EVER hurt one, or see one starve. Nice to see there are some loving and dedicated pits left.

so glad to see a good story about this breed. we had pit bulls when our kids were young. they were very intelligent and protective of the children. she loved the kids like they were her own. they got very rough with her at times playing and she would lay there n allow them to do what they wanted. any dog can b mean its just more commonly the pit bull thats trained to b that way because of their size n strength. hope this owner recovers so she can be with her dog.

If you raise them right and get them from a "trusted" breeder, then pit bulls are great LOYAL family members!! Don't hate what you don't know, and don't assume cause you don't know! The reality is there are pit attacks just like poodle attacks-all dogs have the ability, just pits get blamed for more then they do and some people don't know the difference. Next time there is a so called pit bull attack, look at the dog..is it really a pit bull? Is there proof? Think about that before making false judgements!

I have bred and raised pits all my life, NONE of them ever have attacked a person or child. I have children and would trust My pits with my children more then people!! However I am sometimes weary of other people's pits because I don't know how they raised them or if they were overbred or have a family history of fighting. I know pits can be vicious but it is the way they are raised and or bred. But just because you hear a "pit bull" attack on the news does NOT mean it was in fact a pit bull. I notice ALOT of these so called pit bull attacks are NOT actually pit bulls, they just "assume" it's a pit bull or pit mix. Unless there are papers that prove it, don't buy into it cause so many mixed dogs that are NOT pits, tend to look alot like pits, and the media runs with it. I had a neighbor that had a mixed lab that bit a child and the media went after it like it was a pit attack. It was lab and shepard mix-not a pit bull but they got the attention they wanted and this happens more often then most people know.

English Bull dog, American Bull Dog. I asked my vet "where in the hell did "PIT" enter into it? Thus my education; Pit bulls got their name/signia from being BRED with other heavier, easily provoked and easily MADE agressive dogs. Idiots found they could have their SICK FUN to put them in a PIT (circle) to watch and bet on which dog had been abused enough to fight possibly to their death or cause the death of another dog. American bull dogs normally topped the scale at around 40 pounds. Now through breeding they can average 50 to 85 pounds of sheer muscle. There is a lot of inbreeding thought to contribute to this unpredictable behavior. These these dogs have been given recognition by the AKC, soley becuase there are so many of them in existance. I have a Lab/Pit Bull Mix (aquired at 8 WEEKS) and believe me it has taken my relentless attention to make sure he does not harm anyone. He truly is mentally ill with his unpreticable behavior flipped on like a switch for no ryhme no reason. I hope I never again have the misfortune of adopting a dog who's unpredictable behavior has been exhausting. He is 12 years old as of this December and somewhere in his brain and heart I know he realizes how lucky his life has been with me. I've been told by many his luck would have run out a long time ago.

Truth is any dog can bite, be nasty or hurtful. They can also be very caring and loving. But we can't trust any dog completely. We dont speak their language and can't read their minds. So if you really care keep a careful watch at all times. I have two lab mutts and love them but I love my three kids under five years old more. It only takes one time... to change a life forever. Best wishes to everyone

Finally some positive pit bull stories. Thank you, Berkeley Patch! I love my Pitties!!

You know people kill me,slinging mud at each other, etc. All you animal scholars out there should remember one thing,animals are animals and act as such.Any dog, cat,or what have you can be loving most of the time and get aggressive in an instant.So there is no perfect breed in anything.....oh that also includes HUMANS!

Being an individual of a higher than average IQ I prefer German Shepherds..
They are much smarter than an average K-9

I havee two pitts and i trust with my life. Now that was a good baby that save her owner. prayers goes out to both.

I was a skeptic for the longest time; I still get concerned around Pits I do not know. I own a pit bull now; that I adopted from the local SPCA here in Florida. OMG she is such a wonderful companion to me and my family. She so loves to play; loves the outdoors; she loves to talk to us (dog talk...LOL). She enjoys her walks; chases squirrels...lol. Loves to fetch and play tug-a-war with her knotted rope. She is the biggest sweetest darling and so wants to be a lap dog to us. My (Lady) has so much changed my feelings towards this breed. I love her as much as my own kids now. My neighbor behind us also has one; a male. I finally ventured out to him from through the fence between us and wow he is such a good dog too. Very much like my (Lady). It is so true these are loving dogs. They started as as ranch dogs from the history I've read about them. If you find one who is vicious it's because the owner breed that dog to be like that. I feel sorry for the pit because their owner has mistreated their pit in this manner. They are strong muscular dogs; but also so loving if you'll just allow them to be loving. I hate what the media has done to this breed. Many do not understand because of bad press. If you find a pit who has not been bullied; Love them and you will be rewarded with love back two fold. Yes I was one to be skeptic in the past. Never again. Just watch out for the bullies. Love them as your children. Animal lovers will never be the same again. These dogs change you.

I own a 120 lbs Rottweiler (another alleged vicious breed) and a 16 lbs Shih Tzu. Guess which one is more aggressive, hint: its not the rottie.

What a good loyal faithful dog to her owner.. I love it ! It made my heart all warm and happy for a monday...:) aaaw hope her owner gets well... and LIlly GOD BLESS U...

I also have a pit bull most loving trustworthy reliable and constatnt dog smarter than any dog I ever had also have a pit lab mix who is also loving but a little hyper as most lab dog are neither one are mean for god sales all dogs can bite you can blame everything bad on pit bulls not the breed is the owner who is to blame.

Someone had it correct above when they said *DOGS ARE PART OF A PACK*. No matter what breed, DOGS WILL BITE AND OR ATTACK. We once *adopted* a lost pit who we named Buddy, he was old but a sweet lovable dog I must admit. Our dog Sebastian, who is part St Bernie/Collie, quite a huge dog * Buddy got alog really well.
Summer day, everyone is out front on the lawn, Buddy was laying down sunbathing, Sebastian was sitting by me... our neighbors dog, a pit mix, decided to jump the fence, ran over to sebastian and started attacking him for no reason. Buddy came flying over from the other side of the lawn, and tackled the other pit in defense of sebastian, Chased the other one home, came back over to sebastian, sniffed him and licked him, like making sure he was ok... which he was. Buddy laid right down next to him for the rest of the afternoon. Again, a pit would not by our first pick of the crop so to speak. We will never ever forget Buddy and what he did for our family and Sebastian that day. RIP Buddy, you are surely missed.

What a wonderful story. Now on behalf of Pit Bulls and to all the negative insensitive comments. I for one use to be afraid of Pitt Bulls due to the portrayal of them through the media. What made me change my thoughts of them was when I was looking to replace my Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier that passed away. They are known to have a great reputation with children. While searching for one to adopt on petfinder.com, I noticed that most Wheatens were not good with children while most of the Pitts were. These dogs are carefully screened so therefore, I trust these shelters. It just broke my heart to see the amount of Pitts up for adoption that are ALL good dogs. The problem is that many people want a puppy and not a dog or, they have absolutely no knowlege on how to raise a puppy with postive reenforcement and love. Tug of war games and mouthing are out of the question and easily taught with just a little patience. Another thing I noticed are people that use these dogs as a way of being macho or financial gain. Geez, I wish they would just get a job or see a shrink on how to build there on inferiority complex. More and more Pitts are proving how loyal and dedicated they are through people like Ceasar Milan who has trained other dogs on how to behave by using Daddy (R.I.P.) to rehabilitate them.

Its interesting how so many are so open minded and have obviously adopted a "the few aren't representative of the group" philosophy on these dogs. Even in the light of so many examples of pit bulls murdering innocent babies asleep in their cribs. I have to wonder if those same people are this "open minded," and have that same philosophy about people of other races (blacks?) when they hear bad stories about them. I doubt it.

While I appreciate the loyalty some Pit owners have displayed here, the last time I read so many ignorant comments, I think they were quotes from Paris Hilton. Pit Bulls are extremely dangerous, (yes, even your sweet one) no one with a brain stem and the ability to read can claim otherwise. Of course some of this blame falls on incompetent owners, but not all of it. There are thousands of stories of loving, affectionate Pits that attack and the owner says "he'd never hurt a fly before", which of course is only true until it's not. The last extensive 20 year study of fatal dog attacks in the US, a hair below third were documented Pit Bulls, some 500 dog breeds and 32% of the deaths were caused by Pitties, Rottweilers were a very distant 2nd at 18%. As recent as 2007, an even more staggering figure was nearly double, 60% were Pit Bulls! Good, now we know we can all read and spare me the "last week I read a Poodle killed someone" nonsense. Ignoring 200 years of selective breeding isn't undone by a "good owner". These staggering figures will only change when Pit owners recognize what kind of dog they own. Stop leaving them off-lead, stop leaving them with small children and for God's sake, stop turning a blind eye to the cold hard facts. They are magnificent animals, as a breeder myself I know a good dog when I see one, but it's in their very DNA to attack, so don't let your child or a weak woman walk them, never let them off the leash and perhaps the statistics will change.

Swamper's Memorial.
Pibull's of any breed are unbelievealble loyal animals Seems like the ones from rescue
have the most companion ship skills and love. best hope to owner WE just lost our P/B 10 years. Never without her day or night

We just adopted a part pit puppy at a local Critterfest. Daisy is so smart and sweet and we all adore her including our 7yo Lhasa Apso. All dogs can bite or attack. My family English Setter chewed up my face when I was 8 years old. I was climbing up on a daybed with a bowl of jello and startled the dog. It broke my heart when my parents sent Jack away. The thing that scares me regarding a pit is how strong they are. They are some of the most beautiful dogs but if something happened with a pit I know I couldnt pull the dog away. I hope the dog's owner is ok and will be back with her dog soon.

Just my oppinion, didn't do research but I think you get what you put into your pet.I'm confused about the name calling and insults for opinions.

wow so many comments!! I feel sorry for the pit bull breed..I mean..if its been confirmed time and time that they "snap for some reason"...then why hasnt there been any kind of attempts to find out why..to study them?? to try to help them..somehow..its sad that alot of people would rather the whole breed be disposed of..eradicated..i love animals..and I feel that soemthing should be done to help the pit bull breed..to somehow..make them more calmer

I own a 6 yr old mastiff that we rescued 2 yrs ago. Mastiffs were originally bread for bear baiting and are still considered a bully breed. I have 2 children and a 8lb cat and 18lb cat. My 8lb declawed rescue cat put my 100+ mastiff in its place 2 weeks after we brought him home. Maybe my cat should be considered a bully breed. I am very careful when I take my dog out for walks because you never know what a dog is going to do, no matter what size the dog is. We have had toy dogs actually chase my dog. He is afraid of the beagle next door, but my dog would be considered the agressor because of his size. I am more afraid of the ankle biter dog then I am a pit. I personally wouldn't even consider a small dog. I will stick to my "lap" dog.

im glad so many pit bull lovers are leaving comments... wonder what thell say when one of them chews you or your kids face off??

Lilly is not a full Pit Bull. She is a mix of a few different things. She is also the most lovable dog who gives the best hugs. Her owner Dona has a heart of gold when it comes to animals and puts hers above herself. Lilly is a hero and hopefully someday her owner will be able to read this article and know that a dog is not just a mans best friend but a womans too!

It is not the breed it is the owner they are not bread to fight they are trained and if a dog has teeth it will bite big or small. I rescued a red nose pitt that was used strictly for breeding and when they were done threw her away she is by far the best dog ever. We are getting ready to rescue an,other one. And there jaws do not lock that is a myth. More people should be put down i am just saying

Did you know....that pit bulls were originally bred as 'nanny dogs?' Seriously, look up the history. Back in the 1800s, pits were there to protect the children and wife while husbands and fathers were away. They were used as nannies to accompany children while they were outside playing in case of events such as wild animal attacks, strangers, etc. Know the truth about pit bulls before you give them such a bad rap. Many of the 'vicious pit bull attacks' are actually pits that were bred for fighting or to protect drug houses. Any dog can turn on a person. It is simply how you treat them, so treat your dog with love, kindness and care: as you would another human being.

And how about Frank Delarosa who was not intimidated by the dog and rather than turning the dog in, allowed the dog to take the lead. BRAVO, FRANK! There would have been many who either ignored the dog or frightened of it. Well done!

Pitbulls are not bad it's the owners, they should see jail time up to 10 years and a large fine in the thousands. All they seam to get is a slap on the wraist. Any animal who is hurt in anyway, should get this and it's the people that are the bad ones. I for one would like the see their pictures and names and address on the internet, tv, and in the newspaper, to repeat every 6 months. If u can't get anyone to do it I'll do it.

Okay, for starters their jaws do not lock and they do not have the strongest bite of any other dog. Where do you people get your research from??? I'm an avid dog lover, and have 2 dogs myself. I have taken my dogs to the dog park for 3 years "religiously" ( Mon-Thurs, for a couple hours each day ). My dog has been bitten 3 times, dogs will be dogs... and there have been quite a few instances where dogs have gotten into it... With all the pit bulls I have seen come through that park ( there have been a ton ), there has only been one occasion that involved a pit, and the dog that initiated it was a know aggressor, which shouldn't have been in the park. All the other "fights" were labs, shepards, poodles, etc... They are very tenacious dogs, who give their all when it comes to doing a "job". There were 22 deaths caused by pit bulls last year ( pit bull mixes ), which is by no mean okay, but you have a 3 times more of chance by being struck and KILLED by lightning, how many people do you know have been killed by lightning, not just struck, killed? If, 1 dog has killed I'm sure there's at least 1 human behind it. As such with guns, guns don't kill people, people with guns kill people ( yes, I have my fair share of guns ). It is man that ruins everything, Look up the number of cannibalism attacks this year, I know of at least 5, so far this year, without looking it up, forget the pits, worry about your neighbor...

My mazie will be 2 years old on fathers day the most wonderful loyal dog I have ever owned she is the prettiest brenel colored Pit Bull Staffordshire and loves them grandbabies just like a guard dog when they are around and she heards them back toward the porch when they astray.

I agree to Masters comment. It is never the breed of the dog, but on how the owners treat their dogs. Like the german shepherd attacking a family member but finding out the dog was starving. Why own an animal if you don't know how to treat them. I guess to inflick pain. We need to hear more stories like this. That dog was trully loved and would do anything to save their owner. All it takes is TLC TLC TLC.

Before you people judge a pit bull-own one first. Reading about them, listening to news media ect, does not make you an expert! It makes you a buyer into false statements. Most so called pit bull attacks are not in fact pit bulls..They just look like them but alot of mixed dogs look like pits. Some people just like being ignorant..me, I like facts..If you own or owned one, then you know..if you don't or haven't, then your words are UN-facted. Do you know how the pit bull that attacked was treated in the home? do you know if it was abused, starved or was inbred? No, you just know what you heard-unfacted! Get one, train it, don't abuse, or starve it. treat it with respect and then come on here and post FACTS..

my American Bulldog ( the breed is about the same as a pit--both of the "bully breed" family truly is the most loyal being I have ever met. My Hannah is the true definition of unconditional love. She is our first "kid" and had 2 children after we were married. My kids have climbed on her, kissed her, etc. and she never ever flinched! My bulldog never even stole any food the kids were holding when they were toddlers. We have moved 2 times since having her, and my kids have had many different children over, and Hannah has NEVER given us any reason for concern.
My dog is 12 years old, we got her from a Bully rescue 2 states away, and after she passes we will get another Bully from a rescue again!

My son lived in Vancouver, Wa and was fishing in the Columbia river. A man came to the river with a black trash bag. My son asked him what was in the bag. He explained two dogs from his purebred pit bull who escaped her pen and got pregnant. He can't keep them or sell them. My son told him if he would give the dogs to him he would never see them again. My son raised the two dogs but had to find a home for the female because of his cats. He kept the male and trained him. He called me and said he is moving back here. I told him NO PIT BULL. As I was ignorant and did not know the breed. That dog now lives with us and we love him SOOO much. He is a little gentleman and even gives our cats a kiss if they get close to him. They will put their paw out to touch him when he passes them. He is so gentle with them and us. He is ten years old now and has been the joy of our lives. Our son is a good dog trainer. He has never laid a hand on him but with soft tspeaking and kindness he has trained a breed considered vicious to a sweet gentle kind soul. His last dog a chow-lab mix was the same way. My son now says, He couldn't pry his dog from us because we're so attached to him. God bless this woman for her good deeds and I hope she gets well and can read all these good thoughts about her and her dog. Her dog is a hero for saving her life. Kay in Arizona.

Why do people always try to turn a beautiful story about a loyal dog into a platform for their own imagined fears? I'm sure more than half of the people on here who wrote about horror stories "they've heard" never had any personal experience with pit bulls or, for that matter, pets in general.

Pitties and Staffies are a loyal breed, the family dog of choice at one point. Often called "nanny dogs" pits are reknowned for their care of children. We have a pittie and a staffie (not the first of either we've had) and both dogs are sweet, affectionate, very good with kids and adore our cats.

That some ill-bred, uneducated people have turned the dogs' best qualities against them to use them for fighting has become the stuff of which sensational headlines arise. Don't believe everything you read, folks. Try to have an open mind and you'll see that for the few "bad" dogs out there, dogs who have been made bad by bad owners, there are THOUSANDS of wonderful pit bulls with loving families who stand by the breed.

Prayers are being sent to you Dona .. May God be with you and your family... Love Gerry and Lillian Bennett

Don't you people have a heart. Only a couple of you have hoped that the owner is okay from this story and the rest of you can only focus on the title of this story. The dog is only part pit along with a few other mixes. Oh by the way the owner is in CRITICAL condition if you care.

All of GOD'S creature's, are wonderfull. It's sad to say, but I care more about animal's than human's. I keep praying that I will see all my animal's in heaven, though the Bible does not mention this will happen.

There's always another side to the story... http://blog.dogsbite.org/2008/01/fatality-victim-kelli-chapman-killed-by.html
I have a Rottie, a Husky, and a Coonhound and I put them away whenever we have company. Because they are viscious dogs? Not even a little bit! Because they are lovable, protective, members of our family and it is my job to protect my dogs!!! Dogs feel the need to protect their families and many people feel the need to act like idiots, the 2 together are a recipe for disaster that can happen with any breed...

I have worked with several rescue groups and have handled perhaps three to four hundred Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes in the last two and a half yeears. I have never been bitten or attacked or even growled at by any of these dogs. I have been bitten, but never by a Pitty. From my experience, they are the one breed that I trust. To truly know Pit Bulls is to love them. They are the most wonderful dogs!

The Pit Mix or any canine who is bonded long term should do the same with the correct handler. Enough of your I Think Im A Pro Dog Handler.
Any way this is a great tale of a loyal dog who saved his humans life. Purebred or Mutt.
DV

WOW!!! I don't believe I live in America, and I am still hearing 1950's hatred and contempt in 2012!! I have read through quite a few comments here, some for, some against the breed. How are we as a nation blaming a breed? Does that even make sense? I think not. When a child behaves badly, is it their fault, the parents fault, or the fault of society in general? I think some of you out there need to stop talking out your behind. If you are scared of a breed, or a person, why don't you just take the time to learn the FACTS about something before you open your mouth and insert every shoe you own! Yes, every dog is capable of doing harm. Yes, every person is capable of doing harm. Yes, we as a society have the abilty and the FREEDOM of choice. I am not insinuating that we can't have opinions, I just wish some research would go into our information before the words come out that makes everyone look uneducated. Please people, just open your minds a little...read something once in a while - other than a blog!

Really if they banned people like Michael Vick, then that would solve a lot wouldn't it? This dog did a great thing for her owner. People are such trash talkers and know it alls. I do not have pit bulls, So I am not going to say I know this or that about them. I do think if an owner trains his or her dogs, treats him/her well, and has dog leashed or in the yard then it is their own business. I have small dogs and I do not want someone telling me what I can have and what i cannot if I am a responsible pet owner. How many people are killed by teen drivers? Maybe we can ban them in our neighborhoods. They are, as a group, inherently dangerous behind the wheel just because they are teens and in that "stupid" age group. I have had 3 of them. I know. Some teen drivers are worse than others. Often because mom and dad allow those who are ill prepared or poorly supervised to drive. Works the same with dogs, doesn't it? You often have people killed by loose dogs very often or people who are stupid and go into a yard uninvited. yes, you could teach your child not to go into a yard uninvited, not to taunt a dog, or by God, you could supervise your kid. We need to go after stupid people who are not living up to their responsibility, not just ban a breed.

ever notice in the paper or news they announce if a pit bull killed someone but if it was another kind of dog they just say "a baby/person was killed by family dog" and go on talking about the baby/person! weird, huh?

Hope her owner makes a complete recovery, May the goddess keep her watch over her. I'm glad her loyal pitt was able to get her help. Any breed could do this, but I'm glad this got the pitts some much needed good press they sure need it now. My little feist has actually saved my life twece but would he run for help, I doubt it when I've fallen and been unable to get up he's stayed with me and tryed to help me get up like a 15lb dog can help, when he realizes he can't get me up he starts in with his frantic barking that really carrys now that would probably draw attention to me if I weren't consious. He's smarter than care givers I've had trist me, and think twice or three times before condemming your parents to a rest home. I was in one for almost a year we won't go there but that's where I fell and laid for almost an hour in the freezing cold before Dar's barking finally got someone's attention. I'm in an apartment now thankfully.

Once again my thoughts are for a speedy recovery to the pitt's owner so she can thank her loyal pet in person with hugs and treats although I'm sure her daughter is doing that now.

yes, there are bad dogs just as there are bad people. You can blame it on upbringing and breeding, same as in people. There have been attacks by Chihuahuas, St. Bernards, Labradors, Yorkshire Terriers, Dachsunds, Pits, Rottis, German Shepards, Dobies, ANY BREED of dog you can name has attacked someone at some point in time. That doesn't mean that EVERY dog of a certain breed is bad. Same as not every person of a "certain breed" is bad. If a dog acts badly, blame it on the breeder, the trainer and the owner. Those are the culprits in a dog bite or dog attack. Not the dog, which is doing what it was trained or allowed to do. If you treat your dog like a part of the family and socialize it properly, along with training it "manners", you will have a life long companion. If you don't, you get a dog that is, basically, mentally ill, and will crack at unknown times.

texxbee:
Made me well up a lil' bit. Great story. The dog could have easily laid down next to her and did nothing or just whimpered. What is amazing is that it knew enough to go get "help". Remarkable animal. Koudos to the fella!

I like all of the generalizations on here. Ok, so let's see.....Hitler was a German, so all Germans are Nazis. Mussolini was a terrible person, so let's boycott Italian food. All British people have bad teeth. Everything on Fox News is accurate. Its all fact. Jesus effen Mary and Joseph! Do you see how stupid that sounds? Its the same thing with Pitbulls.

I am so very glad to see this story. I am a Rottir owner, but love all animals. I can only say if you give an animal love and fair treatment you will get the same back. I have seen way to many dogs left outside in all kind of weather to fend for themselves. Love a dog they will love you back!

Dear people so obsessed with ignoring the beauty and positivity of this story,
stop with your ignorance.
bring your negativity and prejudice somewhere else.
Pit bulls are dogs. Dogs are amazing blessings in our lives. Ignorance is caused by fear and I hope your hate for the breed can be subdued by knowledge and research, rather than preconceived
notions.

Thank you to the Patch for giving pitbulls the light they deserve. This article will save the lives of many pits that may have otherwise been overlooked in our overcrowded shelters.

Negative pitbull cowards, bring your darkness to a forum that deserves it.

Thanks.

I'm so glad that the dog did this but it's unfortunate that these dogs have pre existing disability in the brain caused by breeding. Their brain continues to grow causing massive pressure and inducing violence. It is truly sad but you never know what you will get when you cross breed.

To some people: obviously you are as aggressive or more aggressive than the breed's image. Maybe that's the problem, dog gets aggressive owner becomes aggressive... I would also like to point out this is a MIX meaning it is not a pedigree...kind of dilutes the pit bull...

Kudos to the man who came upon Lilly for not avoiding her due to the breed's undeserved reputation. There are no bad dogs... only bad people. Looks like that woman rescued Lilly and Lilly returned the favor. Great story... I pray it has a happy ending.

What a great rescue, good dog. The dogs face really looks so much like a Dutch Shepherd. Dutch Shepherds are Natural Protectors, Obedient, Alert and vigilant,Very intelligent, Loyal and reliable, Highly trainable, Good with children: Dutch shepherd (Hollandse herder) is a dog breed native to Holland. Originally bred for farm labor, including sheep herding, today this versatile and intelligent breed is often used in guide dog programs and police K-9 units. Dutch shepherds are great pets. Dutch shepherds come in three varieties: short coat, long coat and rough (sometimes referred to as wire) coat. Their fur is brindle patterned, with colors ranging from light brown to black. They are well-muscled, medium-sized dogs that can reach a height of 26 inches and weigh between 50 and 80 pounds, when fully grown. In the eighteenth century, Dutch shepherds were bred as sheep dogs in farms across The Netherlands. They kept sheep away from crops and accompanied flocks to pastures, markets and ports. On the farm, the dogs herded cows, pulled milk carts and guarded against intruders. By the mid-nineteenth century, industrialization in Holland led to a decline in sheep herding, while dog training was just becoming popular. Dutch shepherds began to transition into a new role as trained police, search-and-rescue, tracking and guide dogs.

Don't judge the breed judge the dog! I have four pit bulls along with a bay dog, four chihuahuas and a cat! And in all honesty I would say beware of the cat! You must educate yourself correctly about pits! Its about how you train them.some people are close minded or just plain ignorant

yes i agree they have pits banned here in texas i think thats crazy if ppl would not train there animals to be mean they would not be animals are very smart and have been known to save ppl lives they are ppls best friends i know my cocker spaniel and my blue healer are my best friend they are like family.
God Bless the owner i hope everything is ok with her and she can be reunited with her dog.

Pit bulls get a bad rap, not due to the breed but by the human pigs that raise them to be fighters and mad. Great story to remind the non believers that their is good in 99% of dogs until a demented human gets in the way.

Pit bulls DO NOT have LOCK JAW. Ignorance is hard to battle, you must live in the stone age to still believe that one. No breed of dog has locking jaws just somehave more muscle and a stronger bite. As an owner of 12 pit bulls over my lifetime, I can honestly judge the breed through experience. How many have you owned? I would own no other breed! This is an all American breed that if not socialized with dogs, people, children, exercised and treated right can be dangerous but then again that's the general rule for ALL breeds. I have never had a human aggressive dog. I don't have great guard dogs because if raised right this breed sucks at guarding. I've rescued and bought specific bloodlines all were amazing dogs. I will say they can and will be dog aggressive if not socialized with dogs.
A so called trainer posted that she doesn't believe this dog is even a pit mix and it's false publicity for the breed. Welcome to what happens to the breed daily in a negative way. There are so many dog bites and fatalities blamed on the breed when the dog who did it doesn't have a drop of pit in it. This is what owners and lovers of the breed fight daily, unfair and unjust BSL laws because ignorant people who have zero experience of the breed believes everything they see in news, TV and the Internet. . . Ignorance is the biggest battle!! Punish the deed not the breed!!!!!

I work in a boarding facility. Its never the american pit bull terriers or the american staffordshire terriers (they are not the same breed) that aren't too friendly. Its always the smaller breeds or other "non vicious" breeds that don't want anything to do with us and will growl and try to bite. I know that pets are usually scared when boarding but if the "vicious" breeds don't try to attack us when scared what does that say about them. I'm just saying experience dog breeds first hand before spreading false characteristics and behaviors of any breed, especially the ones targeted by the media. Use your own brain. Don't just go by what they say. Experience them yourself and see if you still agree with those ignorant people.

Joyce barnes...oh so because its mixed with some other breed is why it committed a good action! But if it would of bite the good samaritan oh its because its mixed with pit bull huh!? Yes its the owners who make the dog like chihuahuas are little annoying yappy ankle biters its the owners faults for thinking its cute!

Pit bulls are wonderful and very sweet, I totally agree. Your are right on the money.

The trainer in the first several posts said pit bulls do not have erect ears. That statement alone discredits you because a true pit is a terrier and it is NOT uncommon to have erect or semi erect ears. Pits should NOT have floppy ears like a lab. . Don't almost ALL terrier breeds have erect ears? Seems to me like most of you have borrowed knowledge and not first hand or learned knowledge of the breed and that is the biggest battle. ....Educating the ignorant people who claim to be experts so they spread the truth and not myths. Unfortunately most people value their ignorance for some reason and don't want to learn the truth. As a pit bull owner all I can do is teach by example and anyone who spends time around my dogs begin to understand the real American Pit Bull Terrier. Let's remember to spay and neuter the breed we love!!!!!!! Excessive breeding is a HUGE part of the decline of this great breed!!!

Good to hear a story about Pitbulls in a positive light. Just like Dobermans, pits have a bad rep because they have an aggressive owner. Dobermans used to have the same rep about turning on their master, etc. The dog doesn't become an a-hole unless the owner is one.

In reading this thread, I see many good points on both sides of this issue. No doubt this dog deserves a metal. She displayed the loyalty of dogs and why we love them. ALL breeds can turn, bite and even kill. So, if you own any dog, it is necessary to get professional advice on the breed and train it properly. Pit Bulls can be sweet, affectionate, loyal and very intellegent dogs. With the correct handling can provide a lifetime of faithful companionship. I have know several and they are adorable and I really like them. But I alway proceed with caution. I have a friend who raised her pit with a loving yet firm approach and the dog was wonderful. One day, out of the blue, a young man on a bicycle veered a little on to my friends yard to avoid a damaged sidewalk and the dog pulled it's chain out of the ground and took that man right off his bike. The dog would not disengage. The man ended up losing his leg. The dog was put down. Could another breed of dog have attacked the man on the bike? Absolutely!! The issue here is that the pit bull bite is different than other breeds. It has an extreemly strong jaw and the breed was developed for protection and fighting. You cannot undo genetics. IF a pit bull bites they can do serious damage or may even cause death. If you choose to own a pit bull, then know and understand your breed. Don't get defensive when people challenge their affection or loyalty. You say it is the owner not the breed? It is both.

Not to sound like a record of a pit owner, but my pit mix would not hurt anyone or anything. She has proven herself. We had a a family emergency and the cops were a my house house for the first 20 minutes they were there they didnt know a dog was there and when she came out she thought she had new friends to play with. I am pregnant at the present time and dont worry about her with the baby. I also know not to leave them unattended. the ignorance against pits is something that I feel very strongly about and it seems thay that society is coming around but still has a way to go. There are many positive stories out there about the breed.there was a stray that saved a mother and toddler from a hold up at knife point at a park. Helen Keller had a pit as a nanny dog. In my opinion pits get blamed for "the most bites" due to so many breeds making up "pits" there is Staffordshire terrier, American pit bull terriers, and of coarse if they are a pit mix they fall into the same category. Also there are breeds that get get mixed up with pits such as American bulldo, media is not going to correct to correct themselves if they make an error like that. Lastly tge pitbull popilation seems to be so large compared to other breeds increasing the chances of a bite. Any dog can bite or be aggressive its all how you raise them. They are just like children.

Oh and pit bulls are NOT banned in Texas. I'm a native Texan who fights BSL every year and it has never passed. Your HOA might not allow it but Texas does.

I sure hope this helps to bring some more positive thoughts about pit bulls!

the only two posts you all need to read are from Rodman and the Vet....ALL dogs are extremely social creatures that live in Packs. If in your house only you and your dog reside, then you and your dog become his Pack....they are extremely sweet with you because you are the leader of the Pack and instinctivly protect their Pack leader and/or the Packs territory.........I haven't heard anyone mention Dalmatians. I had one for 16 and 1/2 yrs......I adored her and will miss her forever, but they get a bad rap also........They are all Dogs, learn how to think like they do!!!!!!

The more people I meet, the more I love my dog..........................

pit bull are'nt vicious human owner make them that way to fight..not all human sum do love thier pit bull as i do ..i have a pit bull mix/a rat terrier /2 jack russell / a dachshund and a great pyrenees and they all get along ...my pit bill is a scary cat any way won't hurt a fly ... dogs are god gifts to us please take care of them ....

welfare dogs

My daughter had a Pit Bull for years. He was the sweetest, kindest boy ever. The day we brought my new Granddaughter home from the hospital, he moved into the nursery and slept under her crib. It was a sad day when he passed away in his sleep from old age. They get a bad name from people who treat them to be mean.

Nancy S, pit bulls were not bred for protection at all. They were bred for specificly dog fighting and human companion. The owners of the dog had to be able to pull it out of the ring and not get bit in the middle of fighting another dog so actually any dog that showed aggression to humans or handlers were culled and not bred or fought. So much ignorance. Your friend was not a good pit owner because NO dog especially an active terrier should be chained. That's not love. 90% of all pit bull related bites and maulings were chained dogs. Check out the website on mothers against chained dogs because I can guarantee most aggressive dogs are not exercised properly and chaining or kenneling WILL create aggression in ANY breed. Ask the chained cocker spaniel that killed the 13 month old!!

Proper training for any breed is very important to get the best out of your dog. Education and training your dog is so much fun. They are able to use their mind and body to do complicated things. When a dog gets the chance to engage in activities that stimulate the mind and body it makes them happy and relaxed. I love my dogs and can never live without them. They protect me and love me. I am a slave to them, I wake up at 5:00am everyday to make sure their day starts with fun and love. I have always had dogs in my life from when I was a baby. I just love dogs.

I think we are missing the story if this was a human being we would not stereo type by race or ethic background that would be racist, so why is it is acceptable for animals, what this loving dog did is remarkable and she may have saved a life, weather she is a pit bull or a chihuahua I don't think it matter to her owner, I wish the owner a speedy recovery,great job Lilly you are a hero.

Pitts are NOT banned in Texas!

great article

The more I read these comments the more I love my four Pit Bulls!

the only two posts you all need to read are from Rodman and the Vet, Tom....ALL dogs are extremely social creatures that live in Packs. If in your house only you and your dog reside, then you and your dog become his Pack....they are extremely sweet with you because you are the leader of the Pack and instinctivly protect their Pack leader and/or the Packs territory.........I haven't heard anyone mention Dalmatians. I had one for 16 and 1/2 yrs......I adored her and will miss her forever, but they get a bad rap also........They are all Dogs, learn how to think like they do!!!!!!

What a noble dog! Reminds me of the old movies and TV shows that celebrated "Man's Best Friend," such as Lassie, Old Yeller, Balto, and Homeward Bound. Obviously this breed can be problematic, due to the unfortunate way humans have recently been breeding and raising these animals to fight, and sometimes it is hard to predict whether an owner will get ferocious loyalty or another kind of ferocity. But in "Lilly," we see the essence of the true greatness of the canine character. Hope her owner will be okay, and learn of her companions heroic deed.

Great story, Pitties do get a bad rap, but, I think just like any other dog...it is all in how we treat or raise them...a lot of people are afraid of them just, because, of all of the stories told...Thank God, Frank Delarosa was not one of those people and did what he could to help...God Bless Frank and the Pit Bull <3

All the Cats & Dogs I have ever owned came from shelters except for the last two I own now, which are a Lab and a Dutch. The best dog I ever owned was a Dutch/Lab mix. That's why I zero in on these tow pure breeds. I love Labs and Dutches. They are so sweet and love each other very much. I know If anything happened to me my dogs would bark up a storm to get some help for me.

I'm SO pleased to see a positive story about Pit Bulls!

There are so many experts on everything. I've worked with dogs for many years. I've never been bitten by a pit bull. I have been bitten by small dogs. That's a pretty general statement. Most of the posts here are too general. I've seen lots of sweet pit bulls, and I've seen some that I don't like at all. It's not the "way they're raised", and it's not always genetics. They're DOGS! You cannot predict which one will bite and exactly when it will bite. Also, there's a huge difference between the bite wounds from a ShihTzu and a Pit. So many people want to compare dogs to people. Everybody wants to believe if you "SAVE" a dog from that terrible life, the dog will be so grateful that they will love you forever. I meet a lot of people in affluent neighborhoods who have adopted pitties. Apparently, it's a very "IN" thing to do. Their pollyanna attitude is a joke. If a person grew up in a terrible situation, there is no way to predict how certain events would affect the person as an adult. To anyone who would just take a pit from the streets because he looks sad, and believe he will love you forever because the rescuer tells you that he is "sweet", I got a bridge for sale. Maybe you could take a random gang member home and trust him with your life. These are DOGS! Some are good and some are not. Also, pits don't have LOCKJAW. Pits have strong jaws, as they were bred for that reason. Their jaws are functionally the same as other dogs.

What about the "human hero" in this story ? Frank De La Rosa deserves just as much credit for knowing about dog behavors & reacting appropriately..

@ D. Peterson obviously doesn't know the 1st thing about the breed. Another judgemental person giving her opinion because of the "stories" she heard. She's just like the rest of them!! Until you own one & know what theyre about, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!!!!!. No other dog even compares to a PIT

Frank De La Rosa is a hero for saving Dona Timoney and I hope for her speedy recovery. She had some angels who saved her. She is a very lucky woman. I am sure her family is happy to have her safe. What a great story and a happy ending.

Mr Happy--If someone kicked a pitbull then they deserve being part of the fence..that goes with any dog...but if your going to do it with a pit or other breed that can hold it's own, then you get what you deserve..am I right?

Great article!! It's the people on here totally bashing each other cuz someone doesn't agree with them that need proper training. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, whether you agree with them or not. The ones doing this should be ashamed. Just saying...

This is a feel good story for the Pit Bull lovers. All the haters need to go troll somewhere else and let us enjoy the story. There are good Pits Bulls and bad Pit Bulls just as in any other breed. Pit Bulls aren't for everyone they take extra work but the reward is priceless!!! All you haters can go jump off a bridge for all I care!!One less ignorant person in this world

Jen
How did this sweet story turn into being just about Pitbulls? That discussion is an important one but this story is about love between this woman and her dog and the man who knew what to do in the situation.

I am praying that the owner recovers and she and Lily can be reunited. They deserve to have many years together. And I am concerned for Lily if the owner does not recover.
Jen

i have 2 pitbulls and 2 yorkies all get along and play all day, and yes all dogs are better the all people all loyal and always happy to see you no matter what.

As an animal lover I would never say one Breed is just bad. I think they can be raised to be mean or something can happen to a dog in its life to make it react badly. That is not limited to just pitbulls. I love Chihuahua's but if they were bigger they would probably outlaw them because they want to eat most strangers up unless they are extremely socialized. Dogs have to be socialized and treated well to be a good dog. I have only had small dogs. My chih/terr mix was the best dog anyone could ever want, she passed in December and my mini dasch/chih is such a loyal and smart and wonderful dog. Most daschunds are agressive but she is shy and loving and because all she has ever known is love and kindness and is well socialized she loves everyone. She would run before ever biting anyone. It's all in how you raise a dog.

It's always interesting to read these threads and to see how very passionate people are about their dogs. As one poster put it, no one is mentioning the heroics of the 'human' that had the foresight to follow this dog. Both should be honored! In as far as viciousness, most of the comments are a bit racist (yes, I know thugs use pits for their nonsense), but come on.... when I was a kid 50 years ago, it was the German Shepherd. Then it was the doberman pinscher. Honestly, I have a dog, I was married to a veterinarian, and I've been around just about every and any kind of dog you can think of. I'm sure it's been said here (I can't BELIEVE how many comments this very small, very touching article has insighted), but a dog is a direct reflection of its owner. I refuse to believe that ANY dog that's given love, training, a good home, and a sense of family, they can be a good dog - along with the exact opposite. I have a border collie and I'm blown away by how many are afraid of her. She's lovable but I have to realize that some people are afraid of ALL dogs and that there are probably some collies out there that are vicious too. That being said, I do not trust a pit bull but respect and admire those responsible owners that are willing to take the chance and give this dog love. Stop hating so much, everyone! It's a good story :-)

This dog should receive an award for saving its human! This is truly a special dog no matter what the breed and thank goodness she was big enough that someone couldn't just pick her up and carry her off because her Human Mommy wouldn't have been found or if so it could have been too late. I do hope we get an update on the ladies condition.

i was the proud owner of a pitbull,he was gentle with children,loving,proud and a great protector.having a handicapped grandson he watched over that child whenever he was at my home.also owning other dogs such as mini dashunds he was careful how he played.he lived to be 11 before it was his time and if i could have another like him i would be proud.good breeding and a loving homefor your pitbull you will have the BEST dog in your life .Hercules was mine.

The average dog is a better person than the average person.

When it all comes down to it, the only people who bash pits or other bully breeds are the ones who have NEVER owned one..they are just going by so called statistics, hear say and the media. Just like this article. Everyone clicked on it cause it was a story about a pitbull..some because we are owners and have love and respect for the breed, other's because they are avid animal lovers of all types and breeds. Then we have the ones that just want to bash the breed because they have no first hand experience, like OWNING one. They have their minds made up and we can allow them to be ignorant. Either way, the word PITBULL gets all types of attenttion..All in all, if you never owned one, or for the ones who work in shelters and have first hand experience. then you really don't know...so you can have your second hand knowledge, but that is far from having the right knowledge!! don't hate on what you don't know..if you don't or have never owned one, then with all do resepect-YOU DON'T KNOW! I am willing to bet that at least 60% of these so called pit bull attacks are not actually pitbulls at all, or are mixed. Unless their are papers or DNA, then the rest is speculation and I KNOW first hand about that. Alot of mixed dogs do look like pits, but are not! So people ASSUME things..I have a non pit who everyone swears is a pit..and i have a pit that no one beleives is a pit because she is nice and playful..ironic, isn't it?

I agree that pits are awsome and loyal dogs. They get such a bad rap because of the media and the fact that they are used so frequently for fighting. People need to realize that any dog will be likely to be vicious if that is how they are trained and if that is all that they know. The fact that there are some vicious pits out there shouldn't reflect badly on the breed, but it should reflect badly on the jackass humans who trained them to be that way.

all in how they're raised and treated. you can rehab just about any dog, or you can make the sweetest vicious. The difference is that with a pit, they have a particular intelligence you don't find in just any dog. If you notice, their eyes almost look human. Mind you, i'm not some sort of nut or anything, just saying you can tell alot from the look in their eyes

Love my dogs!

Can we be clear that the 'locking jaw' is a myth. It's part of a hype that's been produced about the dog. I am glad to see a good story about a pitbull type dog instead of the usual. To those that continue to insist that they're vicious, you're mistaken. They are based on a terrier breeding, and for those that don't know dogs, the word is 'tenacious', sounds a lot like vicious, doesn't it? To own a pitbull type dog, you need to put it work and socialize them. Any dog can be aggressive. Also, people so frequently mistake a run of the mill mutt for a 'pit bull' that you can't count on that title. Glad that this story has a happy ending.

I have worked as a dog foster home for 35 yrs, for 3 rescue agencies. I remember a pit bull that I fostered: "Toad", a big, clumbsy, goofy guy! He "volunteered to help" when I fostered a litter of 3 day old kittens. He kept them clean and warm, and as they grew, he played with them and protected them. He became their "Uncle". And once, after a windstorm, he gently brought me baby birds he found in the grass. He placed the baby birds in my lap, totally unharmed. He did the same thing with a baby squirrell. What a wonderful dog! A pit bull.

I too love pitbulls, I had a 14 year old female (she was my 4th pitbull) that had been tossed out of a car when she was 10 weeks old, she grew up with other dogs, kids, cats and even helped out when we would foster new born kittens. She would help keep them clean and warm while they would get fed. Well a few months ago she started acting different, barking at us her family or growling when you walked into the room she was in. She then started to attack the other dogs, took her to the vet to see whats going on this behavior is just not like her. She had canine demetia, it seems to have happened very fast, some days were better than others, so my daughter and I took her out and gave her a great day, driving around with her head hanging out the window, eating fast food (plain hamberger) played ball in a park that she had all to herself, then held her paw while she crossed the rainbow bridge on Saturday April 7, 2012. As a dog owner I take extra care to make sure any of my dogs are never put in a postion that they feel they need to bite, they are never left alone with people they do not know, they are never left alone in my fenced back yard, they are never ever let out our front door with out a leash on, they are never left alone with other peoples pets. I know that dogs (all dogs) can bite or attack for many many reasons, so I take the extra care to make sure my dogs are safe. I currently have a German Shepherd Dog, a Boxer Mix and a Great Dane/Rotti mix.

I own two beautiful pit bulls and got them through an experienced breeder who shows the dogs in shows across the country. From the very beginning we have socialized our dogs at public events, dog parks and had them around children of all ages. Now both of our dogs are certified therapy dogs. We visit nursing homes, hospitals including children's hospital. The dogs lay on the beds if the patients want them to and just cuddle. Not only do the patients perk up when they see the dogs, the dogs themselves have changed many people's mind about the breed. Sadly many of these dogs have been inbred which has drastic results with their temperament. As with any dog you must socialize, socialize, socialize. You don't adopt or purchase a dog to only leave it in the house all day or chained outside. They are pack animals and need companionship and exercise. Lack of exercise can also cause aggression because the dog becomes bored. Also, good dog owners never leave a child alone with a dog no matter what the breed. In fact it wasn't long ago that a Siberian Husky killed a three week old baby because the parents trusted the dog and left the room. We also need to remember that like humans who are born with mental challenges, so are some animals. If you're going to become a dog owner research the breed you are interested in, then make sure you have the time and attention the breed requires.

ANN HERMAN- you stated in all caps that pits do have to unlock their joints to release a bite. This is a classic example of ignorance at its best. Pit bulls have zero genetic difference then any other canine. No breed of dogs have the abiility to lock a bite. Some due to breed and strength can bite stronger and hold longer but pit bull is not even in the top 5 strongest bites of domestic dogs. Please do research before spreading ignorant lies!!

Dear deb busse if you knew anthing about dogs then you would that pits jaws do not lock they just have strong jaw mucles my pit mix is the greatest dog i have ever had owned she is kind and sweet so until you know you facts please keep your mouth shut and stay away from the keyboard

years ago i occasionally shared a pit with my friend when she was away. shaker was an especially loyal happy friendly dog. if you treat a dog the way you want to be treated they can be great companions. shame on the prejudice against these fantastic dogs.

AMEN to Cynthia. A poorly inbred dog of any breed will produce an unbalanced dog. Pit bulls are bred in mass quantities everywhere over ALL other dog breeds and most by back yard breeders with no reguard to the temperament and health of the dogs. It's is the most damaging reason why this breed has a bad rap. We need to educate people and promote spaying and neutering. It's not so much gangs and dog fighters when 90% of pit owners are trying to make the good ol mighty dollar by breeding and in breeding for looks with no reguard to the temperament of a dog. Everyone I meet that has this breed is breeding. It's sad that this breed can't catch a break. It's not so much gangs but the average person getting a pit because it's a fad then keeping it as a lawn ornament to only breed for profit. Ignorance is rampid in EVERYONE about this breed!

Hmm..... Not all, but an awful lot of rude, mean, condescending and confrontational comments from pit bull owners. Notice the correlation?

Yes I DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYBODY SAYS THE PITBULL DOG IS A WONDERFUL PET AND FRIEND WHEN TREATED WITH LOVE & RESPECT. I WILL NOT OWN ANY OTHER BREED!

Lindsey smith, I am an owner and an advocate for this breed please do not judge a breed and it's owner. I'm a firm believer in education an positivity. You have to understand that when a breed you love and know is a great breed but is slammed by people who only know what they hear and not the truth it's tiring and gets irritating. I don't agree with the poor way people handle themselves but I know why they get so upset. If everyone would stay more positive for the breed and present themselves better it would send a better message. Please don't judge nor be as ignorant as some of the hateful remarks on here from pit bull lovers and non pit bull lovers. it gets no where. Judging is just as bad as someone using cuss words and calling names. None of it helps anyone.

Hey Mr @PED,

if you are so smart, you at least ought to be able to spell STUPID. The only thing worse than stupidity (which has nothing to do with this story about a loving dog) is IGNORANCE. Sadly your behaviour shows you are in ample supply of BOTH.

What an amazing dog. Remember, just like with children and how they are raised and by whom.. it's not the breed, it's the owner. Pits are known for their loyalty and eagerness to please, which has made them targets of those who wish to exploit those wonderful qualities.