Hey everyone! My name is Alyssa, I'm currently a college student in New York State and am looking for ways to raise awareness about bully breeds and how great they really are.
I've loved dogs for as long as I can remember; before I had a dog I wanted one, and after we got one when I was growing up, I wanted more! Unfortunately my parents were content with a one-dog household, but that didn't stop me from being around as many dogs as possible. In high school I volunteered periodically at the local animal shelter, and that was where I fell in love with the breed. Honestly, I didn't see them as any different or more scary than other dogs. The first one I gravitated towards was a white male pittie named McFly, and I still remember his sweet yellow eyes and how much I wanted to take him home (I was only 16 at the time). I never found out what happened to him, but I like to think he found a nice family to live with...
Anyway, I've never owned a pitbull. The dog I got as a child was a black lab (Brutus, I love him and always will <3). It is my goal to one day adopt a shelter dog, but my current living situation would not be ideal for a dog with lots of energy and needing attention. Basically I'm here to learn all that I can about this breed that I think has been unfairly portrayed by the media and become a victim of sensationalism. I try to talk to people on campus about my concerns with breed discrimination, but most people ignorantly brush me off as an overzealous activist of some sort and ignore me, or come back with an ill-informed opinion. I just want a way to open people's minds to the possibility that most pitbulls are actually loving family pets.
I hope I can learn a lot from everyone here and look forward to some great discussions!
PS- I found this forum after my mom purchased the "Pit Bulls 'n Pretty Girls" calendar for me. I think the idea is so perfect, seeing as pin-ups and the pitbull breed are both American mainstays that tend to be overlooked throughout history. It's my favorite calendar ever!!