My 70-year old mother is NOT an animals person at all, and even though she and my brother got Seppel Puppy for me in 2008, she was not a fan of Pit Bulls...
When she visited me last year... OMG!!! Talk about a total change of heart - Faust won her over in about 30 seconds... she ended up cooking for the boys, and every Wednesday they got a special meal, prepared by her (oats, hamburger, shredded carrots... and it all had to be fresh, mind you - no frozen meat, and organic carrots from the farmers market
).
Every night at 8 PM it was time for treats - the boys had to sit nicely, and take the treats gently. When my Mom was done feeding them she would say "No more... maybe tomorrow!", and Faust would let out a HUGE sigh of diappointment, and plop down at her feet... my Mother ws completely smitten...
For the three weeks she was here the boys got to sneak on the couch w/her, got to watch her cook in the kitchen (I don't allow them in there, usually), she bought something for them every time we went anywhere, and she learned all commands in English (sit, stay, down, etc.)... it was mind-boggling for me to watch.
Before she left we printed out a ton of pics so she would be able to show her friends that she had two Pit Bull grandsons... she calls them "Omas favorite (Faust), and "Omas *other favorite*" (Sepp)... too, too funny.
She knitted a blanket for Faust because of his allergies... and anytime I receive a package from her now, at least half the contents are for the dogs. When we talk on the phone the first questions is ALWAYS :" How are the dogs???" Then she laughs and apologizes, and says:" I meant... how are YOU???" It cracks me up everyt time.
My boys have given my Mother a completely different outlook, and now we often talk about all the restrictions Pit bull owners face in Germany (where she lives)... and a few weeks ago my Mom told me that "she met a Pit Bull on the street, and he was the sweetest thing", and how sorry she felt for him and his owner since he had to be muzzled outside just because of his breed.
I am SO proud of my Mom for being willing to get to know my boys, and for getting past her stereo-type thinking... and I love her for loving my dogs.