Welcome to Ruff Housing!

Where do I begin? This has always been a sore subject for me but after watching this video my stomach turned and I was in rage. This video has inspired me to write and to give our beloved Pit Bulls a voice and a second chance at life.

For years now, the controversy over Pit Bulls has always been a concern due to the bad reputation of their attacks and aggressive behavior towards people and other dogs.  My perspectives towards Pit Bulls drastically changed ever since I adopted Pointer.  It is so hard to cope with any dog that has such behavioral problems. Training is especially hard and the responsibility and stress of being liable to anyone or any other dog getting hurt can be overwhelming.

It is unfortunate that Pit Bulls were originally bred to fight but many people fail to acknowledge that there are other breeds that are bred to fight, hunt, and guard as well. Even though dog fighting is illegal in all fifty states Pit Bulls are still chosen victims.  We cannot deny that majority of the time Pit Bulls have reported incidents of the most severe cases of aggressive behavior but this is because owners are not well informed about this breed before taking the dog home.  

Pit Bulls are in fact extremely loyal dogs. There are so many wonderful characteristics to this breed that so many people tend to overlook.  They are extremely intelligent dogs and they are highly responsive towards training which is always a big plus. They can go to the next Mount Everest hike with you or they can snuggle with you all day on the couch.  With the proper training, these dogs can be just as amazing as any other breed.

Together, we can all start by taking baby steps to help change the never ending fate of Pit Bulls.  Pass this information on to others who are often mislead by the undeserved reputation and help reshape the lives of Pit Bulls in positive ways.

 For more information, the American Pit Bull Foundation is a great resource. Please check this website out before adopting!

Today my boyfriend and I went to the 2011 Bay Area Pet Expo! I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed this event! This was my first time attending but if I had to rate it I would definitely give it five stars! The moment I walked in the fair grounds I was like a kid in a candy store! I was surrounded by so many adorable dogs of all ages and different personalities. The best part of the expo was seeing all the rescues, not just dogs but for cats, horses, and chinchillas, working hard to help all these wonderful animals find homes.  The expo was such a huge success because not only did the organizations get donations from people to help support their cause, but they were educating the public about what they do and where their animals come from. To make it even sweeter, the expo was absolutely free!

We saw a variety of events and booths at the expo, including an agility course, a pet costume contest, pet training and obedience, and pet talent. There were also services such as vaccinations, microchipping, and free dog nail trimmings, and products like toys and pet clothing. Of course, there were many organizations from all over the Bay Area with great pets available for adoption. Another cool thing about the Pet Expo was that attendees were able to bring their own lovable pet companions along. It was a dog party! All the dogs that attended seemed to have a great time and headed home exhausted and ready for a nap.

Overall we had a great day at the Bay Area Pet Expo. This event is a must-attend for animal lovers, and it only comes along once a year so mark your calendars for the next one! Check out their website for more information! www.bayareapetexpo.com

Have you ever noticed that you rarely see Golden Retrievers, Poodles, or Dalmatians at the shelter? From my volunteer experience, I would say more than seventy percent of the dogs were either Pitbulls or Terrier mixes.  Thinking about that makes me so sad.  People have become so superficial when it comes to choosing their pets.  We tend to rush into adopting a dog because of how adorable it looks.  I read on adoption website about “BBD syndrome.”  BBD stands for “Big Black Dog” and believe it or not shelters have an incredibly hard time finding homes for these dogs because of the way they look. People treat animals as if they were objects and this is why breeders have become so successful.  As long as you are willing to pay, you can get whatever breed you want.

There are many advantages to purchasing a dog from a breeder, but the sad truth is that many owners go this route just to find a pet they see as cute or trendy.  If this is the reason that you want to purchase a dog then you should definitely reconsider. We are overpopulated with dogs as it is.  It has been estimated that six to eight million animals enter the shelter in the United States and only half of them end up finding homes. There are so many wonderful adorable dogs at the shelter waiting for a second chance at life.

Here are some of the most commonly cited advantages of buying from a breeder.  The listed advantages are from this website.

Your purebred puppy, whether a pet or a show prospect, should include these things:

Although some of those advantages may sound very appealing I am still not convinced. Purebred dogs are still dogs. There should be no guarantee as listed above that they may not inherit any known diseases.  Dogs are like humans, we can and will get sick eventually. And who is to say that a purebred dog will be 100% well socialized and will have the perfect temperament? All puppies go through a rambunctious adolescence! Even purebred puppies will go through this phase in their life.  I would also like to add that purebred dogs need the same amount of attention and training as a shelter dog. 

As my last note, know that there are many breeders out there that may not have the dog’s best interest at heart. Purebred dogs can be very costly and breeders earn a great deal of profit selling these dogs.  If you are genuinely interested in getting a new pet please consider adopting from your local shelter or rescue.

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover!  This is so true when it comes to our top five cute but deadly animals! The animals on this list are adorable but dangerous critters that we usually encounter either in cartoons, movies, books, and magazines. 

5) Stingray

To me, the stingray is one of the coolest fish in the bay! We may rush to the aquarium poolside to pet this fascinating little sea creature but one sting from the stingray can be extremely deadly and cause excruciating pain. The all time famous crocodile hunter Steve Irwin died because of a stingray sting on the chest!

4) Swan

What do you think about when you think of a swan? Swans are such graceful animals and we can’t help but think of romance, lakes, and beautiful scenery.  Their presence has always been a symbol of love and peace so many people do not realize that these animals could cause any harm.  Swans can be very aggressive when approached too closely and they will bite and peck if they have to!

3) Chipmunk

I was heartbroken when I found out chipmunks were on the list! As a kid I would swear by Alvin and the Chipmunks books and I still can’t imagine that these tiny animals could possibly hurt me. The truth of the matter is these speedy little guys have a reputation of carrying diseases such as Lyme disease and rabies! Despite this and stealing your lunch at the park the chipmunk is still one of the cutest animals in the world (to me at least)!

2) Elephant

The elephant has always been a symbol of wisdom for many cultures and in many different countries particularly in Africa and Asia.  We see these animals in cartoons often as the cute wimpy elephant. But elephants are born to live in the wild and can seriously cause harm due to their size and strength.  When elephants get grumpy they are known to stomp and even make rumbling and growling noises that will scare anyone away! There have also been reports about these guys blocking roads and invading homes for no apparent reason.

1) Dolphin

The intelligence of dolphins always amazes me.  We often see these wonderous cheerful animals at Marine World performing tricks, jumping in and out of the water, and even giving people kisses on the cheek.  On the other hand, these animals have been known to sometimes kill their own babies and play with their dead bodies! Dolphins are known to also be very sexually competitive by nature and they will show their aggressive side if necessary. 

For those of you who are not aware of Rocket Dog Rescue in the Bay Area I would like to take the time to share with you how great this non-profit organization is. If you have time, please check out their website.

This organization was founded by a woman named Pali Boucher.  Pali’s first adoption was her beloved Coonhound, Leadbelly.  Leadbelly was her sole companion and had inspired her to get through many hardships in life.  During the time when she adopted Leadbelly she was homeless, suffering from drug and alcohol addiction, and discovered she was HIV positive. 

Thanks to Leadbelly Pali was able to overcome hard times and since then has started her own rescue.  Her idea was to rescue and help find homes for these animals just as Leadbelly rescued her.

Today Rocket Dog is the most prominent dog rescue in San Francisco saving dogs who are running out of time in other shelters or those who are next in line for euthanasia.

My dog Dutch was also a rescue from Rocket Dog. He was eight when I adopted him and has been with me ever since. If you are looking for a pet try to avoid breeders or pet shops at all costs. There are plenty of dogs waiting to be adopted either at Rocket Dog rescue or at your local shelter!