Kirby's Journey: The first leg

Tough Love is not a large rescue. But our volunteers all put in far more than requested of them and they do with with grace, efficiency and passion. So, we make it work. When my volunteer Ashley sent me the photo of Kirby, I knew we would find a way to help him. I didn't care what it took or what it cost. 


This was the right decision. 


Immediately, people flooded in to help Kirby live. He has been with us less than 24 hours and already has touched countless lives. I received the following email from Kirby's transport, Jamie, and she has given me permission to share her experience helping Kirby. Kirby's story is about a dog. But it also is about the people with whom he interacts. I hope sharing their moments with you will make an impact. 


Hello Gemma:

I just wanted to say Thank You for allowing me to be a part of such a eye opening experience.  My birthday is on Sunday and I wanted to do something that I have never done before and that would make a difference.  When I logged into Facebook Thursday night and saw Kirby I was drawn to his picture and knew in my heart I had to help.  My husbands initial reaction when I woke him up was NO.  But I was determined and told him "fine, I'll make the drive myself".  He knew I would not take no for an answer so he was on board very shortly after that and that is when I committed to you that I would help. 

My pets are rescues but they were abandoned at the dog park so I did not have to go far to pick them up.  I have never been to a pound or animal control before.  I only saw that on television.  

When we were waiting in the front to speak with someone we could hear all the dog barks for help and it was heartbreaking then and my husband put his hand on my shoulder and told me to brace myself.  The woman up front thought that it was nice he was already named and she said dogs in his condition do not walk in and she was amazed that Kirby walked in.  

We got the paperwork and was told to drive around the back.  The woman at the front walked out with us and took a deep breath and said "wow, we are burning paper today".  When we drove around back we decided to wait in the parking lot right next to the building.  I certainly did not want to go in and see all the other animals we could not help.  We could hear more yelps for help and I wished that I could rescue them all.  I looked and saw the contraption they were "burning paper" in and noticed a wheel barrel next to it with filled black garbage bags in it.  I whispered to my husband "That doesn't look like paper to me".  He whispered back "I know, it's not".  

Then she came out with Kirby.  She carried him because he was so tired from eating that she did not want him to walk.  My husband swept him our of her arms and turned him to me.  He lifted his head and I knew then he was a fighter.  I rubbed his head and started to cry.  We got him in the car and when I sat down in the front seat I began to bawl.  It was amazing and heartbreaking all at the same time that this animal was alive.  I was so taken aback that this live animal in such horrible condition wanted to be next to us wanted to move around and it was obvious he had not given up.  The entire experience was surreal.  

Kirby immediately after leaving the shelter 

The vet was so nice and they gave him extra treats.  All his skin and bones added up to a pathetic 27.8 lbs. but Kirby is not pathetic, he is a walking miracle.  At the vet, he got cleaned up a bit around the rear end, ticks removed, nails trimmed, water under the skin, he walked out of the vet on his own and got right back into the car where he began his final leg of the journey to his foster home.  He did not want me to stop petting his head but I finally got him to relax and he slept for the next hour.  

Kirby finally falls asleep

When we passed him off to Phil, my husband woke Kirby up and scooped him up from the back seat.  As he was bringing him to Phil's truck he was wagging his tail again.  I have no doubt that we will be getting updates of Kirby as he puts weight on and gets the life back into him.  He is a fighter and I am very glad that I was a part of his second chance.  I know you will find a great home for him once he gets healthy.  I know that his wonderful personality will only shine more once he is better.  I have a great feeling about this little pup and I want you to let his forever owners know about his journey. This is a very special dog.  

This experience was very emotionally taxing on me but one I will never forget.  I am sure I will be able to help in the future and when I am able to I will let you know.  Keep up the great work Gemma.  You are making a difference one awesome pup at a time! :) 

It's not just how they're raised

Well-meaning "pit bull" lovers consistently supply variations of the phrase: "Pit bulls are great dogs if they are raised properly and socialized from a young age." I cannot say this phrase is untrue, and I certainly encourage folks with puppies to train and socialize early and with love, but it inherently suggests that pit bull type dogs rescued from poor or unknown backgrounds and upbringings cannot be reliable family members.

This is untrue.

More important than a dog's past is a dog's present. Dogs raised from puppyhood, lovingly socialized and cared for, may still be dog selective or develop a behavioral issue. Dogs are individuals, influenced by biology as well as environment as well as unknown factors and interactions; dog owners generally can only control for environment. What really matters is how the dog is managed, which must be based on how each dog actually responds, interacts, and behaves, regardless of that dog's known or unknown upbringing.

Dog bite incidents (involving any breed) do not occur because the dog had a bad first owner. They occur because their present owner failed to contain the dog, or watch a child properly, or recognize the limits of their own pet. I'm not saying a dog's history is totally irrelevant, but I am saying it can be neutralized by a good owner.

Although many news reports of dog attacks include phrases like "the dog bite was unprovoked" or "the dog has never shown signs of aggression until..." Proper investigation (or even overlooked comments in the news reports themselves) indicate that these phrases rarely are accurate. With nearly negligible exceptions, dogs do not seriously injure human beings without having a history of behavioral signals. Whether or not these signals are noticed and/or covered up by an owner who clearly has reasons to lie (the laws favor folks with no prior knowledge of a dog's aggressive propensities) is indicative of the dog-owner relationship.

Most of the dogs in our program came into shelters as strays. We very often are asked: What do you know about his past? Truthfully, we rarely know anything. We do not know where they were born. We do not know if they were hit. We do not know if they were exposed to other dogs, cats, or kids. What we do know is what we can observe, and it is not difficult to make adjustments to a dog's routine, care, socialization, or training based on what we see. We've been placing dogs with unknown histories in loving family environments for years without a single incident arising therefrom.

Farrah was used for breeding and was reserved until she found someone to trust; now she loves everyone she meets. Jade came in to our program totally shut down, but also blossomed when she learned to trust.

In our rescue, and among my friends, I personally know many dogs who have had their truly horrific pasts confirmed with reasonable certainty, and, yet, they are absolutely wonderful pets who get along great with people, other dogs, even cats and critters.

Time and time again, these dogs remind me how resilient, flexible, and forgiving dogs really are. Their histories merely highlight the fact that they are individuals. All dogs are. And they all deserve to be treated as such.

Dogs live in the present. So should we. Please adopt a rescued "pit bull" today!

The pit falls and potential positives of labeling a rescued "pit bull"

I recently stumbled across a post on happypitbull.com that talked about the general nature of the term "pit bull" in today's world. The post was dead on, but got me thinking about the liberal use of the term in shelter and rescue environments and its impact on these dogs, the "pit bull" term itself, and breed legislation.

I believe a breed label is marginally useful no matter what breed we may be labeling. I wholeheartedly believe that every dog is an individual, and that, particularly in adult dogs, breed itself is far less relevant and consistent than people may believe -- especially when looking at behaviors relevant to potential adopters (tolerance with children, sociability, activity level,  for example). In the abstract, any individual dog of any breed may thrive in any one particular environment.

At the government shelters I work with, each dog is labeled by predominant "breed," something I take issue with, although I certainly am not alone. A shelter volunteer at Pima Animal Care Center in Tucson, AZ, has expressed concern over the shelter's labeling practices -- concern that has been ignored by her superiors, who continue to label just about anything a "pit bull mix." Such munificent labeling certainly is inappropriate.

Perhaps such labeling simply follows a public trend to know the breed they own. Petfinder.com, adoptapet.com, and rescueme.org require a dog to be labeled a specific breed -- preferably two -- and, although "mixed breed" is an option, it does not attract hits. People seem to like "breeds," and I want to get my dogs adopted. So I label.

All these dogs were labeled "pit bulls" by shelters from which we pull.

Historically, shelters simply labeled dogs of uncertain ancestry as "mixed breeds" or "mongrels," and adopters chose a dog based on the physical and personality characteristics they appreciated. This seems, in theory and devoid of context, wise. But, we live in a world where your dog legally can be taken from you and killed if an arbitrary actor sees fit to label him/her a "pit bull." Is it really fair to surprise adopters in this fashion simply because we hate what the label has come to mean?

At a seminar for rescue workers I recently attended, we were told never to guess or make assumptions about a dog's past or a dog's present preferences, and simply to list the facts: what we'd observed, what background information may have been given or confirmed. Ideally, this also should be the case with breed descriptors.

When a dog is labeled a "pit bull," the dog often is automatically stripped of its individuality -- even by reputable pit bull rescues. Some, for example, will not adopt "pit bulls" into homes with dogs of the same gender as pit bulls have a greater propensity to aggress toward other dogs. But many "pit bulls" likely have no ancestry tied to a particular breed. All "pit bull" rescues want to set their dogs up for success. How do we make sense of and balance these complications?

Unfortunately, even for a rescue like my own, where we know the pit falls of labeling, it is hard not to label. Indeed, the label is often in the name of the rescue itself, something I struggled with when choosing a moniker. Ultimately, I decided I wanted my organization to be readily identified as a safe harbor for any dog unfortunate enough to be labeled a "pit bull" by a shelter, as, really, all those dogs, no matter their breed, are that much less likely to find their way into loving homes. Tough Love Pit Bull Rescue does not assist American Pit Bull Terriers or American Staffordshire Terriers. We assist the dogs in greatest need of help. And these dogs are pit bulls.

The "pit bull" is a very popular type of dog in America. Imagine how many "shepherds" or "retrievers" or "spaniels" there would be if we grouped all distinct breeds and their mixes into one generalized category like we've done with pit bulls. It is not surprising then, that "pit bulls" make up the bulk of dogs killed at many shelters, or appear more frequently as the actors in bite incidents (yes, I know this is a loaded statement, but for simplicity's sake, let's assume media bias is irrelevant). Last week a shelter employee told my co-director that a full 50 of the dogs at their facility (which houses 300 dogs at capacity) were "pit bulls." That's a lot of pit bulls.

The problems with labeling "pit bulls" in shelters are twofold (1) As discussed above, "pit bulls" are much less likely to be adopted than other "breeds" and (2) liberal labeling of mixed-breed dogs as "pit bulls" leaves these dogs susceptible to breed discriminatory legislation and gives BDL proponents an argument to expand the definition of a "pit bull" legally. We certainly do not want to give teeth to any discriminatory movement by handing them a very large, very general conglomeration of "pit bulls" that they now must control. So, really, is the problem with such generic labeling simply an issue of attached social implications?

In the long run, though, I think the "pit bull" generalization will backfire on BDL proponents and prove legally useful in contesting BDL. That is, if the term is used as liberally as it is, it eventually will lose all appreciable meaning or significance. It will no longer be solely attached to the American Pit Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier, or any other breed with a history of baiting or fighting (a point courts continue to cling to). If this were to happen, there would be no viable legal argument that a "pit bull" is distinct from other dogs based on a set of historic and present-day characteristics.

So, I posit this: Is it possible for the "pit bull" label to be dually helpful and detrimental?

At the end of the day, at least here at Tough Love, a "pit bull" is still a dog and will always be treated as an individual. So, even if every dog of every breed were labeled a "pit bull," it wouldn't change how we interact with our rescues. Thus, concerning our interactions with individual dogs, the label matters only when we allow it to matter.

And when dealing with everyone else, perhaps the solution is not to discourage labeling, but to educate and to transform the label into something different than it is today -- something positive.

To My Volunteers

In the eight years that I've been involved with dog rescue organizations, I've seen some truly terrible things. Just when I think I've seen the foulest crime against a living organism, something comes along to one-up that. I won't sugar coat it: rescuing can be emotionally trying, downright defeating work at times. It can be a constant reminder of the enormity of the problem at hand and the nearly insurmountable amount of work to be done. When you are working with pit bull type dogs, this burden is larger still.

Working in rescue ensures that you cannot remain safely ensconced in the world of the typical or average. You will learn to operate as a reflection of extremes. Encountering the perverse capabilities of humans falls on one end of the spectrum. But I don't want to reflect any further on this today. I want to reflect on the other extreme: the mind-blowing outpouring of human goodness that I experience every single day as a part of my rescue work.

I've faced my share of struggles in life. I worked hard to get where I am. And I wholeheartedly believe that most people are essentially decent. And most people want to help. Now, not all people are leaders, and not all people possess the initiative to translate desire into action, but it's enough that the desire exists. The hallmark trait of a good leader is the ability to inspire action.

When I started Tough Love Pit Bull Rescue in 2008 (as Revamped Rovers, with no breed focus) I worked pretty much alone. And I stayed small. But in August 2011, I joined forces with two inspirational people, with strengths completely complimentary to my own, to help the most challenging canine demographic out there: the pit bulls. We've been growing quickly. Kris and Susan are amazing and they have helped me nurture and build upon my vision. But, we have formal agreements in place to run the organization, so it's technically expected (although not any less appreciated and I certainly recognize the immense amount of work they've invested in our projects).

What has really blown my mind about the Tough Love community are my volunteers.

Now, working in rescue I've collaborated with many skilled and productive people. But there is something about my Tough Love Volunteers that is extra special. When I make a request, that request is doubled. When I have an idea, I see immediate action.

Beautiful "adopt me" bandannas made by Nicole 

When we encounter a problem, I see instant initiative via novel solutions.

Three of about 20 money jars Judy made and distributed for the rescue. Judy also is organizing a garage sale for us. 

The zeal and energy my volunteers consistently emanate is just awesome. I have never been so impressed by a group of people. They make my job infinitely easier.

I'd like to think I keep up pretty well on my "thank you's" but if ever I don't, please remember, volunteers, that I am eternally grateful for all you've given me. Tough Love would not exist without your collective efforts, and I mean that. Because, when you help me help dogs, I receive the ipso facto assistance to these needy animals, but I also receive constant affirmation that people are inherently good. You give me the energy and motivation to continue forward. We are so much greater than ourselves when we work together and will will do proportionately greater things. What you all have given me is priceless.

Cover-a-Bull: Who will insure your home when you're living with a pit bull type dog

We've had at least one adopter in the past couple months who had some trouble securing home owner's insurance with the prospect of their new pit bull family member. I decided to make some calls to Arizona insurance companies and have compiled a list of companies and their coverage options for pit bull owners.

The two companies that maintained they do not cover multiple "vicious" breeds handed out that information as a way to justify not covering pit bull type dogs -- an interesting reaction, but certainly not something redeeming in my book.

I'd like to add that, for the record, with the exception of Progressive and Mr. Insurance, every agent I talked to from a company that did not insure pit bulls stated: "It's not the breed, it's how they're raised. They have a bad reputation they don't deserve." Many had positive pit bull experiences they shared with me. One woman even told me she had nightmares after Michael Vick was arrested. So, that, at least, is something in my book.

Who will cover you?

1. Country Financial (520.298.2100) -- YES Kent, the agent, was very nice.
2. Mike Pierce Insurance -- NO pit bulls, Akitas, doberman pinschers, or rottweilers
3. Farmers (via the Insurance House) -- NO on't provide liability coverage for pit bulls
4. State Farm (520.323.2253) -- YES
5. American Family -- NO
6. Geico (as a broker for multiple insurance companies) -- YES but limited to $100,000 in liability and $1,000 in medical
7. ABC Insurance (broker) -- currently NO but she will call me back if that changes
8. Allstate -- NO
9. Mr. Insurance, Inc. -- Representative didn't know, and she was rude. I got a call back, and the second representative indicated NO "vicious" breeds. They will, however issue a policy on your home, but will not give liability coverage.
10. Arizona Home Insurance -- NO
11. Progressive (as a broker) -- NO, and she was extremely rude
12. Nationwide -- NO
13. Liberty Mutual -- YES, but conditioned on (1) current on shots (2) spayed/neutered (3) the dog is not living with kids under 12 (4) not within 1/4 mile of a school and (5) no prior incidents; also the agent indicated that established insureds will be given preference.

If you know of any other companies in Arizona that do cover pit bulls, please let me know and I will add them to the list. I will compile a list for Washington in the coming weeks.

I have one suggestion, as well. Even if you do not have a pit bull type dog, choose a company that does not discriminate against pit bulls. Urge friends to do the same. Financial loss speaks more loudly than words to any company. Act, and you will change the world.

Take a Pit Bull Moment

Operating a pit bull rescue and working as a breed advocate has its challenges. And it certainly can be lonely. But, when I feel down or frustrated, I step back, inhale deeply, and take a Pit Bull Moment. A Pit Bull Moment is a brief moment in time where we advocates shut out those constantly whirring thoughts in our minds, and the opinions of opponents that rattle around like so many marbles in a jar. It's a moment where we take the time to hug the dogs that we know on a personal level to be sweet and loving. It's during these moments that I experience a renewed rush of passion for what I do.

I'd like to share some of my most recent Pit Bull Moments:

These are the moments where I just don't care who hates my foster dogs before even meeting them. Or who has banned them from their city limits. Or who crosses the street with their children when they come near. Because, in these moments, I forget about all those people. And I forget about all the work left to do before people understand what I understand. These little moments are the reasons I do what I do. And you know what? It's always worth it. Because the dogs are always worth it.

Somebody's Trash (Farrah's Story)

Farrah was found as a stray in a rural part of Washington state. She had full milk bags but no puppies. Farrah ended up at animal control where she waited in her little concrete cell for someone to love her. And she waited. Although Farrah was a staff favorite, always greeting workers with her little piggy tail twirling in excitement, adopters chose smaller dogs. They chose younger dogs. They chose different breeds. Because Farrah is a pit bull, no one took her home. And so she waited, for me.

Farrah, the day I rescued her

But I don't want to talk about Farrah's past. Because Farrah was discarded by her sorry excuse for an owner like a piece of trash. To me, she is a treasure.

It's hard to explain the bond I have with Farrah, and I'm not sure why she, among the many, many dogs I've fostered, is so very special to me. But she is. Farrah likes to rest her head on my knee when I'm working. She stares up at me with her soulful amber eyes and there's a longing in her gaze that often moves me to tears. I think it's because Farrah has a beautiful soul.

Those eyes 

There are two types of dog owners: those who view dogs as utilitarian in nature -- good for breeding, guarding, or work of some sort; and those who view dogs as complex, feeling individuals -- family. I'm sure these groups may overlap at times, but it is only those people who qualify for the second category who will ever know their dog's soul.

Very often rescue dogs come to me with starving souls. They may have been fairly well cared for physically (or maybe not), but they routinely have been deprived of any emotional gratification -- they are starved for affection, love, and trust. This is what feeds a dog's soul. Dogs like Farrah come into rescue running on empty, and take every moment they can to soak up as much love as they can. Farrah's desire for love is so urgent it's almost palpable.

It is not only this desire, but what Farrah gives in return that drives me to go the extra mile for her. It is this exchange that motivates me to unroll my sleeping bag and spend the night on the floor of our office instead of in my comfy bed upstairs. Truthfully, though, nothing I can do for her will ever measure up to the loyalty and devotion she gives to me.

Farrah is not the most striking dog in the world. She is the dog you pass by at the shelter without a second glance. She is brown and stout and still needs to lose a couple post-puppy pounds. But her inner beauty is so captivating that it completely overpowers her "imperfections"; Farrah just shines. Farrah is the kind of dog who does everything you ask and more. And she does it with joy. Farrah is the kind of dog who follows you into the bathroom so she can have a few more seconds of head scratches. Farrah is the kind of dog who watches at the window for hours until you return home to her. But these are things you couldn't know unless you took the time to learn them. Many people prefer puppies because they are blank slates ready for filling; they are simple. I prefer dogs because they are complex, developed, and they have wisdom to share if you pay attention to such things.

All dogs have the potential to teach us something about ourselves just as much as we have the potential to teach them. It is this complex interweaving of relationships that founds the powerful bonds we have with our dogs. It is a respect for and use of this relationship that perpetuates these bonds.

I wish I could tell Farrah I will be leaving her one day -- or, rather, she will be leaving me, on to better things. It breaks my heart to know, as I walk away, she will probably  be wondering why she can't come with me. But I know Farrah will be home forever when she leaves me. And that home will be a place where she can shine forever.