It was almost a year ago (April, 2014) that I stumbled on a great little pet food and supply store in the heart of downtown Hartford, CT. I had come for a parade and due to leaving a little later than planned I was not able to park in my usual place and had to take a different route to the parade.

It turned out to be my good fortune to find Naturally Dogs and Cats, LLC. Little did I know it at the time that it would turn out to be the beginning of a wonderful friendship and the venue for one of my very first book signings. It was also my introduction to a partner organization of the store, Kenway’s Cause – a foundation set up to help the stray dogs of Hartford for which I now volunteer. As I always say, everything happens for a reason!

The owner of the store, Bob Marshall was kind enough to take time out of his day to discuss his background in the pet industry and the growth of his business over the past year.

So, without further ado, I bring you today’s guest, Bob Marshall, Owner of Naturally Dogs and Cats, LLC.

We offer events and socials to attract customers into the store after hours and on weekends.  We have sponsored events for Dog Star Rescue and several benefits for Kenway’s Cause.

Naturally Dogs and Cats just recently held a party to celebrate its first birthday. My foster dog Buffy and I were honored to attend! 

You can follow all of the store's upcoming events and activities on Facebook so please check out and like the store's page!

Thank you Bob for the inside look. Here at loyalpitbulllove.com we always encourage people to support local small businesses. Here’s wishing Bob and Naturally Dogs and Cats a very successful future.

During my recent visit to San Diego, CA, I stumbled upon an adoption event where I was fortunate enough to meet Max (a Puggle) and Luther (an Olde English Bulldog) and their humans Kari Sherman and Carey Laubenberg. Max and Luther are easy to notice – a bit of an odd couple who are the very best of friends.

Max and Luther are also authors of the book “True Tails from the Dog Park,” an adorable collection of tips and observations written from the perspective of the dogs. As the cover proclaims, “These are tales only a dog could tell.”

Of course, since Max and Luther are authors, there was a natural connection and I wanted to know more about them, so as soon as I returned home, I reached out to Kari and Carey who were kind enough to take the time to tell me their story.

Max and Luther met at their local dog park (Torrey Pines) in early 2014 and instantly became best friends. Within a very short time so did Carey and Kari who found they have a similar sense of humor.

Although neither had ever written professionally, Kari and Carey used to amuse each other with stories of what their dogs did and they love to watch other people and their dogs interact at the dog park. So many funny things happen at the dog park that they thought it would make a great book. Carey found a publisher and an illustrator and the book was born!

The book was written with other dog lovers in mind hoping they would see the humor in the stories. They hoped to educate in a funny way to help owners with some of the common mistakes they had noticed. While they wrote the books with adults in mind, the stories and lessons translate well with the older kids. As the book is written from the dog's perspective, it adds a fresh take on the stories. They always imagined this is what the dogs would say if they could talk.

You can find Max and Luther (and Carey and Kari) out and about all the time. They are scheduled for a number of Barnes and Noble book signings in San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles over the next few months. They have also recently partnered with the San Diego Humane Society. They hold book signings at events and donate a portion of the proceeds to the organization. They have found it has been a great way to give back to such a great cause. Events are being constantly updated on their website.

Follow the adventures of Max and Luther on Facebook and also check out their website, blog and newsletter.

Thanks to Max and Luther (and Carey and Kari) for your dedication and generosity to shelter pets and for taking the time to visit loyalpitbulllove.com.

I am very excited today to introduce you to Rachel Goldstein of California, who has graciously agreed to be our guest blogger. You may know her better as MyTwo Pitties on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger.

Thank you so much Rachel for taking the time to write this phenomenal post and for all you do to promote a positive image of our favorite breed. 

Without further ado, meet Rachel, and her pets including Kaya and Norman, better known as My Two Pitties.


Kaya and Norman are my two Pit Bull mixes...pit-mutts as I like to call them. But how did they come into my life and change it forever?

Kaya was a dream at home but so over-eager with other dogs when we were out. I worked hard on her training but it was clear she needed a dog friend. There was no doubt in my mind that I would want another Pit Bull or pit mix. I thought it would be a tall order finding the right match for her. But there he was. Norman was a stray puppy who found himself in a crowded city shelter. Like Kaya, I fell for him the second I laid eyes on him. They adored each other from the start and they've been best friends ever since. 

Norman is also a certified therapy dog. Several times per month we visit a local hospital and spend time with their patients. Norman is really in his element there. He's slow as molasses to learn new tricks but he's got incredible intuition. He knows when to put on a show, wiggling his butt, flopping over for belly rubs, vigorously licking outstretched faces. And in an instant he'll switch to standing like a statue with his head on someone's knee. He always seems to know what people want and need. He gives everyone there his whole heart. I swear he makes a checklist when entering a room so that no one is left out. One day he laid like a (giant) baby in a teen boy's arms. "I think he's staring into my soul, " the boy laughed. 

Please feel free to follow us on Instagram @mytwopitties! We're also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger under the same name. 

And we here at www.loyalpitbulllove.com/ thank you Rachel for being our guest this week! 

I first became acquainted with Hounds Healing Heroes (HHH) back in August, 2013. A friend involved in rescue told me about this amazing organization in Northwestern Connecticut that trains shelter dogs to assist individuals (mostly but not limited to Veterans) dealing with anxiety, PTSD, TBI, depression and other trauma related illnesses. These dogs provide these individuals and their families with companionship and emotional support.

I have since attended several fundraising events for HHH, the most recent being this past Saturday. It was both emotional and inspirational to hear from some of the clients who have benefited from the services of HHH and to see the support that this organization offers them day in and day out.

I had the opportunity to ask a few questions of the founder of Hounds Healing Heroes, Michelle (Shelly) Cote’. What I learned gave me an even greater appreciation for all that this group does.

The statistics are alarming. Every day over twenty lives are lost to suicide due to PTSD and related illnesses, and it has been proven that the companionship of a pet can help with the healing process. 

Shelly has worked in rescue for many years. She founded HHH after a VA counselor approached her about one of her rescue dogs for a particular Veteran with PTSD. They both knew what dogs can do for humans, especially those who have given up and feel they no longer fit in the world. Shelley understood the challenges Veterans face as her own father, a Vietnam Veteran, suffered from PTSD.                                                                           

HHH grew from there. Referrals usually come from the VA or by word of mouth.

Hounds Healing Heroes consists of a small group of volunteers who take in special needs shelter dogs, who likely would otherwise not be adopted and rehabilitate them in a home environment. The dogs are generally between one and three years old and must be able to function in social settings. They may be any breed, in fact Shelly often takes pit bulls into the program and has found that they excel!

                                                            Laila Jean  - Before and After

The process of matching a dog with an owner begins with interviewing the client to see if there are any physical limitations that would limit the size of the dog he or she is able to handle and if the client is partial to a particular breed or breeds. Shelly then finds out what the client’s triggers are – crowds, strangers, unfamiliar places – and then selects dogs with suitable temperaments. She has found that usually the dogs inherently know if it is the right match and if the bond will develop naturally.

All dogs in the program go through basic obedience training based on the Canine Good Citizen Handbook. Then training is expanded to meet the individual client’s needs. This may include scanning a crowd, being aware of who is approaching and alerting the owner. Dogs are also taught to sit and face away from Mom or Dad and in crowd control – forming a barrier so the owner will have more personal space.

The program continues to support clients and their dogs long after the placements are made, providing supplies and veterinary care for those who cannot afford it. HHH also has a food bank and a foster network in place for emergencies. It offers opportunities to continue training and anything else that is necessary to foster a successful partnership between the owner and the dog.

To fully understand what Hounds Healing Heroes does, it is necessary to hear from those who have adopted dogs and realize the difference this program has made in their lives. Listening to some of the HHH clients made a lasting impression on me and is one I will not forget.

Thank you Shelly and all the other volunteers who comprise Hounds Healing Heroes. This program helps both Veterans and civilians to overcome the stigma attached to their illnesses and be able to function in the world. The unconditional love provided by their companion dogs helps them in ways that no humans ever could.

It is an honor to support Hounds Healing Heroes.

Please visit http://www.houndshealingheros.com/ for more information.