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Pit Bull Worthy Times

A monthly digest of pit bull tender loving care. We also support fun facts and links locally and globally, sharing the most up-to-date information available! 
Those of us who are homeowners know all too well that most insurance companies DO discriminate if you own certain breeds of dogs. Luckily there are some that don't. While not all of these are created equal, here are some options for owners of pit bulls and other unfairly maligned breeds.  

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Spotlight on Naturally Dogs And Cats, LLC

3/30/2015

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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!
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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.
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In 2006 my partner John and I were looking to adopt a dog.  John’s Beagle had passed away a few years previous and our house felt empty.  John wanted two Jack Russell Terriers.  Ironically, he gave me a Christmas gift that I didn’t care for and I returned it and put the money towards a new mattress.  When I went into the bedding store, I had a long conversation with the sales clerk and our discussion turned to dogs.  She said that she did pet rescues and I joked that she probably had two Jack Russell Terriers that she wanted to get rid of and ironically she did.  Her house was filled with Boxers, Pugs and these two Jack Russells.

We adopted Daisy and George in April of 2006.  When shopping for food for them at our local big box retailer, a sales person turned me on to Nutro Ultra.  Little did I know how this would change my life. I was soon working for Nutro as a pet nutrition specialist and then their trainer.

While with Nutro for four and a half years, I worked in all of the large retail chains and I gained a lot of knowledge. My role was interacting with customers to determine their pet food choices and needs as well as any other products. These personal interactions provided the most valuable information in determining the current and future customer market and trends.

The interactions gave me an opportunity to see what was and was not working for customers. I took this opportunity to do extensive research and find products that are manufactured in the United States and Canada. I also found that providing food and treat options that are made in privately-owned factories versus co-packing is also important to our customers.

After extensive research we started to talk to landlords downtown.  We looked at several places on Pratt Street and Trumbull Street but we were still apprehensive about jumping into this endeavor.
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The in store demonstration program with Nutro ended and I found a lot of free time on my hands and at the same time an article came out in the Hartford Courant about Iconnect, an initiative to bring four new retail storefronts to downtown.  I knew in my heart that this was the opportunity that I had been looking for.

Forty different businesses applied and ultimately four were chosen and we were one of the four.  We were provided an empty storefront that was a big cement box at 100 Trumbull St.  We worked with the city to get the proper ventilation, and fire protection in place and then painted what drywall was in place.  We moved store fixtures in during a snow storm and waited for our stock to arrive a few days later.  On February 27, 2014, Naturally Dogs and Cats opened for business
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We stayed in that storefront from February until August with a small space heater, no air conditioning and no running water until we found a permanent location at 10 Trumbull St., and we opened our doors on August 21, 2014.

What sets us apart from the big box stores is the individual one-on-one customer service. One of the services that we provide is home delivery to the apartment buildings within the Central Business District.

In addition to fulfilling a need for the residents of downtown Hartford, we hope to provide for those commuting to or visiting the city to obtain their pet food and pet supplies. Lastly, we are the only pet store accessible to the commuter bus lines hence bringing healthy options to anyone no matter where they commute to and from Hartford.
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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.
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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.
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Meet Max & Luther - Authors Extraordinaire!

3/23/2015

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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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What is next for Max and Luther? Well, they are currently working on Book II in this series which will be out in the Fall 2015. Book II will also have humorous short stories but instead of tips and advice there will be fun facts and descriptions of the different jobs that dogs perform. They are going with the theme of entertaining and educating at the same time. Max and Luther Publications is also writing a series of articles for the OC Pet Companion and Desert Companion Magazines titled "Travels with Max and Luther". These articles are also written from the dog's perspective and talk about various dog parks, dog friendly restaurants in the Orange County and Palm Springs areas.
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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.

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It's A Dog's Life In San Diego, CA

3/16/2015

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When I went to visit my son and daughter in California last week, little did I know that I was about to experience how much fun it is to be a dog in San Diego, CA.

It began with an adoption event for Second Chance Rescue of San Diego for whom my daughter is a volunteer.
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Later that day we visited Coronado Island and North Dog Beach Run
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The following day, as we headed out to brunch, we came across another adoption event taking place outside the restaurant. It was here that I met Max and Luther and their owners. Max and Luther, of Max and Luther Publications are local celebrity authors and you will read more about them here next week!
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The last stop on the doggie tour, before we turned our attention to other things, was one of three dog parks at Balboa Park.
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These are just a few of the many opportunities for dogs in San Diego to get out and enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather, make friends and have lots of fun. As you can see, life is good if you are lucky enough to be a dog in San Diego!
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Meet Social Media Sensations Kaya and Norman (My Two Pitties)

3/9/2015

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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?
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I first became interested in Pit Bulls after spending a long year pondering my new dog. The one I would get as soon as I had saved up enough money to move out of my parents house. Any dog lover who spends time on the internet will come across the many many articles about Pit Bulls. I'm not talking about the sensationalized sad stories that lack facts, knowledge and common sense. I'm talking about all the ones about Pit Bulls being service dogs, Pit Bulls saving their families lives from fires and intruders, Pit Bulls cuddling with babies, Pit Bulls & cats, Pit Bulls overcoming great adversity and abuse to remain loyal, loving and trusting dogs. All that wrapped up in an adorable dog package. Playful, goofy, affectionate, big fat heads & pointy ears, unique colors, giant smiles & wiggly butts. 
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Once I was on the dog hunt my only search criteria on Petfinder was Pit Bull or pit mix. I fell head over heals for a little mini tiger puppy at the San Francisco shelter. I adopted Kaya with only an airbed and a pile of clothes in my new apartment but it was just perfect. I found out later that Kaya came from a man trying to sell a litter of Pit Bull puppies in a Target parking lot. A nice couple convinced him to hand over the litter so that they could find responsible homes through the shelter. 
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Only a month after I brought Kaya home, I started fostering cats so that she would be socialized from a young age. She adapted quickly and I nicknamed her "The Cat Whisperer" because she was able to turn even the most scaredy of scaredy cats into a dog lover. 
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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. 
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We've also added Gina, the cat, to the family. And she is die-hard in love with Norman. Several times a day she starts purring like crazy, cuddles up close to him, then proceeds to knead on his neck and "nurse" on his lips. Norman never minds. He barely seems to notice. And she quickly falls asleep afterwards, curled up with her guy.
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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. 
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I often don't know what a difference we've made until we're leaving. The staff will tell me about how withdrawn or sad or upset a patient was until we came. Norman is also the first Pit Bull to join their therapy group. They were thrilled to have him and I think he's left quite an impression. Even one of the fellow therapy dogs has a huge crush on him. Norman sneaks him kisses between humans. I've also received countless comments from patients and staff about how they were always scared of Pit Bulls or convinced they were dangerous but not anymore. It's been such an incredible experience! 
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More than anything I love taking my dogs places. On most days we go off leash hiking in the hills. We also love going to parks and beaches. Kaya and Norman love other dogs and meeting new people. Kaya is obsessed with fetch and Norman is obsessed with playing with puppies and little dogs who love big dogs. I've explored so many places I would have never seen if it weren't for them. And met so many great people. My dogs are far more outgoing than I am! 
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Please feel free to follow us on Instagram @mytwopitties! We're also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Blogger under the same name. 
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Thank you Sue for inviting me to write a guest post for your blog and it goes without saying, thank you for all the amazing things you do for Pit Bulls!
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And we here at www.loyalpitbulllove.com/ thank you Rachel for being our guest this week! 
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Spotlight on Hounds Healing Heroes - With Help Comes Hope

3/3/2015

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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.

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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!
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                                                            Laila Jean  - Before and After
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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.

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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.


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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.
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    View Sue Torres's profile on LinkedIn
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    About the Author

    Sue Torres is an animal advocate, rescue volunteer and proud owner of a previously abused pit bull who was slated to be destroyed for being tense and fearful in the shelter environment.

    Inspired by their resilience, devotion and ability to forgive, she now devotes herself to restoring the image of these once-esteemed and cherished family pets. She works tirelessly to promote the adoption of pit bulls in our nation's shelters and change perceptions about this extremely misunderstood and unjustly maligned breed.

    She lives in Connecticut with her rescued pit bull, Mickey. Her first book, Loyalty Unleashed was published in May, 2014 and is avsailable in paperback and e-book formats. Loyalty Unleashed II (her second book) is now available, also in paperback and e-book formats.

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