It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a week away. With all of the tragedy in the world of late, we are reminded to be thankful for our blessings. We are also reminded of the impact that even small acts of kindness can have on others who are less fortunate.

Recently I came across a local organization called Connecticut Pit Bull Resources (CPR) that offers many important services to assist people and their pit bulls, not only at holiday time but all year long. Today I would like to say a few words about the individuals who make up CPR – who they are, what they do, why I support them and why I encourage others to do the same. These folks do what they do out of the kindness of their hearts, without judgement or monetary compensation. The magnitude of their contributions to pit bull owners and their dogs is immeasurable. They are truly an inspiration to all of us who seek to make the world a little bit better place.
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Connecticut Pit Bull Resources was founded in January, 2015 by the husband and wife team of Bill Murphy and Catherine McKenna. After adopting three pit bulls of their own and fostering twenty-four others, they have a wealth of experience and the desire to help other pit bull owners by advocating for, educating about and celebrating these often misunderstood dogs. 

Currently they are working tirelessly to change Connecticut laws that allow insurance companies to discriminate against people who own pit bulls and certain other breeds of dogs. They also provide information about responsible ownership and available resources to empower dog owners and keep pets in their homes. Recently they have helped a number of people by providing referrals to trainers when there are behavioral issues, talking clients through difficult situations, providing information on local pet pantries and low cost veterinary care, matching families with pit bull friendly housing; the list goes on and on.

It would be easy to write volumes about the amazing things Bill and Catherine are doing but instead I recommend taking the time to visit ctpitbull.org and the CPR Facebook Page to learn all about their wonderful work. You will see as I did, that everything they do comes from a place of compassion and a genuine desire to effect positive change.

On a seasonal level CPR has initiated the“Merry Pitmas Project,” because Bill and Catherine believe that "shelter dogs deserve Christmas too." Last year they tried a small scale project. They spent Christmas Eve at the New London, CT Animal Shelter, bringing gifts and joy to Lexus and Wreath, two pit bulls who did not have a real home for the holidays. 

They purchased beds, blankets, toys, food and treats for the dogs out of their own pockets. They spent several hours playing with Lexus and Wreath and watching them open their presents. This year they hope to give many more shelter dogs a “Merry Pitmas.” It is an honor and a privilege to support them toward accomplishing this goal.

​You may think dogs don’t know the difference between Christmas and any other day and you may be right. However, if you have any doubts about the difference Bill and Catherine made for Lexus and Wreath last year, take one look at this video and you will understand. After watching the video, I knew I wanted to become involved and hopefully you will too.

​If you follow my Facebook page you know that your purchase of “Loyalty Unleashed” or “Loyalty Unleashed II” all this month will help support the Merry Pitmas Project. For each book sold, five dollars will be donated to the Merry Pitmas gift fund. Or, if you’d prefer you may donate directly to CPR from the wish list that can be found here.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Bill and Catherine for all of their kindness and devotion, for all they do to give pit bulls and their owners a better existence and also for giving some shelter dogs a chance to experience the love and joy of the holiday season.

Best of all I am happy to report that, in large part because of the Merry Pitmas video, both Lexus and Wreath were quickly adopted into loving homes.

I look forward to working with and supporting Connecticut Pit Bull Resources in the months and years to come.

​Are you looking for a unique holiday gift for the dog owners on your list? Or perhaps something for your own dog(s)? Well, especially for those of us who are already experiencing the cooler weather and chilly nights, look no further. Pajamas for Pit Bulls has what you need. Don’t have a pit bull? No worries there. Pajamas for Pit bulls has something for every breed and every size dog from 5 to 150 pounds.

I had the chance to chat a bit with founder and owner Stephanie Karr and learn more about her, how she got started and how she uses her business as a platform to portray bully breeds in a more positive light.

​Photo credits Stephanie Karr

Q. Stephanie, tell us a little bit about yourself.

A. I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada with my husband Art Collins and our two canine buddies Thor, an American Staffordshire and Zeus, an American Pit Bull Terrier who is a rescue from California. We also have Mister Mookie, our feline friend, a Veiled Chameleon named Tattoo, a Brazilian Bird-eater tarantula like spider Grizilda and a King Snake we call Phoenix.  In addition, we have an indoor aquarium and outdoor Koi pond. 

Besides my business, I also work a full time job in inside sales/customer service. When I am not creating onesies or hanging out in my "zoo" I like to enjoy the outdoors; hiking, camping and spending time with my family.

I have two adult children and I am new Grandma ...so that super fun and exciting.
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Q. Where did the idea for Pajamas for Pit Bulls come from?

A. I have always owned pitties. I have been a pit bull mom for over thirty years. I always made my dogs warm coats but more recently our boy Thor, who is very thin coated, wasn’t loving the cold Canada -30 C (-22F) winters and refused to go outside without being forced. Dog park and day walks were out of the question. Having sewn my whole life, one day I designed a four legged whole body suit "onesie", open belly and bum opening that allowed both boys and girls to do their outside business with no worry or mess so the jammies can be worn indoors or out.

I made the first prototype in November 2013,  By the second pair I had the basic design I wanted. Sizing was my next big challenge, as all dogs come in different shapes and sizes.

At first I made only Large and Extra Large sizes as I was catering to one particular rescue and breed; the group we adopted Zeus from. I shared photos with the group and response was overwhelming. Everyone wanted one. Pajamas for Pit Bulls was born.
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My design is always under review for improvements for size and fit based on what my customers want.

Q. Who is your market?

A. At the beginning I made pajamas mainly for bullies but soon I realized that everyone wanted them, so now I make pajamas for every dog breed from 5-150 pounds. The standard design is easily adapted to fit all. I also do custom modification for those special breeds with odd body shapes or tripawds
 
Q. Why do you think people find them so cute?

A,The pajamas assist in demystifying the “bad dog” image – people don’t see a pit bull but instead they just see a cute dog in jammies. 


Q. What are your plans for world domination in the dog pajama market?

A. I hope to increase exposure and increase sales along with marketing and promotional opportunities through a Kickstarter Project.

I have plans for expanding my fabric offering to include cotton prints to better serve my customers who live in warmer climates and don't require warm fleece but want jammies for cooler nights or sun protection. This would also provide more of a year-round offering.

If I had my way there would be a pair of my pajamas on every dog on the planet. Realistically though, if I could provide pajamas for just a fraction of the millions of the dogs in shelters or rescues in North America it would be a step in the right direction.


Q. What do you want people to know about pit bulls and how do your pajamas change the image that people generally have about the bully breeds?

A. I want people to know they are commonly misunderstood and not the vicious dogs the media portrays. They are very affectionate companions, they know when you are happy or sad and they are more than happy to snuggle or play. They are also very loyal and smart. They can be stubborn but once you let them know who is boss it’s a happy life for all.

Usually when one is out and about with a pit bull, people see them as the media has portrayed them - as vicious dogs, and walk around them or avoid them. But while when out with their pajamas on, people see the pajamas first. By then the dog has made contact via kisses and more kisses and butt wiggling and tail wagging. The ice is broken and people can see that pit bulls are just dogs. 

As you can see, Pajamas for Pit Bulls is more than just a business. It is a way to help our misunderstood friends find acceptance and friendship in a world that tries to stigmatize them.

What a fun and awesome way to make a difference!

You can read more about Pajamas for Pit Bulls here.

Best of all, Pajamas for Pit Bulls is celebrating its first birthday and now through November 16th all pajamas are $5.00 off per pair and shipping is half price. Only a few days are left to take advantage of this special offer so don't delay. Order yours today by visiting pajamas4pitbulls.com.

Thank you for visiting, Stephanie. We wish you much success!

 According to dictionary.com, discrimination is defined as "treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction for or against a person or thing, based on the group, class or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit."

Discrimination by insurance companies, against homeowners who own dogs and landlords whose tenants own dogs, is a very real problem. It is almost always based on the breed or appearance of the dog and not on the dog itself. I have seen it and I have been personally affected by it.
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I was denied homeowner's insurance by more than thirty companies because I own a bully breed dog and did not attempt to hide it. It does not matter that my dog is always kept on a leash, that he is neutered, that my yard is fenced or that there has not been an insurance claim against him. None of these companies would even offer me a homeowner’s policy.

Pit bull owners are not the only victims. Owners of other breeds, including Rottweilers, Akitas, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Huskies, Malamutes, Chow Chows, Great Danes, all Mastiff breeds and others are also targeted by insurance companies. To make matters worse, most insurance companies base their emphasis on the way a dog looks, without regard to DNA, so numerous mixed breed dogs are included as well as purebred dogs that simply look like targeted breeds.

While insurance companies try to justify this practice by claiming that dog bites make up a significant portion of claims and dog owners pose more of a risk than non-dog owners, the other side of the coin is that the vast majority of dogs have never bitten anyone but their owners are penalized anyway. Insurance companies need to recognize this, not lump dogs into categories and stop punishing responsible dog owners.

When it comes to dog bites, human ignorance also comes into play as many dog bites can be avoided by understanding a dog’s body language. People can also reduce the risk of being bitten by using simple common sense. Do not attempt to pet a dog you do not know. Teach your children respect for animals. Do not stick your fingers inside a fence or car window if there is a dog present. Do not get in a dog’s face or startle it from behind. Do not stare at a dog. Remember these are not people – they are animals, and animals act on instinct.
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Some states are taking measures to stop discrimination by insurance companies. In my state of Connecticut a bill (HB 5361) was introduced before the legislature this year, motivated in large part by an organization known as Connecticut Votes for Animals. Unfortunately, it was not acted on before the end of the legislative session so now the process must be repeated from the beginning – and, thanks to the dedication of many – it will. 

Other grass roots efforts are underway spearheaded by Animal Farm Foundation. In Connecticut we also have an amazing organization called Connecticut Pit Bull Resources (CPR). Whether you live in Connecticut or elsewhere, I strongly encourage you to visit the CPR website, specifically ctpitbull.org/insurance. There you will find a wealth of information about the problem, who it affects, how it affects them, why breed discrimination doesn't work, what people can do to help, assistance for people who are currently being affected, and information to help renters learn about their rights.
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If you want to see change, one good place to start and something we can all do is to write or call our legislators.  Make it known that we do not support insurance discrimination and let them know we live in their districts and we vote.

​I cannot encourage this enough. Get involved. Be part of the solution. Remember, even if you are not affected now, as long as these practices are allowed to continue, you and your dog could be targeted next.