Pit Bull Notes from Seattle

Cover — 2003 Pit Bull Project Calendar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This calendar features 12 familes that have adopted American Pit Bull Terriers through our program and honors the familes that educate people every day about the plight the breed.

Pit Bull Project is dedicated to Anne Holte. Her work makes not only the families you see here possible but so many more. Since 1999 Anne has placed over 200 dogs and last year alone, she was notified of 1300 pit bulls needing homes. Unfortunately, the numbers increase each year. 

January

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunny was purchased on the streets of Tacoma at 4 1/2 weeks old. The owner kept her one night and then dropped her off at the Humane Society because he couldn’t take care of her. The next day she was released to the program. Sunny has starred in three obediance training classes, and Nadine takes her ot the veterinarian’s office where she woks every day.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=173

February

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sally Cinnamon joined the program as a stray at 6 months old. Her health was poor when she arrived from the Bremerton Animal Shelter. She was malnourished, full of worms, and had mange. She nows lives with Gary and Emma who were expecting their first child when I took this photograph.

March

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ginger was about one year old when she came to the program as a stray. When she was found running loose in Seattle, it was evident she had very recently had a litter, but the whereabouts of the puppies was unknown. She was malnourished and displayed signs of having been abused. Anne Holte descirbed her as the “lady who sang the blues. She was so vocal we thought she was Billie Holiday come back to life.”

April

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woody joined the program as a stray when he was five months old. Hikers found Sissy camping by herself in the woods in the Hood Canal area. They could not offer her a home so she came to Anne and adopted her to Kelly Taylor.

May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raphael, Anne Holte’s son, is a volunteer and advocate for the rescue program. He has helped care for and place more than 200 dogs since 1999.

Their work demystifies the pit bull by challenging the stereotypes that lead to fear, abuse, and euthanasia. Anne estimates that 50 pit bulls are euthanized in the state of Washington every day. 

June

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meghan (formerly Fagen) was rescued at 4 and 1/2 weeks old from a backyard mud pit without bedding or water. She was emaciated and full of worms. The program brought her back to health with medicine and love. She now lives with MaryAnn in Portland where she enjoys the company of six other pit bulls.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=105 

July

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louie joined the program at 3 and a 1/2 months old after being released by a local animal shelter that does not adopt pit bulls to the general public. Currently, most Washington state animal shelters euthanize all *bully* breed over 6 months of age.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=302

August

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruu was rescued from being permanently chained up in a backyard at four months old. When he joined the program, he was emaciated, covered in open sores, and could barely walk (x-rays confirmed his right front leg had been broken when he was several weeks old).  Jason  and Patrick adopted Ruu and taught him about adventure and possibilities.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=1

September

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Blackie was picked up as a stray by Animal Control. After patiently waiting a year for the right home, the Hilliards came along. Soon after Mocha also joined the Hilliards. She belogned to a litter of nine that was removed from a motel in a drug-related situation when they were just weeks old. As one of a handful of volunteers, Eric (seen on the cover with Mocha) came down every day to help care for the litter.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=252

October

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sampson’s previous owners were breeding pit bulls for drug money. They were arrested and at the trial one month later, it was discovered 20 pit bulls had been abandoned. Animal Control was notified and arrived to find 10 had died, five required euthanisia, and five survived. Sampson was one of the five that survived. He now belongs to Carol.

November

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emma came to the program at about one year old. She had just had a litter of puppies, was skin and bones, had not been socialized, and showed signs of having been beaten. But Emma was willing to be a good dog, and the Hyman family has given Emma the opportunity to be just that.

http://www.pitbullnotes.com/?p=252 

December

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toby joined the program from Olympia as an owner-surrender at five weeks old. The owner could not take care of this puppy that was too young to be away from it smother. Toby now lives with five kids, two dogs, a snake, a geck, fish, and a turtle.