REASONS TO LOVE THE EASTER PIT BULL

Happy Easter and a belated Happy Passover to all our 2 legged friends. While bunnies are very nice (sometimes even a bit scary, for me, anyway),  Lou and I think that perhaps it's time update the Spring poster creature to something more cuddly and handsome, like maybe a Pit Bull. Based on his special, LOVE MY PIT BULL, that just aired on Nat Geo Wild, the world's most famous dog man, Cesar Millan, might agree. During the 1-hour show, he discussed the history of the breed (the 'gameness' or heart of the Terriers married with the strength and athleticism - don't laugh - of the Bulldog or Boxer), their former reputation as a companion dog and guardian of children (they we're known as the 'Nanny Dog') and the misconceptions surrounding their alleged propensity for unprovoked violence. According to Cesar, it's our human counterparts who deserve the condemnation for mistreating us and then channeling our natural desire to please into violence against other animals and people. If you missed it, you can see some great photos on the Nat Geo site, and you can read Cesar's article, '6 Reasons To Love Pit Bulls' at Parade.com. 

Cesar and 'Junior'

Thanks to the hoopla created by GIMME SHELTER, whenever people ask, "Is Tanner all Pit Bull or a mix?", Lou and Eugenie now answer, "He's part Pit, and part Publicity Hound!" I please guilty, especially since we just taped our first TV interview for the City of Calabasas, CA "Author's Night" with host and former mayor Karyn Foley. As usual, my chiacchierone (chatterbox) human did the yakking while I gave the show an air or gravitas, looking regal and serene as the camera crew did their thing. Once they tell us, we'll let you know where and when you can check it out. 

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Here are some pix that should bolster our campaign to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Pittie.

Tanner & Dutch

Pit Bulls…inherently dangerous...to bones and squeaky toys.

Buzz LaBracio and his 6-month-old 'grandson'

Another 'Dangerous' Pit Bull

BLUE RIBBON WEARING, FUND RAISING 'PET OF THE WEEK'

Saturday marked the end of a hurricane week for me, and my human companions. On Sunday, March 30, we strutted our stuff at the 12th Annual Avondale Charity Pet Show where they  broke their previous fundraising records, the proceeds going to The Pet Rescue Center in Coachella. A certain Pit Bull Johnson and his human Boswell sold copies of GIMME SHELTER while my 'mom' Eugenie, displayed her amazing stone sculptures. We met tons of great people and pets including Joan & Kathleen Hopp, Kathleen's son, Colton, his pal, Connor, and a super fine petite hottie named Jenny, and Joan's sleek, shy pit girl, Nikki. As a 'Thank You' for my part, the Avondale gang presented me with my first blue ribbon, which I'll always treasure. 

A Blue Ribbon Day

E's mom, Melissa with 'Jenny'!

We'd barely returned from Palm Springs when Eugenie opened the Malibu Surfside News and shrieked, "Look who's in the paper!" It was a picture of me as 'Pet Of The Week', curled up in my bed, the essence of a dignified yet lovable pit bull. Seems mom slipped it to the paper on the QT, the sweet little rat.

Saturday, April 4,  meant another long car trip, this time to Lemon Park in Simi Valley for their 4th Annual Bark For Life cancer fundraiser. It was a gorgeous day in a gorgeous spot where Lou & I reprised our roles as 'Grand Marshals', surrounded by gangs of dogs and humans all strolling to raise money for a noble cause. Kudos of organizer Laura Leonard (rescue mom for 3 dogs) and her legion of volunteers and sponsors. We have one more event left on the calendar - a cable TV interview. After that, I'm taking a break and demanding a raise in my 'pay' of chicken treats and squeaky toys. Either that, or Lou can dress up like a pit bull and do it all himself.

The 'family' @ Bark For Life

Lou & Tanner with Doug & his rescue Cane Corso, Sasha