I like to pass these news stories on because I think it’s important to take note that Amstaffs suffer the same injustices as Pitbulls, which absolutely enrages me. Read on…

GRANGEVILLE – Butch, the American Staffordshire terrier who has been on doggie death row in Craigmont since September, is appealing for his life to the Idaho Supreme Court. Read the rest of this entry »

Unfortunately, a Zurich court has dismissed an appeal that allows bully breeds to live. We will discuss breed legislation, specifically in the US later on, but thought this was news worthy to pass on, for now.

Fighting dogs have been permanently banned in the canton of Zurich after the Federal Court in Lausanne dismissed an appeal from three canine associations.

They argued that not all dogs of the same breed are dangerous but the court said statistics could not be trusted and sited a similar law in the Canton of Valais which banned 12 dangerous breeds in 2007.

The law, introduced in Zurich at the start of the year after a vote in November 2008, prevents the selling and breeding of four breeds of dog including the American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier.

Foreign owners of these breeds must keep their animals muzzled and on a leash when they are travelling in the canton of Zurich.

Thanks to World Radio Switzerland.

For no other reason but out of sheer curiosity did I do a little research to find out which celebrities love Bullies as much as I do. Now, mind you, I know that many of these pooches are actually PitBulls, but I wasn’t able to find out which ones were Amstaffs specifically. As you may know, there is a common school of thought that PitBulls and Amstaffs are the same breed. According to the various kennel clubs, that isn’t true, but for our purposes here today, we’ll combine the two and give you a list of celebrities who love Bully Breeds in general. We’ll pretend Amstaff and PitBull are interchangeable titles…

• Jon Stewart of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart owns two pit bulls: Shamsky & Monkey.
• Ken Howard, award-winning actor from Crossing Jordon, was saved by his pit bull Shadow during a medical crisis.
• Movie star Alicia Silverstone owns a rescued pit bull named Samson.
• Adam Brody gave girlfriend and O.C. co-star Rachel Bilson a pit bull named Penny Lane as a birthday gift.
• Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, TV Personality Rachael Ray and Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker Joey Porter all own two pit bulls!
• Jessica Biel has a pit bull named Tina, and Jessica Alba owns a pit bull puppy.
• President Theodore Roosevelt, President Woodrow Wilson, singer Kevin Federline, radio personality Ira Glass, actor Fred Astaire, General George Patton, actor Michael J. Fox, actor Jan Michael Vincent, actor Jack Dempsy, Thomas Edison, singer Madonna, movie star Brad Pitt, actress Bernadette Peters, comedian Sinbad, actress Linda Blair, actor Humphrey Bogart, musician Usher, comedian Mel Brooks, actress Ann Bancroft, singer Pink, actress Eliza Dushku and actress Kelli Williams are just a few other celebrities who own or have owned a pit bull.

Thanks to Cesarsway.com.

I ran across this heart warming story from the Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

There are my two American pit bull terrier/American Staffordshire terriers, aka pit bulls, taking a time out and relaxing in a bit of warm sun shining through the window on a cold winter day.

Charlie, the white dog with the gray spot on his face, is a year and a half old. The vet guesses that Annie, the grey dog, is around 3 years old. They are both rescues from Country Kennel Bully Rescue in Akron, Indiana. Charlie was actually found as a young puppy, sitting in someone’s yard in Louisiana after hurricane Gustav hit. He was turned into a local animal shelter, where he was treated for pneumonia.

The shelter was so overwhelmed with dogs from the hurricane that Country Kennel Bully Rescue agreed to drive down and meet the shelter volunteers and take some of the dogs back to their facility.

I happened to be looking to adopt a dog shortly thereafter, and made a visit to Country Kennel, where I met and adopted my goofy-eared Charlie. He slept contently on my friend’s lap the entire hour ride home.

About a year later, a little gray pit bull found herself at the humane society in Gary, Indiana, and was about to meet an untimely death. She was one of the many dogs on the euthanasia list.

Fortunately, the humane society sent out e-mails to “bully breed” rescues to see if they would take in any pit bulls, and Country Kennel brought her to their facility.

I was looking for a companion for Charlie, so I went back to Country Kennel to find a dog… and that is when I adopted Annie. I chose the name Annie for her because she was “little orphan Annie” until she found her forever-home with me.

Charlie and Annie have been the sweetest, most loving, playful dogs anyone could ask for. They thrive on the company of people, family and strangers alike, and are most eager to greet people with big smiles and lots of kisses. Despite the unfortunate bad rap pit bulls get, these two are true ambassadors of the breed.

The original story is here.

I love good Samaritan stories, tales of people with heart helping animals and just feel good stories in general. I ran across this the other day and wanted to post it because it warmed my heart. Enjoy.

WARWICK, R.I.—A local Samaritan has rescued a dog, but the animal’s plight is far from over.

His name is Buddha and by all accounts the 6-month-old American Staffordshire terrier shouldn’t even be alive today, but he is thanks to Kevin Leo.

Their story starts the day after Thanksgiving.  Leo was leaving work at the West Shore Nursing Home.  Leo saw a woman with a dog, the animal had one of his legs bandaged up and he was hardly able to walk.

The woman told Leo she could no longer care for the dog and she was looking for a place to leave him. Leo took the dog, and right away started calling places for help.

Leo ended up at the 4 Paws Pet Resort and Animal Hospital on Warwick Avenue.

“This was the only place open and they were closing in 30 minutes and they were like how far are you? I’ll be there in 10 minutes,“ says Leo.

Buddha was in very bad condition, he had open sores all over his body and he was very thin.

He had a parasite that ate away at his skin and left him with no fur and he could barely walk. Despite his poor condition, veterinarian Darcie Lewis knew Buddha was not a lost cause.

“When I looked in his face, he looked at me with those eyes that said I’d really like to try to get better if you can help me,“ says Lewis.

They did help. Buddha is feeling much better now and he is getting regular skin treatments and eating well. Emaciated before, he’s gained 8 pounds and also gained a new lease on life with a companion who believes it was just meant to be.

“I always wanted a dog, never thought I’d get one this way, but I looked at him and I said I’m going to keep him, I’ll do whatever it takes,“ says Leo.

If you want to help with Buddha’s care, you can donate to a fund in his name at the 4 Paws Animal Medical Center.

Or you can help other animals like Buddha, whose owners need help caring for them by donating to Rhode Island’s Companion Animal Foundation.