[Purple]

Working to change perception of pitbulls

By yournorthhills

Created Mar 12 2008 - 9:38am

Daisy Balawejder's husband, John, knew what he was getting into when they got married -- and if he didn't, he did by the end of their honeymoon. After all, she had to chase down her pitbull Kanada twice during their vacation.

"I live in a bully bubble," said Balawejder, 36, of Cranberry. "I wouldn't ever want away from it. I couldn't. They are my life."

As founder and president of the North Hills-based Hello Bully, Balawejder has devoted her life to changing the public's perception of pitbull terriers and keeping them out of shelters and in good homes. Founded in 2005, the non-profit focuses on rehabilitation, rehoming and repairing the reputation of the breed, often considered to be dangerous to people, Balawejder said.

The organization offered one of its trademark Pitbull 101 classes last Thursday at the Bellevue Creative Treehouse. A modest group came out to learn how to train their pitbulls using positive reinforcement rather than choke chains or physical punishment.

Balawejder has a personal stake in the progress of the organization. As an owner of two pitbulls, she knows how it feels to walk a dog and have passersby change what side of the street they are walking on just to avoid her dog.

"People don't understand what it's like to have people look at your dog and think he's inherently evil," she said. "Pitbulls just want to be with people. They're the worst guard dog ever because they're more likely to lick you to death."

She began the organization after the death of Kanada, who she rescued from a dog pound in her native Connecticut.
"I promised him I'd make the world a better place for pitbulls everywhere," she said, blinking back tears. "To say this is a labor of love is a grand understatement."

Hello Bully is a purely volunteer venture for the freelance graphic designer. Along with her husband and about 15 other steady volunteers, the group teaches classes on how to train a pitbull using positive reinforcement.
A major misconception about pitbulls is that they are naturally aggressive toward people, said volunteer Amy Dengler, 30, of Bellevue. Rather, the dogs are genetically geared to be aggressive toward other dogs rather than people, and are generally eager to please, according to the American Rare Breed Association.

"It's like saying a dog that chases a cat is going to eat a person," Dengler said. "It's so far from the truth it isn't funny."

Dengler's pups are known throughout Bellevue, as she often walks them as obedience training. Dena, a two-year-old pitbull Dengler called her "wild child," sports a pink rhinestone collar, while Porter is liable to lick a new friend from head to toe.

Balawejder's dogs aren't much different. Meiko and his sister, Mizuki, are like children to their "mom" and "bully daddy." To even talk about the possibility of losing either dog brings tears to Balawejder's eyes.
"They're such lovers, they'll just pop up and kiss you everywhere," she said. "I couldn't lose them. Someone would have to pry their leashes out my cold dead hands."


Source URL:
http://www.yournorthhills.com/northhillsnews/article/working-change-perception-pitbulls

[Mushfish]

The world needs more people like Daisy!!
Peace,
Mushfish