This post is sponsored by The Animal Farm Foundation and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about the The Majority Project, but Mayzie’s Dog Blog only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Animal Farm Foundation is not responsible for the content of this article.
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Hey, everybuddy! It’s me, Mayzie! And today my mom and I wanna tell you about something super cool and oh-so-impawtant that we’re pawticipating in.
It’s a photo collection of regular, everyday “pit bull” dog owners called The Majority Project. Put together by The Animal Farm Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation, the purpose is to show that “pit bull” dog owners are just like most other dog owners… loving, responsible people who make sure their doggies get proper care, keep them in their homes, and don’t let them run around willy nilly.
“Pit bull” dog owners can join by visiting The Majority Project website, printing and personalizing an “I am the MAJORITY” sign and submitting a photo with their dog. HUNDREDS have already done it, including Mr. Jon Bernthal. (If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead TV show like my mom is, you’ll prolly recognize him right away.)
Okay, now that I’ve told you WHAT it is, I’ll let mom tell you WHY it’s impawtant to us. Take it away, mom!
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Thanks, Mayzie!
Once upon a time, I believed the hype. I believed “pit bull” dogs and their owners were somehow different. The dogs were violent and unpredictable. Their owners were thugs who participated in dog fighting and other crimes.
So convinced was I that one day six years ago, I told my husband there was NO WAY I would EVER adopt a “pit bull”-type dog.
The next day, I met Mayzie.
It was love at first sight and I knew, without a doubt, this dog was meant to be ours. The idea that she might have some “pit” in her scared me, but at this point, there was no turning back. I was smitten.
To be on the safe side, though, I decided to do some research in case this seemingly sweet dog suddenly tried to eat my face off.
What I learned surprised me:
There is no such breed as a “pit bull.” The term includes several purebreeds but it also refers to a type of dog, usually one with a big, blocky head, broad chest, short coat and muscular body.
Like Mayzie, most dogs referred to as “pit bulls” are mixes of various breeds.
“Pit bull” owners, like their dogs, are individuals. They are teachers, doctors, grandmothers, factory workers and much more.
Reckless dog owners are the problem, not the dogs, and they cannot be correlated with any particular breed or type of dog; the only factor they have in common is their problematic behavior resulting from a disregard of public safety and animal welfare.
Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) will not help us achieve safer communities. BSL has never been effective in reducing dog bites and enhancing public safety. It is expensive, time consuming, and nearly impossible to enforce.
Responsible Pet Ownership laws are the most effective path to building safe, humane communities.
As they say, knowledge is power. It took awhile but slowly I began to see how wrong I had been. I also knew if my mind could be changed, others could be, too.
So that’s why, for almost five years on this blog and in person, Mayzie and I have been on a mission to open hearts and minds about “pit bull” dogs and owners by showing ourselves simply as who and what we are.
She is just a dog.
I am just a person.
Together, we are the majority.
Are you a “pit bull” dog owner? If not, do you know or love one (even just virtually)? Then YOU are the majority, too! Tell us all about it in the comments!