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I don't own a pit bull but...?

Please... Help get justice for Rocky. Please explain to me why people are so prejudiced against this breed? I'm a pro dog groomer and have been bitten by many many dogs. Golden Retrievers are a big culprit, collies too, as well as shih tzus, dachshunds, chihuahuas, and sheep dogs... But never ever ever has a pit bull type breed even growled at me! Ever. Paws for Life rescued Rocky in May 2009. His owner, who took him in as a puppy, lost his job, then later lost his home to foreclosure. He surrendered Rocky and another dog, as well as two cats, to PFL. Rocky passed his temperament test with flying colors. We were able to easily handle his paws, ears and look at his teeth. He gave up no issues and only wanted to roll over for belly rubs. In foster care, Rocky played with other dogs and spent time with children and people of all ages. Again, no issues with his behavior. Rocky attended numerous adoption events of all kinds. Again, no issues with his behavior. He was a healthy, happy goofball with a loving smile and always-wagging tail. Rocky moved to a new foster care home in Royal Oak as summer ended. He was a daily jogging partner and constant companion in his new foster home. He again had frequent playdates with dogs of family members and friends. A 3-year-old, neutered male mutt, Rocky had ZERO prior incidents with people and other animals. He loves to play with his toys and romp and run through the yard. He was an affectionate, kind-hearted teddy bear. On Sunday, October 25, 2009, Rocky was out jogging with his foster care mom in Royal Oak, Michigan. A dog across the street was walking with his owner and a friend of the owner. The owner let his dog off leash and Rocky slipped his collar. The two dogs ran toward each other, met in the middle and began to sniff one another. The other dog growled and a fight ensued. The friend of the owner stuck his hands into the dog fight and was bit on the finger, but no one knows by which dog. The police were called and Rocky was taken away. Monday morning, Oct. 26, Paws for Life called the Royal Oak police and asked when Rocky would be released. We were told he would be released once they received proof of his rabies vaccine. So we faxed them the rabies certificate. Animal Control Officer Briggs then drove to our foster volunteer’s home without reason to do so. She coerced the volunteer into signing over Rocky, knowing full well from the 8 conversations we had that morning that he was the property of the rescue and the volunteer had no authority to sign anything. And she never would have had she not been threatened with fines, tickets and arrest while officers were standing in her living room. Upon leaving the home, Officer Briggs immediately had Rocky euthanized, even though she did not have the legal right or authority to do so. We are asking for your support of Rocky and dogs like him. He was given no chance for justice. He was the victim of breed discrimination and hatred. Any other dog breed involved and both owners would have been ticketed and that’s it. Other animal control agencies, rescues and shelters are outraged at how this case and Rocky himself were handled. Again, Rocky had NO prior incidents. He never attacked or bit anyone or anything. He came from a home with other dogs and cats. He frequently played with other dogs. He attended adoption events without problems. He was a big goofy teddy bear with a silly heartwarming smile and always-wagging tail. He loved children and he loved every person he met. He didn’t deserve this. Please spread the word, share Rocky’s story with everyone you can anyway you can. Call and write letters to Royal Oak and Berkley officials too. They have jurisdiction of Officer Briggs and the incident, which was not handled according to the law. This is a gross abuse of power by Officer Briggs who ignored a STOP order from our attorney, who acted according to her own personal, prejudiced beliefs and outside the law. Regardless of the incident and which dog was at fault, Rocky was given no time to have the situation examined. There was no opportunity for anything. He never had a chance. Other officers and officials have expressed their outrage and shock by the rushed and hurried nature of what they did. Officer Briggs lied to us and deceived us, repeatedly. http://justiceforrocky.com/ I am not affiliated with this rescue in any way. I just live near the city in which this happened and I am upset. I am worried this sets a bad example of how to deal with large and powerful breeds, and things like this.

Public Comments

1. They are an unpredictable breed.
2. Poor Rocky
3. I feel for Rocky but that was way way too long... As much as I agree with you that it's unfair and a horrible system, pits just aren't given the chance other dogs get. I work in kennels and I'm a trainer. I've never had a problem with a pit and I have been bitten by other breeds that have good reps. Pits just don't have the chance though. I hope the best for him.
4. Random mail from people outside the area will only hurt Rocky's case. PFL needs to report the officer's behavior to the police department's office of professional conduct; they might call it "internal affairs." This was not a major incident; it was one police officer overstepping her authority. That officer's department needs to know what happened, so PFL's president and the volunteer who signed Rocky over need to go to the department with all pertinent documentation, and possibly an attorney (always good to have an attorney), and discuss the officer's conduct with her superiors.
5. how sad =0( I wouldn't ever get a pit myself but this is just wrong. poor dog.
6. but bulls are always the ones people use for fighting, because they are so strong, and the people make them aggressive, so when people see fighting pit bulls on the news they blame the breed not the owner. i know 2 people who have pit bulls and they are probably the sweetest dogs ever. its not the breed, its the owner but people just dont realize that
7. I had a Pit Bull that was truly amazing. He was the sweetest, most intelligent dog I have ever had. I trained him as a service dog and adopted him out to a family who had a daughter with mental issues. I keep updated with them, and they still adore him and have never had an issue with them at all. They are only ever violent because people make them that way. If raised well, they are less unpredictable than any other dog I have known. You will always know that it will stay by your side and love you.
8. i have a pit mix that is very sad i have had my dog since i was 7 or 8 and now i am 14 he is the sweetest dog ever and has never hurt me there was this one incident like that one that happened with my dog we were at a dog beacj and someone's dog was loose and it ran up to my dog and attacked him.my dog of cours started fighting after that and the other dog's owner's daughter went in between them while they were fighting and got bit we don't know which dog bit her,but it looked like her own dog cuz he knocked her over and ran on her and put his head down so it looked like he bit her but we got in trouble anyways and alot of people think that just cuz my dog is part pit bull,it was his fault but those people let their dog attack mine's and what kind of kid would be dumb enough to walk in between two fighting dogs?she wasn't that young so she should have known my dog got quarantined for a month nothing like that has ever happened with him before and he always is around other dogs and i have 2 cats so he is just like rocky people thought that the other dog was the victim just cuz mine is a pit and that one was a lab and many people think labs would never do anything like that and only pit bulls would that's so sad:(
9. APBTs and bully breeds have bad reputations for the wrong reasons. This breed can be a very good family dog when raised and trained right- not everyone uses them for fighting dogs. There are some that are used as assistance dogs, therapy dogs,etc. It's the people that fight them-illegally- that give them a bad rep. It's the people that don't socialize them the right way and they kill an animal in THEIR yard and still have a bad rep because their owner wasn't responsible enough to train/socialize. I've had an APBT and he really was one of the sweetest dogs around. Everyone on my block loved that dog- he was no guard dog, he was the friendliest dog on the block! He was so different from the APBT that bit me as a child-I was 3- and I still carry the scars from it(small ones thank goodness).