Size is an issue!

If you've been following our site for the past few months, or even for the full year that we've been around, you'd notice that not only do we handle a few obvious Pit Bull mixes, but that our 'pure' Pitties come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes.

When we get emails from shelters, we usually take the dogs in based foremost on personality and behaviour, we want all the PBs to be ambassadogs for the breed. We do take dogs in based somewhat on looks too as lots of people coming to our site to adopt a PB, actually want the dog to look like a PB, and that is totally understandable.

Once arrangements for transport have been made to get the dogs to us, we wait and talk amongst ourselves about what the dogs will be like in 'real life', and we start going thru our stack of applications from people waiting for dogs that will fit into their home perfectly.

When we unload the new arrivals, we are more often then not, take aback by the 'real life' size of the dogs in comparison to the pictures! Yes, their colors are also more vivid and their smiles even bigger, but their size is often a shock! Even when we post the dog's pictures on our site, the pictures often don't give many hints as to how big the dog is or isn't. You'd probably never guess that Todd is a very leggy, round solid body, dog that weighs over 65 pounds! His picture make him look short and stocky.

We want to correct this as we have had a few applicants apply from us that have specifically asked for a 'shorty' body style. Most people aren't disappointed when the dog is more buff and bigger, but we do have some people needing the dog to be under a certain height measurement to comply with a bylaw in their neighborhood.

So, we are going to add weight and height measurements to each dog's write up, another way we want to make each match perfect. In the case of some dog's, we will also include their length, Rooka is a beautiful example of a disproportionate body! She isn't any taller or heavier then the other 6 PBs in my home, but she is at least 6 inches longer, she really stands out!! She carries the extra length with grace and beauty, don't want to give her or her new owners a complex!!

Looking forward to sharing more about our dogs with our followers. If there is something else we might do or say to make the write ups more informative, please let us know.

Letter from Jenn's Hubby, so cute

To my wife, Jenn, and to my friend, Natalie,

I am writing this for two Rescuers who deserve more than the unsaid thanks or half hearted praise, or the unending questioning from family and friends “Is rescue more important to you then us?”

When people talk to the people who do rescue they say “Wow that’s amazing” or “That’s wonderful” or “Good for you”. I want people to realize that the work these two women do is more than amazing, more than wonderful, and much more than good, it is inspiring. They change not just the dog’s lives but that of people as well. They don’t just save dogs they save the people who adopt them. That’s wonderful.

At the drop of a hat they can recall every dog they have come across, where the dog came from, how it came to them, all the known names of said dog, the funny quirks and stories the dog amassed while in their care, and which forever home that dog was placed into and the final name it ended up with. That’s amazing.

They stop everything at the drop of a hat to save any dog from a stressful or violent situation, or worse yet, an unwanting and unloving home. They will go to any length, or personal financial cost to save these dogs from all these situations. They will give the dog unending care until its forever home comes along. And they do it at the steepest price of all, every dog, no matter how long or short their stay, takes with them a piece of their heart. And that is so much more than just good.

The questions.... “How can you do that??” usually preceded by the questions “Why do you do it” or “You can’t save them all you know”. In the face of all these questions these good, amazing, and wonderful women say how can you not save them? Why not do it? We can’t not save them, we can’t leave them behind, we can’t not love them, and we can’t not try to save them all.

To the family and friends that ask “Is rescue more important than us?” I think they just want you to realize that its not that the dogs are more important, it’s just that all of you know love and most of these dogs are yet to experience it. And they can’t let those dogs live their lives with out love when the two of them have so much to give!

I want both of these great ladies to know I will never again ask any of these questions and just know you have my unending support and help. I am proud and honoured to know you both.

Spring is.....Here?!

We had a fantastic time at Pet Expo last weekend, met lots of great people and talked to some that were genuinely scared of Pitties.....hope we impressed them!!

We also unleashed our tshirts, tanks and hoodies at Pet Expo. A friend to pitties and an adopter, Ryan, worked tirelessly to get the logos just perfect and ready for print. We will be changing our website soon to include a 'store' in which all our products will be available to buy online! Its very exciting for us.

Dogs have come into the group, and left just as quickly!! We absolutely love getting to know these dogs for a week or two, then see them off to new homes. We get lots of updates on the dogs from the new owners, and we really get uplifted by those updates....please send more!!!

Todd is still here!! We'll be updating the blog with a new post about Todd and we've narrowed down the most perfect home that we need to find, everyone will be able to help Todd find his home.

We do have some gorgeous Pitties looking for drivers to bring them up into Canada from Montana. They are in Kalispell.....anyone going down and would have an extra spot in the car for one? Please contact us at prairiepitbullrescue@live.com if you are able to provide transport for us. There is a volunteer from Kalispell that is willing to meet with some dogs in Browning, so that'll make the drive even shorter.

We also have two beautiful girls waiting for flights to get the H outta Ontario!! We'll be posting their pictures soon. Thats it, thats all for this morning.....have a good weekend everyone!

Seriously!!!

This was the email that we got today:

what young pitbull do you have i would love to adopt one for my son
im sorry i in financail trouble so i dont have money to spend if you were looking for money
please contact me
403***1930

Seriously?!!! And you know what?, this is not the first time nor will it be the last that people will email us asking about the dogs, then try to dicker on the price, or expect that if they promise to give the dog a good home, they will do that, but they can't pay!!!

My response to this idiot was:

What do you mean you don't have any money? why are you getting a dog? Do you think you are going to find a dog that doesn't cost you any money? Dogs are a financial responsiblilty, they need food, a bed, toys, treats and vet care (planned or uplanned). You have to provided those things for any dog, no matter how much it cost you to aquire, unless you plan to just dump the dog for being hungry or needing shots???

If you are in financial trouble, don't think about getting a dog, think about providing for your son, he needs a home and food, not a dog.

Was my response rude? I don't so. I think its rude for people to not provide for their family, or their pets. I trully wish that people had to take a test and save up X amount of money before they were allowed to have a kid, and then another test and another bank account before they can have a pet.

So guess what? If you are thinking of getting a dog from us, its $300 for the adoption fee, no ifs, ands, or buts. We have health checked, vaccinated, dewormed, microchipped, and spayed or neutered the dog. We work with a great team of vet clinics that provide these services at a discounted rate.

If you got a dog for free off kijiji or out of the classifieds, and none of those procedures have been done, heres an idea of the costs you are looking at if you had a dog about 50 pounds:

Health Check: $69.99
Vaccinations (incld. Rabies): $118.00
Deworming: depends on brand, let's say cheapest is $ 25.00 per dose (min. 2 doses = $50)
Microchipping: 34.00
Spay: $ 351.10 FEMALE TOTAL:$623.09
or Neuter: $284.83 MALE TOTAL: $556.82

**none of these prices are including GST, and these are the prices from an average priced vet clinic in Lethbridge......Calgary residence, go ahead and pretty much double those costs.

These are minimum and basic procedures for your dog (forgot you have to do three sets of vaccinations, so add that in). Minimum and basic care = Responsible pet owner.