October 22, National Pit Bull Awareness Day, is a perfect opportunity to correct some of these myths and accentuate the positive about this wonderful breed. Pit bulls are therapy dogs, service dogs and search and rescue dogs. Most of all, though, they are family pets.

Like Cappy, for instance, who was at the shelter for nine months before the Raver family of Key West adopted him. He immediately became part of the family, loves four-year-old Riley and Riley’s many friends when they visit.

The Raver family, Kelly, Riley, Cappy and Steve

Big Coppitt resident, Erin Percy, already owned a pit bull, Foxy Brown, when a friend told her about Simon, whose poster she had seen at the dog park at Higgs Beach. Simon had spent over a year at the shelter when Percy took him home. Simon and Foxy became immediate best friends and look forward to visits from Percy’s four-year-old niece. Erin Percy is devoted to the breed: “They are such gentle, loyal creatures,” she says. “They aim to please and are so intuitive. Most of all, I love their endless patience.”

Erin Percy with Simon (l) and Foxy Brown (r). New addition 4-month-old Kiwi is in the middle

For more information on pit bulls, take a look at www.stubbydog.org and www.badrap.org – or call us at the shelter, 305.294.4857.

Elizabeth is offering prints of four photographs (see below) with the entire proceeds going to our building fund. 4×6 prints cost $5, 5×7 prints $7, plus shipping. She even set up a website, http://www.wix.com/estentze/snip-snap-for#! and an email account that connects to a PayPal account: Click.AnimalPix@gmail.com – Elizabeth, we are impressed with both your professionalism and your compassion; you are clearly going far in life! Thank you for caring about our animals.