PitBulls on the Web

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Created and maintained by Veronique Chesser

INTRODUCTION

I was born in Montreal Canada in 1964, but have been living in the heart of the Midwest since 1997 with my husband Rob and our pack of Pit Bulls.

My captivation with dogs started as far as I can remember. I grew up with them and there hasn't been a year in my life that wasn't filled with dog love. I now believe that dog rescue is a vocation and will be part of my life as long as I can do it.

EXPERIENCE

I started volunteering in dog shelters when I was 17 years old and gained my experience through trials and errors, a lot of research, an avid desire to do things right, and the ultimate respect of my convictions. I also tried to maintain an open mind and willingness to learn and to adapt so I could progress rather than stall. Finally, I joined force with other people, in many cases more experienced than me, and was very lucky to see wonderful mentors cross my path along the way.

In 1995, I obtained a certification in CYNOLOGIE (canine science) at the Veterinarian University of Montreal in Canada. Before I moved to MO, I was a full time canine educator in a respectable obedience school in Quebec. I was introduced to the APBT breed in the early 90s, and my involvement with Pit Bull rescue began a few years later.

When I met my husband, a Pit Bull lover like me, he patiently taught me the basic of HTML and gave me the tools to create my first web site. I quickly realized the amazing possibilities this medium had to offer and figured it could be a very good way to continue helping dogs in need. With Rob's help, PITBULLS ON THE WEB was born.

MY MISSION

It is clear that in order to help those dogs, getting them out of he shelter is not enough. I knew when I began my journey that there was a LOT of work ahead of me, and I braced myself for the challenge - It became my mission in life. I developed several resources with very important goals in mind and I believe each one of them is essential to the success of my mission.

To provide essential information and much needed assistance to people who help Pit Bulls in need I created PIT BULL RESCUE CENTRAL , a nationwide (USA & Canada), on-line listing agency for homeless Pit Bulls.

To present a positive image of the breed, combat negative press, and fight unfair legislation, I built PET PIT BULL WEB SITE.

To educate and promote responsible ownership, I opened up an internet forum called: PITBULL-L , a safe haven that gives Pit Bull fanciers a chance to meet and interact .

And finally, to rescue dogs in need from local shelters and difficult situations, and to find good, responsible homes for homeless Pit Bulls in the Midwest, I formed the group called: MISSOURI PIT BULL RESCUE (MPR)

WHERE EDUCATION MEETS RESCUE

PBRC is a nationwide virtual shelter for homeless Pit Bulls, AmStaffs, and Pitmixes. Hundreds of dogs available for adoption are displayed in the site. ENTER

PBRC includes adoption and submission forms, breed information and FAQ, a list of PitBull-Friendly shelters, and much much more.

A web site devoted to add balance to the media hype

"Pet PitBull" is a web site for all PitBull lovers who admire or own the breed for its pet qualities, not its fighting abilities. The site includes several photo galleries, positive PitBull press, memorial pages, breed specific information and lots of fun stuff. ENTER

PitBull-L is a mailing list dedicated to discussion related to PitBulls, AmStaffs, and dogs having these breeds in their ancestry. Pitbull-L does not support or encourage any form of Pit fighting. ENTER

Missouri
PitBull
Rescue

"One man's Junk is another man's Treasure"

MPR is a network of foster homes in the state of Missouri. Dogs available for adoption, breed-info, cool Pit Bull items for sell, and more. ENTER

MY CONVICTIONS

I have very strong convictions regarding certain issues surrounding this breed. Before people enjoy the services I offer, I would like to make sure that those convictions are fully understood and respected. I am not forcing my opinions on anyone. The Internet is filled with Pit Bull related mailing lists, message boards, and web sites. If people are uncomfortable with my views, they are more than free to consider other resources. That said, I do hope people will chose to get in the boat with hundreds of other Pit Bull lovers and I. The more we are, the easier it is to paddle in the direction we want to go.

I DO NOT SUPPORT DOG BREEDING
Right now, this planet doesn't need anymore dogs, period! Millions of dogs are rotting in animal shelters waiting for someone to love them, millions are dying because there are no homes for them, millions are tortured, starved, fought, abused, neglected, etc. Pit Bulls have it the hardest as most dog shelters in North America have a non-adoption policy on this breed. Healthy and friendly dogs are automatically euthanized just for being a Pit Bull or looking like one. Because unscrupulous people are allowed to breed dogs without any sort of regulation, Pit Bulls are now the #1 breed of dog killed in shelters every month. In Los Angeles alone, it is estimated that up to 200 Pit Bulls *A DAY* are destroyed.

There is simply NOT enough good homes for those dogs anymore. This becomes very obvious when you take a look at the very long list of homeless Pit Bulls in PBRC and Petfinder.

That said, I am not against developing and improving specialized breeds - I am just against doing it while the overpopulation problem has reached such appalling level. This may seem idealistic, but when animal shelters are empty and all the needy dogs well cared for and in responsible homes, then it will be time to consider dog breeding again. Hopefully it will be regulated, and only done by knowledgeable people who will no longer create defective mutants of the canine species, but healthy companions with stable and sound temperament. Before we get there however, there is a lot of work to do. Lets clean up the current mess before we think about adding more to it.

I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF DOG FIGHTING
No matter if you call it a roll, a match, or a gametest, if you believe there is even one good reason to throw two dogs in the pit and watch them tear each other apart, or if you admire the work of dogmen to preserve the original purpose of the breed, you are not at the right place.

GAMETESTING IS DOG FIGHTING

PIT BULL DOGS VS APBTS
My work, love, and commitment is dedicated to any Pit Bull type dog, including AmStaffs, APBTs and all the mixes! This may not please everybody, but I care more about the "dogs" than I care about the breed.

I do not protect, try to save, or talk in the behalf of the APBT Breed! Too many fanciers claim that the only way to maintain the breed is to fight the breeding stock (gametest). I just can't agree with such cruel practice, no mater what reason some pro-fighting advocates try to use to justify this illegal blood sport. I will never accept to encourage any breeder to throw dogs in the pit in order to maintain the breed as it is. The suffering the dogs must endure is absolutely not worth it, not to mention that there is no utility to that cruel sport other than a sick entertainment. If APBTs are no longer APBTs because they are not tested in the pit, well so be it. They will always be "Pet Bulls" to me, and well deserving of my love.

MY OBJECTIVES

Help dogs in need and the people who care about them.

Educate Pit Bull owners so that unpleasant accidents are avoided, but Pit Bull ownership enjoyed.

Promote responsible Pit Bull ownership and positive leadership.

Continue to learn about the breed and stay true to my conjunctions.

Raise a loud voice against those who promote, support, or participate in the abuse and cruelty of animals.

The people who join me in this mission are those who, like me, believe Pit Bull dogs need help. People who want to learn more about the characteristics of the breed so they can assure responsible ownership. People who want to spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering in order to put an end to the heartbreaking problem of Pit Bulls dying homeless. People who want to help others by sharing their personal experience with Pit Bulls as pets. People who are ready to go out of their way to write support letters and educate the public so we can demystify misconceptions about the breed. People ready to put their heart and soul into fighting unfair breed specific legislation, while recognizing that solutions must be found to assure the safety of the dogs, as well as the safety of the public. People who believe dog fighting is cruel and are willing to stand up for the dogs, and people willing to support those who try to make things change. Finally, they are people who understand the necessity of promoting responsible ownership and a better image of the breed.

Come and get on the boat with us. We ARE making a difference

Your host, Veronique Chesser (V)

Thoughts on dog fighting | Dog fighting and history | All That Hype