Post by RealPitBull on Mar 13, 2008 7:12:57 GMT -5
North Hills pet-lover provides public relations for pit bulls
By Daveen Rae Kurutz
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Daisy Balawejder made her feelings about pit bulls known to her husband during their honeymoon, when she had him chase down her pet Kanada twice.
"I live in a bully bubble," Balawejder, 36, of Cranberry said about the dogs. "I wouldn't ever want to get away from it. I couldn't. They are my life."
As founder and president of the North Hills-based Hello Bully, Balawejder is devoted to changing the public's perception of pit bull terriers and keeping them out of shelters and in good homes. Founded in 2005, the nonprofit focuses on rehabilitation, "re-homing" and repairing the reputation of the breed, often considered to be dangerous to people, Balawejder said.
The group offered one of its Pit bull 101 classes last week at the Bellevue Creative Treehouse. People came out to learn how to train their pit bulls using positive reinforcement rather than choke chains or physical punishment.
As an owner of two of the dogs, Balawejder said she knows how it feels to walk a dog and have passers-by change what side of the street they are walking on just to avoid her dog.
"People don't understand what it's like to have people look at your dog and think he's inherently evil," she said. "Pit bulls just want to be with people. They're the worst guard dog ever because they're more likely to lick you to death."
She started the group after the death of Kanada, which she rescued from a dog pound in her native Connecticut.
"I promised him I'd make the world a better place for pit bulls everywhere," she said, blinking back tears. "To say this is a labor of love is a grand understatement."
Hello Bully is a volunteer venture for the freelance graphic designer. Along with her husband, John, and about 15 other steady volunteers, the group teaches classes on how to train a pit bull.
One misconception about pit bulls is that they are naturally aggressive toward people, said volunteer Amy Dengler, 30, of Bellevue. Rather, the dogs are genetically geared to be more aggressive toward other dogs rather than people, and are generally eager to please, according to the American Rare Breed Association.
"It's like saying a dog that chases a cat is going to eat a person," Dengler said. "It's so far from the truth it isn't funny."
Dengler walks her pups throughout Bellevue as part of obedience training. Dena, a 2-year-old that Dengler calls her "wild child," sports a pink rhinestone collar, while Porter is liable to lick a new friend from head to toe.
Balawejder's dogs aren't much different. Meiko and his sister Mizuki are like children to their "mom" and "bully daddy."
"They're such lovers, they'll just pop up and kiss you everywhere," she said. "I couldn't lose them. Someone would have to pry their leashes out my cold dead hands."
Daveen Rae Kurutz can be reached at dkurutz@tribweb.com or 412-380-5627.
By Daveen Rae Kurutz
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Daisy Balawejder made her feelings about pit bulls known to her husband during their honeymoon, when she had him chase down her pet Kanada twice.
"I live in a bully bubble," Balawejder, 36, of Cranberry said about the dogs. "I wouldn't ever want to get away from it. I couldn't. They are my life."
As founder and president of the North Hills-based Hello Bully, Balawejder is devoted to changing the public's perception of pit bull terriers and keeping them out of shelters and in good homes. Founded in 2005, the nonprofit focuses on rehabilitation, "re-homing" and repairing the reputation of the breed, often considered to be dangerous to people, Balawejder said.
The group offered one of its Pit bull 101 classes last week at the Bellevue Creative Treehouse. People came out to learn how to train their pit bulls using positive reinforcement rather than choke chains or physical punishment.
As an owner of two of the dogs, Balawejder said she knows how it feels to walk a dog and have passers-by change what side of the street they are walking on just to avoid her dog.
"People don't understand what it's like to have people look at your dog and think he's inherently evil," she said. "Pit bulls just want to be with people. They're the worst guard dog ever because they're more likely to lick you to death."
She started the group after the death of Kanada, which she rescued from a dog pound in her native Connecticut.
"I promised him I'd make the world a better place for pit bulls everywhere," she said, blinking back tears. "To say this is a labor of love is a grand understatement."
Hello Bully is a volunteer venture for the freelance graphic designer. Along with her husband, John, and about 15 other steady volunteers, the group teaches classes on how to train a pit bull.
One misconception about pit bulls is that they are naturally aggressive toward people, said volunteer Amy Dengler, 30, of Bellevue. Rather, the dogs are genetically geared to be more aggressive toward other dogs rather than people, and are generally eager to please, according to the American Rare Breed Association.
"It's like saying a dog that chases a cat is going to eat a person," Dengler said. "It's so far from the truth it isn't funny."
Dengler walks her pups throughout Bellevue as part of obedience training. Dena, a 2-year-old that Dengler calls her "wild child," sports a pink rhinestone collar, while Porter is liable to lick a new friend from head to toe.
Balawejder's dogs aren't much different. Meiko and his sister Mizuki are like children to their "mom" and "bully daddy."
"They're such lovers, they'll just pop up and kiss you everywhere," she said. "I couldn't lose them. Someone would have to pry their leashes out my cold dead hands."
Daveen Rae Kurutz can be reached at dkurutz@tribweb.com or 412-380-5627.