The Pit Crew With Love-A-Bull - Changing People's Perceptions One 'Pittie' at a Time

By Paul Ciampanelli Sep 8th 2011

Roxie, Coco, Carley, Mocha, Skeem, Moby and Pearl are all pit bull terrier rescues and crucial members of the Pit Crew, an all-pit-bull therapy group associated with Love-A-Bull, a non-profit pit-bull-advocacy group based in Austin, Texas. These spunky dogs belong to a breed believed by many to be misunderstood and misrepresented, a breed with as many detractors as defenders.

Love-A-Bull was formed as a spin-off from the Austin American Pit Bull Terrier Meet-Up Group that started in 2003. Lydia Zaidman, an attorney and pit-bull rescuer in Austin, began Love-A-Bull to educate the public about the breed, dispel rumors about pit bulls, advocate against Breed Specific Legislation (BSL), and support spaying and neutering for all dogs. Zaidman wasn't surprised when after extensive research, she learned that pit bulls were the second most common dogs used in therapy work.

Zaidman fought an uphill battle as she tried to introduce the idea of a therapy group made up of pit bulls and pit-bull mixes. Zaidman had her work cut out for her when she first approached local owners about bringing in therapy trained pit bulls into their establishments. "We keep trying to find ways to do good things like celebrate Pit Bull Awareness Day."