Pit bull owners share the softer side of 'bully breeds'

NEWARK – Mike Ossa Jr. lounges casually on his floor, sitting next to a pile of blankets and pillows that have formed a makeshift dog bed.

Perched atop of the pile is Roscoe, an American red nose pit bull, looking up at Ossa with what can only be described as a wide grin. It doesn't matter who else is in the room; Roscoe only has eyes for his owner.

The look he gives Ossa is an expectant one, patiently waiting for a signal or command that it's time to play.

So when Ossa asks for "kisses," Roscoe happily jumps up from his bed, presses himself against his owner's leg and reaches up to lick Ossa's face until Ossa laughs and gently pushes him away.

"He's such a loving dog," Ossa said. "If you just want to lay around, he'll lay around and sleep with you. If you want to go outside and run around, he'll be out there with you in a heartbeat. He just wants to be around you 24/7."

In fact, when Ossa does want to lay around in bed, Roscoe makes sure to push himself up to the top of the bed to rest his head on Ossa's pillow, throwing one of his legs around Ossa's torso.

With such an affectionate personality, it's hard for Ossa to understand how Newark could ever designate Roscoe as a vicious animal. But because of his breed, that's exactly how he is classified.

A misunderstood breed

The history of the pit bull is not a pretty one.

Pit bulls were created in England by breeding bulldogs and terriers together, with the goal of producing a dog that combined the gameness of terrier with the strength and athleticism of a bulldog, according to the United Kennel Club.

In the United Kingdom, pit bulls were used in bloodsports such as bull-baiting and bear-baiting, in which the dog would grab onto the animal with its powerful jaw and hold on until the animal was subdued, usually from a loss of blood.

This use continued until such sports were banned through animal welfare laws in the 1800s. However, fighting the dogs against one another soon took their place.

Over the next several decades, the pit bull became virtually synonymous with dog fighting and violence. Case after case was reported in the media of pit bulls viciously attacking and biting people or other animals along with instances of pit bulls being rescued from underground dog fighting rings.

Perhaps the most famous of these cases was that of the 50 pit bulls seized by authorities in April 2007 from professional football player Michael Vick, who was charged with operating an illegal dog-fighting ring on his Virginia property.

The problem with those media reports, however, is that the dogs in the cases represent the minority of pit bulls out there, said Steffen Baldwin, president and CEO of the Animal Cruelty Task Force of Ohio.

"The sad reality is there are certain people out there that have taken this dog time and time again and have created examples people can look at and say, 'This is a bad dog.' But for every one of those there are so many more that will never be reported in the news, like 'Pit bull licks toddler," or 'Pit bull plays with cat' because that's not newsworthy," Baldwin said.

With ACT Ohio, Baldwin travels across the state rescuing dogs who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. Nearly 80 percent of the dogs he's taken in have been those that fall under the pit bull designation.

And what Baldwin has seen in his experience with the dogs would be enough to change anyone's doubts about them, he said.

One of Baldwin's pit bulls was rescued from the Cleveland area after being nearly torn apart in a dog fight. Her jaw had to be completely reconstructed and she was terrified of being within 100 feet of another dog.

But with some time and therapy, she is now comfortable taking a nap with Baldwin's five other dogs and even lets them snuggle up with her.

Another one of Baldwin's rescued pit bulls, who was shot by a Dayton-area police officer, is a certified Canine Good Citizen and frequently tags along with Baldwin when he teaches children how to be safe around dogs.

When it comes down to it, aggressive dogs are the result of bad owners, not genetics, Baldwin said.

"If you take a dog out of an environment and you put it into a new one, its behavior and temperament will change," he said. "It's not the breed, it's not some genetic thing from 200 years ago. ... It's all about the environment the dog is being put in."

Jumping through hoops

A Newark ordinance designates pit bulls as vicious dogs, regardless of whether they have exhibited any dangerous behavior or harmed a person, and places restrictions on them and their owners.

Ashley Bartlett was well aware of the restrictions on pit bulls and other so-called bully breeds when she found Angel, an American bulldog, at the Licking County Humane Society.

Angel was one of the more than 40 dogs taken from a puppy mill operating out of a St. Louisville woman's home in October 2013. She spent much of her time in that home locked in a narrow hallway with multiple dogs, Bartlett was told.

Bartlett initially was on the hunt for a golden retriever when a friend suggested she go to the shelter and meet Angel. It only took a few moments with the dog for Bartlett and her husband to fall in love with her.

The next thing they knew, they were getting a rundown of all the paperwork and training they would have to do to take Angel home with them. It was a lot to take on, but it was worth it, Bartlett said.

"She was the dog, so we did whatever we had to do to get her," she said. "She was just so sweet. I would go through it all again."

Now Angel is a certified Canine Good Citizen as well as a licensed therapy dog. She routinely takes trips to local nursing homes to comfort the residents there and even stops by Bartlett's classroom to hang out with her students.

Although many have seen Angel's loving side, others aren't so sure about her.

"A lot of times when we're out walking, even just walking through the neighborhood, people cross over to the other side of the street to avoid us," she said. "It's kind of sad because there's that stigma, and she's punished for a handful of bad dogs out there. It's not her fault."

Some pet owners, however, can't take on the financial burden and are not willing to place those restrictions on their dogs.

Crystal Skulas and her husband rescued a pit bull off the street, who they named Kimber, and the dog quickly became a member of their family. Their first year with Kimber, Skulas kept up with all the certifications and rules governing pit bulls within the city.

But she started noticing how much Kimber disliked the choke collar, and she always seemed to be trying to scratch her muzzle off. She then realized that renewing Kimber's insurance each year was going to take quite a financial toll.

Taking all of that into account, Skulas realized Newark simply wasn't the best environment for her pit bull. She made the difficult decision to rehome Kimber with a friend who lives in Knox County until the restrictions in Newark are lifted.

"It was heartbreaking to send her away," Skulas said. "It's so much nicer for her there. We can go walk her unrestricted and take her to the dog park there so she can run around and play. ... We try to go see her as much as we can because it's tough not having her here. If the law ever changes, she'll be back in a heartbeat."

Changing the perception

Roscoe came into Ossa's life shortly after he returned home from serving in Afghanistan. While there, Ossa's vehicle was hit by three rocket-propelled grenades, sending shrapnel into his sides and hands and leaving him with an extreme concussion.

He has since struggled with anxiety and depression, and he's found the best medicine is simply spending time with Roscoe. Roscoe has helped him overcome some of his anxiety and has put a smile on his face more times than he can count.

Ossa is working on filing paperwork to have Roscoe designated an emotional support dog so the two are able to have more freedom from the regulations.

If other people would just spend a little time with him, Ossa thinks Roscoe could have a similar effect on them and erase some of their doubts about the breed.

"I feel like (people) should just come meet Roscoe. I think Roscoe would change their minds because he's such a loving dog," he said.

Ossa tries to take Roscoe everywhere he can in hopes that when people see the two of them together they realize pit bulls can be just as friendly, playful and affectionate as any other dog out there.

As local pit bull owners prepare to meet with the Newark City Council's Safety Committee on Monday to discuss their complaints with the bully breed legislation, Bartlett hopes council members will be open minded and consider removing the restrictions. Bartlett is not yet sure whether she will attend the meeting.

It's been a little more than a year since Angel has joined her home, and Bartlett can confidently say there's not a vicious bone in her body.

"Their history is rough, but they're really sweet dogs," she said. "They deserve a second chance."

emaddern@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8513

Twitter: @emmaddern

About American pit bull terriers

History: Pit bulls are the result of crossbreeding bulldog and terrier breeds. They were designed for bear- and bull-baiting, a blood sport in which the dog was trained to attack until the larger animal was defeated.

Breed: Technically, the pit bull breed doesn't exist. The United Kennel Club and American Dog Breeders Association recognize American pit bull terriers, while the American Kennel Club recognizes American Staffordshire terriers or Staffordshire bull terriers. All three of these dogs are commonly referred to as pit bulls.

Physical characteristics: The standard size of pit bulls varies from medium to large, ranging in weight between 30 and 90 pounds. The dogs have a stocky, muscular build and a short, smooth coat that varies in color. Pit bulls have long bodies with short, whip-like tails that end in a point; small to medium-sized ears are set high on their broad, flat heads. The most defining characteristic of the breed is its wide, powerful jaw.

Personality and temperament: Pit bulls are known for their playful temperament and friendly nature. They are athletic and have a strong desire to please their owners. Pit bulls also are known for being loyal and protective.

Care: Pit bulls are highly energetic and active, so they require daily exercise to prevent boredom and possibly destructive behavior. The dogs tend to have high prey drives, so walking them on a leash to prevent them from chasing after small animals is recommended. As with all dogs, pit bulls need socialization with other people and dogs starting at a young age.

Source: PetMD

What local pit bull owners are saying

"This dog has touched my heart in away that no one can. It pains me to see people walk across the street to avoid us because hes (sic) a pit bull. ... It's my dogs that taught me what love really is, what compassion really is. I will share my story with anyone willing to listen. My dogs are a big part of my world and I will fight for them." — William Holley

"My life changed forever after (my Pit Bull Lou) taught me how to really smile again. She gives me compassion and understanding and comfort like nothing that I ever knew was possible. ... I am a PROUD Pit Bull mom and my Pit Bull is very much a family member to me and my family." — Lisa Lamneck

"Breed specific legislation has got to be put to rest. ... Tell me why we should lock up, hide, or have our four legged family members euthanized just for being the product of their surroundings when all it takes is a change of scenery and a loving home to change their world? Why should the responsible humans who are owned by their pets (yes, you read that correctly) be punished and be in fear for their pitties lives when they are not the ones who choose to turn a beautiful animal into the vicious dogs you always read about?" — Carrie Smart

"(My Pit Bull Draven) is the sweetest dog. He is filled with so much love and personality. He just wants to be next to you all of the time. He has shown zero signs of aggression. He's a very excited little boy but he learns and improves every single day." — Stephanie Scott

"(Pit Bulls) are not vicious like people say. It's insane how people put a label on them so quickly without getting to know that breed. They feed into the media so much instead of actually experiencing a chance with one of them and getting to know them. Once you get to know a Pit Bull, you automatically fall in love with them." — Angie Saxton