The phone rang- it was my son Tony. “Mom, can I bring home a puppy?” “Of course”, I said. Two months earlier we had had to put our beloved Sparky, a 13 year old Great Dane, to sleep. We had been so sad since then and when he called to ask about the pup, my spirit brightened instantly. I couldn’t wait to see her.

When she arrived, I saw a tiny white bundle of fur- she was just four weeks old and the cutest thing I’d ever seen. I was immediately in love with her and we decided to name her Peanut. When Tony moved out 3 years later, he took my beloved Peanut. Oh, how we had fights about that! But he had bought a house with his fiancée and son and wanted Peanut with them.

I was devastated and went on a search for another dog. Enter Jazz. He was white like Peanut but had a brown spot on his fanny. I adopted him from a shelter in Delaware . I was driving a truck at the time and Jazz went to work with me everyday. He loved riding in that truck and all the other drivers couldn’t wait to see him everyday.

In February, 2006, I got another white dog- Annie. She was going to be gassed at a shelter when I said I would adopt her. She was just a bag of bones and had horrific skin infections. She and Jazz hit it off immediately. Then in August of 2006, after I had gotten involved with Dogo Argentino rescue, I was called about a Dogo in Maryland who had been left tied to a tree on the hottest day in July with no water. The Animal Control Officers offered to drive him to New Jersey where I lived. When I met them, the dog hopped out of the car. The sight I saw made me sit down on the curb laughing hysterically. This white dog was much smaller than a Dogo and had on a green babushka! The ACO’s had named him Elvis.

Well, Elvis moved right on in with Jazz, Annie and me. The four of us had a ball. The dogs were a hit with all the neighborhood kids who would come over to ask if the dogs could come out and play. When the UPS man used to deliver a package, he always came inside to play with the dogs for a few minutes. We used to go for walks together and no one was a stranger to these dogs. They would roll over on their backs begging for belly rubs.

We would sleep in bed at night with Elvis snuggled in under my armpit, Jazz, after a little snuggling, at the end of the bed and Annie, after having washed my entire face until my pores were almost removed from my face, snuggled in near my belly. They woke up in the morning full of absolute joy and it was contagious! We were a happy crew and I felt truly blessed. These were the friendliest, happiest dogs who only wanted to please me.

Now, you ask, what kind of dogs are these wonderful, affectionate, happy, friendly dogs? The greatest breed on earth- Pit Bulls! Although I hadn’t known anything about Pits when I first got Peanut, I soon learned about the breed including the fact that they used to be the number one family dog and were known as the “nanny” dog because they would “babysit” the children of the family. Even though mine are very special to me, they are typical of the breed.

In 2006 I moved with Jazz, Annie and Elvis to a ranch in Colorado . In 2007 Tony called me to tell me that Peanut was very sick. The following week she died from complications of Cushing’s disease. I just laid in my bed and cried and cried. I didn’t even notice when Jazz, Annie and Elvis climbed up in the bed with me. They were not their regular bouncy selves. They knew I was grieving and they just all snuggled up with me and let me cry. They wouldn’t leave my side and, of course, Annie had to wash away the tears rolling down my face. They comforted me in a way I could never have imagined.

I had so much grief and I knew I had to do something to redirect the anguish so I started Peanut’s Place- a rescue for Pit Bulls. They had brought me so much love and happiness so I decided to pay it forward by saving as many of these wonderful dogs that I possibly can. I am also working diligently to overturn all Breed Specific Legislation that seems to have overtaken many cities in this nation. I will do everything I can to educate people about Pit Bulls and eradicate the ignorance of the legislators who are uneducated about this breed.

Any dog can be taught to be mean- it doesn’t matter what the breed- but it’s a lot harder with a Pit Bull. Aggression towards people is not in their nature. Pit Bulls have eyes that dance and hearts that love unconditionally. Can you open your heart and mind to giving one of these special creatures a forever home? .