Jason Flatt drives from state to state to rescue and transport dogs of all sizes, shapes and breed. From his home in Georgia, he’s traveled to Texas, Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Iowa, Pennsylvania, and even as far west as Nevada. “I’ll go anywhere for a dog,” he says.

But Flatt’s focus these days is on pit bulls. He’s concerned that not more is being done to help those who land in shelters, only to be killed, and those stuck in dogfighting rings. Through his grassroots group, Forlorn Pitbull Rescue, which just received its official nonprofit designation, he’s making it his personal mission to help them — one at a time.

His full-time job, working out of his home as a manager for a financial publication, allows him the flexibility to visit a municipal shelter each day during his lunch break, spending time and working with the dogs there, or going to a veterinary office to drop off a dog for medical care.

Will, one of his recent rescues, is a white pit bull who was found on a street with a too-tight collar embedded in his neck. Will was also covered in fleas and ticks and was heartworm positive. “He’s the most awesome dog in the whole world,” Flatt says about Will. (Will pictured below.)

Flatt feels that way about all of his dogs, including the five pit bulls who currently live with him and share his bed at night.

On weekends, you can find him at a local PetsMart adopting out those ready for homes. He does home visits to make sure the dogs will be living in safe environments that fit their individual needs. His current available dogs include Will, who is staying in a foster home until he’s adopted out.

But perhaps the dog who has touched Flatt the most is Melany, a former bait dog used as a target for canines being trained as fighters. He learned about Melany through animal control officers who confiscated Melany because of animal cruelty.  “They didn’t kill her because she was evidence in the case,” he says.

That evidence isn’t pretty. It includes a broken jaw, a head fracture and all of Melany’s teeth being pulled so she wouldn’t bite the dogs she was forced to fight.

Melany and others have come a long way. Flatt puts them through Canine Good Citizen training to help them prepare for new homes. His dream, he says, is to one day “have a sanctuary of my own for pit bulls.”

In the meantime, it’s the daily work of Flatt and the network of people he’s involved with who are making a difference in the lives of dogs like Melany and Will.  Because Flatt is “covered in tattoos,” as he describes himself, he’s not the least bit shy about voicing his opinion to those he says have pit bulls for the wrong reasons. He’s even talked some into giving up their dogs to him.

“Jason does a great job,” says Ed Fritz, specialist for Best Friends’ Pit Bulls: Saving America’s Dog campaign, which is working throughout the country to not only help pit bulls but also educate people about them. “Jason helps shelter staff who let him work with the animals and pull some of them out. He and his network of people do it through email, spreading the word, saving dogs and getting it done. It’s almost like a subculture.”

“It’s people like Jason who inspire Saving America’s Dog campaign and help others who are doing the same thing,” Fritz continues. “He’s absolutely making a difference.”

For More Information

Visit the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue Facebook page.

Become a fan of Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog to learn more about the plight of the pitbull and how you can help.

Photos courtesy of Forlorn Pitbull Resuce.