Pit Bulls: Saving America's Dog

Vicktory Dog photograhpy exhibit

Edward — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:19:25 GMT

Best Friends Photographer, Gary Kalpokoff sets up his exhibit of black and white portraits of each of the 22 dogs. Gary has been working on this since the arrival of the dogs in Janurary of 2008.

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

Cattledogs02 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:20:21 GMT

I am proud to vote for such a wonderful dog!

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

marla — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:25:06 GMT

I will definately spread the word...

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

balmerbird — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:11:50 GMT

From what I understand the contest ends on November 30th. From what I can tell from looking on the website there is a bulldog who seems to trade first place with Gunny! So, spread the word to all you know to keep getting this beautiful pittie more votes and solidly in first place!

If you didn't watch the video, please take the time to do so. Although, I have no ties to Gunny his story is so wonderful and shows once again what a great breed pitties are!!!!

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

marla — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:09:59 GMT

I just watched his video on u tube. Oh my, what an amazing dog he is. Thank you for sharing it, and everyone who helped him.

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

marla — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:57:08 GMT

When does the contest end? Gunny got our vote.....

Love the photo.

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

Teresa8 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:52:47 GMT

I recently had dna tests done on my dogs. I used the swab test by Canine Heritage (~$99). I do believe the results from most of the tests. The little girl shown in my Avatar came back as a total mix breed with English Coonhound, Staffie Bull Terrier, Cocker Spaniel and German Shorthaired Pointer. I used to call her my Rotti / Heeler mix with some Bully ;o)

But in one dog I wasn't so sure about the results. After researching the results and talking with my vet, I did decide to have a blood dna test done on him as well as the swab test. I think the blood test results do seem to be slightly more accurate, but they also cost more. I've tried to insert into this post a couple pictures of the dog that I had the results verified on - hopefully it works. With the swab test he came back as primarily a Staffie Bull Terrier with Cocker Spaniel. He is deaf and has birth defects in his eyes, so he is nearly blind. Now with the blood test his primary breed came back as Australian Shepherd with German Shepherd. The swab test didn't show any Aussie in him, but the blood test did include some bully breeds in his ancestry. I don't know why the two tests didn't more closely resemble the results found in each one. Both tests claim to include the found breeds.

This little girl is also one that I had the test done. She was tagged as a pit mix, but she came back as being primarily German Shorthaired Pointer and some Staffie Bull Terrier in her mix.

I thought it was interesting researching the breeds with the tests. But, based on my experience, I do think the blood type tests may be my choice in dna tests.

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

CritterCauses — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:31:50 GMT

Thanks a bunch for the first-hand info about some of the different tests available...I'm gonna check 'em out and try one. My dog has been called a Chow Chow for 13 years so it would be pretty wild to find out something different!! My dog's mother was a stray that wandered onto my brother's property...he kept her and a month or so later she gave birth so we aren't positive about the father(s). As for Spot, the PB I found a home for--he looks just like one, and has all the great traits (good with children, gentle, smart, etc.) so I'll see if they want to get him tested. I'll post the results when it's done. Thanks everyone!!

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

breezon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:49:21 GMT

I did test the dog in my avatar...she came back as Tibetan Spaniel, Cairn Terrier, English Coonhound and Cocker Spaniel. I happened to have seen her parents, as I rescued her directly from the home that accidently created her. Mom was an English Coonhound, and I suspected dad to be a Tibetan Spaniel/Terrier mix. Her personality is very much like a Tibetan Spaniel.

Of the other three dogs, I would say they all made sense. One had an odd breed thrown in with others that made sense (his results said German Shorthaired Pointer, Cocker Spaniel, and Irish Setter...not sure how the Irish Setter would be in the mix (probably in this case, ancestral DNA was picked up), but the first two seem likely for him.

Another of the dogs is a breed that is not officially validated yet (Australian Cattle Dog), but the company did call me to tell me what they believed she was...a purebred from a line of working cattle dogs. She takes herding lessons at place that has worked with cattle dogs for 30 years and they told me the same thing when I asked them what they thought she was. Her coloring is not that of a typical cattle dog (so I initially thought she was a mix), but the trainers say it is somewhat common among working line dogs bred in the US.

I believe the dog-dna.com website is selling the brand of test I used...Canine Heritage. Check their website directly as the test is sometimes on sale for $99 and I believe the XL version validates both Chow and pit bull breeds.

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

kerryf — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:10:45 GMT

www.muttmart.com has a DNA test that usually runs around $79 (looks like they are having a sale right now for $59). Some of the testing labs claim to be able to identify more breeds than others so do your research. Muttmart in particular doesn't look like they can ID AmStaff, APBT, Staffordshire Bull Terrier etc, according to the list on their web site, but then again, you can't beat the sale price of $59 they are offering right now if you are just doing it for fun. Do post your results if you decide to go for it.

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

dennislubrano — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:44:02 GMT

Aloha:

Let us all know how it turns out?

Glad you enjoyed paradise.

Why not become fans of Hawaii Go Local?

Take care,

Dennis Lubrano

Hawaii Go Local Team Leader

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

CritterCauses — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:20:13 GMT

Breezon, thanks. Did you get a DNA test on the dog that's in your Avatar? If so, what breed did it turn out to be? Also, did the DNA test validate what breeds you thought your 4 dogs were, or did it turn out differently?

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

CritterCauses — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:14:54 GMT

Thanks! I found a website called dog-dna.com where you can mail in the sample (cheek swab) for $120 but I'm wondering how legitimate that is. Plus it takes them 4 weeks to return the results. Someone at my local shelter said she heard someone in MS had it done for $75 but doesn't know where it was done. :(

BTW, my husband and I went to Hawaii (Big Island, Oahu, Maui) for our honeymoon and really enjoyed it. The whale watching trip was the greatest!!!

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

breezon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:06:14 GMT

I would say the average is around $100-$130 for the ones you do yourself without involving a vet. There are some for less that test for a smaller list of breeds. I used Canine Heritage for 4 of my dogs, and was satisfied with both the process and results. I would recommend reading over the list of breeds validated in whichever brand of test you choose...if your dog is something not on the list, it will not show up in the results.

Re: How much does DNA testing cost?

dennislubrano — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:54:26 GMT

Aloha:

In Hawaii Petco has a service.

Not certain of the amount, I amthinking perhsp $135 or less.

You can also google for other test services in your area other than Petco.

Good luck.

Your pup is a cutie.

Dennis Lubrano

Hawaii Go Local Team Leader

How much does DNA testing cost?

CritterCauses — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 02:42:30 GMT

Anyone know how much it cost, on average, for a doggie DNA test? If the cost isn't real steep, I think I'll have my dog tested (based on looks, she's a Chow) as well as a Pit Bull (looks just like one) that I found a home for after finding it abandoned. I'm thinking that if the tests show them to be something opposite of what they look like, I might waltz them into a city council meeting for a little Q&A-- with test results in hand--in order to prove the point that BSL doesn't work. So, any guess as to how much it cost and can any veterinarian do the test?

Re: VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

dennislubrano — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:05:43 GMT

Aloha:

GUNNY got my vote!

A rescue directory is here if you see any in your state that need to be added?

http://muttcats.com/index.htm

Take care,

dennis Lubrano

Hawaii Go Local Team Leader

VOTE FOR GUNNY!!!!!!!

balmerbird — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:03:57 GMT

Gunny is a rescue pit bull who was used as a "bait" dog at a dog fighting kennel in North Carolina . He was left for dead after his body was too tattered to be of further use to his owners. Gunny lost a leg, and nearly starved to death but was nursed back to health. He is now an ambassador for his rescue organization and has helped raise a lot of money and public attention for them.

He is currently in a national photo contest where the winner gets to be in the Tournament of Roses Parade with international TV coverage, along with all sorts of other publicity opportunities, free food for the rescue shelter, etc. Gunny is currently in 1st place in the contest which goes through the end of November.

Please go to the website and vote for Gunny's photo. http://www.naturalbalance.net/WMAD/videos01.tpl?command=search&db=entries.db&eqskudatarq=1255873123736755862&max=1&eqapproveddatarq=T&raskusort=1&myindex=14&totalpics=155

Encourage your friends and fellow dog lovers to do the same!

If you're interested in Gunny's full story here's a link to his video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcQUsGT_nA

Losers Need Love

Edward — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:12:07 GMT

A flyer to help NMHPU find homes for some special dogs.

Best Friends Animal Society Campaigns Introduction

isabelm — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:52:25 GMT

Four Campaigns One Goal

No More Homeless Pets