b'Pit Bulls in America today to Love are more sinned againstwaits.than sinning.From The State Of The American Dog,by Tom Junod.Sometimes it seems like an uphill challenge, tryingServing dog lovers for 10 years.change the publics perception or the hysteria that revolvesaround the way media reports a dog bite. Again, the lives ofthese dogs depend on humans to speak up for them. That iswhy a major goal of the Bull Breed Coalition Registry is to Locally-owned.remain steadfast in its fight against Breed Specific Legislation Homemade Treats Baked Daily.(BSL). Wide Variety of Food, Collars,Regardless of where you live, BSL is a concern for all Harnesses & Leashes. Accessoriesdog owners. We should take every measure to prevent it," for your dog and home.said Kamerion. Or in the case of Miami-Dade, where anyPit Bull-like dog has been banned for 26 years, have BSLoverturned,onceandforall,saidformerNFLplayer,Kamerion Wimbley, also a founding member of the BullBreed Coalition Registry.You learn a lot about America when you own a Pit Bull.You learn not just who likes your dog, but you learn whatkind of person likes your dog, and what kind of person fearshim. You generalize. You profile. You learn that the argu-ment about Pit Bulls takes place along the lines of class and,to a lesser extent race. The opposition to Pit Bulls might notbe racist; but it does, however, employ racial thinking, saidJunod, the Esquire writer.America is two countries nowthe country of its nar-rative and the country of its numbers, with the latter sittingin judgment of the former. In the stories we tell ourselves,we are nearly always too good, too soft on criminals, too easyon terrorists, too lenient with immigrants, too kind to ani-mals. In the stories told by our numbers, we imprison, wedrone, we deport and we euthanize with an easy conscienceand avenging zeal. We have become schizophrenic in thisway, and Pit Bulls hold up the same mirror as the 2.2 millionsouls in our prisons and jails and more than 350,000 peoplewe deport every year.The Pit Bull detractors say they are more likely to kill;their advocates say the only thing they are more likely to do Photography is die. We make a habit of asking dogs about their own good- by Danette.ness without expecting or getting an answer. But go to an FULL SERVICE GROOMINGanimal shelter and before they are euthanized, ask the dogs ART|GIFTS & CARDS|BEDS|CARRIERS|CRATESyou see therethe Pit Bulls you see thereabout our good-ness. You will get all the answer you need, saidJunod. UNow Open Sundays.StubbyDog - www.StubbyDog.orgAn organization that is focused on changing the public per-ceptions of Pit Bulls. They are developing and disseminatingemotionally resonant and entertaining content that show PitBulls as the loyal and loving dogs they are. They also recog-nize that people are still afraid of Pit Bulls, a fear that is Clearwater 1447 S. Ft. Harrison Ave., 727.446.7999based largely on rumors and sensationalized media reports. www.APlaceForDogs.comwww.TheNewBarker.com Summer/Fall ~ 2015 THE NEW BARKER 29'