My husband, Steve, and I  have been doing Pit Bull Rescue in the Palm Beach County, Florida, area since 1994. 

When our two old APBTs died of cancer three months apart (14 1/2 years old and 15 1/2 years old respectively) in 1993 we did a lot of soul searching about whether we could still trust the integrity of the breed after hearing all of the negative press in recent years.  After much breeder screening and researching we got a  puppy from a reputable local breeder.  Mango Maddie (photo on home page) was everything we could have asked for.  We were delighted that the American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed was alive and well. 

At that time we had already started working at our home based business.  Since one or both of us is usually at the house working, we decided that we were in a position to foster pit bulls from local shelters until we could find them new homes. The idea was to teach these dogs some basic obedience skills and housebreaking so they could be more adoptable and fit more readily into a new home.

Needless to say, we had not been doing this very long before we realized that there were many, many pit bulls in desperate need of good homes.  What we did not realize initially was that good homes are hard to find for these special dogs.   We also came to realize that while socialization and training definitely improves their ability to get along with other dogs many still have short fuses when it comes to other dogs--particularly dogs of the same sex.  And once they start they do not stop!  You have to go in and break it up.  We were lucky while we were learning this that we did not lose any dogs although we have had to have a few sewn up by the veterinarian.  These days we are very careful about who goes with whom and we never leave two dogs alone unsupervised.  I pass this along in the hopes so that others do not have to learn the hard way. 

Our dogs which we consider permanent family members range from two years old to several years old and range from abandoned street dogs to pedigreed / papered dogs to a deaf, middle aged three-legged dog named Tripod.  We have dogs that dive to the bottom of the swimming pool and even three that are Delta Society certified therapy / animal assisted activity dogs.  All have stable and loving temperaments with people.

My husband and I are committed to the American Pit Bull Terrier.  We receive on a daily basis much more than we give - unconditional love, joy, optimism and the courage to never give up!