A large crowd gathering at Arovista Park and visiting vendor booths.

On October 23th starting at 9am, more than 150 outraged dog lovers with their canine companions gathered at Arovista Park to attend our annual Luv-a-Bully March – a grassroots movement to create social awareness about the danger of allowing city leaders and insurance companies to impose restrictions on dog ownership.

Our march to Brea’s City Hall is on!

With signs waving, tails wagging, and cars honking, activists walked more than two miles down Brea Blvd and Birch St in a loop to Brea City Hall.

While resting on the steps of City Hall, Tim Welch of Redefined Dog Training spoke on the topic of dog behavior with a warning not to judge or stereotype any dog based on breed – even a Chihuahua can have serious issues!

More than 150 protestors lined up on sidewalks spanning more than 3 city blocks. Thank you Brea Police for your escort -- stopping traffic at intersections so we could cross safely.

Shorty Rossi – Pit Boss on Animal Planet – was a no-show, calling to cancel the morning of our event…  BOOOOOO!  We ask that his disappointed fans send him some unfriendly fan mail!

All other supporters attended as planned: Camp Bow Wow, Pinups for Pit Bills, OC Pit Bull Rescue, Lisa Scarsi Photography, Wicked Wicks of the West, and Farmers Insurance – and all will be invited back next year. View and order some fantastic photos taken by Lisa here.

In Denver, CO and other cities with breed bans – bullies like this one have been confiscated and killed. Care to explain that to a child?

We collected nearly $700 from our raffle, which has been donated to Mariah’s Promise – a dog sanctuary in Colorado – in a state that has been plagued by breed bans. Denver being the most notorious and a catalyst for other cities to adopt breed bans – is now in litigation facing three civil lawsuits in hope of bringing justice to the families that lost their dogs and their homes!

A special shout out to David Keith who filmed and edited hours of video tape to capture some unforgettable sights and expose the myth that surrounds the perception of “dangerous breeds.” Please share with 10 friends and help us spread this event around the world!

Our bully Zack returned this year to host our Kiss-a-Bull Booth and licked a lot of kissers!

My special thanks to all the wonderful souls (clients and concerned citizens) that joined hands and hearts again for our 6th annual Luv-a-Bully March. You did your civil duty to your dog and your community.

At a buck a kiss, Zach helped raise funds for Mariah’s Promise in Woodland, CO – a dog sanctuary that takes in pit bulls who have been banned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is every dog owner’s battle until our freedom to choose our canine companions is a protected right – not a crime!

Our 2008 march to Brea City Hall.

This event is the coordinated effort of ROVERlution.org in partnership with Annual Pit Bull Awareness Day. On October 23^rd, thousands of concerned dog owners all across the country will join forces to spotlight the devastating effects of breed discrimination. This grassroots movement began in 2005 when the city of Denver, CO voted to ban several dog breeds, tragically resulting in the hunting and killing of innocent family dogs.

Breed bans have been birthed by ignorance and fueled with discrimination – no reputable study has found any particular breed of dog to be inherently dangerous!

Nicholas Burr, winner of Best Kissed Kid contest. $100 gift certificate to Disneyland!

Dog experts cite irresponsible dog ownership as the root of problematic dogs in society. Collected data on dog bites further asserts that ALL dogs can only be judged safe by their behavior. Physical characteristics or breed have no predictive value.

Responsible dogs owners must take action against insurance companies and city leaders that seek to impose breed restrictions. Three breeds most under fire are the American Pit Bull Terrier, the American Staffordshire Terrier, and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, all commonly referred to as Pit Bulls. It seems forgotten that the all American Pit Bull Terrier was once a favorite family dog revered as the “nanny dog” and showcased as the loveable Petey in the Little Rascals television series of the 1950s.

Other breeds that have been the target of BSL in cities around the country include the Rottweiler, Doberman, Chow Chow, and the German Shepherd.

When interviewed by the press, Dr. Terifaj, founder of ROVERlution.org, had this to say:

“The behavior of any breed of dog is largely determined by the actions of dog owners. All dogs must be judged by their actual behavior and not stereotyped as breed aggressive. Insurance companies and government entities who have chosen to penalize dog ownership based on breed prejudice have recklessly violated the rights of good citizens. Media hype and misinformation has largely contributed to the irrational fear and ignorance that surrounds these breeds. Stronger law enforcement of existing dangerous dog ordinances would protect communities from any dog found to be a public threat and stiffer penalties on dog owners who harbor dangerous dogs would target the real problem.” 

Shorty Rossi, star of Pit Boss on Animal Planet and his pit bull rescue organization will be attending the event for the first time!

Outspoken veterinarian, Dr. Paula Terifaj, leads over 100 sign-waving protesters on march down Brea Blvd in peaceful protest in October 2009.

Protestors will gather at Arovista Park in Brea beginning at 9am in preparation to march downtown in route to Brea City Hall. Other supporters setting up booths in the park will be Camp Bow Wow, Pin-ups for Pit Bills, OC Pit Bull Rescue, Lisa Scarsi Photography, Wicked Wicks of the West, and Farmers Insurance.

A raffle prize fundraiser will collect donations for Mariah’s Promise in Woodland Park, Colorado. This non-profit rescue was chosen upon learning that they generously took in hundreds of outlawed Denver family dogs to keep them safe from harm.

While at City Hall, Tim Welch of Redefined Dog Training will demonstrate some good training tips to stress the need that all dogs remain welcome in their neighborhoods.

PS: If you have a suitable raffle prize to donate – please contact Jan Keith, our super woofer event coordinator!

Save the date – and do your Dog Duty this October 23^rd!

Over 100 angry dog owners marched down Brea Blvd to City Hall in peaceful protest.

On October 24th at 10am, more than 100 outraged dog lovers (and maybe a few cat lovers) marched down Brea Blvd and Birch Street in protest of unfair breed discriminatory ordinances in a growing number of cities scattered all across the country.

With signs waving, tails wagging, and cars honking, activists walked more than two miles in a loop to Brea City Hall. More than 90 events were well attended in cities all across the United States and Canada, in a national campaign to create social awareness about the danger of allowing renegade cities and insurance companies to impose restrictions on dog ownership.

Dog owners — in policed cities with breed restrictions — have been forced to move from their homes or surrender the family dog. Others can stay in their homes but will lose their homeowners insurance if they admit to owning a targeted breed. Some say it’s an outrage! Some say it’s a violation of our Constitutional rights! I say something has gone terribly WRONG and I will remain at the forefront of this battle until our freedom to choose our canine companions is a protected right — not a crime. As a civilized society, we don’t accept racial discrimination — why on earth would we tolerate discrimination against dog breeds?

Winter issue 2009.

This year we spiced up our protest with a fundraising raffle and contest. All monies were donated to support the work of Mariah’s Promise in Divide, CO — giving shelter to hundreds of family dogs made homeless by Denver’s brutal breed ban. To further our fundraising efforts, the American Dog Magazine is making this special offer: Buy a subscription to The American Dog Magazine and proceeds will be donated to Mariah’s Promise. In the Winter 2009 issue, American Dog published an article I wrote: Vet Warns Dog Owners to Stay Out of Denver, CO. 

Each quarterly issue is loaded with information from respected dog experts from all over the world: veterinarians, professional dog trainers, lawyers, and animal welfare advocates. All for the bargain price of only $20. And the upcoming January issue will feature ROVERlution.org and photos from the October 24th Luv-a-Bully March hosted by Founders. You and your dog could be captured for the two-page feature! See all photos taken by Lisa Scarsi Photography here.

When you subscribe, please use animal charity code: BSL to ensure your donation goes to the homeless bullies (awaiting new homes in safe cities) at Mariah’s Promise. If you already get this outstanding magazine, please gift one to a friend this holiday season!

Nicholas Burr, winner of Best Kissed Kid contest. $100 gift certificate to Disneyland!

And the winner of Best Kissed Kid is … Nicholas Burr! Who could resist that smile? This happy kid is a natural dog lover and a budding animal activist! We are sure he will be smiling again soon as the winner of a $100 gift certificate to Disneyland.

My special thanks to all the wonderful souls (clients and concerned citizens) that joined hands and hearts again for our 5th annual Luv-a-Bully March. You did your civil duty to your dog and your community.

Excited raffle prize winner Nadine and her dog Junebug. Won signed copy of Cesar Millan’s book, Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems.

“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”

— Margaret Mead

Here are some dog breeds on the ‘Hit List’ prohibited by city ordinances and insurance companies which will not insure your property if you admit to having one these breeds: Akita, Chow Chow, Doberman, German Shepard, Great Dane, Mastiff, Rottweiler, and of course the infamous Pit Bull — not an actual breed but loosely refers to three breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Now, turn the clock back and travel with me to the year 2005, to a dark city with a haunting past and uncertain future, Denver, CO.

My fatal attraction to Denver began in the Spring of 2005 when news of Denver’s brutal breed ban hit the LA Times. Shocked and sickened by the shameful ignorance of city leaders to outlaw good family dogs — targeting them to be hunted and destroyed in the name of public safety — I was immediately recruited to fight the war on breed discrimination.

Denver became my Ground Zero as panic hit the streets when animal control and police officers aggressively invaded private homes and yards to confiscate dogs reported to be “pit bulls.” Denver’s army of dog police also nabbed mixed breeds guessed to carry the bully genetic code — dogs like my very own bully mix Brad Pit and white boxer Rosie! More than 2,000 dogs to date have received a merciless death sentence for being the “wrong breed” in Denver…

Our 2008 march to Brea City Hall.

ROVERlution.org was the counterattack as I sounded alarm bells to dog owners everywhere about Denver and other copycat cities gone bad. Next was my Call to Action — the birth of organized city by city protests which I dubbed Luv-a-Bully Marches. Each October I rally the troops in the parking lot at Founders for a one mile street-side March to Brea City Hall.

This October marks our 5th annual March in protest of breed discriminatory laws, sending a clear warning to my city representatives: Don’t even!

This year, Rovers will be joined by cities nationwide in Colorado, Indiana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Texas — hosting Luv-a-Bully Marches in support of Pit Bull Awareness Day on October 24th. Over 70 events have been planed in states all across the country. More about the Third Annual Pit Bull Awareness Day posted on Bless the Bullys.

Please join us once again — or for the first time — on Saturday, October 24th. Download flyer here for more details. (pdf format — large file)

Children are especially welcomed and invited to visit our Kiss-a-Bully booth. A special prize will be awarded to the Best Kissed Kid!

2008 winner of Best Kissed Kid.

PS: Early this year, ROVERlution.org gave wings to DenverKillsDogs.com — exposing the disastrous results of the ban and demanding the repeal of Denver’s notorious anti-breed legislation. More about the Denver protest rally I attended on August 25th.

PSS: Find out WHY fighting breed discrimination is so personal to me in my tribute to Petey: The Pit Bull Who Could Only Forgive.