Watch the full clip here: http://www.cbs.com/shows/undercover_boss/video/0A0BAFF7-AA75-DF2E-966A-080E80E40102/undercover-boss-dispatcher-disguise/

Love-A-Bull Board members had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Leila and her boyfriend, Andrew to learn a bit more about why Love-A-Bull was her charity of choice and what makes her passion for supporting pit bull type dogs so strong!

Not only is Leila the proud momma of her very own pittie, Emma, she has 4 other pups as well! It’s apparent that Leila’s passion and drive to advocate and support animals is at the forefront of her life. Leila currently plans to go back to school to turn her passion into a full-fledged career!

Q: Why did you chose Love-A-Bull to donate to?
A: After going to several events – Texas Sized Pittie Pride Parade, Pints for Pits, and fun walks – I found myself loving the organization and how much of a positive impact it had on Emma (Leila’s pittie) and I. Currently she and I are working on getting her Canine Good Citizen and one day her therapy dog certification, so she can work right alongside her mom! So when I was asked to be on Undercover Boss (and no I was totally fooled) and was provided with a $5000.00 donation to any animal charity of my choice, I leapt at the chance to represent Love-A-Bull! I knew this would be much needed since I knew this would help with the foster pups and looking for a new place.

Q: What are future plans for vet school?
A: Ever since I was little I’ve always had a fascination for animals. I went from refusing to play with Barbie dolls, to checking in teddy bears at my “office” for vaccines and annual exams at age 10. From that point, you would have assumed I would have slid into the role of wanting to be a vet. But no, I had to truly find my passion and drive doing what I would enjoy for the rest of my life. When I did, I knew I was ready to take the steps to make my dream come true. No longer would I “operate and examine” teddy bears, I wanted the real thing. I plan on completing my basics and majoring in bio-medical sciences, and then applying to vet school at Texas A&M.

Q: How did you find Love-A-Bull and get involved?
A: I came across Love–A-Bull when it first started about 4-5 years ago. I was walking into Petco with my pittie Emma, and met a small group of pit bull lovers who handed me a card! I think I still have that card too! Lol. I got involved when Emma and I (along with the rest of my pack) came across hard times with apartment renters because Emma was a Pit Bull/Staffordshire breed. Many people down right refused without even meeting her! I also found it difficult to obtain renters insurance with her. I refused to down grade to a less than appealing apartment just because they “accepted” her breed. I wanted nothing but the best for her, myself, and my other dogs. At that point I remembered that I had the card and took to the internet in search of the Love-A-Bull web page. I found a lot of renters with very nice locations to look at that graciously accepted Emma. One thing led to another, and I was able to land the ideal house for my kiddos!

Q: What are the names of all your pups?
A: I currently have 5 dogs! LOL… Yea… I love them all, and they are all but two rescues! People say you resemble your dog – well I have 5 so you can just imagine how crazy of a person I am! I have from the oldest to youngest: 1) Schnauzer mix: Sarah Elizabeth, 2) Rot lab mix: Dozer Allen, 3) Pit bull: Emma May, 4) Apple head Chihuahua: Tek-9 and my boyfriend’s brothers dog while he is in Afghanistan 5) Weimaraner: Zeus… Oh and a hedge-hog named Stormy and a tarantula named Icarus!

Q: What do you want people to know about pit bull type dogs?
A: I want all people to learn that pit bull type dogs are strong, learning sponges. They learn to love if loved, learn to cuddle if cuddled and are amazing companions. Any animal can thrive in the right environment. They derived from the “nanny dog,” which were bred to protect the young of the family. We trusted them with our most valued possessions then, why not now? We should not fear what we don’t understand but learn from them, build with them and discover a better appreciation of the things we take advantage of daily. They will love unconditionally and are no different than any other animal, breed, size etc.

“Pit bulls are…
Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the Virtues of Man,
without her Vices.”
~Unknown~

We feel truly honored to have such strong supporters out there who share our dedication and passion for bettering the lives of pit bull type dogs! Not only does Leila’s donation allow us to keep saving lives, it also allows us to continue to grow and strengthen our organization as we continue to set our sights on one day having a facility!

A sincere thank you goes out to Leila and Undercover Boss for their donation!

Friday, July 12th, 2013
The Palm Door @ 401 Sabine Street Austin, TX 78701

 
♦ Beginning at 7PM with cocktails, music and silent auction
♦ Dinner will follow at 7:30PM
♦ The evening will close with the silent auction, presentation, and entertainment

Our silent auction will include many items such as autographed memorabilia, jewelry, fun event tickets, and more!

Individual tickets are $75/person and include open bar at the Palm Door, gourmet dinner catered by the Pink Avocado, silent auction, music, entertainment, and more.
Cocktail attire and 21+ only please.

Tickets are available online through Eventbrite. purchase tickets online If you would like to purchase your tickets by check or money order, please make the payment out to Love-A-Bull and mail to: Love-A-Bull | Attn: Gala/Lindsey | P.O. Box 18792 | Austin, TX 78760.

Sponsorships are available now. More information can be found on the event page.
sponsorship info

For additional information or questions about sponsorship, tickets, or event, please contact: Lindsey Ortiz at events@love-a-bull.org or (512) 773-7434.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

You may also find a link to our event on Facebook. Please note that an RSVP does not guarantee your spot; you must purchase your tickets online through the link provided above.

Also a big shout out to Opal Divine’s Marina for hosting our event, Infamous Brewing Company for donating a keg of their Hijack Cream Ale, Amanda Wintenburg Photography for capturing the event in photos, and The Pet Studio for donating a painted portrait of Hope that was auctioned off – and then donated to Hope’s foster from the winning bidder!

Here’s a link to photos from the event: Pints for Pits “Hope for the Future”.

For all of our supporters who weren’t able to make it out to Pints for Pits to celebrate Hope’s memory, it’s not too late to be a part of the cause! Click here to donate. You can specify that your donation goes directly to the “Hope for the Future” fund.

One day I was in my living room half paying attention to the TV when a show came on that caught my eye. I don’t recall the name, but basically it was a group of people training dogs to do everything from visiting hospitals, to helping kids take a more active interest in reading and school. I sat transfixed for the full hour. When it was over I knew right away – somehow, some way, I would be involved in something great like this.

Fast forward to eight years later and I’m standing in front of a group of exceptional dogs and handlers that are about to graduate the 5th therapy dog training class for the Pit Crew.

Skye and Steve prepare for a tough 'leave it.'

We’ve sat together here for seven consecutive weeks, once a week, for two hours. Most of us have commuted quite far after our day jobs to make it here, not to mention all of the homework. Everyone is nervous about the test – possibly me most of all. It is rare that all dogs pass the test, and everyone knows it. As the teacher, I am committed to testing them thoroughly and fairly. As a human, I want to see them all succeed but know that’s not always possible.

The tasks that we ask of these dogs are quite unfair. They are expected to tolerate and even enjoy interactions that make most dogs uncomfortable. Bear hugging by strangers, loud obnoxious sounds and equipment, staying calm in the most energized and new settings – it’s all quite odd for a dog, and I’d be doing them an injustice if I said I didn’t see the occasional genuinely confused look cross their faces. Even our assistant trainer, Maida, often makes comments about the downsides of her common role in the class: the “rude” human. Post-graduation she has the urge to visit all of the dogs just to apologize for all of her dog manners transgressions while helping to teach them patience and tolerance. It’s all in preparation for what they may encounter while visiting our many facilities. A therapy dog must be one of the most patient and passive beings on the planet. And I’m looking at a class full of them. And they are all rescues. Oh, and they are all Pit Bull-type dogs.

Jeanie may only have 3 legs, but she has a ton of love to give (and style).

Pitties as therapy dogs is nothing new. They make up a huge percentage of the dogs in almost every major therapy dog circle, whether people realize it or not. But those groups don’t advertise them as ‘Pit Bulls.’ In fact, they often go out of their way to not mention it at all. The Pit Crew is one of the only groups of 100% Pit Bull-type dogs, and we are big proponents of giving credit where credit is due. We are especially proud because none of these dogs were bred and bought for this type of work. In fact, everyone on the Crew is rescued. Some of their histories are horrendous and sad, while others are simply a mystery. What they all have in common is a loving and patient temperament, and the unique dog ability to forgive and forget their sometimes dark pasts. Thanks to the humans that rescue them, they are able to fulfill their true potential and give back to the community.

Ellie entertains some of our volunteers while the handlers take the written portion of the exam.

I couldn’t be more proud of our crew. Six total rock star dog and handler teams were certified during last Thursday’s graduation and will begin work right away. They will join the rest of the Pit Crew on outings to schools, after school programs, reading programs, elder care facilities, and hospitals. They will have the opportunity to talk to people in the community about proper animal care, training, what Pit Bull-type dogs can really be like, and rescue – as well as the simple joy of sharing the companionship of dogs.

A huge congratulations goes out to our Pit Crew graduates – both past and present – for their dedication and commitment to helping others. It is an honor to be your teacher and a privilege to be part of the Pit Crew.

- Crystal

Check out all the photos of our SIX new therapy dog and owner teams from Pit Crew’s 2013 graduation.

Pit Crew's 5th Class Graduates

What was supposed to be a short business trip to California, ended up being so much more for Joey. Upon his arrival to California, Joey logged into his Facebook account to find a picture posted of a female pit bull in need of a home. She was discovered on the street with no form of identification. Her rescuers were desperately searching for someone to claim her – they weren’t allowed to keep her because of their landlord, and the only shelters in the area were kill shelters. This was when Joey, who grew up around pit bulls, made a 40-minute trip to meet Chloe.

It was not easy getting Chloe from California to her new home in Austin. She was covered in fleas and ticks, and because of this, deemed unable to fly by airlines. She was estimated to be only a year old, but appeared to already have had a litter of puppies. It took a week to nurse Chloe back to health before she was allowed to fly back with Joey and make Austin her new home.

Chloe was slowly growing accustomed to her new life in Austin, but always remained a bit skittish. One day on a walk she was frightened and pulled out of her collar, going missing in downtown Austin. She was hit by a car and last seen running down Trinity and 11th on November 25th.

When she was found near 9th and Lamar the next day, she was severely injured but coherent. She was taken to the animal shelter and then to an emergency clinic, where she was found to have multiple broken vertebrae. Her injuries were determined inoperable, and Chloe was humanely euthanized early on November 27th.

Joey decided that the perfect way to honor her was to gather donations for the organization whose mission is to advocate for pit bulls like Chloe. Over $2,500.00 was raised in Chloe’s memory and donated to Love-A-Bull earlier this year. KXAN even did a short piece on her story and Joey’s fundraising efforts: Austin dog remembered.

There is new pup in Joey’s life. Like many of us who realize once a pit bull has come into our lives we never want anything different, Joey adopted Maya, a pit bull mix, from the Austin Humane Society. She’s quite popular, with almost 3,000 likes on Facebook, and is clearly enjoying her new home. Because of the donation raised in Chloe’s memory, more dogs have a better chance of finding their forever home and spending their days like Maya.

The awesome photos are up on our Flickr site courtesy of our volunteer photographer Amanda Wintenburg.

We chatted with music fans and friendly supporters and dog lovers all while listening to music and having a great time!

• The awesome patrons helped donate over $1,100 at the door.
• We raised $51 from our “chance raffle” for a Cap City Comedy Club party package or a Love-A-Bull merch package.
• We sold lots of cool apparel and other merch items. ( Look out for some stunning fans sporting their new Love-A-Bull gear around Austin! )
• And we received a $65 donation from the bar!

HUGE thanks goes out to Dirty Dog Bar for hosting the event; Dead Earth Productions and Come and Take It Productions for producing and promoting the event; metal bands Shadow Spectrum, Ethereal Architect, Dead Earth Politics, Mevyn, and Immerse for playing; and our friend Devon Brown for putting the whole event together and making it happen!

Long-time animal cruelty prosecutor Belinda Smith will remain the county’s Animal Cruelty Specialist and joins other prosecutors in the Family Criminal Division of  the Special Victims Bureau, which has three full-time investigators. Bureau leaders plan to provide animal cruelty cross training to some of the eight other attorneys in the division in an effort to offer more support to prosecuting animal cruelty cases.

Sara Marie Kinney, public relations officer for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, said the former Animal Cruelty Section prosecuted two cases of animal cruelty in 2012. Joining the Special Victims Bureau is an opportunity to handle more cases successfully.

“ADA Smith has done an excellent job in the past of working with the community and media on outreach and raising awareness for rescue groups across the area ,” Kinney said. “The DA’s office looks forward to balancing with that  more prosecutions and tougher punishments in a new bureau dedicated to some of our most vulnerable victims.”

Harris County | Guide to Keeping You and Your Pit Bull Safe and Healthy

The tough Plush Puppies Invincibles plush squeaker dog toy retails for about $12.

Kimbo never tired of playing with the snake, even after he punctured and removed its innards. When he chewed the head off and all that remained was a lifeless, tattered hide, Kimbo would still pick it up and give it a vigorous shake.

The durable squeaker plush dog toy with no stuffing goes by the name Plush Puppies Invincibles, made by Centennial, Colo.-based Kyjen, Inc., also known for its Outward Hound line of backpacks, life jackets, and travel gear.

Invincibles refers to the tough squeaker inside the plush toys that come in the shape of snakes and geckos, and include 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-squeaker versions. The bladder of the squeaker can be repeatedly punctured, even cut, and the squeaker will still sound.

The rugged Invincibles squeaker continues to sound even after multiple punctures.

Before and after: Kimbo likes both.

Full disclosure: I have a soft spot for Kyjen. The week Kimbo came into my life as a 10-month-old rescue from Town Lake Animal Center, he picked a red Invincibles snake as his first toy at the pet store. Kimbo sniffed around and nudged lots of products, but something about the nearly 2-foot, 3-squeaker snake kept his attention.

It took about a month for the first Invincibles squeaker to go. Over time, he pulled out each of the three squeakers, but up until about two months ago, the last squeaker still sounded when given a sharp squeeze.

Kimbo rips open most squeaker toys within moments. While the plush Invincibles skin is tough, it does eventually give way to gnawing teeth. The replacement snake took a few hours of punishment before giving up its first squeaker.

I’ve been putting the newly extracted squeaker inside the head of Kimbo’s original snake. It keeps him entertained for a while and I like to think Kimbo enjoys playing with his old buddy.

Kyjen representatives announced in late December via Facebook plans to release a new version of Invincibles product line sometime in 2013:

“We are coming out with another generation of Invincibles that addresses the issue of wanting the rip the toy open to kill the squeakers.”

Kimbo said he wants one.