Paws 'N Claws

These bracelets are adorable! I love the concept of the clasp. They are priced at $62.00 each and you can order them from the artist's website.

Emily Ito! You've got talent! I can't wait to get one for myself! Order yours now!

These spoons are so adorable, I can't believe I haven't seen them before! They are an easy housewarming gift for any cat lover.

They are very reasonably priced - $42 for the set of handcrafted Salad Set of wooden spoons. By Jonathan's Wild Cherry Spoons.

The breed name Pit Bull often elicits a fear reaction in potential pet owners faces. Having worked in animal welfare and the veterinary industry for over 12 years, I have been attacked by two dogs without cause - one was a purebred Cocker Spaniel, the other a Bichon mix. I have worked closely with hundreds of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes and have never been attacked by one. Never.

People would argue that my experiences might be uncommon. The nightly news tells us regularly about a Pit Bull that has maimed, or perhaps killed, a child or family member. It would be irresponsible to state that there are no dangerous pit bulls; there are. There are also dangerous Chihuahuas, Golden Retrievers and Bassett Hounds. Pit Bulls, because of their strength, tend to do more damage and therefore make for a more sensational news story.

The term Pit Bull often includes American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers. These breeds all are large in size and have large, powerful jaws. These dogs are historically known for being good with people and not with other animals. Therefore, people that wanted the dogs to fight other dogs for their entertainment, were able to train them easily to do so. There are absolutely "fighting lines" of dogs that were bred specifically for this purpose. The dogs were chosen to breed based on their aggressiveness. When adopting a Pit Bull, you do need to carefully assess the dog for friendliness and stability. You need to do this with ANY dog you bring into your home.

Owning a Pit Bull is a responsibility. You are the protector and guardian of a powerful animal. You need to make sure that you and those around you are safe. You also become an advocate for the breed. You need to help others learn, that although they may look "scary", there is a huge, loving heart in that muscular build that just wants a family to love.

Remember..."Pete" from the "Little Rascals" was a Pit Bull. Before all of the breed's bad press, the Pit Bull was considered an ideal family dog. This article is just the beginning of the information you should have if you are going to become the guardian of a Pit Bull. Research the breed further before adopting at www.badrap.org, an amazing nonprofit Pit Bull rescue organization in the San Francisco area.