Pit Bull Heroes by Greg Murray

Author:Greg Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Pit bull terriers–Anecdotes.
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Published: 2019-03-17T16:00:00+00:00

Ashley

Ashley is one of the 367 dogs rescued from the second largest dogfighting bust in US history on August 23, 2013. It is not known if she was used only for breeding or for breeding and fighting; based on the condition of Ashley’s body when rescued, she was overbred and she also has some scarring consistent with dogfighting.

Daisy, Hello Bully’s president, transported Ashley back to Pittsburgh in Spring 2014. The two had to stay overnight in a hotel and it was the first time Ashley slept in a bed. The two had a double-queen room and the only place Ashley would settle was on Daisy’s pillow, right next to her face. It was that night that Daisy realized Ashley loved humans, despite the people who harmed her in the past, and that she snored very loudly.

On intake, the vets examined Ashley and determined she was pregnant. She was given a private suite at Hello Bully’s shelter with a kiddie pool, blankets, and pillows in preparation for her labor. Ashley kept growing, and the shelter staff began to worry because the puppies weren’t coming. The vets did an ultrasound to investigate and found no puppies! Ashley had a “false pregnancy,” for which she even produced milk for the puppies she, too, thought were coming. False pregnancies are a common result of exploitation and overbreeding.

Anna first met Ashley as a volunteer at the temporary shelter that the Humane Society of the United States had set up for the dogs rescued from the dogfighting ring. Anna got to know Ashley even more as a volunteer at the Hello Bully halfway house in Pittsburgh where Ashley was transferred. Anna took Ashley on a few weekend kennel breaks, and during one of those weekends, Ashley was introduced to Anna’s four-year-old nephew. Ashley was amazing with him, and continues to love all the children she meets. It was an easy decision for Anna to adopt Ashley once she was deemed ready by the shelter for her forever home.

Anna and Ashley participate in a life skills summer program for underprivileged, special needs youth in the Pittsburgh area. Anna talks to the kids about caring for pets and volunteering, and she discusses how people quickly judge pit bull–type dogs based on appearances. She works with the kids to relate unfair judgments to their own life experiences. The last time Anna and Ashley attended the program, they made dog toys with the kids. Ashley usually spends her time soaking up the attention the kids give her. One of the kids will often take her leash and lead her around. In some instances, kids who were previously terrified of dogs approach Ashley and fall in love with her.

Ashley loves meeting new people! There have been times when a visitor to Anna’s house has been afraid of Ashley because she sits in the bay window and appears much larger than she actually is. Of course, once they meet her, they all fall in love with Ashley, everyone from the men who installed her windows to the plumber.

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