MIGHTY MOOSE

The joy this Pit Bull has brought to us and our other dogs is indescribable

- John Penrose

Pit Bull Terrier – Just the words immediately conjure up all sorts of ideas and prejudices. These misconceptions mean that the so-called “power breeds” more often than not get a bad start to life, are mistreated and used for unspeakable abuses before being abandoned or euthanised, often well before they’ve had any love whatsoever. There’s so much education still to be carried out on animal welfare all over the country, but there’s a special battle going on with the Bully family, including Staffies, Pitties and Bull Terriers.

That being said, this is the story of a little boy named Moose, a 16-month-old Pit Bull Terrier that was rescued by TAG (The Animal Guardians in Benoni) – a magnificent group of people led by Annalise, who predominately rescues Pit Bulls and then endeavours to rehome these magnificent dogs. Their shelter is near to large, open stands, townships and betting rings, which means that they unfortunately come across many of these dogs needing help. The problem they face, though, is how to find them a forever home once they’ve been rescued.

COMING TO THE RESCUE

In November 2019, I was contacted by the co-ordinater of Paws 4 You (a therapy dog training and outreach group), Eileen Calvert. They’re based on the East Rand, and I was told of a loving and friendly male Pit Bull that had been in the shelter since he was only a few weeks old. I already had two Pit Bulls (Tequila and Molly), one of which was a 10-year-old qualified therapy dog. I’d also recently lost one of my other dogs, so Moose could be a good fit. I was sent a photo of a “Christmas Moose”, and we immediately fell in love with him.