HI!! Remember me?

I can't believe how long it's been since I last wrote a blog!

I have been very busy - completing over 50 therapy Dog visits to get my TDIA certificate. (This stands for Therapy Dogs International Active)  I spend a lot of time at the assisted living facility with my friends!

This is one of my friends.... he says that I always make him smile when I visit!  That makes me happy!
My friends threw me a third birthday party! It was so much fun...... They made me a cake of carrots since I am allergic to wheat and grains and lots of other stuff!

It was such a fun day!  We played games and took pictures!  My friend Elsie has her birthday the same day as mine, and she sewed me a banner! (Mommy is framing it to hang in our house!)

Since I last wrote, I was also in a wedding!  My mommy and daddy got married, and me and my sister Lily got to be in the wedding! We were pretty lucky because the Mayor of the town we live in loves dogs..... and he was the one that performed the ceremony.  He was so nice to us!  Here is a picture of me (and Lily is hiding behind mommy)

Now that I'm back, I promise to blog more!  I just wanted to say hi to everyone again, and remind everyone that i'm here!  You can always follow me on FB at Frankie's FB Page.

Promise to write again soon!!!

Teacher Frankie?

Hi Everyone!!!
It's been a really long time since I wrote!! Sorry about that!
It's been busy here.... I passed my CGC test and my Therapy Dog test... I started visiting assisted living facilities to make the residents smile..... me and my sister moved to a new house (where we had no Internet for two weeks)!

But today I did something super neat that I wanted to share!!

Me and my mommy went to a high school to teach the Animal Rights group about Pit Bulls.  I had so much fun! And I wanted to share some of what we talked about.

Mommy started by telling everyone about my story.  As you all know, I was abandoned last October at a shelter in NJ with severe Mange.  Now, over a year later I am a certified therapy dog!  I get to go to schools and hospitals and assisted living facilities.  It is very fun and rewarding.

What we spent most of the time talking about was pit bull myths and BSL.  The class did a pretty good job with our trivia... though a few students thought that pit bulls have locking jaws (FALSE!!) they got most of the other questions right.

We talked about what is a pit bull.  Me and mommy found a few sites with all the different definitions of pit bulls.  The one that generated the most conversation was that in Boston a dog has to look like  pit bull to be considered one - and they are not allowed in the city.  The same is true for PetSmart Hotels - where pit bulls are unwelcome.  The students were very interested to do more research on areas where pit bulls are not allowed.... and did not understand how a dog as calm as me might be banned.

We talked about the history of pit bulls as "nanny dogs" and then we talked about famous pit bulls.  I have a previous blog where I posted photos of famous pitties.... did you know that Hellen Keller had a pit bull? Tom Brady? The RCA dog was a pittie... as is the Target dog, Petey from Little Rascals, Sergeant Stubby from WWI.  Rachel Ray has a pit bull, IggyPoo, who is on all of her dog food and treat labels.

I'll keep posting more information about Pit bulls, so that everyone can learn something new!
Happy Holidays!

My Summer Vacation - By Frankie Schlomo

It's been a while since I last updated my blog.... It's been a busy summer, and my mommy and daddy have been taking me to different places and different activities to meet people, to meet dogs, and to teach people that Pit Bulls are sweet dogs....that bad owners should be banned instead of a specific breed of dogs!


Before I go any further in my summer vacation memories, I wanted to share a video by my friends at StubbyDog.  They have the same mission as me... and this video helps get the message out there about my breed!

Stubby Dog Upside Down Video

Now... my summer vacation!!

Every weekend I went to the park and walked with my Pit Bull friends.  I made new friends with the other doggies, and their mommy and daddies!

I sure hope we keep walking through the fall!! My friend Finley even taught me how to swim in the creek!

I also got to go to my Grandma's house with my sister to play in Grandma's yard.  We had so much fun...

This year my friends at  Cutters Mill Princeton had two pool parties. I met so many new friends, and got to play with dogs of all types!  I also made people think differently about Pit Bulls when they saw me playing so nicely!

I went to the L'Oreal "Your Dog Is Worth It Too" event to help raise money to fight Breast Cancer.  It was really neat-o!  I even got to meet my hero Captain Yocum from NJ SPCA!! He said he is keeping my book on his desk!

I also got to go to "The Strut" which was a fundraiser for CAS in Bucks County, PA.

In two weeks I am going to do a book signing at a fundraiser for A Fighting Chance Rescue, and then I am going to do a Book Signing at USA Dog Shop in West Nyack!

It's been a fun, busy summer.... looking forward to a fun fall!

BSL is Another form of Prejudice

This July 4th, I thought it would be fitting to talk about a possible infringement on freedom....


My mommy told me that there is something called BSL... Breed Specific Legislation that means that there are places where dogs like me and Lily are not allowed.


How can that be???


In the 70’s German Shepherds were the number one target of legislation, and in the 80's it became the Doberman.


The Ministry of Bermuda banned 23 breeds including Mastiffs, Dogue de Bor- deaux (Turner and Hooch), Bull Mastiffs, to name a few. 

Last summer, Italy passed bans and restrictions against 92 breeds. So if you’re in Italy and wish to walk your Corgi or Border Collie you will need to have them muzzled while in public!

I don't understand how a whole entire breed of dogs can be illegal - just for how they look??  Pit Bulls aren't even ONE breed... me and Lily look so much alike that people think we were litter mates, but we're not even technically the same breed!


It seems to me that the problem is certain owners, not whole breeds of dogs!  I go for walks on the weekend with a whole group of pit bulls..... we all love our mommies and daddies.... and we have a great time.  The only barking comes from other dogs in the park, while we pitties have a fun time.


The ASPCA calls them "breed discrimination laws" and I agree! (ASPCA View on BSL) 


Mommy read an article at the ASPCA site that said that most dog bites occur from intact males - regardless of breed.  So why aren't people encouraged to be more responsible with spay and neuter?  


Why are people not encouraged to go to classes with their dogs?  Me and Lily both go to school and we love it! We learn how to be well behaved, and we get to to show Mommy and Daddy and how good we are.  We learn in a class with other dogs, and we meet nice people along the way.


If you are interested in what you can do about BSL, check out some of the following sites:


Pit Bull Rescue Central
For the love of Petbulls
BadRap

CHANGING MINDS... ONE AT A TIME

Everybody knows me as "Frankie."

Sometimes I get called "Franklin Schlomo" cause that's my "full name."  Sometimes people refer to me as a dog, as Lily's brother, as Mommy and Daddy's fur-kid.... Mommy also calls me "Bubba" because that is my nickname.

But I am also called a Pit Bull.

I learned pretty early on that being called a Pit Bull can make people react in pretty strange ways.  People cross the street sometimes when we are outside walking.  One lady shopping at our favorite store walked out because she "didn't do" pit bulls.

Do you know other pit bulls? Do you remember the show The Little Rascals? Petey the dog was a pit bull.

Have you heard of Sargeant Stubby?  He was a decorated War Hero from WW I and he also was a Pit Bull.

What about Buster Brown shoes? Remember his companion?

And now... me... Frankie! I go to classes in NJ to teach children empathy and Pit Bull Awareness, and Mommy and Daddy socialize me, so I get to go to lots of places. and I've heard some pretty crazy stuff!  I've heard people say that Pit Bulls have bad "temperaments."  But the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS) conducted a study of 122 breeds. Pit Bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%.  Beagles had a rate of 78.2% and golden retrievers 83.2%.  (You can check out all the breeds at www.atts.org)
People say "Pit Bulls have locking jaws." WRONG!


I had one lady at school pet me for 20 minutes... she was so nice. She asked what kind of dog I was, and when she heard "Pit Bull" she nearly fell off of her chair - literally.  The humans that teach the class with me, asked how anything had changed from the time she started petting me until she heard those two words... they reasoned with her, and she went back to petting me. (And hopefully she saw Pit Bulls a little differently.)


I also had a little boy in class who was terrified of me because of my breed.  I felt so sad that he was scared. He said that his Mommy and Daddy told him that Pit Bulls are mean and will bite him. I wouldn't bite anyone!!! All the other kids petted me, and at the end of class I stayed extra specially quiet so that he could pet me, too.  He was very brave to overcome his fear, and he petted me very softly. My fur tickled his hands.  He laughed, and said I was soft. I kissed his hand, and he said "I like Frankie. He's nice. Will he come play with us again?"  I was SOOOO happy! I changed his mind! 


There are a lot of us who are trying to change people's understanding about Pit Bulls.  The media doesn't help us too much!  


If you want to read more about Pit Bulls and some of the myths and the truths, there are some good websites. My favorite three are:
badrap.org
sulafoundation.org
pinupsforpitbulls.com 


And if you actually DO humane education with children, or even if you want to teach your own kids, there is a book about my life called "Frankie's New Beginning." I use it in my classes, and the kids like to see the photos of me and my friends.  (You can buy it at this link:   http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/frankies-new-beginning/15544997?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1


Whatever you do, please help me change the perception of PIt Bulls! I'd love for the words "Pit Bull" to be as well received as "Frankie!"


Wet Kisses!

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED IN HELPING ANIMALS?

When people find out that I volunteer at an animal shelter, or that my mommy and daddy volunteer at an animal shelter, we get asked "How can I get involved?"

There are so many ways to help... both live and "virtually" that if you have a desire to help, you should be able to find the right way to do so!

I go to SAVE - the shelter that took care of me until I found Mommy and Daddy - and I do "playgroups."  Daddy goes with me, and we play with dogs in the yard. This helps socialize the dogs, and gives them time to play... not just go on walks. (Daddy says that "socialize" means that we are helping them learn how to play with each other, and how to get along with other dogs.)

If you have time to walk dogs, most shelters have volunteer opportunities where you can walk a dog.... it's a huge help to the staff as you are getting the dogs out for exercise and to go to the bathroom, and you are again - socializing the dogs.

Do you have a specific skill? For instance, my mommy runs the FaceBook page for SAVE.  Do you have the ability to network and get online?  Facebook and other social media is a good way to get the word out, and to help show pictures of animals looking for homes.  Are you a web designer? Shelters can use help designing websites.

Are you good at networking and encouraging donations? See if your local shelter needs help with fundraising.

Ask what your local shelter needs, and "fundraise" that item.  Last week my friends at SAVE said they needed towels.... I told all my friends about it, and they sent towels to the shelter.

I guess what I am saying is that if you like animals, and you want to help... call your local shelter and ask what they might need.  It's a place to start!! And there are PLENTY of shelters that need your help! Both me and Lily came from animal shelters... and we both learned a lot from the people that volunteered there and spent time with us!
Wet kisses!

Frankie

BECOMING AN AMBASSADOR... IT'S HARD WORK!

Hi everyone!!


This week has been very exciting! I made lots of new friends thanks to Patrick (the Pit Bull from Newark, NJ), and the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Examiner.com posted an article all about me! 


A lot of my new friends have been asking me and my mommy how I got involved in the community.. they want to know how they can get involved, too!  I just got home from my weekly obedience class, and I can tell you - it's a lot of work! But it's fun, and it's worth it! (It's pretty neat-o when Mommy and Daddy tell me how proud they are of me!)


You already know that I was abandoned at an animal shelter last year.  As soon as the staff opened the shelter that day and found me sitting there, they started socializing me.  When Mommy and Daddy started fostering me, they continued socializing me - which was one of the most important aspects of my training!  Basically, Mommy and Daddy made sure that I met EVERYONE!! Big people, little people, cats, dogs, roosters, chickens, men, women.... I met everyone!  Mommy and Daddy even took me to PetExpo!!


If you want to get involved in the community, meet everyone you can! It helps you as a doggie, but it also lets people see what a good boy (or girl) you are!


Because the shelter where I came from does a community Humane Education Outreach program, I was pretty lucky! My Aunt Elaine works at the shelter, and she asked Mommy if I could go to schools with her, because I was such a good boy.  Mommy also asks the shelter if they need me to attend events with them to get people interested in the shelter.  


The next step is my formal training.  I go to a basic obedience class every week. And then Mommy makes me practice every night for an hour.  There are 8 - 9 other dogs in my class, and it helps me to focus by practicing with so many other doggies around.  I love going to class! It's fun to learn new things! And my friend Oreo sits next to me and sings!


I am going to these classes so that I can pass my AKC Canine Good Citizen test in the fall.  Mommy found me a link about the program.  It says ".. CGC program started in 1989... it is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club."  (Check out AKC.ORG)


Most groups that you will work with will want you to be CGC certified, so it's very important.  Mommy says that after I pass that test I will have to take a therapy dog test, too.... but that won't be until towards the end of the year!


Hope that helps a little! If you have more questions, just ask me!! Now I am going to sleep! I'm tired from my class!
Wet Kisses!
Frankie