**UPDATE** Hoss needs to go to rehabilitation, so he can learn to live with other dogs. He is a really good dog, but is going to be hard to adopt out, because of the way he has been raised. Poor Boy. We are sending him to a wonderful cage free place that he can live for the rest of his life if needed. He will be part of a pack and live like a real dog. Thanks for all your donations and we will keep you updated! Thank you Matt! From Hoss, and from Karma Rescue, the organization that now has Hoss. Here is Matt and Hoss's story.....

The hardest part of my current job is when I inspect auto repair shops, used car dealers, etc where you find a neglected guard dog locked up in a corner during the day (often standing in their own filth), or chained to a fence (I've heard there's a new law that states this is illegal). Here is the link to CA law against chaining dogs If there's any hint of neglect I always call Animal Control and try to scare the owner into taking better care of their animal(s). It bothers me that I can't take all of these dogs home with me but that's impossible as I have to put my 2 and 4 year old nephew's safety first and my own two dogs second. . . and the repair shop jerk would just go find another dog to use as his "security system".

I'm not trying to depress you, I swear. I just wanted to share some pictures that were taken when I was checking out another one of these poor pooches. When I saw him (chained to a fence - yes we called Animal Control and he was taken) I asked an employee if I could pet him and as is always the case he looked at me like I was crazy, shook his head no and made a biting motion with his hand trying to indicate that I would probably lose a limb (if not more) if I approached the dog (the employee spoke no English). As is always the case I cautiously approached anyway (an unaltered male pit bull with a serious attitude).

At first the dog strained at it's chain, barking and snapping it's jaws in an obvious attempt to get at me. When it realized that this scare tactic wasn't having it's usual affect it stopped and looked at me like I was nuts. The attached pictures were taken towards the end of our encounter (when my friend Wendy got up the courage to get out of her car). I wanted to share them with you because I think it underscores the power of attention, love, understanding (and half a peanut butter sandwich:). Mind you I was with this dog for 5 minutes max and it had probably been chained up it's whole life.

Anyone that says Pit Bulls (or any breed as a whole) are innately vicious need to change their way of thinking (feel free to forward this to them). Yes, they're very powerful and capable of inflicting serious if not fatal injuries. . . but it's not the breed that makes them dangerous, it's the jackass that leaves them chained to a fence in the freezing cold, feeding them the cheapest dog food on the market ("food" that even a starving animal will ignore.) Petey from the Little Rascals was a "Pit Bull" but no one thought much of it back then because chicken shit gang bangers hadn't created the vicious image of pits that the media has used to jack up their ratings.

Dogs are not people. They are descendants of animals that had to range long distances in search of food (usually small animals that scurry about, a lot like some kids) which makes leaving them unattended with small children ridiculously irresponsible. My family used to have a Basset Hound that was as docile and sweet as any animal I've ever known. Once a little boy crawled up to her and stuck his face in hers. She didn't like it for whatever reason (maybe it startled her) and she snapped at him. So please remember, dogs are unpredictable animals, not people. Treat them (as you would/should all living things with respect.)

Have a great day.

Matt D

P.S. I rarely get this close to an aggressive dog. Even when I let him smell/lick me I had a hand ready to push him away so that I could escape (jump backwards). I just felt in this instance it was safe to pet him when he started wagging his whole body and he looked at me like he was begging for some love.