Pit Bulls Awareness Month: Let’s Start the Movement!

"What’s so fearful about them? It's human who is scary, not pit bulls."

How many of you know about pit bulls? From that number, how many people actually own a pit bull? How many of the owners have a good education and knowledge about owning a pit bull? A lot of us have heard of pit bulls before. They are a breed of dogs that is feared by many, and commonly misunderstood for a variety of reasons. Therefore, I’m writing this special article with a hope to clear some misunderstanding about this special breed and to raise an awareness of pit bulls, which are actually very kind and loving, playful and goofy, rather than scary and fierce. Why now, you ask? Because October happens to be America’s National Pit Bulls Awareness Month. It’s the best time to bring up this issue.

Pit Bulls used to be the preferred nanny dogs by a lot of people, trusted with baby-sitting kids, but everything has changed. Why the bad-rep? There are countless reasons why pit bulls are easily misunderstood and misjudged, but it’s mostly because pit bulls are used as guard dogs and even fighting dogs by irresponsible owners. Little did we know that pit bulls aren’t suitable as guard dogs. As a breed, pit bulls are people-oriented. They love people. When isn’t used as a guard dog, pit bulls are loving in nature. Strong, yes, but they are attached to their owners. Imagine this type of breed being led as a guard dog, turning his natural instinct from protecting to attacking. Multiplied by their strength and muscles, they become vicious and dangerous. When used as guard dogs, pit bulls can easily assault anyone, including their owners. Secondly, because of their strength, many of despicable human beings use pit bulls as fighting dogs. Dog fights are illegal in many countries because of a lot of reasons, mostly because dogs shouldn’t be told to fight each other, they don’t want to fight. Why people feel the need to make them bite each other’s neck? It is by far the lowest things a human can do. Nevertheless, some low-life do it, and they pick pit bulls. Of course pit bulls are good fighters. But when they are trained to attack instead of protect, their energy and level of aggressiveness escalated and they become wild and uncontrollable. Who’s at fault, then? The breed? Or the human who misuse them? By now you should have gotten the right answer.

Another reason why the breed is perceived badly is because of their looks and physical appearances. Unlike Chihuahuas, pit bulls come in big sizes, small eyes, and distinctive facial and physical features that make them less cute, therefore perceived as scary. I, myself, used to think that big dogs are scary and dangerous, especially pit bulls. But I changed a lot since I’m introduced to Junior and late Daddy, the role models for pit bulls owned by Cesar Millan. Watching his show, I saw a lot of balanced, well-mannered pit bulls, and I got the chance to see their true, good nature when pit bulls are raised right and responsibly. Raising a pit bull requires a lot of training and balancing between discipline and affection. It takes a lot of time, and they demand your time. They need you to give them proper training every day, to drain their energy in the right ways, time to socialize, time to play, and so on and on. So, not everyone is suitable for a pit bull, since not everyone is knowledgeable and well-educated when it comes to a pit bull. But once you know the right way to raise them, pit bulls are a great and wonderful breed that makes a great company for you.

One thing I want to highlight is, be a responsible owner. As I have said before in my previous writing about dogs, the problem doesn’t lie in the breeds, it’s in the human. So the next time you see a bad dogs, see the humans who are with the dogs, they must certainly be doing something wrong. Likewise, with a good dog, comes a good human. If you have pit bulls in your pack, make sure you give them proper training and exercise. Provide them with boundaries, rules and limitations, and make sure to socialize them with humans and other dogs. Do not ever leave them in chains 24/7, and hoping they’ll guard your house and be a friend at the same time. It’s stupid.

For those of you who don’t own a dog, or a pit bull, don’t be afraid of them when you happen to meet one. Stay calm, as dogs read your energy. They know when you feel anxious or afraid, and react accordingly. It’s not easy, especially if you have a bad experience with dogs before. But it is important to know how to act and behave properly when approaching a dog. Do it with manners. Dog manners of course, not human. Talking with unknown dogs won’t help you to get close to them, nor sticking out your hands for them to smell. They can smell you from miles away. If they like your energy, they’ll come to you. It’s that simple. One simple tip I can share is: no touch, no talk, no eye contact. This is important when you first approach a dog (credit: Cesar Millan).

Luckily, there are hopes for pit bulls. Nowadays, many foundations and NGO are working together to raise awareness about pit bulls, so pit bulls can gain a good rep they once had and now deserve more than ever. More television shows are made to help build pit bulls’ good rep (Dog Whisperer, Leader of the Pack, Pit Bulls and Parolees). Thanks to these groups of dedicated people, more and more people are willing to change their perspectives on pit bulls. We’re on the right track. If we continue to spread the right information and educate people, we can give pit bulls the respect they’ve once lost because of us. Stop dog-racism, stop the ban of certain breeds marked as dangerous, and start giving people the proper education and the dogs the right home. October is the month. Act now, or never.

As the National Pit Bull Awareness Campaign puts it:

"Knowledge is power, and with education and advocacy, the truth will save lives in terms of negating the fear and bias generated by the media, circumvent knee-jerk reactions such as breed bans, and the truth will result in fewer pit bulls ending up in animal shelters."

PS: For more reading on dogs, pit bulls, and such, refer to: www.cesarsway.com

By: @dephchii

JAYESSLEE – Studio Sessions EP

Track list:

1. Officially Missing You (Studio Sessions)

2. Breakeven (Studio Sessions)

3. Dare You To Move (Studio Sessions)

4. Failure in Disguise (Original)

Best track:

Officially Missing You.

It’s their first Youtube cover that stirred so much talking around Youtube with over 14 millions viewers to date! Originally sung by Tamia, I gotta say their version is like the much better version of the original arrangement. Always an all-time favorite from Jayesslee and so much more. 

Now that they got into the studio and recorded Officially Missing You, it has grown to another different level: almost perfection. Perfect to listen to on a rainy day. Imagine yourself sitting by the window, looking out on the dark gloomy sky and the raindrop falls. 

This time, you got a company. Music that’s so heart-warming, along with the clear, beautiful voices of Janice and Sonia, and the strums of the acoustic guitar. In short, it will result in an eargasm. Warning: when listened to while actually missing someone, you’ll end up missing them even more.

Pay attention to:

Failure in Disguise.

The one and only original song in this EP. They did so few originals over the time, but they’re good at it. It’s a song written to inspire, to encourage, to soothe the hopeless. The lyrics & melody are simple but full of hopes. It’s so Jayesslee, and not to be missed out.

Where to get:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jayesslee-studio-sessions-ep/id585358984

Price:

IDR20,000 (@ IDR5,000)

$3.96 (@ $0.99)

( + ) Jayesslee's angelic voices. The way they sync perfectly and create such a beautiful harmony. Heaven. Their arrangements of the songs we all know so well are even better than the original arrangements. The genre of this EP is acoustic. It's the perfect mini album to listen just anytime, especially when you seek peace and calmness.

( - ) The studio sessions only come in 4 songs. FOUR. So few when we see so many songs they've covered in Youtube. Not enough to satisfy our needs for Jayesslee.

About Jayesslee:

Jayesslee is an Australian-based musician; consist of 2 people, Janice and Sonia, who are twins. They're Korean but grew up and resided in Sydney, Australia. The duo gain popularity from their Youtube cover of Officially Missing You. Their cover videos on Youtube are watched by millions viewers from all over the world. They are an internet celebrity phenomenon and have also shared stage with korean musician Jay Park, and worked with fellow Youtube Artists  such as David Choi, AJ Rafael, Andrew Garcia, and more.

By: @dephchii

Making A Dogcision: Buying or Adopting?

Are you a dog lover who are thinking of getting a dog of your own? Are you a pack leader who want to add more dogs to your current pack? Whoever you are, if you're considering a dog to make your house merrier, I wanna give you some insights regarding where you should take your future dogs from and why. Because apparently, taking a dog in requires more thoughts than we think. Besides deciding on what kind of breed you want, you also have to think about the place to get that dog(s).

Basically, there are 2 ways of owning dogs:

1. Buying from pet stores/breeders
2. Adopting from animal shelters

A lot of us, mainly in Indonesia, love to buy dogs from a pet store. There are only a few who actually thinking of adopting. Well, which one is a better way to get a dog? Buying or adopting? Here are some considerations you should look into:

When you decided to get a dog, as a pet, think of the reasons WHY you want a dog. Do you want it to be your friend and companion? Do you want it to be profitable to you? Or maybe, you want a dog just because it’s so stylish and posh to own one. Think: Once you have a dog, you're fully responsible for it, you're expected to be the pack leader who could create balance in your dog's life. Having a dog means so much more than feeding and showering it with love.

First of all, for people who want a dog for companionship, and no economical or business purposes, I strongly suggest adopting. Do you know how many strayed, mistreated and neglected dogs out there? PLENTY. 

These type of dogs are usually rescued and brought to the nearest animal shelters in the neighborhood, where they’re literally waiting for their planned death. If they don’t find someone who want to take them in soon, they are scheduled to be put to death, whether in an ethical (euthanized) or unethical way (brain electrocuted). By adopting dogs from animal shelters, you have somewhat taken part in rescuing these less fortunate dogs. 

It also means less dogs killed for no reason at all. Every dog deserve a second chance. Adopting means giving them a chance to have a better, happier life as a dog. Forget the notions about how certain breed or even strayed dogs are wild and untamable, dangerous, even, for humans.  They're all wrong. 

Like Cesar Milan said, any dogs can be aggressive and dangerous if not raised correctly. Every dog can be balanced, if given the chance. At the end of the day, it's not the breed, it's the owner. 

However, we gotta admit that adopting bears its own risks too. You have so little information regarding their health or temperament issues. That’s why it’s important that you do your homework before deciding to adopt. Talk to people around you (veterinarians, dog trainers, groomers) about the local animal shelters. Professionals usually have more resources. Pick an animal shelter that is trusted, non-profit oriented, reputable, and the one that’s truly willing to help you pick a dog that suits you best. Don’t forget to ask whether the shelter is willing to take the dog back, not because you’ll throw it away someday, but just in case the dog you’ve adopted isn’t the right dog for you. 

Some animal shelters are willing, even insist upon taking the dog back if you turn out to be a ‘wrong’ owner (it’s also a sign of a great animal shelter). Don’t worry about the breed of the dogs. Even in animal shelters, there’s a big chance you’ll find the breed you’re looking for, some might even be pedigrees. But, in my honest opinion, breed doesn’t really matter. 

Finding the right dog to fit your lifestyle and capabilities, is the most vital part of adopting. Again, it's not the breed, it's the owner. What’s more, adopting is cheaper than buying from a store. Though it’s not entirely free, the fee you’ll pay is not for the shelter’s own profit, but usually to cover the cost of taking care all the rescued dogs. By adopting, you have rescued a dog, given it a new home, let it start a new, and hopefully happy-balanced life.

On the contrary, if you’re someone who raises show dogs, or even owning a dog for the sake of social status, adopting might not be a good option. You’d rather buy dogs from a pet store, who can guarantee that you get the best dog that comes with legal and official certificates. However, I personally don’t like the idea of buying from a pet store. 

But even if you decided to buy, please make sure to choose the best pet shop. Some pet shop gets the dogs through a very unethical way. Most pet shops get their pets from pet mills. What is a pet mill? A pet mill basically is a ‘factory’ of dogs. Pet mills breed dogs purely to gain maximum profits. Mothers are forced to get pregnant non-stop. 

In most cases, their welfares aren’t taken into consideration. They live just to give birth to more and more puppies. When they’re no longer needed, they’re left to die. It is that simple. When dogs are no longer profitable, they’re useless, hence gone their existence. [To learn more about pet mills, you can go to http://stoppuppymills.org/inside_a_puppy_mill.html. If you find similar pratices in your area, please report them to your local animal rescue organizations or the authorities.]

That’s why it’s important to be certain that you’re buying from a responsible breeder. If you want to own a pedigree, get it from a certified, responsible, and reputable breeder. From the information I gained, reputable breeders don’t send their purebred dogs to some pet stores just to live in a cage. It’s impossible. They say that you’ll see reputable breeders when you see them. You’ll know it when you see them. If you’re unsure, once again, talk to professionals. Talk to dog owners who own purebred dogs. Or go to an obedience club, talk to the people there. One thing for sure, reputable breeders have a good reputation.

To put it in a nutshell, it’s your choice whether to buy or to adopt, as both options have their own pros and cons. I strongly recommend adopting (or maybe rescuing), but if there aren’t animal shelters in your area, please buy dogs from trusted shops or, even better, a trusted breeder. I believe the procedures will be even more complicated when you buy from a reputable breeder or shops, but they will be so willing and helpful in picking the perfect dog for you. You’ll ultimately get a best friend for life. One last thing, do your homework right before deciding to own a dog, in any ways.  Again, do your homework.

Woof luck!

[ The writer never buy dogs. She always gets them for free. But she doesn't favor the idea of buying from a pet shop. She thinks that you can’t just buy one from a pet shop, you have to buy all, since they’re all usually very miserable. Rescue them all if you can. Getting a dog for free (from friends, acquaintances, relatives, families, etc. who own too many dogs or pet owners who can no longer take care of their dogs) is even a better idea than buying from some irresponsible breeders/shops. Know where you get your dogs, support your local animal shelters and animal rescue organizations, go against pet mills, make the world a better place for men's best friend.  :-) ]

By: @dephchii