Walkin' for Raven

Raven and Arez (used with permission)

Raven is a five year old girl (who just turned five this past weekend - Happy Birthday Raven!) living with cystic fibrosis. Raven’s mom, Zoe, is a staunch supporter of both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Bully Buddies breed rescue. In fact, Zoe is organizing a “Walkin’ for Raven: Pitbull day out” walk in Abbotsford, this Sunday April 13th, at Mill Lake Park.

What is my connection to this? Well, Zoe was also Macy's foster mom (see earlier entries this month). And Macy says she wants everyone to help Raven and help promote bully breeds. So she told me to get involved.

Bully breeds, and particularly those called pitbulls, are the media’s current “love to hate” breed. In the 1950s and 60s, it was German Shepherds who had the bad name and “everyone” feared. In the 1970s it was Doberman. In the 1980s, it was rottweillers. And now it is pitties.

There are far more animal bites and animal attacks by labs and shihtzus and other supposedly friendly, lovable breeds than by pitties. But just as happened with sheps and dobes and rotties, when you have too many ignorant people training a dog to be fierce, or breeding for size and strength and aggressiveness rather than for calm temperment, the breed gets a bad name instead of the owner. Now, people have a kneejerk reaction to the word "pitbull", and most do not even know how to recognize them – they think any dog with a particular shaped face and body is a pitbull. Try this test and see how you do. Can you pick out the pitbull?

I have met many great pitties. Caleb was a great pitty mix. So are his sisters. And on April 13th you have an opportunity to meet a bunch of great pitties – ambassadors for their breed – while doing something worthwhile for a little girl who has endured more than any one person should have to endure, and the organization which attempts to find a cure for CF.

You can enter the walk – you don’t even need to have a pitty, there is no breed-bias here. You can bring any dog as long as you observe the leashing, pooper-scooping, and dog courtesy rules. Or you can sponsor a walker. Or you can help out with a BBQ or registration or simply come out to show your support, to meet some wonderful dogs and people, and maybe donate a little to the cause.

Raven and Macy and kids with CF and pitties everywhere would like your support. For more information, check out this link or email walkinforraven@gmail.com.