RIP Wallace the Pitbull

[Grant Lamontagne]

Wallace the Pitbull was laid to rest today, following a long battle with cancer.  If you don't know who he was, he was basically the definition of underdog. 

http://www.pitbullunited.com/wallacethepitbull/

He was bred by some idiots who wanted to give him to dog fighters, but luckily those idiots had the good fortune to drown themselves before they could deliver him to the dog fighters.

He and his litter mates almost starved before rescue workers found them in the home owned by the drowned idiots.

He was taken in by a retired police officer, but since he and the pre-existing, retired police dog couldn't see eye to eye, he was sent to a no-kill shelter that couldn't handle his behavioral issues and wanted to put him to sleep.

Fortunately at that shelter one of the volunteers saw something in him and brought him home to try and train him so he'd be adoptable.  Even these kind hearted souls who wanted to save his life didn't want him at first. 

They tried to interest the sporting crowd by training Wallace to pull heavy loads- a sport he excelled at, and there was some interest, but still no one would bring him home with them.

Then they discovered his secret.  Wallace could catch anything.  Literally.  They played disc with him, a game normally reserved for fast, agile dogs like border collies and terriers, but this gigantic, plodding, over muscled brute of a dog was able to outperform them all, winning several world Disc Championships.

He also went on to win a few Championships in weight pulling, although that was understandable given his size and strength.



There's a lot more than that on Youtube- Wallace went on to become a spokesperson for many pitbull advocacy groups, and was an ambassador for what many consider to be a dangerous breed that according to many has no value.

And now he's gone.  Eleven years is pretty good for a pitbull, but even so it was still too soon for such an amazing animal.



RIP Wallace.

Def

[Mr. Whippy]

I had to google him.

What an amazing story.  Great dog, great people who rescued him.  I didn't know him and I miss him. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I bought his book.  I think I'll have to buy another copy as mine was loaned out and hasn't been returned.  I have a soft spot for bull breeds in general- my old dog Pete was considered to have behavioral issues when he just really needed someone to bond with.  I'm proud to say that person was me, and we were nearly inseparable for eight years until cancer got him too.  Of course he wasn't a pitbull, he was a dogo argentino, but that was close enough for most people to dislike and fear him.

Pete's story before I got him was very much the same as Oogy's although thankfully Pete hadn't been that badly abused.  Bad enough though, and he was in such rough shape when I found him that the animal shelter wouldn't let me adopt him because he wasn't expected to survive the week.  I started visiting him every day in the shelter figuring if he was going to die, he should die happy.  I'm not going to say that it was me that turned him around because that would be pretty egotistical, but he not only survived but thrived.  I brought him home a week after that.

All of my dogs have been shelter dogs, and they probably always will be.  I have few, if any breed preferences, but I always love to see "dangerous" dogs find a happy and safe home.

Def

[Mr. Whippy]

One of our rescues (Kiona), comes from a sad start too.

He's a Ridgeback (and probably pitbull cross) who was a nursing puppy when the intact male pitbull at the home of the meth maker who owned them all, broke in an attacked the bitch and her puppies.  Kiona was the only puppy to survive the attack.  It was vicious enough that neighbors called the police who came and broke up the meth lab and put the remaining dogs in rescue.

The first home Kiona was placed in was abusive and when the rescue came to check on him in 3 months, the removed him from the home immediately.  He was fearful, only cowered moved quickly from under one piece of furniture to under another.

This was all in Hawaii.

The woman who fostered him after that is one of the greatest dog people you've ever met.  It took her months to get him to act like a normal dog.  He remained fearful of her husband however.  He eventually was placed with us.  When he came to our home, he lived the first 3 weeks in our shower.  Outside to go to the bathroom with Janene (on a leash) and then he'd dash back to the shower.

He's bonded extremely tightly with Janene and follows her everywhere, forgoing meals to stay wherever she is.  ( I just bring him his dinner now if she's not in the house).  However, he goes running with me as long as Janene gives him encouragement. 


...and no more living in the shower.  He's THE Farmdog and proud of it.

Edit: Kiona is the one who's laying down in the middle.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I've seen that photo on FB (I think?) and I am envious of your farm, and all the dogs (and other animals) you have.  I have limited myself to two, which is very hard sometimes.  I am right in the heart of the city though, so I keep telling myself I can't have more.

Def

[Mr. Whippy]

FB, yes.

Well, the wait may soon be over!  I'm hoping to pick a spring date for the NAMU Redux!  We should be pretty well done by early fall (But of course a farm setting can be a bit dicey for a late fall/winter meetup).

[derekmac]

Rip Wallace! I've been following him on fb, and he was quite the dog. It's sad to hear that he has passed

We want to get another dog, and I want to get a shelter dog, but my wife is a bit nervous about it with us having two young kids. She'd rather get a puppy so it grows up being use to the kids.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4

[Grant Lamontagne]

They have puppies in shelters too.   

Def

[derekmac]

I've been watching Small Dog Rescue, and the NS SPCA, but haven't found what we are looking for yet.  We want to get something like our current dog, a Maltese/Shih Tzu mix as he's "hypoallergenic". 

We had to give our cats away earlier this year as our sons allergies kept getting worse, and he was constantly on allergy meds, so it wasn't fair to him, or the cats.  They also flair up on him around some dogs as well, but he can cuddle right in with Buster as much as he wants and has no ill effects.

Myself, I'd love nothing more then to have a big Sheppard or a Great Dane, but right now that's out of the question, and my wife really doesn't like either of those breeds.    She's a little nervous about Sheppards, and thinks the Great Danes are just big and dumb, to which I tell her "You married me". 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Bring the family to a dog park sometime.  Seaview is pretty good, right next to me, and there are a lot of dogs there, all different shapes, sizes and breeds, and almost all of them getting along.  There are always going to be the odd skirmishes, but it could introduce your kids to bigger dogs, you can test which ones might set off your son's allergies and your wife might not be so nervous of big dogs.  There are quite a few Great Danes that show up from time to time, so she'll get to meet them in the flesh and see they are very gentle.  Of course, she'll also see just how bloody big they are and you might win one battle just to lose another! 

Def

[Steinar]

My personal experience with mistreated animals is the bad part being they always will be skeptical to strangers, on the other hand their loyalty to those they have learnt are good guys is pretty much unmatched.

And just my personal prejudice: I would never trust a small dog around children. I wouldn't let a big dog be alone around children either (of course), but I'd be a lot more relaxed.

I have never heard of Wallace till I saw this thread, but he obviously enriched the lives his path intersected with.

[derekmac]

Bring the family to a dog park sometime.  Seaview is pretty good, right next to me, and there are a lot of dogs there, all different shapes, sizes and breeds, and almost all of them getting along.  There are always going to be the odd skirmishes, but it could introduce your kids to bigger dogs, you can test which ones might set off your son's allergies and your wife might not be so nervous of big dogs.  There are quite a few Great Danes that show up from time to time, so she'll get to meet them in the flesh and see they are very gentle.  Of course, she'll also see just how bloody big they are and you might win one battle just to lose another! 

Def

That's actually not a bad idea! 
Luckily the kids are sort of use to bigger dogs as my parents had a Shepherd mix.  She was the sweetest most gentle dog you could ever meet, but she had to be put down last year due to age 

I also think she (and sadly me too) kind of like not having to vacuum dog hair every second day, so having our non-shedding Buster is nice. 

And just my personal prejudice: I would never trust a small dog around children. I wouldn't let a big dog be alone around children either (of course), but I'd be a lot more relaxed.

For the most part I'd have to say I agree with you.  Most little dogs are little smurfs, and are definitely more aggressive towards kids than big dogs.  Our Buster is the biggest sook that you could ever meet though.  All he ever wants to do is cuddle and give kisses and hugs.

Here he is in all his fuzzy cuteness.


Oh, did I mention that he is also a Vic fan?

[Steinar]

Kind, fuzzy and doesn't shed? And even likes Vics? You have a winner there!