Two years ago, I adopted a lovable Pitbull mix named Emma. She's afraid of thunder, loves belly rubs, is sweet with kids and great with other animals. Sadly, a lot of the general public perceive my Emma as a monster, and that's probably why over half a million Pitbulls are put to sleep in the US alone each year. I decided to use my photography to start a positive PR campaign called Not A Bully to help change the way people view Pitbulls.
When my Boxer and best pal, Winston Churchill, died a few years back, I was devastated. I couldn't imagine getting another dog for a long time. In fact, it took about 2 years before I felt ready to adopt a new pup. I went to an adoption event at a Petsmart in the Virginia area with full intention to adopt another Boxer, but fate had a new plan for me. This is where I would meet Emma (formerly known as Midori). Due to her appearance (aka being a Pitbull) and her dark fur, she spent the majority of her life just inches away from being put to sleep on numerous occasions. She would be put in foster care for over 9 months until I finally met and adopted her.
Emma and her Valentines Day card
You can call me a softie, but it made me emotional imagining that people would try and put this sweet little baby to sleep just because of how she looks and negative interpretations of the Pitbull breed. In fact, studies show that Pitbulls are the least aggressive dog breed. Sounds crazy right? Then why all these dog attacks? Well, sadly (in this case) they are very receptive to training, eager to please their masters, and also inherently strong. It has been bad bad bad humans that have trained these dogs to be aggressive. Still skeptical? Read this article about how a majority of Michael Vick's fighting dogs were placed in homes with new families after some love and structured training.
It's funny when you adopt a Pitbull. All of your friends with Pitties will come out of the woodwork to share with you their challenges of being responsible owners of the breed. Not because of the dogs mind you. The issue comes from our communities. For example, to get a lease approved in most properties, you may have to fib about your dog breed. Personally, people have scowled and looked at me as if I was a piece of trash with my loyal pup behaving by my side. Some cities have created breed specific legislation that actually bans Pitbulls from being allowed in city/county limits or you risk having your dog automatically confiscated and put to sleep. It goes on and on because some terrible people have trained these otherwise great dogs to be monsters.
I decided that I wanted to do something positive for dogs like Emma. I started a website called NotABully.org which is dedicated to sharing the positive stories of rescued Pitbulls that have been through the worst (bait dogs, abused dogs, dogs that were kicked/shot/starved) and have every reason to hate humans, but with some love and training they have made positive impacts on our communities. I want to show people that these dogs are not naturally aggressive. That even after facing every hardship possible, these dogs are still fantastic.
Cesar Millan's dog JuniorI've started with a series of dog portraits (examples above), which I will post more examples at the bottom of this post, and articles for a few sites and magazines to raise awareness. Emma and I even visit schools in low income areas to teach about dog adoption and the negatives of dog fighting and dog abuse. I am hoping to expand to other avenues such as short videos sharing inspiring dog stories and arranging dog adoption events. As you can tell, I am very passionate about the subject.
Visiting schools with EmmaI've always told people that ask me advice about how to get more success and fulfillment out of their photo careers that personal work is absolutely KEY. Every time I have pursued something that I'm passionate about for a personal photo series, it has always gone somewhere. Well, this project is no exception. The moment I started the portrait series, I admittedly started blabbing about it to everyone that would listen. Well, that paid off! About 2 months in, the folks from the National Geographic channel reached out to me and asked me to come into their offices in downtown DC to discuss a project...
Little did I know National Geographic Wild and Cesar Millan (aka the Dog Whisperer) were planning out a TV special about trying to change the negative stigmas around Pitbulls, exactly what I was trying to accomplish with my site / positive PR movement Not A Bully. They actually wanted to have Ceasar fly to the east coast and film him coming to visit me in studio as I took Pittie portraits as well as have me share about Not A Bully and how it was inspired by Emma and pups like her. Filming happened late in 2013 and after many months of excitedly waiting, the special "Love My Pitbull" is finally coming out THIS FRIDAY on April 18 at 9pm on National Geographic Wild channel.
At the premiereI went to show's premiere in LA last week and saw the show and it is awesome. They even asked to put some of my Not A Bully portraits up on display! If you were ever curious about how Pitbulls got their bad image and what we can do to make a difference, you have to see the special!
Please follow Not A Bully on Facebook to get updates or get involved in helping save some wonderful dogs!
See more of my photography on my website: www.SondersPhotography.com
This campaign has been awesome and has grown larger than I ever thought possible. I've gotten HUNDREDS of emails from folks wanting to help as well as share their stories. I've loved every moment and so excited to share Not A Bully with the rest of the world!
Remember, personal projects keep your work fresh, your creativity on its toes, and can get folks excited about what interests you most! Consider this a perfect example! Funny though, I'm normally a human and car photographer and I never thought I'd get so much press for dog portraits, but I am happy it is for an excellent cause and will hopefully help make a difference.
Again, please watch the special on Nat Geo Wild channel this Friday April 18 at 9pm!
Emma
BTS photo of my dog portrait setup. Ring light on my Phase One, overhead beauty dish, and two strip lights behind
On set with Cesar Millan, Emma, and Junior. Photo by my shoot assistant Jonathan Taylor
Awesome shout out!
Jaron, dogs that kill kids have a negative stigma. Get over it. Perhaps you should look up the word "stigma" in the dictionary and ask yourself if mauling a little kids face is a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
LOL -
And just like humans, you can raise a Pitbull to be a murdering psychopath or a loving and caring animal.. Make sure to keep your kids away from other humans too!
Thanks for pointing that out ! The problem is not the dog it's always the owner faults ! If you raised the dog properly it'll be fine every time ! It's not about the breed, people have to understand this !
Wrong. It IS the breed. These things can snap at any time. It's happened time and again, even with non-violent and caring owners.
You sound like someone I know, her dogs were loving, she had them since babies, one of them 8 years old, she had them before she even had her 4 year old little girl....they were her babies, she loved on them raised them with care.........they tore apart her 4 year old recently ........she has changed her tune. Sad way to find out its NOT in how they are raised afterall
Since you're clearly a pit bull "expert" what did these these families do wrong? How did they raise their dogs that was not "proper"?
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-happened-to-gavin.html
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.173059916187205.1073741830.172...
http://www.babybeaufoundation.org/my-story/
http://www.babybeaufoundation.org/rep-waites-and-mrs-rutledge-discuss-bu...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263698/Bravery-Milly-Anne-Hemle...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027286/Darla-Napora-Pregnant-wo... - Especially ironic: "A pregnant woman who was mauled to death by one of her pet pit bull terriers belonged to group campaigning to convince people that the animals aren't dangerous, it has emerged."
http://blog.dogsbite.org/2013/07/beyond-the-interview-essay-of-a-fatal-p...
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-red-nose-pit-bull.html
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2014/01/getting-to-know-pit-bulls-continued....
Here is another pit bull expert (a *real* one), that thinks differently:
http://www.dogsbite.org/pdf/pit-bulls-gary-wilkes-spring-2010-off-lead.pdf
dogsbite.org Karen ?? Really ?? whats wrong couldn't find any RELIABLE facts from REPUTABLE agencies that don't et their facts SOLELY from media reports
Actually AH, all except for the Milley Ann story are first person accounts of their experience. The dogsbite link at the end simply links to a PDF of a story - if the dogsbite link so offends your sensibilities, you can find the article on the Off-Lead Magazine page, page 26 of the magazine.
and what of the countless magazines that show the positive side of pit bulls for example "Time Magazine" has featured the breed 3 times, its the only breed to grace the cover 3 times!!! But i guess Time Mag must be part of the pit bull mafia huh? and the film makers of the film ""Little rascals"" them to are part of the pit bull mafia right?
And apparently Malcolm Gladwell has been bought by the "pit bull lobby" as well. LOL.
Dogsbite.org and blogspot - NOT a source of dog experts. Try again?
What they are is a source of first person accounts by those who used to believe the same BS as you. What they are is a source of victim stories and former pit bull owner stories. And in some cases, they definitely are a source of dog experts.
DogsBite reports on DBRF's across ALL dog breeds. Pits are over-represented because they kill more. Don't shoot the messenger.
No, no they don't. They, SHE rather, has an agenda. You people are convinced that all of the rest of the animal advocacy world is bought or has an agenda but dogsbite is perfectly reputable? That's some interesting cognitive gymnastics right there.
I'm still waiting for you to come up with a DBRF that is not reported in DBO. When will I see it?
Two young girls killed by sled dogs in Canada this month alone .Where is the dogsbite report or your sympathy in your own country ?
That was the best joke of the day !
The pit worshipers always blame the victims and the owner but when asked to "put their money where their mouth is", they never have the answers they professed to have. I've posed this question countless times and so far, not a single person has answered the questions of what these owners did so wrong that caused their pit bulls to attack.
pit bull worshipers? another mawwwl talk term? we give you the answers but your cult does not allow you to absorb them..so now that is our fault too I am guessing from your previous claptrap?
I've actually answered that question numerous times, as have others. When we do, we get accused of "blaming the victims" and being heartless. The reality is that NO child should be left alone with any dog. Pit Bulls, and ALL dogs should be trained and socialized. Dogs that JUMP ON PEOPLE when they are excited are not trained. Dogs that are kenneled for hours and hours at a time are not properly cared for. Dogs that are left alone with children are not properly supervised. But if we don't say the dog is at fault you claim we don't care. We DO care. Which is why we want people to supervise their kids and their dogs. If a dog gets loose from its yard and attacks someone, then it's not being properly cared for. If kids are teasing a dog behind a fence for months, then nobody should be surprised when the dog gets loose and hurts someone and those children's parents are at fault for not teaching their kids better than to tease a dog. There's just a few answers for you.
Nico was Kara Hartrich's precious friend. Nico tore Kara apart on her 4th birthday. It's the dog, not the owner.
Again, BS. Nico didn't even LIVE there, Mia's mother was watching him for her boyfriend.
I'm curious, what do you think these families did to raise "murdering psychopaths"?
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-happened-to-gavin.html
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.173059916187205.1073741830.172...
http://www.babybeaufoundation.org/my-story/
http://www.babybeaufoundation.org/rep-waites-and-mrs-rutledge-discuss-bu...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2263698/Bravery-Milly-Anne-Hemle...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027286/Darla-Napora-Pregnant-wo... - Especially ironic: "A pregnant woman who was mauled to death by one of her pet pit bull terriers belonged to group campaigning to convince people that the animals aren't dangerous, it has emerged."
http://blog.dogsbite.org/2013/07/beyond-the-interview-essay-of-a-fatal-p...
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-red-nose-pit-bull.html
http://17barks.blogspot.com/2014/01/getting-to-know-pit-bulls-continued....
People who want aggressive dogs are attracted to the dogs with the most power to be aggressive. This has nothing to do with the behaviour of the breed. If ALL pitbulls were removed from the world we would just be having this conversation about some other breed that would now be considered "dangerous"
In 2013 there were a grand total of 32 dog related fatalities in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES. Of Which 25 were by pitbulls. There are 4.5 million pitbull registered in the US and at least that many again unregistered.
So in a year a pittbull population of an estimated 9 million dogs killed 25 people. Based on statistics in a given year only one in every 360,000 pit bulls is fatally dangerous.
A quick google search told me that in 2013 there were 386 murders in Detroit (randomly chosen as an example), The population of Detroit is ~701,000. Based on statistics, in a given year one in every ~1,816 people are fatally dangerous in Detroit.
Thus statistically speaking based on this dataset humans that live in Detroit are TWO HUNDRED times more dangerous that pitt bulls.
Hell, just compare to car fatalities, in the US last year there were ~33,000 car related fatalities. That means if you live in the US you have a 1 in 9,484 chance of being killed in the car accident per year. Which makes cars 37 times more dangerous to your kids than a pitt bull.
Heart Disease kills more people every 5min than pitt bulls will kill in a decade.
Also on a side note have you considered how many lives pitt bulls save? I bet if we had stats on it you would find pitt bulls successfully save FAR MORE lives than they end. I see way more articles about heroic pit bulls than killer ones.
(Note stats taken from quick google searches so may not be 100% accurate but unless the stats are WAY off then my point still remains valid)
I think these are good numbers but why did you just choose deaths and not injuries?
Accurate injury related stats simply don't exist for either dogs or humans. It would be impossible to quantify. Though I imagine humans cause way more injuries to other humans per capita than pitt bulls do just the same.
Here are some stats on bites. http://www.dog-bite-law-center.com/pgs/stats.html . And yes I believe people are the dumbest thing on the planet.
I would guess that a huge number of dog bites don't get reported. Just like how most human assaults don't get reported.
I recall seeing something on the Animal Planet network a while back that told me Golden Retrievers actually, as a breed, have a higher percentage of total number out there causing reported bites than pitbulls do. Probably because there are more of them out there.
yeah and they are trusted.
OH NO! Not golden retrievers! ha ha, I'm guessing your right, probably because there are so many of them.
You cannot discuss "bites" when comparing pit bulls to other breeds. That is just a tactic the nutters use to muddy the waters and confuse people. Regardless of which breed is responsible for the most "bites", when it comes to fatal and disabling attacks, Pit Bulls are NUMBER 1! When it comes to scalpings, torn off faces, exposed mandibles and trachea, crushed skulls, torn off limbs, crushed eye sockets, broken spines, broken bones, shredded flesh, decapitations, and eviscerations, Pit Bulls are NUMBER 1.
oh Karen quit spreading your false BS!! You have been spotted around social media speaking bout cruising area and putting out anti freeze to kill any dog that looks like a pit. You are a demented individual and have serious mental instabilities. Need Proof visit any advocate Pit Bull Pages and we will gladly show your ugly mug with your comments!! You spread Dogsbite.org facts which are completely inaccurate which numerous cities in the U.S. have ALSO stated. Please take your garbage elsewhere...its ALREADY been debunked!!
Really? Show your proof o me talking about "cruising area and putting out anti frees to kill any dog that looks like a pit". I do need proof of this.
Visit "Faces of BSL apologist" Lately? Isnt that why you Foamers hate that site so much because they show your true nature
You just made a claim that I have been "cruising area and putting out anti freeze" - back up that claim.
can't post pic's here on this thread and you know that Karen...Nice try though, Go ahead over to Facebook page ""Faces of BSL apologist" im sure they'll gladly give you the pic you request KAren.
There is no pic JA because I've never said it and I've never done it. You are flat out lying to make your point. You can't argue the facts so like most pit worshipers, you try to attack the messenger instead, because that's all you've got.
http://whoiscolleenlynn.com/ or anyone can go here find out for themselves just how UNRELIABLE Colleen Lynn is! and For those who do not know Colleen Lynn is the creator of Dogsbite.org, a hate site dedicated to KIlling all pit bulls
Sean I will be waiting while you find me a DBRF in recent years that is NOT reported in DBO. Pit breeds are over-represented because Coleen has the courage to point out that they kill more. The truth is in the numbers. Don't shoot the messenger.
Lynn posts pit bull attacks and then regurgitates the same story over and over and over and over..the "other" attacks barely get an honorable mention..fear mongering at it's finest..
Where is your DBRF not reported in DBO, Mary. How long are you going to keep me waiting?
THey get posted, and deleted - constantly. So, I'm confused with your line of logic here. If it wasn't posted on DBO it didn't happen?
Everyone can go to The Pit Bull Propaganda Machine Revealed on Facebook and see what Karen and her friends are all about. Stabbing, shooting and poisoning pit bulls is their favorite topic.
who cares? I'd rather see a pit bull dead than attacking a child.
You will care when they want to kill your dog next.
This person defended rotties upthread. She's too dumb to realize that they lump them right in with "pit bull."
Don't know about antifreeze. You did say people should start shooting dogs though. NOt sure how much difference there is. Dead is dead huh?
http://foolishfolliestoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/karen-branson.jpg
Well yes, I did say the man had a right to shoot a stray pit bull ON HIS PROPERTY. This man performed a public service and possible saved a child from being savaged to death. If a stray pit bull came onto MY PROPERTY, I would have no problem whatsoever eliminating the threat by whatever means at my disposal.I would not need to wait until it was latched onto the throat of a child or pet before acting - the best defense is a good offense, *especially* where pit bulls are concerned. I said nothing about how people should "start shooting dogs". Agreeing someone had the right to shoot a stray mutant on their property is VERY different than saying I cruise around areas putting out anti-freeze.