PRESTON
From the Fighting Pit to a Forever
Home!
By Jeff
Theman
Photo by Matthew
Eggert of Great Lakes Photo & Video
It's
amazing how blessings are disguised,
how a series of events can change
your life and lead you down an
unplanned path. This is how I
describe meeting Preston, my
American Pit Bull Terrier.
During the initial research for my
documentary film about breed
discrimination, "Guilty ‘Til Proven
Innocent," I visited For the Love of
Pits, a Cleveland, Ohio pit bull
rescue, searching for answers to my
questions about the "breed." I left
that day having fallen completely in
love with this little guy, who was
saved from a dog fighting operation
in a nearby city.
On July 6, 2006, animal cruelty
officers found Preston with fresh,
open wounds, and took him to a local
humane society, where he waited for
his judgment day. He escaped death
once but, yet again, death was
imminent. Minutes prior to his
scheduled euthanasia, For the Love
of Pits stepped in to save Preston,
granting him another chance at life.
Preston spent the next two years
learning how to live in a home as a
family pet in a pit-bull-fearing
society. He achieved certificates in
training and Canine Good Citizen.
Although Preston had a rock-solid
temperament, he received no interest
from adopters, due to his past and
the perceived challenges of owning a
dog formerly used for fighting. I
couldn't get him out of my mind, and
made known my intention to adopt.
That was easier said than done.
Lakewood, the city in which I
resided in Colorado, proposed and
eventually passed a ban on pit bull
"type" dogs, delaying my ability to
bring Preston to his forever home. I
vowed I would move, and move I did,
after a six-month search for a place
that would allow me to have him.
Since that day, we have gone
everywhere together, educating
people about the true
characteristics of a pit bull,
changing opinions with every
encounter. With his contagious love
of life and eagerness to interact
with people and dogs alike, Preston
teaches us not to judge a book by
its cover.
When I leave, I can't help but
stress over the idea that he needs
me as much as I need him, finding
comfort in knowing we have each
other to get us through life's
pitfalls. I've even received a
speeding ticket for rushing back
home to be with him! Words just
can't describe the unconditional
love I have for him, and I know it's
the closest thing to being mutual
that I'll ever experience in my
lifetime. Every day Preston changes
minds; he's a shining example of why
dogs should be judged as individuals
and not systematically killed based
on past experiences or appearance.
To think that Preston and I found
ach other by accident, and that
something so special might never
have been.
The only evidence of his former life
are scars across his legs, face, and
body. They remind us that his
beginning didn't start the way it
should have. I'm honored to have the
chance to provide him a life as a
family dog, the way it should've
been all along.
For
more information, or to adopt a
pittie:
www.fortheloveofpits.org
To contact Jeff about his
upcoming documentary:
Jeff Theman
River Fire Films, LLC
email:
riverfirefilms@gmail.com