Hello Bully

Daisy Balawejder, 36, a freelance graphic designer, wanted to create a new image for pit bulls so she transformed the Hello Kitty logo to show that pit bulls are just as cute and cuddly.

Balawejder started the Hello Bully website from her Cranberry home after losing her beloved pit bull in 2005, in the hopes of showing another side of the highly criticized breed of dog.

"One of the things I realized early on was that these dogs are severely misunderstood," Balawejder said.

Pit bulls have been portrayed as malicious dog fighters, most notably when former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in jail for dog fighting. Balawejder and other pit bull advocates hope to change that image and show the dogs as great family pets when raised and treated properly.

Balawejder said Hello Bully's primary goal is to educate the public about pit bulls. They have an educational program that gives breed information and tools on raising the dogs.

Hello Bully includes a small online foster network of dogs and provides free training and follow-ups to everyone who adopts through them.

Hello Bully events aim to find homes for pit bulls and raise educational funds through games, raffles, t-shirts, and jewelry clad with the Hello Bully logo.

Amy Dengler, 30, of Bellevue, is a hairstylist who volunteers for Hello Bully. She is the owner of two pit bulls, one of which is a Certified Therapy Dog.

Dengler said taking the dogs out and showing people the nature of a pit bull is an effective way to change the public's mind.

Along with Hello Bully events, Dengler has taken her dogs to women's shelters and said both of her pit bulls are loving and affectionate with everyone.

"With my nephew, they have never shown an ounce of aggression, he pulls on their tails and pulls on their ears and they just look at him lovingly," Dengler said.

The Western PA Humane Society has provided adoptable dogs for Hello Bully events. Lee Nesler, Executive Director said that pit bulls are very loving toward people but are seen as aggressive because they excite faster than other dogs.

"Pit bulls owners need to know not to over stimulate their dogs," Nesler said.

According to Nesler historically pit bulls that were brought up to be fighting dogs were not aggressive toward people. Now breeders who raise fighting dogs, are socializing their puppies to be aggressive toward humans.

Pit Bull Rescue Central, a nationally renowned virtual shelter website, provides resources for pit bull owners, listings of adoptable dogs across the country, and information about the breed.

Marcy Setter, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for PBRC, said most owners don't understand the inter-workings of a pit bull and like Hello Bully, hopes to change that through education.

"Our Primary Goal is to educate on the good the bad and the ugly and make sure everyone knows what they are getting into when getting these dogs," Setter said.

Both the PBRC and Hello Bully are involved in the movement against Breed Specific Legislation, which has already allowed cities such as Denver and Miami to ban owning pit bulls.

New York City Councilmen Peter Vallone Jr., is attempting to ban pit bulls in New York City. His proposed law would stop the future breeding and sale of pit bulls in the city but allow current owners to keep their dogs.

His Spokes person, Andrew Moesel, said the proposal of a law came about because their office received complaints about pit bull attacks against other animals.

While Moesel said very few of these reported attacks were against people, he still said that pit bulls are unsafe.

"Pit bulls are a dangerous breed of dog. If you look at statistics of fatal dog maulings in the last 25 years almost half of them are of pit bulls," Moesel said.

Balawejder hopes that her efforts with Hello Bully will show that bad owners are the cause of dog attacks not a specific breed. Through fundraising events, Hello Bully hopes to eventually release an educational DVD.

*Photos are of Hello Bully Volunteer Amy Dengler and her Pit Bull Dina

*Photos were taken by Isaac Taube