NEW CANAAN, Conn. If you find pit bulls to be scary dogs that might turn on a human at a moments notice, Heidi Lueders wants to tell you something open your mind and open your heart.
Pit bulls are the nicest, friendliest dogs a person could have and will be an excellent addition to an animal-loving home, she says.
People hear pit bull and say, Oh my God, but theyre the most loving, amazing dogs, said Lueders, 24. She did not grow up a fan of the dogs but said she cant imagine life without her pit bulls, Lacey and Coco.
They just want to be by your side, she said.
Shes helping the dogs as vice president of Bully Breed Rescue Inc., a nonprofit group that rescues the dogs from shelters, trains them, has them spayed or neutered and places them in new homes. Lueders got involved with Bully Breed Rescue after meeting Benni McGrath, the organizations president.
Although the group is based in New Canaan, Bully Breed Rescue has placed pit bulls in homes all over the Northeast. Bully Breed Rescue placed 75 dogs in homes last year.
Lueders also says the group has worked to ease people's fears about pit bulls by walking them around town and letting people pet and meet them.
I think weve been successful in making people realize that theyre great and theyre not aggressive, she said. Theyre so needing of homes and so deserving of them.
The group recently received a little help with its mission, winning a $1,000 grant from Connecticut Light & Power and Yankee Gas. The grant comes from a Facebook competition. Lueders says the money will come in handy for supplies, food and veterinary care.
To reach Melvin Mason, email mmason@thedailynewcanaan.com.
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