Heroes

For Pits Sake is a volunteer run non profit organization that has been a leader in the community for over a decade in both human and animal rescue efforts, safety programs for children, therapy programs, and humane education. The For Pits Sake pit bulls are true embassadors for the American Pit Bull Terrier breed, demonstrating that these dogs are capable of being important members of society.

Wallace is a rescued American Pit Bull Terrier.  He was found as a stray and turned into the humane society.  Wallace is one of the highest drive dogs I have ever come across, so it was no surprise that he did not do well in the kennel environment.  Unfortunately, the “low kill” shelter that is set up to help him, started targeting him for euthanasia because he was a “liability”.  He wasn’t an angel by any means, but what do you expect from an off the chart working dog that was bored out of his mind after receiving no training for the first year of his life.  The organization does some good things.  It was just eye opening to the amount of misunderstanding there is regarding this breed among the people that are supposed to be there to help, and how much politics can affect the lives of the animals that are in a shelter’s care.

With the help of some others, Andrew Yori and his wife were able to pull him out before he was put down.  Since being rescued Wallace has surpassed any expectations anyone could have imagined. Andrew’s mission now is to use Wallace’s story to inspire other bully owners to get out there and show off their fellow breed ambassadors, and to educate as many people as we can about the truth regarding these dogs.  Since taking on this mission, Wallace has earned the respect of people from all over the world, and competes right along side the best disc dogs on the planet.  A list of accomplishments is listed below, however Wallace doesn’t care if he gets a trophy or not.  He just knows he’s alive and having fun chasing a piece of flying plastic all over the country.  At each competition Andrew and his wife have been to, whether they take home the gold or just end up back at home, they have changed the mind of somebody and opened their eyes to think differently about the “Pit Bull” breed.  That’s what it’s all about!

2005
Skyhoundz Open Qualifier – 2nd Place Pairs Freestyle – Qualified for World Finals
Skyhoundz World Finals – 2nd Place Pairs Freestyle

2006
Skyhoundz Local, LaCrosse, WI – Distance/Accuracy Champion
Skyhoundz Local, Rochester, MN – 3rd place Freestyle
Skyhoundz Local, Jordan, MN – Freestyle Champion, 2nd place D/A
Skyhoundz Local, Highland Park, MN – D/A Champion
Skyhoundz Local, St Charles, MN – Freestyle Champion
Skyhoundz Local, LaCrosse WI – Freestyle Champion
Skyhoundz North Central Regionals – Pairs Freestyle Champion – Qualified for World Finals
Skyhoundz World Finals – 2nd Place Pairs Freestyle
MN Disc Dog Club Cup – Freestyle Champion
AWI Classic – Open Division Champion – UFO Major – Qualified for UFO World Finals and AWI World Finals
AWI World Championship – 4th Place Open Division
UFO World Finals – 4th Place Open Division
FDDO Western Leg – Pro Division Champion
Cynosport Games World Champion

2007
Animal Farm Foundation Achievement Award
Rochesterfest Open Division Champion – UFO Local
AWI Classic – Open Division 9th place – UFO Major (not associated with AWI series)
Skyhoundz West Coast Open Qualifier – 3rd Place Distance/Accuracy – Qualified for World Finals
Skyhoundz West Coast Open Qualifier – Pairs Freestyle Champion – Qualified for World Finals
Skyhoundz West Coast Open Qualifier – Expert Freestyle Champion – Qualified for World Finals
Skyhoundz World Finals – 8th Place Distance/Accuracy
Skyhoundz World Finals – 2nd Place Pairs Freestyle
Skyhoundz World Finals – Tied for 4th Place Expert Freestyle – tied for highest single round score
Only large dog in 2007 to qualify for all three events
AWI East Coast Qualifier – Open Division Champion – Qualified for AWI World Championships
AWI World Championship – 7th Place Open Division
FDDO – 4th Place overall Pro Division
Cynosport World Games – 2nd Place Overall
Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Central Regional – 2nd Place
Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Freestyle Flying Disc National Champion

Wallace has also appeared in the magazines – Bully Breeds, The Bark Magazine, Fully Bully, Rochester Magazine, St Mary’s University Magazine and a couple international online magazines.  He’s also appeared on ABC, ESPN2, Animal Planet, multiple newspapers, local ABC and NBC news media,  numerous online blogs, FetchDog.com, Animal Wise Radio, and The Pawz Cauze.

And they say pit bulls have no other purpose than to cause trouble….

For more information on Wallace and his busy schedule, please visit

K9 Neville has quite a story. When Ontario, Canada, Attorney General Michael Bryant used his position to harm and kill the breeds he fears so much, all bull breeds were at risk. The law Bryant enacted meant all unclaimed bull breeds in Ontario shelters were to be killed – or worse – sent to research laboratories. A dedicated group called Bullies In Need started working frantically (and still are) to find homes outside of Ontario for the “refugee” bulldogs.

With the help of an anonymous donor who paid his airfare, a veterinarian clinic which let him stay a week for free, many volunteers who helped transport, and a kind woman in Washington state (Carrina Collard) who took him in, Neville was saved. Once in Washington and looking for a home, Neville tried out for the LawDogs program and was a huge success!

Nev is a working explosives K9 for the Washington State Patrol, the state’s premiere law enforcement agency. He regularly screens vehicles on the Washington State ferry system – currently rated the United States most “at risk” transportation system. He is also called upon to do such varied tasks as search for spent bullet casings at crime scenes, respond to bomb threats and search for explosives at Seattle-Tacoma International airport.

Neville’s handler, Trooper Dave Dixon, can’t say enough good about his partner who lives in the house with a male Labrador and a male beagle. K9 Neville is very popular with ferry riders, and has even been kissed by Gray’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo! K9 Neville could not have gotten a better handler! Trooper Dave Dixon takes awesome care of this partner, looking out for him, keeping him comfortable and giving him a lot of love.

Canada’s loss is the United States’ gain! One country kicked him out due to racial profiling, fear and prejudice – and now he proudly works for US Homeland Security!

Update – 04.07: K9 Neville has become a favorite with regular ferry riders and continues to make finds of guns, fireworks, bullets and other “explosives”. Bomb dogs don’t rack up “finds” like dope dogs – yet their work is even more important. Let us hope K9 Neville continues to do his job – and never does find a bomb!

More Pit Bull Heroes

Pete was dual registered as an American Pit Bull Terrier and an American Staffordshire Terrier. He is most famous for his role in the family movie, “The Little Rascals.”

RCA is 15 years old and in quite good health, considering her advanced years. She came to Alaska from Alabama. Because the housing market was tight and there was pit bull-hysteria in the air, her owners couldn’t find a place to rent that would allow pit bulls and she was eventually sent to the Alaska SPCA in Anchorage. RCA became Alaska’s first certified hearing dog.