Pit bulls

Special Needs Pet Feature: O’Bannon Phillip

Posted by Barbara Techel


What is your pet’s name?

O’Bannon Phillip 

How old is your pet?

 6

Where did you get your pet?

Animal Friends, Pittsburgh, PA 

What is your pet’s physical challenge?

 O’Bannon has a hearing impairment from having bi lateral Total Ear Canal Ablations (TECA) performed.  When we adopted him they told us he was basically deaf. We have learned that he has more “selective” hearing than anything else.   O’Bannon also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after being rescued by Animal Friends’ Humane Officers where they found him and others in a horrific scene. Multiple Pit Bulls were caged in crates in a dark basement or tied outside with thick chains. Many showed signs of physical injury, some needing emergency surgery.  All showed signs of emotional distress.

Though, it wasn’t until the O’Pits (as they were all given a name that started with an “O”) were adopted into homes that they really showed signs of the PTSD. Many, if not all of them, including O’Bannon, had never lived inside a house. The simple act of turning on and off lights sent him cowering and running from the room.  He was afraid to go down steps or walk down hallways.  He still struggles mentally to build up the courage to come to us if we are at one end of the hall and he is at the other.  He is still quite paranoid in certain situations, always looking over his shoulder and looking around as if he is waiting for something bad to happen.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to do?

O’Bannon loves laying outside in the sunshine and playing with his sister Sylvie.

What is your pet’s favorite thing to eat?  

Can we have some extra paper to list everything?  O’Bannon especially enjoys potatoes and pot roast.  He really enjoys cheese as an extra treat.

What do you love most about your pet?

His courage to wake up each day with a happy demeanor and give it his best even though throughout the day his courage will be tested. We just love his spirit and the joy he brings by simply watching him interact with his furry siblings, Bruizer, Sylvie and Mani or laying in his recliner.


What has your pet most taught you?  

O’Bannon has taught us that one of the most precious gifts is the gift of safety.  When we think back to his condition when he first came home and compare it to his behavior now, we see little acts every day which shows he feels safe more and more.  People often take the feeling of safety for granted.  People, for the most part, have the ability to take precautions or to change our behavior to ensure our safety.  Dogs do not completely have that ability and are dependent upon us to provide them with an environment of care and comfort.  O’Bannon appreciates the care and comfort everyone has given him since the day he was rescued.  And he has reciprocates and showers us with care and comfort every time his little face looks up at us.

Also, it is so important not to dismiss an animal with a special need. Often times, they are no more work than pets without special needs and are sometimes so much more rewarding.

Anything else you’d like to share?

We were so inspired by O’Bannon’s ability to trust and love others, his loyalty, gentleness and courage that it was only right to make him the mascot of our law firm. We used his image and likeness with his bright red collar as our logo because he embodies all of the qualities we hope to provide to our clients.  He has his own Facebook page where he likes to blog and keep in touch with all of the wonderful people who saved his life and took care of him while he was waiting for us to find him.

 ***If you care for a special needs pet and would like your pet featured, please email me through my website contact. Send a photo and I will forward the questionnaire for your pet to be featured in an upcoming post.***

My life changed for the better and my heart grew ten times it size when my dog, Frankie ruptured a disk and ended up in a doggie wheelchair.  That may sound odd, but it lead me to a calling that has brought me so much joy.

I love being an advocate for pets with special neeeds educating others that disabled pets are just as lovable as any other pet. I also feel so blessed to help kids of all ages see their challenges in a positive way through Frankie’s example. Frankie is an incredbile gift not only in my life, but she has helped thousands of children through the book series about her, as well as the visits we do to schools in WI and schools across the US and Canada via Skype.

Sharing other pets with special needs expands on the message that all animals deserve a chance. Sharing these pets helps to spread a positive message and every time I meet a new special needs pet I feel my heart grow even bigger.  I hope it does the same for you and you pass on the love.

Learn more about Barbara and her love of special needs pets

Learn more about Barbara’s special needs pet, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog


Two Pit Bulls Bringing a Positive Face to the Breed: Shelby and Oogy

Posted by Barbara Techel

If I could, I would run right out and adopt a pit bull after reading Shelby’s Grace and Oogy, the dog only a family could love.

In Shelby’s Grace, author  Joe Dwyer writes:  “To the uniformed with just a slithering of knowledge, a person tormented by the ravages of depression is not sick but looking for an excuse to stay under the covers, whereas a pit bull trained to be aggressive or violent is a representative of all pit bulls.  The misleading notion that they are vicious animals and must be euthanized cut short the lives of many sweet, productive and loving dogs that would have made wonderful family pets.

However, to the well-informed, every human being and every animal is an individual entity and should be treated as such. No one, man or beast, should be defined or judged according to the reputation of another, for even documented repute has been proven errant. In synthesis, the presumption of innocence of all species must be honored.”

 Both used as bait for fighting dogs, both rescued and saved from this brutal, horrendous way of life, and both giving back extraordinary love and kindness to the humans that took them in… despite all they had been through.  To think, if both Shelby and Oogy had met the same fate as many pit bulls, this would have been a great sadness to this world.  Instead they now lead the pack in changing this awful stigma having been bestowed upon them… and Shelby does it with the utmost Grace and Oogy with utmost courage.

Shelby, used as bait before being brought to the local humane society, where author Joe Dwyer volunteers, cowered in the corner, fearful and giving up on life.  But Joe knew she deserved a chance.  Little did he know at the time, but Shelby would be his saving grace, as well as help lead him down a path he never expected.

And how lucky for Oogy that author Larry Levin and his boys were at their vet clinic and met a Oogy who they could not resist and knew they had to have.

Both Dwyer and Levin took in these pit bulls knowing medical bills lay ahead to help heal the terrible outside injuries both endured because of being bait dogs, as well as internal scars that only trust and time can cure.  Shelby suffered from excruciating pain in her back legs making it extremely difficult to walk.  Oogy had half of her face ripped off, losing an ear due the brutal and senseless caring of humans who used her as bait at the age of 4-months and left her to die in a cage, until she was rescued.

If both Dwyer and Levin succumbed to the stigma of pit bulls, these two stories would now not be in our world, helping to change the fate of these dogs, who like other dogs, simply want to love and be loved in return.  I applaud both authors for doing the right thing not only in giving Shelby and Oogy a chance at life, but also for sharing their stories in hopes more pit bulls will be given a chance to lead happy, fulfilling lives.

It is my absolute belief that if every human being truly opened their minds to what the animals of the world are trying to teach us, I believe we would achieve world peace… and I believe Dwyer and Levin are helping to change these mindsets, and helping us to see the amazing lessons only our fellow furry friends can teach us.

Shelby is now a certified therapy dog, making the difference in the lives of many… and yet again proving the love and joy only a dog can bring to others.  Bravo, sweet Shelby!

Oogy is now adjusting to life without his two human brothers as they are now in college, but he continues to bring joy and profound moments to Larry and his wife, Jennifer.  Way to go, Oogy!

Both books a must read for everyone… and a must to forward on the message of these books to help change the fate of these sweet, lovable dogs.

Find Shelby on Facebook and Oogy on Facebook as well!