Hero Dog Now Homeless

[xjsynx]

Hero Dog Now Homeless

It's every parent's nightmare. Waking up to an early morning blazing fire in your home and realizing it is not a dream. Your precious children are sleeping in their beds. Dazed and panic-stricken, you call for your kids in a desperate attempt to get them to safety.

That's what happened to Darryl Steen this past October. But if it weren't for his pit bull puppy Diamond awakening him from a sound sleep with her barking – an unusual behavior for the dog even during normal circumstances – Steen and his daughters, Sierra and Darahne, would have surely perished in the blaze.

Quick Thinking
Steen was able to drop his nine-year-old daughter out of a second story window to safety, unharmed. His sixteen-year-old daughter, hearing her dad call, ran to his room and tried to protect herself by getting under the mattress. She suffered smoke inhalation and some burns over seven percent of her body. As it was, Steen and Diamond suffered burns that still require treatment.

Steen has third degree burns on his hand, arm, back and feet. Diamond also suffered burns over 30 percent of her body, which caused nerve damage to one leg. Check out a photo of Diamond's injuries.

The reason Diamond sustained such bad burns was because she was protecting Steen’s older daughter by lying on top of the mattress until firefighters arrived and rescued them both. Diamond would not desert her family.

Recovery
Steen and his daughter spent several weeks recovering in the hospital. While the family lost all their worldly possessions, Steen told me in an interview "I don't care. All that matters is I have my family. We are all alive and well." He went on to say "All the things we lost in the fire…'oh, well.' I don’t care. All three of my girls are alive."

For her heroic efforts, Diamond was a finalist in the HSUS Fourth Annual Dogs of Valor Awards and although she didn't win, she is a hero just the same.

Breed Discrimination
The problem Steen and his family are facing is trying to find a landlord who will rent to Steen and Diamond. Because she is a pit bull, at least 20 potential landlords have refused to rent to the Steen family.

Diamond is adored for her unconditional love and loyalty to her family. She is temporarily staying with Steen's sister until they can find a pit bull-friendly landlord. The Steens will not give Diamond away just to find an apartment to live in. He is adamant on that point. "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for Diamond," Steen said in a video news interview. So they will not leave Diamond behind.

Diamond's situation is ironic. Here is a verified hero who loves her family and literally saved their lives. But because she was born a pit bull, society discriminates against her without even giving her a chance.

Diamond is a super-friendly 14-month-old gal who rarely barks and loves to interact with both humans and other animals. She will have permanent scarring from her injuries.

Fear of pit bulls is based in ignorance. Just like humans, canines deserve to be judged as individuals based on their behavior and character - not how they look.

How You Can Help
If anyone knows of animal-friendly rentals available in the Hayward, California area, why not suggest the Steens as potential tenants? Mr. Steen said he would be happy to receive any referrals for pit bull-friendly housing. He prefers to be reached on his phone 510-688-3707 but can also be reached at his email address [email protected].

How about it, Care2 members – does anyone know of some pit bull-friendly rentals in Hayward, California?

 

[bakerderek0]

Ironic indeed.

I did have a pit try to tear my sons face off last year on Easter. (My son didn't provoke the dog, it was purely the dog on the offensive.) So, I can understand the hesitation by the landlords. Those dogs can do some serious damage.

 

[xjsynx]

Not if the dog has been properly trained and socialized. In fact the Michael Vick pit bulls were all rehabilitated and were adopted by families.

The media also vilifies pit bulls. You will not hear of a dog attack on the news unless it was a pit bull. If you look up the statistics on dog attacks, the pit bulls are not the number one offender.

Furthermore a study shows that, Pit bulls have a better temperament than the average dog.

Pit bulls have a better temperament than the average dog, according to a recent study.

This lends credence to what pit bull activists have tried to prove for many years: that the pit bull is a gentle and loyal dog, and that the perception of them as violent or aggressive is the result of poor behavior on the part of humans.

The study was conducted by the American Temperament Test Society and showed that the average score for all dogs was 82% and the American pit bull terrier scored 86%.

As far as your son, kids are in danger with any strange dog. Not sure of your situation, but some dogs or animals get defensive around strangers and especially kids. Which is why parents should teach their kids not to run up to strange animals.

 

[xjsynx]

Anywho, the story is not ironic if you are familiar with the breed. I do not have a pit bull, but I have an American Bulldog. A very loving an loyal pet.

 

[Mrodz]

Pitbulls are very good and very loyal dogs.


chihuahuas and pomeranians like to bite more than pitbulls do and will do it under less provocation LOL!!

 

[T-Bone]

A bite from a chihuahua or Pomeranian will do a lot less damage than a bite from a pit bull.

 

[Hawk]

A bite from a chihuahua or Pomeranian will do a lot less damage than a bite from a pit bull.

A bite from a chihuahua or Pomeraniam will do a lot less damage than a bite from *insert almost any breed* (doverman,labrador,german shepard,mastiff,etc,etc)

.....so what's your point?

AMERICAN PITBULL TERRIER.

 

[EasyEJL]

Weren't shiba inus almost banned from shows due to attacks on other dogs + trainers?

 

[bakerderek0]

As far as your son, kids are in danger with any strange dog. Not sure of your situation, but some dogs or animals get defensive around strangers and especially kids. Which is why parents should teach their kids not to run up to strange animals.

Ah...I see what you did there. Blame me, when my son goes to a neighbor's house to play with his friends and is approached & attacked by a dog, there is an issue with the dog. My son did not approach or provoke the dog in any way. But almost has his eso****us ripped out on Easter.

GO F YOURSELF
:squintfinger:

 

[bakerderek0]

really? p h a g is bleeped? damn miscers

 

[Rodja]

People are so dumb when it comes to pitbulls. They're a great breed, but require strong owners. I've been around "aggressive" breeds for decades (chows, pits, dobermans, etc.), but have nothing but praise for these breeds. Hell, my wife's dog (chow/husky) was protective of her even when he was 12 weeks old and maybe 10 lbs. He is extremely protective of her, me, and our other puppy.

If I lived in his area, I'd adopt him in a heartbeat.