Published Author To Visit Lucky Dog Rescue!

On May 22, 2011, my amazing friend and published author, Michelle Sathe, will be doing a book signing event at Lucky Dog Rescue in Meridian, MS! I am so excited to finally meet Michelle and promote her incredible book: ““Pit Stops: Crossing the Country with Loren the Rescue Bully.” A portion of “Pit Stops” proceeds will benefit Lucky Dog Rescue! In addition, Michelle will be interviewing me for her next book, “Pit Stops 2!”

PUBLISHED AUTHOR & PIT BULL AMBASSADOR TO VISIT LUCKY DOG RESCUE IN MERIDIAN, MS!

(Los Angeles, CA) - Kara, a three year old pit bull mix saved from a high-kill Los Angeles County shelter, has been selected as the bully breed ambassador for the national “Pit Stops: Crossing the Country with Loren the Rescue Bully” book tour launching on May 9.

Accompanied by Kara, author Michelle Sathe will sign copies of “Pit Stops” at rescues, shelters, humane pet stores and dog-friendly venues from Santa Fe to Pittsburgh during their seven-week trek.

“Kara is such a sweet, affectionate dog, I just know she’s going to charm everyone she meets,” Sathe said. “Having a positive, hands-on interaction with a bully breed is instrumental in turning around the bad rap these dogs have. Like Loren, my canine companion in the book, Kara’s the perfect girl to show the world how great bullies can be.”

Sathe and Kara will appear for a book signing and adoption event at Lucky Dog Rescue in Meridian, MS, on Sunday, May 22 from 3-6 p.m. Run by Ashley Owen Hill, Lucky Dog Rescue specializes in rescuing pit bulls and other homeless dogs from shelters, as well as providing assistance to low-income pet owners in the area.

“Ashley and I met on Facebook, where she tirelessly networks dogs in need of homes through Pet Pardons and her own page. I’m so impressed with her blogs, her passion and her commitment to rescuing the dogs of Meridian,” Sathe said. “ Kara and I can’t wait to meet her and the residents at Lucky Dog Rescue. I’m also excited to tell Ashley’s story in Pit Stops 2, which will come out in the summer of 2012.”

“Pit Stops,” released in the fall of 2010, chronicles Sathe’s original cross-country journey in 2009 with Loren, a homeless pit bull from The Brittany Foundation dog rescue in Agua Dulce, where Sathe is a volunteer and board member.

Sathe, a features writer with The Santa Clarita Valley Signal, had turned 40 and decided to combine her dream of the great American road trip with a mission to promote pit bull awareness and homeless pet adoption. Together, Sathe and Loren crossed 29 states in 50 days, shining a light on animal welfare advocates and volunteers along the way, as well as exposing the brutal reality facing pit bulls and dogs who look like them.

“Bully breeds are the dogs most likely to be neglected, chained, abused or trained to fight, through no fault of their own,” Sathe said. “As many of the experts I’ve interviewed in ’Pit Stops’ have expressed, there’s also a dangerously inaccurate media bias on pit bulls. They’re sensationalized and misrepresented, and because of this, often miss out on the chance of becoming a family pet. Instead, they become a sad statistic in our shelter system.”

Thankfully, Loren’s story in “Pit Stops” had a happy ending when her long-awaited dream came true. Sathe is striving for the same outcome with Kara, whom she describes as a symbol of what happens far too often with pit bulls. “Kara was used as a breeder for years and then dumped at the shelter when she was pregnant. When her ten puppies were adopted, Kara was scheduled to be killed,” Sathe said.

Instead, Kara was rescued in the nick of time by shelter volunteer Kyle Harris, who fosters dogs at her Canyon Country home, in January. When Sathe saw Kara’s picture posted on Harris’ Facebook page, she knew she had found her new road companion.

“We’ve spent some quality time together to prepare for the trip and I just adore Kara,“ Sathe said. “Unfortunately, bully breeds can take some time to adopt out, so Kyle and I both hope that the exposure from the trip will help Kara find her perfect family.”

Sathe will blog about the duo’s adventures in real-time starting May 9 at http://blog.pitstopsbook.com . “I’m really looking forward to this trip and I think Kara is, too,” Sathe said. “We’re going to do our best to help these dogs, one mile and one encounter at a time.”

A portion of Pit Stop sales will benefit Lucky Dog Rescue!

Meet Michelle, Kara, Ashley, and the awesome adoptables at Lucky Dog Rescue, Sunday, May 22, 3-6 p.m., 8659 Hillview Drive, Meridian. For more information, visit www.luckydogretreatmeridian.com or www.pitstopsbook.com.