1 April 2024
Monty (Montana) was rescued from an inner-city shelter in Newark, NJ on March 31, 2020. He was not the dog I went to pick up. A kennel mishap had the wrong dog in the wrong place, and when I went to pick up the grey, pocket pittie incorrectly named Montana who I’d met the week prior, instead they brought out this black, ear-cropped, three-year old, low rider of a pitbull who, it turned out, was the real Monty. I looked at him, head hung low in pain and desolation, and I knew he was mine. I’d asked the shelter to give me the dog who needed me most; Monty fit that bill and then some. I took him as a foster, but I knew before I got him home that, so long as I could get the cat on board, Monty was home for good.
Monty was an ambassador for his breed. Protective and loving, he was a marvelous foster brother as we housed countless cats and kittens, dogs and puppies on their way to forever homes. He graduated from the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen program, and we were working toward his certification to be a therapy dog and support patients in hospitals and nursing homes.
He loved coming to Park Hill Fitness and being loved on by everyone there. Many of you immediately took to him and welcomed his enthusiastic smooches while giving him his beloved rub downs as he sat on your feet and presented his rear for scritches. When Coach Pete first met Monty, he took one look at my tank of a dog and said “I didn’t know Howitzer made dogs!” Monty’s presence at 7 AM daily class and social events became a given. More than once since his passing, I’ve heard “where’s Monty?” when he was looked for and, sadly, not found.
This past weekend, the city of Aurora reinstated the ban on pit bull breeds due to a governing error in which the ban was repealed in 2020. More dogs like my beloved Monty will be killed or die in shelters because of such biased and ignorant breed-specific legislation (BSL). Organizations like Jersey Pits Rescue in NJ (my home state) and Red Fern Animal Rescue here in Denver will continue to advocate for, support, and rescue these specials dogs while educating the public on the true, exceptional nature of the pit bull. Please consider donating to these organizations so their important work can continue to succeed.
Thank you for loving my precious boy so very much.
“Monty’s Memorial”
A fundraising workout. All proceeds go to New Jersey Pit Rescue & Red Fern Animal Rescue
A. 3 Rounds for Time:
31 Wall Ball (20/14)
20 Hand-Release Pushups
Rest 3 Minutes
B. 1 Round:
21 Single Arm DB Snatch (50/35)
24 Single DB Box Step Ups (50/35 to 24/20”)
Rest 3 Minutes
C. 4 Rounds for Time:
7 DB Goblet Squats (50/35)
6 DB Push Jerk (2x50/35)
Time Cap = 35 Minutes
Score = Finish Time (RX or Scaled)