Dogs, especially pit bulls, can be victims of bullying

Nonprofit works with neglected and bullied dogs.

Lifelong dog lover Carolyn O’Brien believes it’s not just people who get bullied. She has seen firsthand that animals also can be victimized. And the ones getting the worst rap, she said, are pit bulls.

“It breaks my heart to see the way pit bulls are demonized,” said O’Brien, a Roswell resident. “They’re the No. 1 euthanized breed. And when something breaks your heart, you should do something about it.”

That euthanasia statistic, backed by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, spurred O’Brien to take action in 2010 when she launched Braveheart Bulliez Rescue and saved 60 dogs. The nonprofit now works with about 300 neglected and bullied dogs each year. And it’s not just pit bulls who benefit from the medical attention and training. “We are not breed-specific; we take in severely abused and neglected dogs,” she said. “But about 95% of them are pit bulls.”

O’Brien, who has three rescues, places dogs in foster homes around the state. Volunteers often are people who have heard of her work and step up to help. Buckhead resident Larke Wheeler learned about Braveheart in 2020 when she wanted to adopt a dog.

“We knew we’d get a rescue, and when I met Carolyn, I loved the mission of her work,” Wheeler said. “She has a big heart and love for animals. I started doing things like transporting dogs and finding foster homes. That’s one of the biggest challenges, but the more fosters they have, the more dogs they can save.”

Wheeler, who adopted two dogs through Braveheart, also was drawn to the nonprofit’s philosophy. “There’s so much bullying in person and online,” she said. “The mission here sends a strong message not to bully dogs, people or anybody.”

It’s also a message of resilience, O’Brien said.

“It’s our hope that the stories of these rescues and their transformations serve as inspirations to humans who have been bullied,” she said. “You can bounce back, and a dog can sometimes make it better.”

O’Brien hosts a number of events through the year to raise awareness and find permanent homes for the rescues. She’s had the support of Milton High’s National Honor Society students who have shown up at adoption events and raised awareness. She’s also partnered with dog-friendly businesses to do fundraisers and change perceptions. The April 21 “Yappy Hour” at the rooftop bar of Midtown’s Kimpton Shane Hotel is one such event.

“We can’t save them all,” she said, “but it matters to the ones you do save.”

Information about Braveheart Bulliez Rescue is online at braveheartbulliezrescue.org.

COURTESY Larke Wheeler adopted her two dogs from Braveheart Bulliez Rescue, a nonprofit working with dogs that have been bullied or mistreated.