About miami valley pit crew

About Miami Valley Pit Crew, what our mission is and how we began.

"Running a rescue" was never on our bucket list, and in no way did it sound like fun to us.  How we got here will always be left open to speculation.

Blake and I (Collette) were dropped smack dab into the middle of the rescue world shortly after what we know now to be our "rescue dog," Caesar, had to be euthanized due to complications from epilepsy.

I was working at a vet clinic in 2008 when Caesar's owner dropped him off to be euthanized because he didn't want to "deal" with the epilepsy any longer.  Since he was an affluent doctor at a local hospital, one would assume he would have had a little more compassion, but that proved to not be the case.

The doctors at the clinic refused to euthanize him, as epilepsy (if diagnosed early), has a high probability of being managed.  The owner was asked to sign him over to the clinic, and THIS is where our journey began.

Days and weeks went by, to no avail.  All of the poking, prodding and feeble attempts of convincing me to take him home weren't working.  There was NO way I was going to assume that kind of responsibility.

I lied to myself.

Caesar became OUR dog on Christmas Eve, 2008. 

~On a desk top? Click to enlarge each image and enjoy the gallery

Life with caesar

Willingly taking on a sick dog is one of the most selfless, heartbreaking and rewarding things a human being could ever do.  Our whole life came to a screeching halt and Caesar's comfort and quality of life became the only thing in the world that mattered to us. 

It's not for everyone, but as we found out, it mattered to us.

Looking back, I don't know how we did it.  The monthly financial burden alone would have been enough to send a medical professional into bankruptcy, but somehow we managed.  Our lives totally revolved around that dog and his medical needs.  Caesar was kept on a strict schedule and we adhered to it as though our lives depended on it.

We had only 8 months with our boy but he taught us so many life lessons - lessons that we later turned into running a rescue.

After Caesar's death I spent a lot of time searching for what my purpose was in this life.  I never think that something just "happens."  There are reasons.  Honestly, I was lost without my boy.  I was distraught and cried a lot.  I guess I really didn't know what to do with my time.  Looking back, one could say that I was in a very dark place.

Growing to love the American pit bull terrier

It was at this time that I stumbled upon this thing called "rescue.'  I believe to this day that Caesar had a paw in it.

Blake and I jumped into rescuing dogs almost immediately upon my discovery.  We fostered one dog from a rural shelter in Kentucky who later went on to live with my in-laws.

We then found a local rescue, Luv4k9s, who showed us a literal hell on earth through their puppy mill rescue efforts.  I will be forever grateful for the opportunity those ladies gave us.  They taught us everything they knew and are a huge part of why MVPC is as successful today as it is.  We took what we learned from them and ran with it.

During my research I became friends with the director of the only Pit Bull rescue at that time, Luv-A-Bulls Rescue.  She was instrumental in opening my eyes to a whole new world of hell on earth. 

Blake and I attended every city council meeting from Dayton to Timbuktu, with one objective: to be a voice for the most ostracized dog in American history.  A dog that used to be valued, honored and recognized for its loyalty, intelligence and unwavering love for family.

That was it.  This is where we were supposed to be. 

Miami valley pit crew rescue, inc begins

In the fall of 2011, I was introduced to a gal who had been independently rescuing pit bull dogs for a little while.  Her husband was a police officer and he often confiscated these type of dogs from drug dealers, felons and the like.  She had a dog that she needed to find a home for.  We desperately wanted to meet him and Russ became ours.

We became official in early 2012 and we had a good run.  We ran the best Pit Bull rescue in the state for almost 18 months, until unfortunate circumstances caused a rift.  That rift became a separation.

As things tend to go in rescue, it was not an amiable separation.  Truth is, it was quite messy.  It was not something that I wanted, but I was not given a choice other than releasing her from her responsibilities and duties to this rescue we created.

When you're in a relationship with a person whom you consider a friend, in the true sense of the word, you never imagine something going wrong.  We were friends, business partners and this separation can only be construed as a "divorce" of sorts.

the Present and future of mvpc

Since 2013 Miami Valley Pit Crew has paid out in excess of $100,000 in medical bills for dogs who otherwise would not have had a chance at life.

We have seen injuries to dogs that would make the Pope himself lose faith in a higher power.  Yet we persevere.

While our goal is to find good homes for good dogs, we strive to help as many dogs as feasibly possible to find love.  In doing so, our faith is renewed with each one who successfully leaves us.

Miami Valley Pit Crew:

• operates solely on donations - we have the BEST donors in the country
• is a foster home-based rescue - in order to learn to love, each dog must be exposed to love and become part of a loving family
• believes there is more to life than just being alive

What makes MVPC truly stand apart from other rescues?  We truly are a family.  A family that consists of people from all walks of life, who contribute something different to make this rescue what it is. 

We are a well-oiled machine, and until the day comes where we are no longer needed, we will press on with our mission.

My Caesar was dropped into my life and heart to show me what I was capable of doing.  He visited me one final time in a dream, shortly after the start of MVPC.  He then walked away forever, knowing that he completed his mission here on earth.

I will never forget him and in everything this rescue does, we honor him.  I hope I have made him proud in this endeavor.

May we never become numb to the atrocities that happen at the hands of humans.  My hope is that my dogs, all of them, go on to be the example that I know they can be.

Collette Jordan
Director
Miami Valley Pit Crew