As of September 2009, pet-abuse.com lists a whopping 13,404 reported cases of animal cruelty in the United States. Animal cruelty cases are classified as either neglect or intentional cruelty. While neglect makes up a mere 32% of all cases, the scary statistics show that the majority of animal abuse among Americans is through fighting, shooting, hoarding, poisoning, beating, choking, strangling, mutilating, throwing and stabbing their pets.

With that said, there are still over 1.5 MILLION orphaned pets roaming the streets and seeking safety in overcrowded crowded shelters.

One of the most common breeds found in shelters are American Staffordshire Terriers- aka Pit Bulls. According to the ASPCA, this breed was once nicknamed “the nursemaid’s dog” because it was so reliable with young children. Unfortunately, today irresponsible owners and organized dog fights have given pit bulls a rap as vicious killers.

The Pit Bull population has increased so rapidly, shelters are now struggling to deal with an overflow of image-plagued, hard-to-place dogs. Watch as Joelle introduces you to a neglected and possibly abused six-month old pit bull puppy named Orrin Braveheart, who is available for adoption.

Those interested in fostering or adopting this adorable blue-eyed boy should e-mail Andrea or call 718-702-6382 to fill out an application.