No pet owner will hesitate to tell you just how much their furry friend contributes to their overall sense of well-being. However, there are some breeds who have unfortunately received less than cuddly reputations, pit bulls being one of them. Michele Schaffer-Stevens, the president and founder of Brindle Brothers Foundation, joined HuffPost Live host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani today to discuss how her rescued, now-therapy dog Aladdin has proven all negative stereotypes wrong in helping her and others throughout their community.
"He just has a really amazing spirit," said Schaffer-Stevens. "He was found last April. Someone had starved him, and broken his back legs and his tail. From the minute I picked him up at the shelter, his tail never stopped wagging."
Despite preconceived notions about how pit bulls are not friendly dogs, Schaffer-Stevens insists that Aladdin's ability to connect with people makes him an incredible therapy dog.
"They [pit bulls] are a wonderful breed," she said. "They used to be known as the nanny dog... They're very loyal, very loving dogs, and they do whatever they can to please the person that they're with. As you know, there's a stigma for a pit bull, and we've gone into nursing homes where patients have said, 'I don't want that pit bull near me,' and he just has a way and wins everyone over."
To hear more about how Aladdin went from an at-risk rescue to successful therapy dog, watch the full HuffPost Live clip in the video above.