Positively Peaceful Pit Bull Jeffrey Serves His Community

Rally competitor is community advocate and therapy dog.

The Positively Peaceful Pit Bull Jeffrey and his owner, Michele Houston of Milford, Conn., hosted their ninth annual Jeffrey’s Joy of Giving Donation Drive in Connecticut in December. Since the first drive in 2013, the pair have collected thousands of pounds of human food and over 200 coats for the local homeless shelter and food pantry, approximately two tons of pet food for the local animal shelter, and nearly $8,000 for nonprofit charities.

Michele started the donation drive after Jeffrey was deployed to Sandy Hook in 2012 as a Pet Partners Registered Therapy Dog. Each year, they set up tents in the parking lot of Coldwell Banker so people can stop by with donations and meet Jeffrey throughout the day.

“We wanted to do something to honor the strong sense of community in Sandy Hook, so each year we collect nonperishable food items, toiletries and warm winter clothing for a local homeless shelter/food pantry, pet foods and supplies for the local animal shelter pet pantry, blank journals for Journal of Hope, and monetary donations for a selected 501(c)3 charity,” said Michele.

Rescued in the eleventh hour from a high kill NYC shelter in 2010, Jeffrey holds no grudge and sets a stellar example for shelter dogs and rescued pit bulls everywhere. Alongside his community advocacy and therapy work, Jeffrey is a nationally rankedWorld Cynosport® Rally Limited (WCRL) competitor, having earned more than 47 titles over the years. He became the first pit bull to earn his Rally Master Champion and ARCHMX titles in 2019 and 2021, respectively. He and Michele train at Paws ’N Effect in Hamden.

Photo: When deployed to Sandy Hook, Jeffrey met one extra special friend, Emma Wishneski, who is now a junior in high school.