A pit bull rescued from a Tilbury dog fighting ring in 2015 has made history.
Hansel has become the first pit bull arson detection dog in New Jersey, and possibly in the entire U.S.
Hansel’s life has completely turned around after training from the Throw Away Dogs Project south of the border. He became an official member of the Millville Fire Department after graduating on Friday. Throw Away Dogs said Hansel and his handler, firefighter Tyler Van Leer, have bonded and have become not only best friends but have become "the dynamic duo in a very special field."
Throw Away Dogs said it's about repurposing misunderstood dogs and giving them a second chance.
"This is what happens when a team of people get together and believe in something so powerful!" said Carol Skaziak, CEO and founder of the Throw Away Dogs Project.
She added Hanzel has been through hell and back and is "ready to make a very BOLD statement."
The Throw Away Dogs Project hopes that other fire departments will follow in the footsteps of the Millville Fire Department.
"Let's do this Hansel! Let’s show them THIS can be done EVERYWHERE!" Skaziak posted on the group's Facebook page.
Hansel's sister, Gretel, is a service dog for an employee of U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew at the Capitol.
K9 Nibbles, another pit bull rescued from the dogfighting ring in Tilbury, also has a law enforcement job. Throw Away Dogs reported on Tuesday that Nibbles will be joining the Craven County Sheriff's Office in New Bern North Carolina.
"That’s right, you’re looking at the future Narcotic Detection K9 Nibbles!" posted a very proud Skaziak.
K9 Nibbles, a pit bull rescued from the dogfighting ring in Tilbury, has a new law enforcement job. January 22, 2020. (Photo via Throw Away Dogs Project)
A third rescue from Tilbury, a dog named Dallas, is also working as a K9 officer. Dallas was the first of the three pit bulls to join a law enforcement agency a few months ago.
Pepper, a fourth rescued pit bull, is a K9 officer in Lubbock, Texas.
Munchkin, also rescued from Tilbury, was also to be a working dog but had to have surgery on his torn ACL last week and will be up for adoption after his four months of recovery and obedience school.
Another Tilbury dog fighting ring survivor is Cuddles. Cuddles is a service dog for a retired New York firefighter who suffered a stroke.