Landlords Refuse Award-Winning Hero Dog

When a dog named Diamond smelled smoke in her home one night last October, the usually quiet dog barked furiously to wake up her family. Her dog dad, Darryl Steen, was able to help one of his daughters jump to safety from a second-floor apartment window, but was unable to reach his other daughter.

When firefighters arrived, they found Diamond lying on top of the girl, apparently in an effort to shield her from the flames. Both survived, but Diamond was severely burned over 30 percent of her body.

“She will have permanent scarring, so that will be her badge of honor,” Dr. Lori Dabaco, who treated Diamond for five weeks at Eden Pet Hospital in Castro Valley, Calif., told KTVU.com last December. “She has sort of become a mascot for everybody.”

Diamond was honored as a top 10 finalist in this year’s Dogs of Valor Awards, which are presented by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to dogs that “have exhibited an extraordinary sense of courage or resolve by heroically helping a person in need,” according to the HSUS website.

The fire left Diamond and her family homeless. While it would seem that any landlord would be glad to have the hero dog as a tenant, that is sadly not the case. At least 20 landlords have rejected Steen’s applications.

Why? Because Diamond is a Pit Bull.

“They’ll say they accept pets, but then when I tell them I have a Pit Bull, they’ll say they only accept small dogs,” Steen told a reporter in an interview posted on WBIR.com. “But we all know that’s because she’s a Pit Bull.”

Diamond is temporarily staying with relatives while Steen tries to find a new home.

Steen told WHEC.com that the breed’s reputation shouldn’t ruin the life of one proven hero.

PHOTO: Kara Ogushi

Laura Goldman

Laura Goldman is senior social media writer for i Love Dogs, Inc. She does love dogs. And elephants and turtles. Along with writing about the loves of her life, Laura likes to play with her two pound pups and tell anyone who’ll listen just how awesome Pit Bulls are.

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Becky

Don't give up! I had to live a year in a less than desirable area in order to keep my dog before finding a landlord in the small town I was from that let me have her. I pay a tad bit more for it, but every penny is worth it!

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Nina Paccione

Don't give up on this dog. I volunteered for 10 yrs @ an animal shelter in Port Jefferson, NY. Pitts are the hardest to place in a home if they are strays because there have no history. It is heartbreaking. This is your family member don't give her up. Call Cesar Millan, he has a facility in LA for dogs that were on doggie death row. He can probably find a house or residence that will accept your dog. I'd really call the news channels and make a big stink over that fact that your dog is a hero, but is being rejected. You don't want to live somewhere that you'll fear that someone will want your dog to be put down. I met someone in LI, NY that her pitt got loose and the neighbors complained. Well sadly after the 3 RD time it happened, they put the dog down without the owners knowledge. That must have been horrible! Don't give up on your dog. My family are not animal lovers AT ALL!! To me it is ignorance, dogs can and have contributed a lot to human society. Look at all the search and rescue dogs from 9/11. Don't give up your dog for anybody, and don't forget who helped you and your family in this time of need, & who neglected you. Good Luck and keep looking. You'll find a home and neighborhood where you'll be welcomed. Nina Paccione

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