Dog Fancy Magazine

Top Dog—Lazer the Louisiana Pit Bull

October 2008 Issue

As soon as Geraldine Pedersen, 66, of Alexandria, La., stepped off the curb during her walk May 28, 2008, she heard it. A vicious, chilling growl. Suddenly, two Blue Heeler-looking dogs known for roaming the neighborhood raced toward her, the biggest launching himself right at Pedersen.

But not if Lazer had anything to say about it. Pedersen's 11-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier body slammed the big dog in midair, doing everything he could to keep both attacking dogs away from his owner. Pedersen emerged without a bite, only severe abrasions from being dragged along the street while holding the leash. Even Lazer suffered only minor scratches.

"He saved me," says Pedersen. "I thank the Lord for this dog. He's my protector."

Purchased when he was six weeks old from a breeder in Louisiana, Lazer, officially named Kelley's Lazer Beam, has always been intelligent and playful.

"When he was a puppy, he was bouncing off the walls, like a beam of light," Pedersen says, recalling how her pedigreed pup got his name. "[With Pit Bulls], it's how you treat them and how your raise them."

This majestic, trained, sable-colored Pit tops the scales at 80 pounds, but is just a pussycat. He loves playing with squeaky toys, a stuffed bunny, his Clifford dog—and even kids and a three-pound Yorkshire Terrier. When Pedersen isn't paying Lazer enough attention, he whines until Pedersen stops her task and sits on the floor next to Lazer as he happily gnaws on a bone.

"He's not spoiled," she laughs. "I'm just well trained."