After losing her beloved companion, King, a senior Labrador, Gigi was heartbroken and lonely. The absence of her furry brother left a deep void in her life. Hoping to lift her spirits, her owner, Aaron Michael Louis, took her to the park for some social interaction. However, the experience wasn’t as comforting as he had hoped—other dog owners weren’t as considerate.
People kept their distance from Gigi, refusing to let their dogs play with her. Once again, she found herself alone, left to entertain herself while others ran and played together. It was heartbreaking—Gigi only wanted to have fun like the other dogs.
All-Encompassing Pittie Prejudice
Source: @sweeti_gigi
Pit Bulls are often misunderstood due to unfair stereotypes that label them as dangerous and claim they have a stronger bite than other breeds. However, a journal article titled Pit Bulls and Prejudice [1], published by the American Psychological Association, states that “scientific research demonstrates that no truth exists in these common stereotypes.”
Despite the lack of truth behind these stereotypes, bias against Pit Bulls remains widespread—and Gigi and Aaron experienced it firsthand.
“I wanted to take Gigi to the park to help socialize her, but people avoided her. They didn’t want their dogs playing with her, so she ended up playing alone. Watching my dog miss out on the fun just broke my heart,” Aaron told The Dodo.
Even on walks, Aaron noticed people crossing the street to avoid them. “I never get frustrated or mad because, in my mind, I just think, ‘They don’t know us.’ They’re acting on something they believe without ever meeting us,” he said.
But Gigi isn’t the only one facing unfair judgment—Aaron, too, has been a victim of stereotypes.
Source: @sweeti_gigi
“We’ve been told that I look like a typical Pit Bull owner,” Aaron said.
Throughout his life, he’s had several different dogs, but Pit Bulls have always held a special place in his heart.
Before Gigi, Aaron shared 15 years with his beloved Labrador Retriever, King. As King grew older in 2021, Aaron decided to bring another dog into his life—one that could not only keep King company but also become part of his family.
“I met Gigi, and she was just the sweetest, kindest little dog. So, I brought her home, and it was like an immediate bond between them,” Aaron recalled. Sadly, King passed away just a couple of months later.
“The first month or two after he passed was probably the hardest time,” he admitted. “Not only did I lose my first adult dog, but she also lost the only other dog she had ever known.”
Grieving together deepened their connection, bringing them even closer as they navigated their loss side by side.
Bully Breed Meet & Greet
Source: @sweeti_gigi
Seeing his little, sweet girl suffer because of the ugly prejudices and stereotypes, Aaron decided to do something about it.
He took matters into his own hands and started a thing he likes to call the “Bully Breed Meetup”.
The first meetup he ever did was in his hometown city of San Diego. Both of them were very excited and a bit nervous.
At first, Gigi seemed unsure of what was happening, but as more dogs arrived, her tail began to wag with excitement.
For the first time in a long while, she was truly happy—finally getting the chance to play and just be a dog among friends.
Source: @sweeti_gigi
“To see Gigi’s personality grow, to see the love pouring out of her—the joy, the smile she has when she sees her friends […] We’ve been through so much. We’ve battled against a lot of hate. But we still lead with love,” Aaron shared in an Instagram post.
What started as a simple wish to make Gigi happy turned into something much bigger.
Now, both Aaron and Gigi have become passionate advocates for Pit Bulls, using their growing social media presence to show the world just how loving and gentle these dogs can be.
They’ve organized multiple Bully breed meetups in the San Diego area, with many more planned in the future—spreading awareness, breaking stereotypes, and creating a community where dogs like Gigi can finally be accepted and loved.
“My favorite part has been just seeing these dogs grow in that space—finding their comfort zone, their happy place with their humans,” Aaron said.
For more educational and heartwarming content, follow Gigi on Instagram—along with her devoted dad, Aaron (or as he jokingly calls himself, Gigi’s assistant).