Saturday, January 31, 2009
Guinness
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
*ALERT* Washington DC
Councilman Graham pushing legislation to ban pit bulls — again
By Michael Neibauer
Examiner Staff Writer 1/20/09
Year after year, Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham has seen his attempt to ban fireworks fizzle, his try to bar pit bulls chewed up by colleagues. But he's back at it in 2009.
Graham has introduced both measures before, numerous times, to no avail. There's a method to the madness, Graham said Monday.
Graham said the bill was inspired by vicious pit bull attacks on people. But the Washington Humane Society opposes any breed-specific legislation "because they just don't work," said Scott Giacoppo, chief programs officer. Dogs can be dangerous because of their owners and their levels of socialization, not their breed, Giacoppo said.
The Council of the District of Columbia
PDF File of contact info:
http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/media/calendar/Council%20Listing-January-2009.pdf
Address: John A. Wilson Building, Suite 5, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20004
Click the following link to view the District of Columbia Council Directory in PDF format:
Council Directory
Council Offices
Vincent C. Gray - Council Chairman | |
David A. Catania - Councilmember (At-Large) | Phil Mendelson- Councilmember (At-Large) |
Kwame R. Brown - Councilmember (At-Large) Suite: 506 Tel: (202) 724-8174 Fax: (202) 724-8156 | Michael A. Brown - Councilmember (At-Large) |
Jim Graham - Councilmember (Ward 1) | Jack Evans - Councilmember (Ward 2) |
Mary M. Cheh - Councilmember (Ward 3) | Muriel Bowser - Councilmember - (Ward 4) |
Harry Thomas, Jr. - Councilmember (Ward 5) | Tommy Wells - Councilmember (Ward 6) |
Councilmember Yvette M. Alexander (Ward 7) | Marion Barry - Councilmember (Ward 8) |
Committee Offices
Committee of the Whole Suite: 410 Fax: (202) 724-8085 | Committee on Finance and Revenue Suite: 114 Tel: (202) 727-8206 Fax: (202) 724-8023 |
Committee on Workforce Development and Government Operations Suite: 111 Tel: (202) 724-8113 Fax: (202) 724-8071 | Committee on Public Services and Consumer Affairs Suite: 006 |
Committee on Health Suite: 115 Tel: (202) 724-8170 Fax: (202) 724-8087 | Committee on Libraries, Parks and Recreation Suite: 113 Tel: (202) 727-8204 Fax: (202) 724-8076 |
Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary Suite: 109 Tel: (202) 724-7808 Fax: (202) 724-8099 | Committee on Human Services Suite: 117 |
Committee on Economic Development Suite: 119 Tel: (202) 727-6683 Fax: (202) 724-8156 | Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs Suite: 112 |
Committee on Public Works and the Environment Suite: 116 Tel: (202) 724-8195 Fax: (202) 724-7133 |
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Tug Boat
sides. We think he might have a little bit of staffordshire bull terrier mixed in with his pit bull because he looks like someone took a full sized pit bull and put him in the dryer. His face is a little rounder and muzzle a bit shorter and his ears are a little bit smaller. His bone structure is a bit delicate. He's too tall of course to be a staffy but those few characteristics give us an idea
there could be just a hint there.
Tug has a nice personality. He's very wiggly and happy to meet everyone. He hasn't met a single person that hasn't been his very best friend. He is just a wiggle monster when he's around people. He has been fine with other dogs so far and he has met a few both in the shelter and out. He seems concerned when meeting a new dog as if he is not sure how it's going to go. If the other dogs are friendly he breathes a sigh of relief. He seems like he may have had some negative experiences with other dogs in his past. He was a bit reactive to cats but responsive to correction and easily focused back on his person.
Tug also has a three to four inch scar across the front of his neck where it looks like a collar had begun to grow into his skin. Most likely when he was a puppy and began to outgrow his collar while no- one noticed.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Guinness's progress
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Guinness's road to health
same.
He has an eye infection, ear infection, skin infection, worms, low weight, diarrhea....a sundry of the things a dog gets when running loose. Every dog comes in with a different set of circumstances and "illnesses". Occasionally we will get one that needs minimal care but
most require about a month of recovery and detoxification. The first thing that usually happens is a good cleaning - a double bath! and then into a crate with a soft bed to sleep it off.
The first week home, the dog usually spends a lot of time in the crate adjusting to sights, sounds and smells of a new home. That helps with the stress and also, if a dog is coming from a shelter they normally are very tired and use the time to catch up on sleep. Shelters do the
best that they can but it is not a home and during the time there, dogs usually lose sleep just from the stress of their situation. In that first week comes the wormings, vaccinations and the vet visit. Spay/neutering, testing for heartworms, and whatever ailments come with a particular dog. At the end of the first week, there is a slow progression of more time out of the crate so the dog can start to experience life in a home and get the routine.
We are starting on Guinness's second week. So far he is doing well
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Our new dog
Oh Guinness! What a rich full bodied gentleman with a deep red and chocolatey coat. Of all the dogs in the shelter the day we went, we picked Guinness. He's not the prettiest or the youngest but he's the sweetest! He has a bomb proof temperament and is just a real gem. He's good with other dogs and appears good with cats. He is a mellow love bug. He is quiet in his crate and responsive to direction. He is learning house manners and leash training and has a few basic commands. He would be a good choice for any home, even a first timer to the breed. He's a fantastic dog. He loves tennis balls and will try to stuff as many in his mouth as he can. He rides good in the car!
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Positive pit bull story
However, it looks like this family can't be bothered to make moving accommodations for their pet: http://cbs13.com/local/pit.bull.intruder.2.901647.html
That is so very sad but so typical. She is only worth something in the moment, not the long term. I bet they haven't even bothered to spay her. Losing her home before she's two but that seems to be the standard for the breed. Most don't get to see their second birthday due to irresponsibility like this. There are just too many of them and not enough homes (or I should put it better...not enough caring responsible life long homes. Plenty of people want a pit bull for the 5 minutes it is convenient for them).
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
ALERT for Montana
The American Kennel Club¢s Government Relations Department is expecting legislation in Montana that will seek to prohibit the ownership, harboring, or keeping of dogs described as "pit bulls." The legislation defines "pit bulls" to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and "any dog that has the physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for those breeds by the American Kennel Club." If the bill is passed and signed into law, all such dogs would be seized and euthanized. The AKC vehemently opposes breed-specific legislation and encourages all concerned dog owners in Montana to contact their elected representatives and express their strong opposition to this draconian yet hard-to-enforce legislation.
The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous" based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.
Currently named LC 1087, the bill will:
- Make it unlawful, with little exception, for a person to own, harbor, or keep a pit bull dog. "Pit bull" is defined in the act to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and any dog that has the physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for those breeds by the American Kennel Club.
- Force persons in violation of the bill to surrender their dogs to animal control officials, or risk seizure of the animals.
- Mandate that within ten days of surrender or seizure, the animal control agency shall euthanize such dogs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
All concerned Montana dog owners should contact their elected representatives and express their strong opposition to this breed-specific legislation. To find your elected representatives, click here.
For a copy of the bill, click here.
For a sample letter to write or e-mail legislators with, click here.
For a downloadable copy of our Deed, Not Breed flyer, click here.
For more information, please contact AKC¢s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
2008 summary
2008 was not all that much better about 2007 for the pit bulls. We have downsized over the past couple of years for personal reasons. Our rescue efforts have diminished even more this year. It was a combination of having less foster homes, busier lives and less people looking to add a pit bull to their lives. The numbers of pit bulls needing assistance has multiplied exponentially and it seems as though shelters have more and more. I can't walk into a shelter without seeing several pit bulls or pit bull mixes in need. When the economy takes a downturn, pets are usually the first to suffer. That itself has seemed to multiply as the months progressed through the year. I have seen larger and larger numbers of older dogs needing homes, which is surprising since the general up keep on a healthy older dog is minimal compared to that of a puppy.
I don't know if the housing crisis has played as much of a hand or if that was used as an excuse to get rid of pets. There have always been problems when people moved with little regard given to whether their pets will be welcome and no regard that their pet will likely lose it's life because of their lack of concern. There are those precious few that are desperate for help and welcome advice on how to make their housing situations better but for the most part that is not the case. Just as many people are acquiring puppies but not as many are maintaining them for their whole lives.
I continue to hope this year improves. 2009 will be better. We have to believe that.
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