Sunshine also got a new splint today and is boarding at the vet in an effort to keep her from destroying another cast and keep her quiet. Her leg has started to heal
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Frank is improving
Frankie poo is taking it easy tonight. He lost his manhood today as well as a badly broken tooth. He is recovering nicely from the mange. His coordination has really improved! He is now weaning off the prednisone and as he does he is starting to limp so we did x-rays today too. His hips look good so we are leaning more and more towards the HBC theory.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
So how IS Frank?
Well, there's not a whole lot going on with Frank. He is improving steadily since Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, I actually thought that I might have to put him down. He was miserable, skin inflamed, seemed feverish and was refusing water. His ataxia had not improved and seemed a bit worse. I called my vet and luckily they said to bring him in and I dropped him off to stay for the day.
Seems the vet on Saturday misdiagnosed his demodex and it is really sarcoptic mange. Which is contagious but easier to treat and not re-occuring. The only thing she did get right was the severe pyoderma but because we were only treating that and not the mange...he was not improving. The dose of ivermectin for demodex is much less than the dose for sarcoptic.
We took him off the pain meds, put him on prednisone to work on the inflamation and allergic reaction to the mites. Changed his ivermectin dosing. Since that alone did not account for his ataxia, we decided to re-do his HW test to include lyme and erlichia, did a fungal culture and bloodwork.
Not a whole lot interesting in his bloodwork except for a couple of values. His thyroid is below normal at .8. He could be hypo thyroid secondary to his current illness or this could be a growing problem for him and in rare cases hypothyroid can cause some ataxia and muscle weakness along with lethargy and weight gain. It would be hard to tell at this point which is the first one because he is definately very tired but he is on the thin side of healthy weight.
He is also mildly anemic, again could be secondary to what is going on. WBC normal range so for the moment we are ruling out an infectious agent at this point.
tick titers were normal
So for now we are going to work on his skin and closely monitor his neurological issues this week and come next week if there is not improvement as his overal health improves we will re-address and perhaps do a thyroid panel. If his anemia and thyroid values are secondary to whatever is going on....they should begin to resolve. None of this really addresses the cause of his unsteadiness and we still don't know the answer. If we had more history, we could potentially know if he was born this way, got this way due to trauma, trauma of a single event like HBC or multiple events (abuse), etc.
He said if we choose to go the thryoid panel and get no results, then there is the spinal tap and/or mri and possibly a specialist. I am not ready to consider those options at this point.
Seems the vet on Saturday misdiagnosed his demodex and it is really sarcoptic mange. Which is contagious but easier to treat and not re-occuring. The only thing she did get right was the severe pyoderma but because we were only treating that and not the mange...he was not improving. The dose of ivermectin for demodex is much less than the dose for sarcoptic.
We took him off the pain meds, put him on prednisone to work on the inflamation and allergic reaction to the mites. Changed his ivermectin dosing. Since that alone did not account for his ataxia, we decided to re-do his HW test to include lyme and erlichia, did a fungal culture and bloodwork.
Not a whole lot interesting in his bloodwork except for a couple of values. His thyroid is below normal at .8. He could be hypo thyroid secondary to his current illness or this could be a growing problem for him and in rare cases hypothyroid can cause some ataxia and muscle weakness along with lethargy and weight gain. It would be hard to tell at this point which is the first one because he is definately very tired but he is on the thin side of healthy weight.
He is also mildly anemic, again could be secondary to what is going on. WBC normal range so for the moment we are ruling out an infectious agent at this point.
tick titers were normal
So for now we are going to work on his skin and closely monitor his neurological issues this week and come next week if there is not improvement as his overal health improves we will re-address and perhaps do a thyroid panel. If his anemia and thyroid values are secondary to whatever is going on....they should begin to resolve. None of this really addresses the cause of his unsteadiness and we still don't know the answer. If we had more history, we could potentially know if he was born this way, got this way due to trauma, trauma of a single event like HBC or multiple events (abuse), etc.
He said if we choose to go the thryoid panel and get no results, then there is the spinal tap and/or mri and possibly a specialist. I am not ready to consider those options at this point.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Two puppies at once?
I have had several requests lately from families that just got their first pit bull puppy and now that it is 14-20 weeks old...they love it so much they just HAVE to have another one and would like to rescue. Most of them get mad and think I'm calling them bad dog parents when I deny their application and I am not. They don't even listen to my reasons for denying them at the current time. Some people just got a puppy of a different breed and just want to have two puppies at the same time because they think it will make life easier to housebreak two at the same time and they can keep each other entertained. That's the lazy way to raise puppies - letting them raise each other and it will come back to bite you.
Adopting two puppies of ANY breed is a bad idea just as it is a bad idea to adopt siblings or same sex puppies. Honestly, I think the worst mistake someone could make is getting two same sex littermates. The best idea is to have each puppy bond and be trained by the family as they enter the home separately. A responsible breeder will want you to have your dog raised, trained and neutered before adding another and they would explain things similarly to the links below.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2043
http://www.essortment.com/all/puppiesbuying_ralf.htm
http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/raisingtwopuppies.pdf
http://members.petfinder.org/~AZ137/MISTAKES.HTM
It is in a puppy's best interest to enter a family that does not have another puppy and can dedicate time to his/her training and development, not expect two puppies to entertain each other and raise each other. That is the surest way to have behavior problems. The puppies would bond to each other instead of the family. They would be more difficult to train because they are not that bonded to people. They would be more "doggie" than a dog that entered the home separately. When the dogs begin to socially mature, they would likely have problems with competition because of their close age, those that are the same sex usually start having problems getting along as they try and assert their dominance with each other.
Adopting puppies that are one to two years apart will reduce competition and tensions that come when dogs are beginning to socially mature and test their dominance boundaries with each other. A pit bull is a very hands on breed and needs the time and attention and structure that a multiple puppy home will not provide.
Adopting two puppies of ANY breed is a bad idea just as it is a bad idea to adopt siblings or same sex puppies. Honestly, I think the worst mistake someone could make is getting two same sex littermates. The best idea is to have each puppy bond and be trained by the family as they enter the home separately. A responsible breeder will want you to have your dog raised, trained and neutered before adding another and they would explain things similarly to the links below.
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2043
http://www.essortment.com/all/puppiesbuying_ralf.htm
http://www.leerburg.com/pdf/raisingtwopuppies.pdf
http://members.petfinder.org/~AZ137/MISTAKES.HTM
It is in a puppy's best interest to enter a family that does not have another puppy and can dedicate time to his/her training and development, not expect two puppies to entertain each other and raise each other. That is the surest way to have behavior problems. The puppies would bond to each other instead of the family. They would be more difficult to train because they are not that bonded to people. They would be more "doggie" than a dog that entered the home separately. When the dogs begin to socially mature, they would likely have problems with competition because of their close age, those that are the same sex usually start having problems getting along as they try and assert their dominance with each other.
Adopting puppies that are one to two years apart will reduce competition and tensions that come when dogs are beginning to socially mature and test their dominance boundaries with each other. A pit bull is a very hands on breed and needs the time and attention and structure that a multiple puppy home will not provide.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Oh! Valentines Day
One of the saddest days I've had in a long time. I went down to a shelter in the next town to look at a dog and ended up sitting in my car crying before I made the decision to take Ol Frank with me. I couldn't find a vet that would stay open long enough for me to get back to Richmond and I was so worried he had something contagious that I didn't want to take home to my 12 year old dog. Thought I was going to have to leave him with a request he be put out of his misery or go to VEC on Cary and mortgage my future children to pay for his care.
Thank goodness though I had a friend call Fairfield AH on Nine Mile and they were still open but walk in's had to arrive by 1 and I was going to be just shy of 1pm. So a friend ran up there to start filling out paperwork so we would make the deadline. So, as Frank and I are outside waiting. Me watching the day pass by, frank just passed out on the grass....my friend approaches with a little red puppy in her arms and trailing behind is her "owner". He bought her on the 13th and let her get hit by a car just a few hours later. Now it's mid afternoon on the 14th and she still hasnt received any care for her dangling left back leg. I am sure it's broken. He isn't planning on getting her care because he claims he can't pay for it - even though he just paid
for her yesterday. He's just planning on dropping her off and hoping that someone will come through. So now we have passed out Frank and dangling leg puppy and still waiting to see the vet. The world works in mysterious ways.
The puppy's (see sunshine, she's up for adoption) tibia is broken and it's getting pinned on Tuesday 2/17. She will have a cast for a while, then finish up her vetting and find a new home. She will recover completely and be better for it. She'll get a home that will walk her on a leash and not let her be abused or neglected in any way. She's a typical punky pit bull puppy.
Frank, frank, frank. He's a different story and I wish we knew where he came from and what happened to him. He walks like he's drunk and has some ataxia like motor problems. Stiff legged walk, wobbly off balance and has a difficult time on slick flooring. He doesn't have
enough muscle mass for his large frame and that's just one of his problems. He has a raging skin infection and mange. His skin is weepy and itchy all over his body. He scratches himself to blood and he is unable to settle down and can barely walk without falling over from trying to scratch his itchy body. He has meds for pain, meds for infection, meds for mange and meds for worms. We won't know if Frank will be put up for adoption for a while. I can only hope that where ever he came from...that person has a visit with Karma. It is tragic that a dog could be allowed to get in this condition.
Thank goodness though I had a friend call Fairfield AH on Nine Mile and they were still open but walk in's had to arrive by 1 and I was going to be just shy of 1pm. So a friend ran up there to start filling out paperwork so we would make the deadline. So, as Frank and I are outside waiting. Me watching the day pass by, frank just passed out on the grass....my friend approaches with a little red puppy in her arms and trailing behind is her "owner". He bought her on the 13th and let her get hit by a car just a few hours later. Now it's mid afternoon on the 14th and she still hasnt received any care for her dangling left back leg. I am sure it's broken. He isn't planning on getting her care because he claims he can't pay for it - even though he just paid
for her yesterday. He's just planning on dropping her off and hoping that someone will come through. So now we have passed out Frank and dangling leg puppy and still waiting to see the vet. The world works in mysterious ways.
The puppy's (see sunshine, she's up for adoption) tibia is broken and it's getting pinned on Tuesday 2/17. She will have a cast for a while, then finish up her vetting and find a new home. She will recover completely and be better for it. She'll get a home that will walk her on a leash and not let her be abused or neglected in any way. She's a typical punky pit bull puppy.
Frank, frank, frank. He's a different story and I wish we knew where he came from and what happened to him. He walks like he's drunk and has some ataxia like motor problems. Stiff legged walk, wobbly off balance and has a difficult time on slick flooring. He doesn't have
enough muscle mass for his large frame and that's just one of his problems. He has a raging skin infection and mange. His skin is weepy and itchy all over his body. He scratches himself to blood and he is unable to settle down and can barely walk without falling over from trying to scratch his itchy body. He has meds for pain, meds for infection, meds for mange and meds for worms. We won't know if Frank will be put up for adoption for a while. I can only hope that where ever he came from...that person has a visit with Karma. It is tragic that a dog could be allowed to get in this condition.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Beyond dog breed myths
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902090331
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Guinness's lucky day
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.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Pets as Gifts
It's been a long time since we've posted something on the blog so I thought I'd update it with the traditional Christmas sentiment about giving pets as gifts. As many times as I have seen the articles on the Internet and heard people talking about it being a bad idea....it never fails....I see tons of people looking to add that little furry life to the pile of gifts under the tree.
Christmas is a hectic time of cooking, having guests, excited kids for several days starting mid December until after the 25Th. This is not an ideal time to get a pet.
1. This is not your normal routine. There are guests coming and going, the door opening constantly - who is going to watch out for the new puppy or kitten to make sure it doesn't run out the door and get lost? Who is going to make sure the dog goes out on a regular basis so that it doesn't plant it's own present under the tree.
In addition to it not being your normal routine, all this excitement can be scary for a baby animal or an animal that has a soft disposition.
2. All the fatty and chocolaty goodies are not good for your new pet and if things aren't watched carefully, your new pet could find itself very sick. Chocolate is not good for dogs but also bones, raisins, onions, etc. Poisonous plants abound this time of year too.
3. Are you sure that this particular pet is exactly what your loved one wants? Maybe their wanting a dog or cat was a passing thought. Regardless, this is a 10-15 year commitment, and most people would want to pick out their own companion. This pet will be with them for a long time and they should take part in the decision.
Will the excitement of this pet rub off after the holiday and the dog/cat be no longer wanted? When it is no longer cute and is a rambunctious teenager will it end up at the pound? Hundreds of pets are relinquished at shelters in January/February because the families weren't prepared to add a pet to their lives at Christmas time.
Animals are a big deal and they can be very limiting, care always has to be considered. You can't just run off for a weekend without considering who is going to feed and care for the pet. Getting a pet is a life changing event, consider all of the options before you get one.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
A fight to save urban youth from dogfighting
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-29-dogfighting_N.htm
By Sharon L. Peters, Special for USA TODAY
The vast majority of dogfighters are not rich and famous like former football star Michael Vick or as organized as the pit masters who schedule high-stakes blood battles that rake in thousands of dollars a night.
The most active and numerous dogfighters, experts say, are 13 or 14 or 17 years old — inner-city youths who have trained their pit bulls to fight other dogs in the neighborhood.
"There are at least 100,000 young kids fighting their dogs under the radar in America," estimates Chicago-based anti-violence advocate Tio Hardiman, who built his estimate on conversations with young dogfighters and authorities in 35 states he has visited. In contrast, about 40,000 adults are involved in organized dogfighting, according to the Humane Society of the United States.
Hardiman, who is a special consultant to the Humane Society and has launched an anti-dogfighting program in Chicago, says large numbers of youngsters are conducting street dogfights "in almost every urban inner city," and the numbers are growing. Among the cities he lists: Chicago; St. Louis; New York; Atlanta; Memphis; Detroit; Jackson, Miss.; Los Angeles; New Orleans; Milwaukee; Baltimore; Charlotte; and Newark.
"The kids are getting younger and younger," says Randy Grim, executive director of Stray Rescue of St. Louis. He roams the worst streets rescuing dogs, most of them scarred-up fight-trained pit bulls discarded because they weren't vicious enough. "I saw a kid in a park, he was probably 8 or 9 years old, training and strengthening his pit bull by having him tread water in a creek."
It's not about the dog
Getting and fighting a pit bull has become a way for inner-city youth to "show their toughness," "develop a reputation in the neighborhood" and "make some money," says Kelly Daley, who led a recent University of Chicago Survey Lab study on dogfighting. Urban kids see dogfighting as a stature builder, and they give no thought to what the animals endure, she says. "This kind of stuff doesn't have anything at all to do with the dog."
Reformed Chicago dogfighter Kione Ford, 16, fits the description. Dogfighting "made me kind of popular," he says. And each time one of his dogs got hurt, "I'd think, 'Well, next time he'll win.' "
Most dogfighting by young people is not the sort described during the Vick episode — big-money events held in well-constructed pits for large audiences. Youth dogfights are usually forced skirmishes between leashed pit bulls on the sidewalks or alleys, or low-stakes unleashed contests in backyards and basements. The results, however, are similar to organized matches: dogs maimed or dying by the thousands every year, enough cash or veneration bestowed on winners to keep them committed, and owners — teens and pre-teens in this case — growing increasingly non-empathetic and violence-prone.
"We've got a whole new generation of criminals coming up as a result of all this," Grim says. Although dogfighting by inner-city kids has been reported for two decades, he says, it is now more prevalent, more enmeshed in the fabric of communities and more appealing to a broader circle of urban youth.
Making dogs fight is "not something that's a thought process at all, it's just something they do" as part of the intertwined activities of violence, says Cynthia Bathurst of Safe Humane Chicago, a coalition aimed at ending inner-city violence against humans and animals. Hardiman agrees: "Violence against dogs doesn't even register."
Life expectancy: 18 months
The Vick case hasn't deterred young urban tough guys. "It actually generated more interest among urban youth," Grim says. Suddenly, kids who had believed dogfighting was only a ghetto or rural Southern sport saw rich role models were involved. "They thought, if (Vick) does it, it's cool."
The fact that Vick got prison time and that dogfighting is a felony doesn't stop them because they reject both as establishment punishment leveled against the disenfranchised, Grim says.
Kids get drawn in at an early age, says Hardiman, motivated by the "glamorization" of dogfighting by rap and hip-hop music and by neighborhood values that prize machismo. They give little value to animals and assert that pit bulls "were born to fight."
"We discovered (in St. Louis) a group that held a dogfight for a church fundraiser, and that sends a pretty strong message to children," Grim says.
A kid gets a pit bull from a breeder who churns out litters in backyards or abandoned buildings, or from a pet store known to have a non-public cache of pit puppies, or they steal animals chained out in a yard or on a fire escape.
The youngster learns from friends or uncles how to turn the animal into a fighter, often starting by setting it against smaller dogs or cats referred to as "pit bait," creatures that almost never survive the encounters. Most kids also do torturous things to their dogs to make them meaner, more pain tolerant, more likely to go the extra mile in battle, says Robert Missari of Rescue Ink, which scours the boroughs of New York for abused animals.
"These kids may make some money on fights," Missari says, "but it's equally about the whole macho thing and security thing of being able to say, 'My dog is the toughest on the block, my pit bull can kill your pit bull.' "
Dogs that are decent fighters may survive several bouts before being mauled so badly they die or are killed. "The life expectancy of an inner-city pit bull is 18 months," says Hardiman. Dogs that won't fight or don't fight well are regarded as "not worthy," and they're shot, hanged or set loose.
Authorities sometimes take a dog away from its owner, but these can be tough cases. There are few witnesses, kids claim they don't know who owns a mauled dog, and there has been a pattern of pleading down cases to misdemeanors, experts say.
Kids can quit
Ultimately, the mind-set of young dogfighters must be changed, Hardiman says. Later this year, he'll take to Atlanta and Charlotte his Campaign to End Dogfighting, which rechannels kids and their dogs to more constructive agility and obedience competitions. He's bolstered by apparent successes that include Ford, who vows he'll never make a dog fight again, and George Brent, 18, who fought his dog Red for months, then hooked up with Hardiman's team. Red earned the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenship certification.
Tamaris Jones, 17, says he won't fight again. He and dog Trouble have spent months of Saturdays in Hardiman's program. "They explained to me that it wasn't right to fight him," Jones says. "I would be mad at (Trouble) when he lost, and I'd hug him when he won. Now he's not a fighter no more. I can hug him all the time."
The Humane Society of the United States also is working on other ways to de-romanticize dogfighting, including public service announcements from messengers these kids respect, people who speak their language and understand their lives. Music mogul Russell Simmons has signed on; other like-thinking rappers and sports figures are being contacted.
Grim plans a humane-education camp next summer that will address dogfighting; Rescue Ink is going into the schools this fall with the message; and Bathurst has joined Best Friends Animal Society to spread the anti-violence word in several cities.
"We're creating a movement around seeing these animals in a different way," Hardiman says.
While he insists "80% of inner-city youths love their dogs and don't fight them," he acknowledges that reversing the other 20% is tough. "I get a kid for a few hours, and the rest of the time he's living where he's living, and they're not reinforcing my message, they're doing what they do … fighting dogs."
But he knows some are strong enough to leave fighting forever. His evidence is Sean Moore, 37, who works with him to steer kids onto a different path. Moore was a revered dogfighter from age 13 to 18. Fifteen of his dogs died in fights or he killed them to end their agony after hideous injuries.
"I apologize every day for what I did back then," Moore says.
He left that life when he realized "I didn't want to be a killer no more. It was an ego trip. I sometimes made some money. But I'm just not a killer."
Friday, September 19, 2008
Pit bull saves man from burning Poplar Bluff home
Pit bull saves man from burning Poplar Bluff home
Friday, September 19, 2008Jacob Ford sits on the remains of his front porch where his pit bull "Butch" apparently saved his life last Friday. (Corey Matthews/Daily American Republic ) POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — After a fire gutted a house and basement apartment Jacob Ford lived in last Friday afternoon, the 20-year-old Poplar Bluff man said he's thankful to be alive, and even more so for the dog he "never really paid any attention to."
Ford was awakened Friday afternoon by the persistent whining of a pit bull owned by his mother's boyfriend, and knew something must be wrong.
Upon climbing out of bed, Ford said, his worst fears were realized.
"As soon as I stood up, I had smoke in my face," he said.
Grabbing a fire extinguisher, Ford headed upstairs, only to find the house's hallway full of smoke as well. He then ran outside to call the fire department and his mother.
Gathering his composure, Ford realized the pit bull, Butch, had saved his life, because smoke alarms in the house failed to sound. Butch, however, was nowhere to be found.
"I went to the top of the stairs twice," said Ford, describing the hysteria of the moment. "I was yelling for Butch at the top of my lungs, but he didn't respond. That's when I figured he was probably gone."
A Butler County firefighter eventually found the dog, still alive, hiding in the smoke-filled basement, and led him to safety.
What's amazing, said Tina Mobley, Ford's mother, is how the dog lost a lifelong fear of basements while attempting to wake her son.
Butch, she said, had been abused as a puppy before she purchased him with "the last $52 I had on me."
The dog, Mobley said, had "only been in that basement one time up until that day," because he was terrified of the place, having been kept locked in one as a puppy.
Mobley, who's raised American pit bulls for years, said the breed gets a bad rap much of the time, but not all of them are troublesome.
"They just need a lot of attention," she said.
Ford agreed, saying pit bulls are "family-oriented dogs if they're raised right."
For Mobley, all the extra work she went through to raise Butch from an abused puppy was worth the effort, and now, she said, she'll be forever indebted to him.
"He's a pretty heroic pit bull," she said. "That's the best $52 I ever spent in my life.
"If it had not been for that dog, there's no doubt in my mind my son would have died."
Mobley said she's doubly thankful for Butch's actions because her son soon will be a new father, something that's weighed heavily on him since the fire.
"I had nightmares Friday and Saturday nights, thinking of what could've happened," said Ford. "The thought kept racing through my head about not being there for my child."
Ford, who said he "couldn't be more grateful," admittedly had never been really close to the dog because it belonged to his mother's boyfriend, Larry Gregory, who also owned the house.
"I didn't realize he was that close to me, though," said Ford. "We're a lot closer. We're buddies now."
For his efforts, Butch received singe marks on his muzzle during the fire, but, Mobley said, apparently has suffered no health problems. He has regained much of his puppy fear, though. "He doesn't want to be left alone now," said Mobley, "because he's scared all over again." Ford hopes to change that, he said, starting with the big steak dinner he's promised his new best friend.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Lazy summer?
Has it been a lazy summer? Not exactly, while our rescue has slowed down, we have been busy. We have cut back on our foster homes due to burn out and are only taking in precious few dogs at at time. We've had the opportunity to have some really great dogs come through our doors and we hope to keep it up by only placing those dogs that match the breed's desired temperament.
To our current dogs, Braveheart and Hooch - good luck with your upcoming adoptions and we wish you the best in your new lives.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Verizon Pit-Bull Ad Unleashes Flurry of Complaints
Could this be placed on the blog? Holly
Verizon Pit-Bull Ad Unleashes Flurry of Complaints
Humane Society, ASPCA Say Dogs Depicted Unfairly in LG Dare Spots; Marketer Will Keep Airing Them
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- Verizon Wireless has stepped into a steaming pile of complaints from animal lovers over commercials for its LG Dare phone, but the marketer is sticking with the 30-second spot.
Animal-rights groups protest pits' portrayal in ad.
The commercial shows a young man trying to obtain the phone by climbing a junkyard fence, when he is instantly greeted by two pit bulls. The dogs, with cropped ears and metal choke collars, bark ferociously and lunge at the intruder. They are just a hair's breadth away from the phone because their heavy metal chains do not quite extend far enough.
The spot has infuriated groups from the Humane Society of the U.S. -- which has asked Verizon to pull the ad -- to PETA, the ASPCA and dozens of pet-related websites, which have posted petitions and message boards on the web protesting the ad with slogans like "Can They Hear Us Now?"
'Despicable'
Veterinarian Susan Ralston sent Ad Age her letter of complaint to Verizon, which says, in part: "I don't know what your company was thinking. I don't know how much money was wasted on this despicable ad. Perhaps you should donate the million or so spent on that 'creative' to pit-bull rescue in an attempt to undo the damage. I switched my BlackBerry to T-Mobile. Maybe if enough folks do the same, it'll get your attention."
Brenda Raney, a spokesperson for Verizon Wireless, said the ads were never intended to offend. There are two ads that focus on the Dare, she said; the other depicts a woman on a ledge. "These are fictional ads, designed to be over-the-top, to break through the clutter and get our message across." Verizon is not pulling the spots, she said. Interpublic Group of Cos.' McCann Erickson, New York, is Verizon's agency.
Inappropriate and inaccurate
Kathy Bauch, senior director-corporate relations and promotion at the Humane Society, said the ad could further inflame an already outstanding prejudice against pit bulls. "We understand why advertisers use stereotypes. It resonates and people get the point," she said. "But this perpetuates the idea that it is OK to chain dogs and it is OK to have guard dogs."
Mary Harwelik, founder and director of The Real Pit Bull, an education and advocacy organization, said, "This is big news in the pit-bull world. People are outraged." Describing the ad as inappropriate and inaccurate, she said, "Pit bulls are not guard dogs and they were never meant to be guard dogs."
A statement released by the ASPCA in response to the ads says, "These dogs can make wonderful additions to a family. The public also showed their support for the evaluation and rehabilitation of the pit bulls rescued from the Michael Vick case, suggesting that they are ahead of the corporate world in their understanding of pit bulls."
Pit bulls often victims
Mr. Vick, former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, was convicted last year on counts of illegal dog-fighting. When authorities raided his home, they found 66 dogs, including 50 pit bulls. While two of the dogs were eventually euthanized, many have been rehabilitated and adopted. Mr. Vick is serving a 23-month sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan., and still faces gambling charges upon his release.
"These dogs are often the victims of abuse," said Adam Goldfarb, animal-companion-issues specialist at the Humane Society.
Ms. Bauch said the Humane Society only rarely asks companies to pull ads. The last time was in 2004, when Energizer ran a spot that depicted a mother expressing displeasure at finding a cat in the dryer that had been put there by her son. Energizer complied and replaced the scene.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Spay or neuter your pit bull for $25!
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=84913&catid=8
Tampa, Florida — At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, you can spay or neuter your pit bull or pit bull mix for just $25. It's part of a new program called Fix Your Bully. Normally, sterilizations are $75.
The goal is to cut down on the thousands of pit bulls and mixes that are euthanized in Hillsborough County each year.
They're really great dogs that a lot of people can own, [but] they just don't understand the breed, and a lot of people can have fear about them," said Ornella Varchi, who rescued her pit mix Bert. She found him roaming at a Tampa gas station about six months ago.
According to Hillsborough County Animal Services, 25,207 animals were euthanized between June of 2007 and May of 2008. At any given time, spokesperson Marti Ryan says about 30 percent of the dogs in their shelter are pit bulls or mixes. The agency also has specially-trained staff who perform specific temperament tests on pits as part of their Pit Bull Ambassador Program.
In addition to dealing with overpopulation, sterilization can also help with the dog's behavior. Ryan says unsterilized dogs are three to four times more likely to bite humans than sterilized dogs.
With any pit bull adoption, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay offers free training for the rest of the dog's life.
To make an appointment for Fix Your Bully or make a donation, you can call the Humane Society of Tampa Bay at (813) 870-3304 or go to their website. The agency is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program requires $10,000 a year to operate.
Janie Porter, Tampa Bay's 10 NewsTuesday, July 15, 2008
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