Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Dogfighting sees a cultural shift
Dogfighting sees a cultural shift
By BILL BURKE
The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, Va.)
Hardly a day goes by without John Goodwin receiving a phone call or e-
mail about his most popular subject: Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Michael Vick.
Some, like the man who called June 1, are confidential informants
passing along tidbits about Vick to Goodwin, the top dog in the
Humane Society's campaign to wipe out animal fighting in the United
States.
Shortly after Vick's house was raided and evidence of a suspected
dogfighting operation was found there in April, Goodwin added the NFL
star to a massive database he oversees.
The 20,000 names it contains include a rogue's gallery of the
nation's most notorious known and suspected dogfighters:
David Tant, a 300-pound bear of a man and one of the world's most
prolific breeders of fighting dogs, serving a 30-year sentence in
South Carolina, among the stiffest ever imposed for the crime. One of
the "directional mines" he planted to keep people away from his dogs
injured a land surveyor.
"Fat Bill" Reynolds of Virginia, convicted in 2001 of transmitting
images of fighting dogs across state lines and sentenced to 30 months
after Tant testified against him before a federal grand jury. He has
served his time and is now back on Goodwin's radar.
Louisiana's Floyd Boudreaux, one of the patriarchs of the blood
sport, who has played cat-and-mouse with investigators for decades
and is reported to have once traded his grand champion dog, Blind
Billy, for a house.
The cast of suspects is a mongrel mix that includes legendary dogmen
such as Mountain Man and the Gambler, professional athletes, rap
music performers and Alane Koki, a patent-holding cancer researcher
in North Carolina.
Those familiar with dogfighting say it has undergone a cultural shift
in recent years. A pursuit once practiced chiefly in the rural South
has moved to the mean streets of the city.
Enforcers like Goodwin -- the Humane Society's deputy manager of
animal fighting -- describe a brutal business in which dogs that lack
the killer instinct are often shot or electrocuted, then tossed in a
trash bin or buried in a bone yard.
"We don't want that type of barbaric activity going on in South
Carolina," said Mark Plowden, a spokesman for the state's Attorney
General's Office, which in 2004, created a dogfighting task force
that has snared Tant and others.
"It's clear that when you have dogfighting, drugs and gambling and
other criminal subcultures follow," Plowden said. "We want to drive
it out of South Carolina. If it shows up in other states, that's
their problem, not ours anymore."
When agents raided Reynolds' property in September 2000, among the
evidence they seized was a treadmill with the inscription: "Custom
Made for Fat Bill by the Gambler, 8-24-00. Happy Birthday."
"Fat Bill" and the Gambler, legendary figures in the shadowy realm of
dogfighting, have earned the distinction of "dogmen" -- professionals
in the blood spectacle.
The term is part of a clandestine covenant many use to avoid
prosecution for an activity that was once a misdemeanor in all
states, but is now a felony everywhere but Wyoming and Idaho. The
fight itself is called a "show," and dogs with superior fighting
traits are said to have "gameness."
Along with the treadmill, authorities seized from Reynolds' trailer
syringes, steroids -- which are often used to pump up fighting dogs
-- and copies of underground dogfighting magazines, one of which, the
"American Gamedog Times," Reynolds was said to have published.
Treadmills are often used to train fighting dogs. "Bait animals" such
as cats are sometimes placed in cages just out of range of the
charging dog, which is rewarded by getting to feast on the cat after
the training session.
Tant was among those who testified before the federal grand jury that
indicted Reynolds. His attorney, Michael Bosnak, said Tant was
granted immunity from prosecution for his cooperation in the Reynolds
case.
But that did not stop members of a new South Carolina state animal-
fighting task force from bringing charges after a raid on Tant's
property in 2004.
That April, a land surveyor was injured by birdshot fired by a booby
trap Tant had planted on his property to keep intruders away.
Investigators confiscated from Tant's property 47 dogs, cattle prods,
treadmills, five more armed booby traps and a framed photo of Tant's
grand champion Yellow, whose pedigree is one of the most revered --
and expensive -- in the world of dogmen. Offspring of Yellow, who
died in 1994, can fetch several thousand dollars each.
The Internet has revolutionized the way dogmen do business, making it
easier for members of the secret society to find and learn from one
another.
Mark Kumpf, the director of the Montgomery County, Ohio, Animal
Resource Center, noted a parallel with another class of social pariahs.
"The Internet has brought two groups to prominence, and that's the
pedophiles and the dogfighters," he said.
Through the Internet, dogfighters research how to treat injuries,
pick up training techniques and discuss tactics, Kumpf said. The
newest craze, he said, is to broadcast fights on the Web so people
can bet on them offshore.
The stakes are rising in what is now a half-billion-dollar industry
as animal-rights groups turn up the heat on prosecutors and the
number of task forces increases.
In August, a suspected dogfighter in Texas was killed by intruders
who apparently intended to torture him into revealing where he had
hidden $100,000 wagered in a high-stakes dog match.
In Ohio earlier this year, 28 people were indicted in state and
federal court after an inquiry by state investigators and a federal
task force.
And earlier this month, the feds, apparently concerned that Virginia
investigators were dragging their feet, intervened in the
investigation into the suspected operation at Vick's house. No
charges have been filed.
Those who post on Web sites in the United States, where enforcement
is growing, often include disclaimers noting that the sponsors do not
encourage or condone dogfighting. They also state that any accounts
of fights are fictional.
But those who maintain Web sites in countries where dogfighting is
not criminalized often make no effort to conceal their purpose.
"Hallo and Welcome to all lovers of fighting dogs!" exclaims the site
for Serbia-based Balkan Boys Kennel. The site posts the "Cajun rules"
for dogfighting, which are the pre-eminent set of regulations among
today's dogmen.
The rules were promulgated in the 1950s by Lafayette, La., Police
Chief G.A. "Gaboon" Trahan, who hosted dogfights that drew attendees
from all over the South long before animal activists demonized the
activity and legislatures criminalized it.
To hear "Chopper Dan" Brouseaux, another Lafayette native son, tell
it, dogfighting is as ingrained in the Southern culture as NASCAR,
and has been around much longer.
"Cajuns and black people have been fighting dogs for 200 years," said
Brouseaux, a dog breeder and former merchant seaman who said he has
never been involved in the activity.
Still, Brouseaux, 60, remembers the day that the events were a
Saturday ritual "that would draw 50 to 100 people, and there would be
guys selling popcorn and chewing gum."
The Humane Society's Goodwin bristles at those who romanticize
dogfighting. He said that "Law enforcement is realizing it's a real
community problem, intertwined with other crimes" such as drugs and
gambling.
He cited one raid that turned up an electrocution device that had
been used to kill dogs.
Another law effort in Massachusetts turned up dogs with broken legs
and one whose tongue had been ripped out.
Pit bulls have become iconic in the rap and hip-hop music culture.
Missy Elliott and rapper DMX feature the animals on album covers, and
an unedited version of rapper Jay-Z's video "99 Problems" features
footage of dogs preparing to fight in a pit as spectators watch.
Dogfighting has also caught on within some gang cultures, where
"there is less revulsion to violence," Goodwin said.
Though dogfighting remains primarily a Southern phenomenon, the
center of gravity in recent years apparently has shifted eastward.
Today, if there's a dogfighting capital in the United States, it may
be North Carolina.
One of several magazines that provide services for pit-bull fanciers,
the "Pit Bull Advertiser," is published in Gastonia. It features ads
for more than 20 North Carolina-based kennels, offering dogs for
sale, stud services and a variety of products, including canine
treadmills.
The magazine features kennels with names such as Outlaw, Rampage and
Lockjaw, and characteristics of some of the featured dogs like
Blondie, with "ability, style and one of those mouths that would
break you into pieces."
Another advertiser is Tom Garner of Hillsborough, N.C., who Goodwin
insists is a patriarch of dogfighting in America. His name is
contained in Goodwin's database.
Garner, convicted of dogfighting in the mid-1980s, insists he breeds
dogs and sells only puppies these days -- none for fighting. If
buyers use them for illegal purposes, Garner says, there's nothing he
can do to stop them.
His prize dogs included legendary grand champions Chinaman and Spike.
"I still have frozen semen off of Spike and have made some breedings
that have produced some excellent offspring," Garner notes on his
kennel Web site.
Garner's name came up earlier this year when Orange County, N.C.,
officials created a task force to study the legality of tethering
dogs. Garner failed in his effort to be named to the committee, but
one of its members was Alane Koki, who purportedly has ties to
Garner's dog-breeding operation.
Koki, a published scientist and cancer researcher, is perhaps one of
the most unusual alleged dogfighters on Goodwin's list. After an
independent weekly newspaper in the Raleigh area published stories
about her links to Garner -- she reportedly operated a kennel called
Thundermaker Bulldogs -- she resigned from the committee while
denying any wrongdoing.
Dogfighting in North Carolina can now be found from the coastal
flatlands to the mountainous west, say Goodwin and others who monitor
the activity. The state's vast expanses of piney wilderness are a
lure for dogmen, some of them forced out of South Carolina in recent
years.
Others have traveled to the Tar Heel State, where until a few years
ago dogfighting was a misdemeanor, from Virginia, where it has long
been a felony.
One of them is the local breeder who knows what it's like to gather
with other men late at night on a moonlit landing strip, in a wooded
clearing or in an abandoned warehouse, with thousands of dollars
riding on thick-chested beasts named Lil Hitler, Crunch and So Evil.
Potential champion dogs are the product of cross-breeding between
animals that often have champion pedigrees. Aggressive dogs are
identified early on as "prospects" and receive special treatment. At
8 or 9 months, a less-aggressive littermate is placed in front of the
chained prospect "to see how aggressive he is."
The first competition, called a "roll," usually takes place at about
15 months when two prospects are allowed to "have at it" for about 10
minutes, the breeder said.
"You want to see how your dog -- I'll call him Joe -- takes the
pressure," he said. "Certain dogs go for certain areas. Yellow, he
went for the head and chest. You like to see that."
The prospect is put "back on chain" until it is about 19 months old,
when a second practice session is held, lasting up to an hour.
If Joe looks good, he's ready for "the show."
Four or five backers ante up a few hundred dollars apiece for a
"first time out" dog, the breeder said. The prospect is now "open to
the world." A pot of about $3,500 is typical. A "show" is scheduled,
and a judge chooses the location.
An intensive six-week training routine follows, and the dog is said
to be in "the keep." He is fed a lean, nutritional diet -- some
trainers have secret diets -- and works out on a treadmill every day.
Many dogs in training often swim in a pool. The circular above-ground
pool discovered at the house owned by Vick was typical of those used
for getting fighting dogs into shape, the breeder said. One hour on
the treadmill and two in the pool is a common regimen.
Trainers often try to gain advantages by injecting dogs with steroids
or sharpening the animals' teeth. Some even shave the dog's fur and
mix roach killer with its food, hoping the bitter taste of the new
fur will repel a foe.
"The show" takes place at a secluded location in a makeshift wooden
pit about 2 1/2 to 3 feet high and 8 feet square, often with a dirt
or carpeted floor for traction. A dog that fails to make weight may
forfeit, forcing its owner to surrender an amount equal to half the
purse.
Before the match, the dogs are washed, each by his foe's owner, to
ensure that the animal's fur has not been coated with poison. The
handlers sometimes use Everclear, a brand of grain alcohol, to wash,
and milk to rinse.
The dogs are taken to their respective corners and released after the
command of "face your dogs" by the judge. The competition continues
until one animal retreats or is injured so severely it is unable to
continue.
The first victory for a fighting dog is the beginning of his
"campaign," which can result in a champion (three victories) or a
grand champion (five victories with no losses).
After his campaign, a champion dog can command sizable stud fees.
Mayday earned $100,000 a year for his services, the breeder said.
"I look at it a lot like boxing," said the local breeder. "You've got
your power fighters and your finesse fighters, your power dogs and
your finesse dogs. And they can make their owners a whole lot of money."
Monday, July 02, 2007
REMINDER: KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE JULY 4TH
MORE ANIMALS ARE LOST ON JULY 4TH THAN ANY OTHER TIME OF THE YEAR!!
REMINDER: KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE JULY 4TH
Animal Services is suggesting pet owners get their pets
micro-chipped before the 4th of July. More animals are lost during the 4th
of July celebrations than at any other time of the year. Loud noises from
fireworks frighten animals due to their heightened senses of hearing, and
they will do anything to escape the noise. This behavior is usually
unpredictable and out of character, and it may include chewing through a
leash, jumping through screens and glass windows, digging under a fence,
jumping over a wall, bolting away from the owner, and running into traffic.
The good news is that there are many things you can do to help ensure your pet's protection. Just follow these five simple guidelines to make
July 4th a great holiday for both of you!
1. Don't take your pet to fireworks displays. The explosions of the
fireworks are loud to the human ear. Imagine how loud it sounds to your
dog,who can hear sounds up to 60,000 cycles per second -- that's three
times greater than the human ear can even register.
2. Do not leave your pet in the car. With only hot air to breathe
inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects, even death, in a
few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air,
but do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
3.Keep your pets indoors in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals
become destructive when frightened, so be sure you've removed any
items your pet could destroy or may be harmful to your pet if chewed.
Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him
company while you're attending 4th of July picnics, parades, and
other celebrations.
4.If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises
like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to
help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during
fireworks displays.
5.Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a
chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape
and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or
death.
6.Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if
they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running
at-large should be taken to the local animal care center, where they have
the best chance of being reunited with their owners. Two forms of ID are
always best when it comes to protecting your pet. If an individual finds
your pet, the first thing he or she will look for is an ID tag. If your pet
is taken to a shelter, it will also be scanned for a microchip.
PLEASE VOLUNTEER AT YOUR SHELTERS ON JULY 4TH, 5TH AND 6TH....
Thursday, June 28, 2007
MSNBC.com Article: States cracking down on puppy mills
State legislators across the nation are attempting to crack down on rogue breeding operations and pet sellers with "puppy lemon laws," which let buyers get their money back if health or genetic defects are discovered within a set time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19016050/from/ET/
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Blame the owner, not the dog
I'm going to take a chance and step into the nasty swirling debate over "dangerous dogs." Those of you who keep up with state news are aware of the pit bull attacks in Indianapolis in the last weeks. And we are seeing the disfigured face of the little girl who was so viciously attacked by a pit bull last year. I still contend it is not the dogs who are the problem; it is the people who own them. These attacks could have been prevented if the owners of the dogs in these attacks had been responsible pet owners.
There are generally three sides to the dangerous breed debate. On one side we have responsible pet owners who have what are deemed in most circles as "dangerous" breeds. These dogs and their affectionate demeanor challenge the typical stereotype for these dogs; they are non-aggressive, loving pets. These people do not want a ban a specific breed.
Then you have the people who hear the words pit bull and want to kill every pit bull on the face of the earth believing that the extinction of that particular breed will solve our dangerous dogs and dog fighting issues. If it wasn't pit bulls it would simply be another muscular type dog. Again the particular breed of dogs isn't the problem; it is the behavior that is the problem.
Finally and where I believe the solution lies: we have the people who engage in the worst form of animal abuse — dog fighting and breeding of dangerous dogs with the sole purpose of engaging in dog fighting. It is this third group that we need to address and punish — the people need to be punished not the dogs. Unfortunately, vicious dogs that cannot be rehabilitated will need to be humanely put down.
Perhaps it might also be helpful to stop glorifying the people who engage in animal cruelty and the ILLEGAL blood sport of dog fighting. Prominent rappers and a particular NFL Atlanta Falcon quarterback have been reported to allegedly have ties to dog fighting. This in and of itself sends a terrible message to the youth of America by promoting animal cruelty.
Indianapolis, I believe, is taking a step in the right direction concerning "dangerous dog: legislation. They are creating a law that is "identifying behavior and not breed as the potential danger to communities."
Stacy Coleman, president of Indy Pit Crew, a non-profit group that advocates for the responsible pet ownership of pit bulls says, "With the proposed changes, irresponsible owners are targeted, not the dogs. There is no breed specific language, which is important since all breeds of dogs can be dangerous. The changes clearly place the responsibility where it needs to be, on the people who have chosen to abuse, abandon or neglect their dogs to the point they become a risk to public safety. If a person makes a choice to get a dog, they MUST be held responsible for that dog's care and behavior.
"Any dog that has aggressively, bitten, attacked, endangered or has inflicted serious injury on a person on public or private property is the primary definition of a "dangerous" dog. Additionally, any dog that has more than once severely injured or killed a domestic animal while being off the owner's property or has knowingly been used primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting or is a dog trained for dog fighting could be deemed dangerous."
It's been found that less than 2 percent of all dogs properly identified in dog attacks have turned out to be pit bulls. But, in 90 percent of the dog attack cases, the attacking dog was not neutered/spayed and/or was abused by owners. One more reason to spay/neuter your dog, and yet another reason to take animal abuse seriously. Animal abuse can create dangerous dogs and dangerous dogs maim and kill people.
Indianapolis is also forming the Central Indiana Canine Crime Stoppers program. This is the first Crime Stopper program designed specifically to target the crime of dog fighting. In this program citizens can anonymously report suspected dog fighting activity and receive a cash reward of up to $1000 for information which leads to a felony arrest using the hotline.
So, what's the rest of the state going to do concerning vicious abused dogs and dog fighting?
*Information courtesy of Nuvo and Department of Public Safety, City of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Division.
Maleah Stringer, president of the Animal Protection League, is an animal massage therapist specializing in esoteric healing. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.
Pet Rescue offers pit bull good citizen evaluation
All the pit bulls adopted out of the shelter in Corning must be certified for the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test. Second Chance would like to extend this certification to 30 pit bulls in Tehama County.
The Canine Good Citizen test assures that your pit bull is under control and is a good "citizen" in the community. There are 10 items that must be passed to achieve the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification. These are:
. Accept a friendly stranger
Sit politely for petting
Appearance and grooming
Out for a walk
Walk through a crowd
Sit and down on command/staying in place
Come when called
Reaction to another dog
Reactions to distractions
Supervised separation
The test will be performed by AKC evaluator Deborah Eaglebarger
and will be free to the first 30 pit bull owners."Do you want your dog to pass these items but need guidance in achieving them?" Eaglebarger asked. "We will help you with that."
Depending on initial evaluation, Eaglebarger will ascertain what additional training or preparation your pit bull needs to pass the test. If the needs are excessive, a nominal fee, up to $20, will be charged for preparation. In most cases, the fee may be waived for this training.
"Pit bulls are such a fabulous family pet. They are just not a dog's dog and thus the bad rap," Eaglebarger said. "I've attended some great trainings on pit bulls and their characteristics and want to do what I can to dispel the myths that pit bulls currently carry with them."
But not every pit bull has a sound temperament and not every home is pit bull savvy. Extensive literature is available at the Corning Animal Shelter for people who want to know more about pit bulls and what kind of dog they really are.
"We want to eradicate the myths that are associated with pit bulls, but we are quick to point out an unsound pit bull," Eaglebarger said. "Unsound and incorrect temperament pit bulls should not be allowed in the community. It's a tough call, but one unsound dog can turn a whole community against the entire breed."
The test itself takes about 15 minutes. For those homes where insurance is an issue, having an AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can help.
Anyone interested in having their pit bull evaluated and take part in the AKC Canine Good Citizen test can reach Debbie Eaglebarger at Second Chance Pet Rescue at 824-1985.
Classes aim to blunt pit bulls' bad-boy reputation
Classes aim to blunt pit bulls' bad-boy reputation
01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, May 30, 2007
WEST WARWICK — On Saturday, 14 pit bulls graduated from "Out of the pits and into the Ritz," an obedience program started by Susan Parker, a member of the Little Rhody Bully Breed Club, to help change the reputation of the breed.
Ginger, one of 14 pit bulls "graduated" from an obedience training program Saturday in West Warwick, awaits a treat. The owners received certificates of completion of the Canine Good Citizen program, one of many throughout the country sanctioned by the American Kennel Club.
The Providence Journal / John Freidah
"When people see a pit bull, they think they're killers," Parker said. "That they'll eat animals. That they'll eat your children. But these dogs are very active, loyal, smart, admirable, tenacious and strong."
Saturday's graduation, cosponsored by the club and Parker's Dynamic Dog Trainer Service, was held in the park behind the West Warwick Animal Shelter, on Hay Street.
Parker has been turning dogs into good citizens for three years, and has graduated about 25 dogs from the program, she said. Through her work with both family pets and dogs from shelters around the West Bay area, she said she has never had to flunk a dog. Her clients include a high school teacher, chemist, and medical secretary — a far cry from the hard-core image the dog gives off, Parker said.
"A lot of people look at the breed for status," Parker said. "You have to be conscious of who you are giving the dog to. When people come into the shelter looking for a certain breed, we steer them away from the [pit bull breeds]."
The pit bull is not a formal breed, but rather a catch-all term for a series of purebred or mixed-heritage bull terrier breeds. The American Staffordshire terrier and the Staffordshire bull terrier, the most common breeds, are generally muscular and are easily stimulated, according to the American Kennel Club.
The club says the bull terrier's "indomitable courage, high intelligence and tenacity. . . coupled with its affect for its friends, and children in particular, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, makes it a foremost all-purpose dog."
Indeed, the animals can make good family pets, said Mary R. Burch, director of the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Program.
"It requires an owner that understands what this breed is about," she said. "They have high prey drives and may need fences, but they are wonderful family dogs and can participate in all activities. And because of their strength and size, they need an owner who is consistent when it comes to training."
Going through the Canine Good Citizen Program helps owners do just that, Burch said. The program is a 10-step class where a certified trainer teaches responsible ownership and basic training and good manners to dogs. The certification means that each of Parker's students can meet friendly strangers, tolerate petting, walk through a crowd and perform a number of other tasks that show they are under control.
"We believe that there aren't really any bad dogs," Burch said. "What you have is a problem with owners who need to be more responsible and who need more training on how to communicate and recognize when there's a problem and they need help."
The program, which began in 1989, nationally has certified 500,000 dogs as good citizens, Burch said. Owners of any number of breeds with bad reputations — Rottweilers, chows, Dobermans and bull breeds — have also been able to obtain homeowners insurance as long as the dog receives the good-citizen certification, Burch said.
"They're telling the the data shows it makes a difference," she said. "The best parallel is to driver's education. If you train teens, they are less likely to have an incident. If you give breeds and owners training, you are less likely to have an incident."
But even with programs such as these, incidents do occur.
Earlier this month, a 3-year-old girl was bitten in the face by a family dog — a pit-bull mix— while she played at her aunt's Cranston home. The toddler was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where she required stitches to the cheek and lip and above one eye.
The dog, a 3-year old named Tyson, was taken to the city animal shelter. The owner said she would not take the dog back, even if officials determine the dog is not a threat if properly supervised.
Parker said it's all about knowing your dog, and training it properly.
"I'd trust my dog as golden around my granddaughter," she said.
Like Parker, Burch said that with proper training and supervision, any dog can be obedient.
"Some people like to write off pit-bull breeds," she said. "They look at the aggression in the breed, but in terms of responsible dog ownership, it can be a great family pet if the breeder makes sure it's in the right home, under the right conditions and is trained properly to prevent problems."
More information about Canine Good Citizen programs can be obtained from the AKC's Web site — www. akc.org — and from pet stores. Parker's course, lasting six to eight weeks, costs $165, but she provides training for shelter animals for free.
"We believe that there aren't really any bad dogs. What you have is a problem with owners who need to be more responsible and who need more training…"
>American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Program
West Warwick
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Mass. show of support for pit bulls
mass_show_of_support_for_pit_bulls/
Mass. show of support for pit bulls
Specialists put burden on breeders, owners
By Lisa Wangsness, Globe Staff | May 15, 2007
Pit bull supporters vastly outnumbered opponents at a State House
hearing yesterday on whether the Legislature should consider a
statewide ban on the breed.
About 150 dog owners, trainers, and animal advocates, many sporting T-
shirts and jackets emblazoned with images of pit bulls, made for a
sometimes raucous crowd, grousing at what they saw as antagonistic
questioning from members of the committee considering the ban after a
series of highly publicized attacks on children and others.
Most of the veterinarians and animal behavior specialists who
testified said a pit bull ban would not protect people from attacks.
Instead of focusing on the breed, they said, the state should hold
breeders and owners more accountable for vicious dogs.
Dr. Nicholas H. Dodman, director of the animal behavior clinic at
Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, also said
that pit bulls were difficult to identify and therefore difficult for
a law to target and that other big, strong dogs can be as dangerous
as pit bulls if improperly cared for or bred.
"I think breed-specific legislation is odious," he said. "It's
fraught with all kinds of problems."
No legislation banning pit bulls has been filed, but Representative
Vincent A. Pedone, House chairman of the Joint Committee on
Municipalities and Regional Government, has expressed interest in the
idea and scheduled the hearing to explore ways to control vicious dogs.
Yesterday he repeatedly asked witnesses whether they would prefer to
be bitten by a German shepherd or a pit bull, and he grilled those
with veterinary exper tise on the pit bull's infamous temperament.
Such questioning infuriated people who sat for hours waiting for
their chance to shower the committee with pit bull testimonials.
Julie Rembrandt Seeley, corresponding secretary of the Massachusetts
Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners, left the hearing
without testifying after 3 1/2 hours, saying she was convinced that
Pedone was "basically on a pit bull witch hunt.' "
After the hearing, however, Pedone said that a statewide ban would be
difficult to enforce, but that "everything was still being looked
at," including restrictions for specific breeds. "The committee is
going to continue to look at different ideas relative to how we can
update our dog laws and possible breed-specific legislation," said
the Worcester Democrat.
Two children were attacked by pit bulls in separate incidents last
week in Boston.
One of them was Zayre Morant, 7, of Dorchester, who lost a chunk of
his right arm when a neighbor's dog mauled him. The dog was put to
sleep, said April Shearrion, 32, the boy's mother, but she said that
Zayre's arm is infected and that he is in pain.
"I think they should ban them not only in Massachusetts, but in the
US, period," she said. "Some family's going to experience worse than
what I've experienced."
While some have also debated the issue, no Legislature has placed
statewide restrictions on pit bulls, according to Marcy Setter of
Milford, who runs a website, understand-a-bull.com, which tracks such
legislation. Some municipalities have bans, includ ing Denver and
Prince George's County, Md., near Washington, D.C., according to the
website. Many municipalities in Massachusetts and across the country
have adopted restrictions on pit bull ownership.
Since 2004, Boston has required pit bull owners to muzzle their dogs
in public, to spay or neuter them, display warning signs on their
property, and if they rent, to obtain a permission letter from their
landlords, according to the city's website.
In April, Canton approved a new bylaw that prohibits households from
owning multiple pit bulls, said Paul R. DeRensis, the town counsel.
Dodman said butchers once used pit bulls to restrain large bulls
about to be slaughtered: The dogs would attach themselves to the
bulls' noses "like a living nose ring," he said. Later, he said, they
were bred to fight in pits. The term pit bull now encompasses a
number of different breeds, he said. A relative of the pit bull, the
Boston terrier, is the state's official dog.
Pit bulls are strong, powerful animals with a high pain threshold,
Dodman said, and when they bite, they often clamp their jaws and
refuse to let go. He told the committee that fatal pit bull attacks
are relatively rare, and that pit bulls tend to be more aggressive
toward other dogs than toward people. Most attacks on humans, he
said, are the result of careless breeding that produces antisocial
dogs or of owners encour aging their dogs to be aggressive. Most dogs
that bite are males that are not neutered.
"When you count all the things that maleness brings with it --
roaming and mounting and aggression and leg-lifting, urine marking --
there's nothing, really, that a family needs," he said.
Rather than ban pit bulls, Dodman suggested later that the panel
consider other tactics to curb problem dogs, including requir ing
owners to take a test on dog care before they buy a dog and getting
rid of puppy mills and unscrupulous breeders.
Lisa Wangsness can be reached at lwangsness@globe.com.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Free spay/neuter for pitbulls in Charlottesville VA
WHERE: Charlottesville Albemarle SPCA
at 3355 Berkmar Drive
WHO: Available to low-income qualifying* Pet Owners and All Pitbull** owners
HOW: By Appointment ONLY (50 spaces available), call TODAY: 973-5959 ext. 249
* Yearly maximum income levels: single (no children) $20,000; married persons (no children) $30,000; married/single persons with children $40,000 - proof of income required
** All dogs must be under 75lbs.
$20 PER PET
PITBULLS FIXED FOR FREE!
Thursday, May 03, 2007
VICTORY: President Bush signs animal fighting bill into law!
The law takes effect immediately. It provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export related to animal fighting activities, including commerce in cockfighting weapons. It will make it much harder for criminals who engage in dogfighting and cockfighting to continue their operations. Each violation of the federal law may bring up to three years in jail and up to a $250,000 fine for perpetrators
We are fortunate to have had steadfast Congressional leadership on this issue. But this campaign would not have been a success without your tireless efforts. Thank you again to each of you who sent emails, made phone calls, wrote letters and visited your federal legislators on Capitol Hill and in their home districts.
This victory reminds us to never to give up, and that there are rewards for compassionate action and perseverance. Please share this with others and let them know that you had a part in making it happen
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
Copyright © 2007 The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). All Rights Reserved.
The Humane Society of the United States 2100 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20037
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Historic victory for animals last night
The Humane Society of the United States Humane Action Network
Alert
April 11, 2007
********************************
Dear Amy,
Last night at 8:06 p.m., I watched history happen. The U.S.
Senate unanimously passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition
Enforcement Act.
The House of Representatives passed the same bill, H.R. 137,
late last month by a vote of 368 to 39. What this means is that
after an almost six-year battle, the struggle to
enact meaningful federal penalties for animal fighting has
passed its final congressional hurdle. The legislation now is
headed to the desk of President Bush, who is expected to sign
the measure into law. The new law will take effect immediately,
and I can assure you that this is a dark and long-dreaded day in
the dogfighting and cockfighting worlds.
I cannot tell you know grateful I am for the efforts of each of
you who sent emails, made phone calls, wrote letters and visited
your federal legislators on Capitol Hill and in their home
districts. You kept the pressure on and your tireless efforts
made the difference. The cockfighting lobby was organized, and
its leaders poured hundreds of thousands of dollars to derail
the legislation -- but we out-hustled them and we carried the
day.
Nearly every week, there are reports of dog fighting and
cockfighting crimes in the United States. It is a vast
underground network of people who revel in seeing animals tear
one another apart and gamble on the outcomes of the staged
spectacles. Now federal law enforcement officials have the tools
they need to uproot these underground animal fighting
enterprises and put a halt to the the abhorrent cruelty
inflicted on dogs, birds and other animals.
I hope this victory inspires you to keep working on behalf of
public policies to protect animals. Animal fighting pits will be
closing throughout the nation, and it is joyous day for animals.
This victory reminds us to never to give up, and that there are
rewards for compassionate action and perseverance. Please share
this tremendous news with others and let them know that you had
a part in making it happen.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
********************************
Copyright (c) 2007
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
All Rights Reserved.
humanesociety@hsus.org 202-452-1100 www.hsus.org
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
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Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Chaining? Editorial in Richmond Times Dispatch
http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173350293788&path=%21editorials%21oped&s=1045855935007
Monday, March 19, 2007
Assisi Animal Rescue Foundation
2006 PRESS RELEASES
November 14, 2006
STATE WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT ASSISI'S ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION, INC.
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Consumer Affairs (ORCA) cautions consumers that Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. of Annandale, Virginia, has solicited contributions from Virginia citizens for allegedly charitable purposes. However, as of November 14, 2006, this organization has not registered with or been granted the appropriate exempt status by the Commissioner as required by law. Therefore, contributors are cautioned that their contributions to such organization may be used for non-charitable purposes.
ORCA also alerts potential contributors that Assisi's Animal Rescue Foundation, Inc. has solicited contributions online and at adoption days at local pet stores. According to ORCA, this organization has not been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax exempt.
The Department recommends that before responding to any charitable appeal by making a donation or by making a purchase in the name of a charity, consumers verify that the organization is registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs. Click here for current registration status for charitable organizations can be found on the Department's Web SITEL.
Consumers should also determine how much of their donation will be actually used to support the organization's charitable purpose, and how much will be used for other expenses such as administrative overhead and fundraising.
For additional information, call the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Office of Consumer Affairs, toll-free in Virginia at 1.800.552.9963 or in the Richmond area call 804.786.2042.
WAY Level A Compliant
Want a designer dog? Check the pound
Puggles, maltipoos are pricey — and essentially mixed-breed mutts
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17616672/Saturday, March 17, 2007
Another article on the food recall, From CNN
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold
under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands recalled 60
million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure
and deaths.
An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and
about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, Menu Foods said
in announcing the North American recall. Product testing has not
revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death,
the company said.
"At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened,"
said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive
officer. However, the recalled products were made using wheat
gluten purchased from a new supplier, since dropped for another
source, spokeswoman Sarah Tuite said. Wheat gluten is a source
of protein. 'Cuts and gravy' food sold in cans, pouches recalled
The recall covers the company's "cuts and gravy" style food,
which consists of chunks of meat in gravy, sold in cans and
small foil pouches between December 3 and March 6 throughout
the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The pet food was sold by stores operated by the Kroger Co.,
Safeway Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PetSmart Inc., among
others, Henderson said.
Menu Foods said it makes pet foods for 17 of the top 20 North
American retailers. It is also a contract manufacturer for the top
branded pet food companies, including Procter & Gamble Co.
Proctor & Gamble announced Friday the recall of specific 3 oz.,
5.5 oz., 6 oz. and 13.2 oz. canned and 3 oz. and 5.3 oz. foil pouch
cat and dog wet food products made by Menu Foods but sold under
the Iams and Eukanuba brands. The recalled products bear the code
dates of 6339 through 7073 followed by the plant code 4197, P&G said.
Menu Foods' three U.S. and one Canadian factory produce more
than 1 billion containers of wet pet food a year. The recall covers
pet food made at company plants in Emporia, Kansas, and
Pennsauken, New Jersey, Henderson said.
Henderson said the company received an undisclosed number of
owner complaints of vomiting and kidney failure in dogs and cats
after they had been fed its products. It has tested its products
but not found a cause for the sickness.
"To date, the tests have not indicated any problems with the
product," Henderson said. FDA also working to target brands
The company alerted the Food and Drug Administration, which
already has inspectors in one of the two plants, Henderson said.
The FDA was working to nail down brand names covered by the
recall, agency spokesman Mike Herndon said.
Menu Foods is majority-owned by the Menu Foods Income Fund,
based in Ontario, Canada.
Henderson said the recall would cost the company the Canadian
equivalent of $26 million to $34 million.
Below are lists of specific brands recalled by Menu Foods, in
addition to Proctor & Gamble's recall of certain Iams and
Eukanuba products. Menu Brands lists the brands on its Web
site, www.menufoods.com, and advises consumers to
call 1-866-895-2708 for more information.
Recalled cat foods
Americas Choice; Preferred Pets; Authority; Best Choice; Companion;
Compliments; Demoulas Market Basket; Fine Feline Cat, Shep Dog;
Food Lion; Foodtown; Giant Companion; Good n Meaty; Hannaford;
Hill Country Fare; Hy-Vee; Key Food; Laura Lynn; Li'l Red; Loving
Meals; Main Choice; Nutriplan; Nutro Max Gourmet Classics; Nutro
Natural Choice; Paws; Presidents Choice; Price Chopper; Priority;
Save-A-Lot; Schnucks; Sophistacat; Special Kitty; Springfield Pride;
Sprout; Total Pet; My True Friend; Wegmans; Western Family; White
Rose; and Winn Dixie.
Recalled dog foods :America's Choice; Preferred Pets; Authority;
Award; Best Choice; Big Bet; Big Red; Bloom; Bruiser; Cadillac;
Companion; Demoulas Market Basket; Fine Feline Cat; Shep Dog;
Food Lion; Giant Companion; Great Choice; Hannaford; Hill Country
Fare; Hy-Vee; Key Food; Laura Lynn; Loving Meals; Main Choice;
Mixables; Nutriplan; Nutro Max; Nutro Natural Choice; Nutro;
Ol'Roy; Paws; Pet Essentials; Pet Pride; President's Choice; Price
Chopper; Priority; Publix; Roche Bros; Save-A-Lot; Schnucks;
Springsfield Pride; Sprout; Stater Bros; Total Pet; My True Friend;
Western Family; White Rose; Winn Dixie and Your Pet.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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