Trial for mother

Here are some of the interesting facts that are coming about in regards to the situation where a young child was killed by his parents pit bulls when left at home alone. The dogs had an aggressive history, uncaring caregivers and were in season and breeding.

7/17 opening day of trial
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/17/MNGRBK0EJU1.DTL
The 9 year old boy was bite the night before the attack and Nicholas was bit on the stomach and arm the day of before the Mother left him home alone.

7/18 report on trial
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_199214024.html
Prosecutor Linda Moore did get Faibish to recount an incident some 20 years ago, when he sicked his pit bull on a another dog.
Steven Faibish admitted, "I told my dog to get that dog ... Screw this guy and I told him get him, yeah ... Let's put it this way ... that dog didn't want to play any more."

7/19 report on trial
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_200172826.html
Day 2 Notes: Fatal Dog Mauling Trial
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_200170636.html
It sounds like both of the Faibish boys had been bit by the dogs during dogs mating. Also Nicholas was not capable of following directions due to language delay that had been present since at least 1st grade. I hope that she is found guilty......

The pit bull problem, article

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/30/Floridian/The_pit_bull_problem.shtml

The pit bull problem
St. Petersburg Times Sat, 29 Jul 2006 10:27 PM PDT
Pit bulls have a horrific reputation for attacking people and pets. They are banned in several places, including Miami-Dade County and Denver. Some animal shelters refuse to adopt them out.

The pit bull problem
By KELLEY BENHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published July 30, 2006

_____

Pit bulls have a horrific reputation for attacking people and pets. They are banned in several places, including Miami-Dade County and Denver. Some animal shelters refuse to adopt them out.

Pit bulls - actually a group of related breeds such as the American Staffordshire terrier, the Staffordshire bullterrier and the American pit bullterrier - will sometimes attack without warning. When they fight, they can persevere through ripped ears and snouts and broken legs.

Pit bulls are overrepresented in dog bite statistics because they are overrepresented in the dog population, said Adam Goldfarb, an issues specialist with the Humane Society of the United States. "My personal opinion is they are the most popular dog in the history of the United States," he said. "They are the dog of choice for drug dealers, gang members and anyone else who wants a tough-looking dog."

The other side of their reputation is a steady personality and affection toward people.

The American Temperament Test Society tests dogs for such traits as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, friendliness and protectiveness. Last year, the more than 1,000 pit bulls it tested passed at a higher-than-average rate. They tested better than beagles, cocker spaniels, collies and Pomeranians.

Historically, pit bull type dogs were bred never to direct their aggression at humans. In a dog fight, they had to be trusted not to turn on their handlers, who would touch the dogs to direct them or pull them apart. Before pit bulls became macho status symbols, they were considered so gentle around kids they were nicknamed "the nanny dog." Think of Pete on Our Gang.

As with many popular breeds, from cocker spaniels to Dalmatians, irresponsible breeding has altered their basic nature. People who wanted attack dogs mixed them with breeds better suited to the job.

Polk County Animal Control has adopted out pit bulls routinely, as long as they were friendly toward people and other animals. Everyone, from Sheriff Grady Judd on down, thought that breed-specific policies were a bad idea.

The issue for Polk County, in deciding the fate of Hewitt Grant's dogs, was not that they were pit bulls, but the intent of the person who owned more than 100 of them. They had to guess what influence he had on them, both in their training and in their blood.

Good Article on Bullies

http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=15663

Quote:

Pit bulls have gotten a bum rap. Considered in the public consciousness to be one of the most dangerous dog breeds in existence—indeed, some believe it to be the most dangerous—the pit bull is viewed as a fickle, unpredictable dog with a tendency for baby-mauling and other sorts of dastardly behavior. But the breed hasn’t always borne such a stigma.

Teddy Roosevelt had a pit bull. So did Thomas Edison and Helen Keller. At the turn of the century, pit bulls were heralded the “All American Dog.” So what’s changed?

 

Quote:

It’s a commonly held belief that pit bulls bite down with 2,000 pounds of pressure and have locking jaws. The problem with such statements is that they're not true. In fact, according to a study by a National Geographic scientist, pit bulls only bite down with 230 psi, the same as nearly every other breed of dog its size.

 

Quote:

Yet the notion that pit bulls are inherently aggressive is also false, as is the idea that all pit bulls, or even most pit bulls, are dangerous. In a study of 122 breeds of dogs by the National Temperament Testing Association, it was found that American Pit Bull Terriers passed with a rate of 83.4 percent, beating out the scores beagles received (78.7 percent) and nearly tying with golden retrievers (83.6 percent). What about the idea that pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs around children (hence the attention-grabbing headlines)? You might have guessed—that sentiment’s also false. In fact, pit bulls were once regarded as the “Nanny Dog.” They’re no more dangerous to children than any other canine.

 

Mother on Trial for her dogs - GOOD!

Here are some of the interesting facts that are coming about in regards to the situation where a young child was killed by his parents pit bulls when left at home alone. The dogs had an aggressive history, uncaring caregivers and were in season and breeding. This was a situation where no-one would win regardless of a dog's breed. Ignorance and carelessness, greed and just plain worthlessness. May she be found guilty in the death of her child.

7/17 opening day of trial
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/07/17/MNGRBK0EJU1.DTL
The 9 year old boy was bite the night before the attack and Nicholas was bit on the stomach and arm the day of before the Mother left him home alone.
7/18 report on trial
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_199214024.html
Prosecutor Linda Moore did get Faibish to recount an incident some 20 years ago, when he sicked his pit bull on a another dog.Steven Faibish admitted, "I told my dog to get that dog ... Screw this guy and I told him get him, yeah ... Let's put it this way ... that dog didn't want to play any more."
7/19 report on trial
http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_200172826.html
Day 2 Notes: Fatal Dog Mauling Trial

http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_200170636.html
It sounds like both of the Faibish boys had been bit by the dogs during dogs mating. Also Nicholas was not capable of following directions due to language delay that had been present since at least 1st grade.

Cocoa Mulch

Is Cocoa Mulch Dangerous?

http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

 

Quote:

Veterinarians have noted that cocoa mulch contains ingredients that could pose a health risk to dogs (and other pets that might be tempted to ingest it):

"Cocoa mulch is a risk, especially to dogs," said Dr. Larry Family of Aqueduct Animal Hospital.

Found in most home garden centers, cocoa mulch is known for its fine texture and the sweet smell the fresh mulch gives off.

But getting past the scent, Family says cocoa mulch can be dangerous if a dog starts eating it. It contains two key ingredients found in chocolate: theobromine and caffeine. Similar to eating chocolate, he says a dog that eats just a few ounces of cocoa mulch could starting having stomach problems and it could get worse if it eats more.

"As time goes on they might act restless, excited, it can produce tremors and seriously seizures," Family explained.

"Puppies are very curious animals. So they're going to be attracted to various things around the yard and [the effect of eating cocoa mulch] seems to be more severe in the small breeds, and it depends on the amount they actually ingest," Family said.

A Dog's Nose!

A dog's nose will lead them to trouble.  They have great noses but unfortunately their wonderful sense of smell gets them into serious problems.   The bottom line for a dog is "if it smells good....eat it".  That causes serious problems when what is smelling good is a house plant, chocolate, grapes, rat poison and other harmful products such as human medications.  Dogs will sniff through your totes and handbags in a heartbeat to find tasty goodies.

 

New dog medications are chewable and flavored and smell yummy to encourage dogs to take their medication. This can cause problems when left unattended.  A dog will chew through a plastic bottle to eat the contents and cause an overdose.

 

Antifreeze is another big deal because it is tasty and deadly.  There are pet friendly antifreezes on the market and if you have pets - please look into it.  Many times a poisoned dog can be saved if they receive treatment within 30-60 minutes post ingestion.  Keep this in mind and supervise your dog.

Puppies, puppies everywhere

We need foster homes! We have lots of puppies and no place for them to go. They are falling from the sky. Anyone interested in fostering one of these puppies, please let us know.

The adorable babies to the left are in a shelter waiting for foster homes. They don't have a whole lot of time to get that second chance. We have several more on a waiting list as well. If you have time for a puppy, let us know. They will be fully vetted (inc spay/neuter) before being placed in foster care.

Summer Dog Safety

With the summer heat full upon us, there are some important things to remember regarding heat and pets

• Walk your dog in the early morning or later evening to avoid overheating your buddy. Avoid strenuous activity
• Do not leave your dog outside unattended in the sun or outside on extremely hot days
• If you must put your dog outside, make sure they plenty of water in containers that can not be tipped over and plenty of shade and shelter. Dog houses are not always good sources of shade as they can trap heat.
• Avoid hot asphalt and streets during walks as it can burn your dog's feet
• Do not leave your dog in a hot car, even with the window cracked. Temperatures in cars can shoot up quickly to hundreds of degrees.
• With summer fireworks or thunderstorms, do not leave your dog unattended outside. Many dogs are frightened of thunder and fireworks and can run off. Keep your pets safe and secure INDOORS. Do not take your pet to firework displays. It may be fun for you but it is not fun for your dog.

The Fourth of July can be nightmares for shelters as large numbers of unattended family pets panic at the sounds and flee only to find themselves lost and alone. Animals can hear and feel these noises from miles away.

Update on SUMMER

Summer is doing very well. She is adjusting to life in her new foster home and learning good inside manners as well as some basic obedience. Her neck is healing faster than we expected and it seems that she will have no lasting effects from the injury!!! She is full of energy and loves to go for walks and to play fetch in the back yard. She still has one more major hurdle to cross though. She has to go through heartworm treatment. We are going to wait a little longer before we start this just to ensure that health is at 100% which will give her the best chance to pull through the treatment with no complications. We feel strongly that this girl will do fine because she has proven that she is a SURVIVOR. Her is a new picture of Summer showing everyone how pretty she is and just how GREAT her ears are :) We are still looking for a permanent home for Summer as she will be ready in the next month or so, if anyone thinks they would like to provide this girl a home please feel free to check out the adoption info portion or our website.

Foster homes desperately needed

 

There is always an influx of dogs in the summertime and we need foster homes.  Currently most of our NC volunteers are located in the triangle area.  If there is anyone in the triangle area who is interested in fostering a pit bull, please let us know.

THANK YOU!

A special thank you to everyone involved in Pirate's transport up to MD where he will stay until he can get to MA. Thank you Lex and Erin and Norman for making his trip possible. Thank you Braveheart PB rescue for taking this little cutie and finding him a home. Things are easier up in the NE on finding homes for puppies and even puppies with special needs like Pirate. Pirate only has one functional eye because of an accident with his mother. His owner dropped him off at a vet clinic in eastern NC to be put down.

Thanks to all involved, his life will be much brighter and better than it has been up until now. YaY for Pirate!

Update on New Baby

New Baby is doing very well!!! She is adjusting wonderfully to her new foster home. She is a far cry from the lethargic little puppy that we saw on the first day. She loves playing with the pug and french bulldog in her foster home and is learning what life should be like for a cute puppy like herself. She seems to be getting stronger with each passing day as her body is continuing to repair the damage that the parasites had done. What a little survivor. We hope to have new pictures posted for her in next day or two so please stay tuned.

When it rains it pours

When it rains needy dogs, it just pours needy dogs.  We have Summer, New Baby, Ninja and one cute little pit bull baby with one eye that need foster home placements.  We are trying to find someone able to transport the little east Carolina pirate to a waiting rescue in MA.  He is staying at a vet clinic in Greenville NC.  His mother bit him in the head and punctured his eye.  Braveheart Pit Bull Rescue is going to take this baby and foster him until he is healed and a home can be found.  We just need to get him up there.  Any long haul truckers willing to take on an extra 10 lbs cargo?

 

Summer is getting better and better each day.  She is learning to walk on a harness or a gentle leader while her neck is healing.  She won't be able to have any collar around her neck for some time while it heals and grows back together.

 

Ninja is learning house skills really quickly as he is one smart little puppy.  He can already kennel up on command and is completely crate trained - never has an accident.  He is almost housebroken too at only 10 weeks.  What a little super star.

Did this have to happen?

Muzzled pit bull dies while tied up outside Springfield State Journal
Register - Springfield,IL,USA The owner of a pit bull was arrested
Wednesday after the dog died while muzzled and tied up on a third-floor
apartment balcony in the 1600 block of Seven Pines ...

http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/89128.asp

New Baby

This little new baby was left at a vet clinic suffering from hookworm anemia. Should she pull through she will be available for adoption. Please remember to worm your dogs on a schedule provided by your vet. This little girl's sickness is preventable. She is receiving a blood transfusion to save her life. Hookworms and other parasites are deadly to puppies. A simple 3$ wormer is all you need to ensure their health.

Foster homes are desperately needed!!

Lady has been spayed!

Hurray, little Lady the pit mix we wrote about in April, returned to the vet to have her pin removed and we were able to get her spayed.  Thank you 10th Street Animal Hospital for doing the sugery and thank you to PBRC for the helping us with the cost of the spay.

News for Summer

Summer is recovering well and should be moving to foster care by the middle to end of this coming week.  Her neck is healing nicely and is beginning to close.  Her next health hurdle will be the heartworm treatment which we will begin when her neck is better.

 

Update on Summer

UPDATE on Summer- 6/15/06 The swelling on Summer's had decreased quite a bit today. She had been unable to eat this morning due to all of the swelling around her face and neck. Later on in the evening she was able to eat some very soft canned food. I could tell that she still was not feeling well although she was trying very hard to be happy. Summer did a lot of sleeping and despite being on pain medication seemed a little uncomfortable. The vet is hopeful that her pain will decrease and she will start feeling better in a few days. Always wagging her tail and full of kisses when approached by any human. This girl loves everyone she meets. She has a wonderful quiet confidence about her despite her rough start to life. Summer will remain at the vet clinic for a couple more days to ensure that she is on the road to recovery. She has a long way to go but with this girls love for life and determination we are all hopeful that she will make a full recovery

Help Summer!

Summer is a sweet adult pit bull who was turned over to a vet clinic with an embedded collar. You can see her on our available dogs page or on our page on PBRC (click here to view). She required surgery to remove the rope that was deep in her neck. Not only that but she has heartworms as well. We need to fix her up before she will be strong enough to undergo treatment. She is a good girl who deserves the chance to have a better life.

We need some help with her vet bills! Please let us know if you can help. Donations can be sent directly to the vet clinic for Summer or they can be sent to our rescue and put aside for her care.

Hurrican Preparedness

What to do NOW:

1. Buy extra collars and I.D. tags (your name, address, phone #) and if possible get your pets micro-chiped.

2. Have a leash for each pet

3. Buy a portable plastic crate for each dog and cat and get them used to it by making it comfortable (mats, blankets, etc.) inviting (feed them in it) and fun (toys & treats). These crates can be purchased at discount stores and pet stores. The crate should be appropriately sized with enough room in the carrier for food & water dishes, space for the pet to lie down and turn around, and a shoe
box sized litter box for cats. Be sure to familiarize your pet with the carrier in advance.

4. Buy non-spill-type water & food bowls that fit into these crates.

5. Take and keep photos of all your pets to assist in locating them if they become lost.

6. Keep "Anxiety & Stress" medications on hand. Either those you can get from your vet or herbal remedies.

7. Keep their vaccination paperwork on hand (or at least copies)

8. Plan for evacuation and where you can go WITH your pets. If it is unsafe for you to remain, it is also unsafe for your pet