Dramatic rescue of pitbull mix in river

Here's a video that shows the rescue of a dog from the flood swollen river in Michigan.  It is hard to watch, but the dog does get saved and sent to the vet.  She was hypothermic and about at the end of her rope when they pulled her out.

Vicktory dog Lucas update

I love reading anything about the fate of the Vick fighting dogs, so here is a follow-up of one of them for you to see that these dogs were worth saving. Please read this article from Best Friends and visit their site.  Maybe you could even consider a monetary donation to help these dogs?  I know I did and I feel quite good about doing my part to help them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 12, 2011 : 9:35 AM ET By Cathy Scott The adage “you can’t judge a book by its cover” could not be truer when describing Lucas, one of the 22 former Michael Vick dogs who arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary more than three years ago. A pit-bull terrier with telltale battle scars and one of the toughest backgrounds imaginable, Lucas is one of the most popular of the Vicktory dogs (as they are now called). Lucas The life of neglect the Vicktory dogs led before coming to the Sanctuary has caused some of them to have chronic medical issues. While their emotional and physical scars continue to heal, some of their more serious medical issues are not apparent to the naked eye. Ten-year-old Lucas arrived at the Sanctuary with a condition called babesia, a blood parasite that can be passed between dogs through deep puncture wounds, like those inflicted during fighting. The condition can be managed with medication, but one of the side effects of babesia is anemia. When Lucas’s anemia worsened, he was given a full checkup. Tests showed that he was having other complications in addition to anemia. After exhausting other methods of testing and to take a closer look at possible masses seen on ultrasound, he was scheduled for exploratory surgery. Late last week, several masses were removed from his enlarged spleen, which are being biopsied. While undergoing surgery, the veterinary team also took a biopsy of his liver which looked abnormal. “Surgery went pretty smoothly,” says Dr. Patti Iampietro, who performed the procedure. “Lucas is doing well.” But, she adds, he’s still in recovery and “not out of the woods yet.” Lucas is improving with some help from his friends. Now in the midst of recovery, he is improving with the help of our medical staff and everyone who loves him. He has many friends across the Sanctuary and fans who have followed his story. Life for sweet Lucas truly began the day he and the other 21 dogs landed in Angel Canyon, a world away from the horrific lives they once knew. Lucas, who was court-ordered to spend the rest of his days at Best Friends, is proof positive that dogs who have known only neglect and abuse can begin anew and be the loving companion animals they were born to be. John Garcia, a trainer and manager at Dogtown, where canines live at the Sanctuary, first met Lucas when John traveled to the facility where the Michael Vick dogs were kept before moving on to rescue groups, i ncluding Best Friends. “I was helping one of the employees there mix food one morning,” John says. “[The employee] had mentioned that he had always been afraid of pitties from a fighting background, so he was terrified to hear he’d have to work with the Vick dogs.” But the caregiver’s face lit up when he spoke about Lucas. “He told me it only takes one to change your views,” John says. “This was an amazing thing to hear, that someone who was afraid of a certain breed had the courage to still work with [the] dogs. And to put it so simply — it brought tears to my eyes. This truly shows how dogs like Lucas have influenced people all over the world and how much animals in general can teach us.” Lucas, the consummate optimist Once at the Sanctuary, with patience, one-on-one training and ‘round-the-clock care, the dogs, many of them frightened, gradually acclimated. Lucas, the consummate optimist, hit the ground running. He’s done so well, in fact, that he spends part of his time in the offices hanging out with executive assistant Brenda Escher and chief executive officer Gregory Castle. At the end of the workday visits, he returns to Dogtown. A few weeks after arriving in January 2008, the Vicktory dogs were introduced to the world at a news conference held on the Sanctuary grounds. Many of the dogs were shut down and scared because of their past. Not Lucas. He welcomed visitors with kisses, surprising national media with his resilience. As caregiver Carissa Hendrick said at the time, “He knows he’s safe.” “I think Carissa was right that Lucas did feel safe here,” says Dogtown manager Michelle Besmehn, “but I also think that Lucas is just a confident dog. It is part of his nature.” Lucas, simply put, is happy, and that is what Brenda says stands out the most for her. Lucas helps out at the office. “When some visitors come into the office and sit down, he welcomes them by  jumping onto their laps and lavishing kisses on them,” Brenda says. “That tells me that he’s not the menacing, dangerous dog that far too many people feel his breed might be. He only wants to be loved. We all are better people for having had the experience of having him in our lives.” For Dr. Patti, his easy nature is also what has touched her: “The thing that stands out most to me about Lucas is his overflowing love of people. He is so kind and gentle despite what humans in the past have put him through. It really teaches a lesson in forgiveness and understanding that we humans should strive to equal.” Michelle agrees: “We can learn a lot from him. He has been a very happy dog despite his background and despite all of the ups and downs he has had medically.” Dr. Patti says, “It is always a rewarding feeling to help any animal, but helping those animals at Best Friends who have no one else, especially a dog like Lucas who came from such a horrific background, is especially fulfilling to be able to play a positive role in his health and happiness.” The clinic team continues to monitor his progress while waiting for the biopsy results. Updates on his condition will be shared as we know more. Brenda visited Lucas after his surgery and spent time just sitting with him. “He recognized me immediately, and I think he’s the trooper we all know him to be,” she says. The gentle side of Lucas, despite his past, continues to inspire those who know and love him. “His joy for life and a can-do attitude are something we can all strive for,” says John. “Lucas really does symbolize the American dog Despite a very difficult past, he is affectionate and forgiving. We are all pulling for him to get better.” Photographs by Best Friends photographers

Related articles

• VIDEO: Checking in on the Vicktory Dogs (dogs.icanhascheezburger.com)
• Vick pit bulls on the slow road to recovery (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Luca, finally new photos..... (staffyrescue.wordpress.com)

Cover via Amazon I'm currently reading the book, The Lost Dogs, about the Michael Vick fighting dogs and the efforts that went into saving them from destruction.  I had previously watched all the news about the fighting dog bust and I saw the DogTown special about the arrival and treatment of these dogs on television.

This book is difficult to read, especially the part where they describe the destruction of those dogs that either lost fights or wouldn't fight by the Bad News crew.  Michael Vick did personally participate in the torture and killing of many of those dogs, despite what his PR reps say. 

I like pit bulls.  I have had opportunities to be around them on and off all of my life.  I knew these dogs before they were given such a viscious reputation.  I used to watch the Little Rascals, whose dog was a pit bull.  I believe that some of what is said about these dogs is true, but I also believe that breeding and training are what have given us the really "bad" examples we often hear about.  The bottom line is that this breed of dog is just that, a dog.  They share the same tendencies and needs of every other breed of dog.  It's a shame that we humans have decided to "demonize" the breed by treating them badly and by encouraging them to bastardize their normal instincts.

Below is a follow up video about the Vick dogs.  I hope they have not been forgotten by the fickle public, especially with Michael Vick back in football.  He is not a nice person and does not ever need to have any contact with dogs for the rest of his life, unless we can treat him just as he treated these dogs.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

Related articles

• Pit Bulls: Vicious Killers or Much-Maligned Breed? (blogcritics.org)
• What Kind Of Dog Will Michael Vick Get? [Nfl] (deadspin.com)

Humane responders take on task of socializing 500 dogs from raid

8-week-old Pit Bull puppies Belle, left, and Nellie, are seen in St. Louis. They were born after the July 8 multi-state federal dog fighting raid.

CAPTION

By Dawn Majors, AP

On Sunday, a team of 11 Red Star Animal Emergency Services responders from the American Humane Association will return to a shelter near St. Louis to help care for and socialize some 500 dogs that were rescued in a July dogfighting raid, the biggest in U.S. history, which spanned Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas.This news comes on the heels of guilty pleas from Robert Hackman, Teddy Kiriakidis, Ronald Creach and Michael Morgan entered Monday to conspiracy and other crimes, admitting their roles in breeding, trafficking, fighting and killing pit bulls in a lucrative dogfighting network, the Associated Press reports. A fifth co-defendant, Jack Ruppel, pled guilty Sept. 4.
During the raid, agents also seized "rape stands" used to strap female dogs into place to be bred. One hundred puppies have been born since the raids.
Breeding is crucial to the industry because fighting dogs don't live long, says Tim Rickey, director of the Humane Society of Missouri's anti-cruelty task force.
The Humane Society of Missouri staff "is outstanding," says Red Star Animal Emergency Services program manager Tracy Reis. "This temporary shelter is one of the best run that I've seen. They've been working this shelter since the beginning and are tireless in their efforts to care for these dogs. I'm proud that they've asked us to help."
New video from the Humane Society of Missouri shows dogs chained and caged with ribs showing, lips chewed and legs missing:

"To know that three-legged dogs were forced to fight for their survival is too much," said Rickey.
--By Anne Godlasky, USA TODAY
Article from USA Today

Tuesday True Stories -- Therapy Dogs

Image via Wikipedia

 Here is a post I found online at USAtoday.com.  I am reposting it here because I believe that therapy animals do not get enough publicity and they do not get enough credit for what they do.

Dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, etc. can and have been helping humans deal with obstacles and setbacks for eons.  We have finally evolved enough that we are able to recognize all of their myriad contributions to our collective well-being.  I hope you enjoy the article and click over to finish reading the post.  If you do, leave them a comment with your thoughts on the subject, won't you.

___________________________________________________________________________________

True stories of heroic dogs

By Janice Lloyd, USA TODAY

We asked readers in November to tell us about pets that made a difference in 2009, and the response proved there are pet heroes everywhere. We learned about dogs and cats that comfort the sick and struggling, a dog that saved his owner's life, a canine surfer that raises money for the disabled, and many more.

A golden Labrador is a treasure for this child and her family

BETHESDA, Md. — Will Buchanan walks several steps behind his toddler at the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health.

Getting around is challenging for 22-month-old Haley. She has Joubert syndrome, a disease that affects balance and muscle coordination. She uses a tiny walker and wears a harness, which her dad is holding to keep her upright.

PAW PRINT POST: Heartwarming tales of readers' pet heroes

Suddenly they both smile. A big yellow dog lying in the hallway is wagging its tail at Haley. Ever so gently, her dad guides Haley to the floor to sit beside the dog. And ever so gently, Haley reaches out for the dog's muzzle. "Dog," she says. The dog stretches out a paw and touches Haley's leg.

"We have two German shepherds at home (in Dallas, N.C.), so she's really happy to see this dog," says Haley's mother, Laura Buchanan. "This makes it easier for us."

Viola, a golden Labrador, belongs to the Children's Inn, a private, non-profit residence on the NIH campus where families whose chronically ill children are being treated at NIH can stay. Mars Inc. donated Vi to the inn in 2008 after she was retired as a Seeing Eye dog. The kids can spend time alone with Vi and attend special activities with her.

"Having a dog here helps the children relax, feel more at home, and makes their treatments more bearable," says Meredith Carlson Daly, media relations coordinator at the inn. "There have been many studies done showing how beneficial animal therapy can be. We see those benefits here every day."

Tracy Wilcox knows how hard it was for her 9-year-old daughter, Breana, before Vi arrived. Breana has been getting treatments at NIH since she was 2½. She missed nearly 70 days of school last year while dealing with high fevers and chronic pain from an autoimmune inflammatory disorder. Her black Lab, Midnight, comforts her at home, Wilcox says. "He's more in tune with knowing when she's getting sick than I am."

Traveling to NIH from Boston has been stressful, says Wilcox, because Breana has to leave her dog behind. Last June, she got very upset in the airport until her mother surprised her: "I told her the inn had gotten a dog," Wilcox says. "She stopped crying right away.

"After her treatments, she'll go back to the inn, get on the floor with Vi and tell Vi all about what happened with the doctors. And it's rough stuff. When she gets home, she sits on the floor and tells Midnight all about Vi."As a parent, Vi saved us," Wilcox says. "She took away all my daughter's angst. She's gone from hating herself and her disease to looking forward to going back to the inn and getting well."

Spreading good news about Pit Bulls

When Amy Murphy first saw him in May 2008, she cried. His ribs were exposed, his skin was full of cuts and scars and matted with dirt and fleas, his throat had crush injuries and his back left leg was mangled by an infected bite.

SURVEY: Where do people get their pets?

But as much as this pit bull was suffering, he also had love in his eyes, Murphy says.Murphy volunteers for the North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue in Harrisburg, N.C. She got Gunny to a vet after getting him from a shelter several hours away a week before he was set to be euthanized.

She recalls that after the vet examined the dog, she said to Murphy, "Isn't he beautiful? He has scars that will never go away, but he smiles, he wags and he loves us strangers without a second thought. No matter what we did to him, he just loved us. I'm sure he's going to be an ambassador"

Murphy thinks Gunny was a "bait dog" in a dog-fighting ring. Bait dogs are chained and allowed to be attacked by other dogs. He had several surgeries. His back left leg was amputated, yet he is thriving in her home and in the community. Murphy says he taught people about "compassion and perseverance."

When word spread about his vet bills, the community helped raise money. Grade school students would send Murphy several dollars, promising to send more money. He became the official mascot in the Charlotte area for an educational program sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States designed to teach children and young adults that pit bulls are not fighting dogs. "Celebrate your Pit Bull" trains 13- to 22-year-olds to teach dogs obedience, agility and other positive behaviors.

Gunny's resilience stole hearts. Guyla Vardell, principal at Lebanon Road Elementary School in Charlotte, says the 800 students at her school love Gunny. He has appeared at "character assemblies" at the school. "He has captured the imaginations of our students, staff, families and friends," says Vardell. "He is one in a million."

Saved from a shelter, so he gives of himself

Brown Bear's days were numbered. He was in a high-kill shelter until Lucky Dog Animal Rescue of Washington, D.C., relocated and placed the large mixed-breed dog with a big family. His extended family totals 168 residents at the Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Sandy Grove, Md. He's been there for two months, joining another dog, two cats and several birds.

"Bear is a doll," says Sue Goldstone, Brooke Grove's quality assurance coordinator. "He intuitively knew how to behave around our residents, some of whom are fragile."

Bear is a big help to people with dementia, she says: "They can often get agitated, but putting them with Bear calms them down."

Goldstone says she's grateful Lucky Dog granted his adoption to them. "We feel very fortunate to have him. The residents have company every minute of every day. Life is enhanced by the ability to walk through a building and to be able to pet a dog's muzzle or snuggle a cat."

And what better place for a dog, she adds, considering the center is on 220 acres. "Dogs that live and work here have the full run of the place. They learn how to use the elevators and get around like anyone else."

Saves his owner's life

The way Thelma Portocales tells it, she thought her husband, George, was sleeping beside her at home in bed. But that's not what Oscar, their dachshund-schnauzer, was telling her.

Thelma had taken her hearing aid out for the night and didn't hear Oscar barking at first. But bark Oscar did. Bark, and bark, and bark.

"I still thought George was right beside me in bed when Oscar came up right alongside me and barked until I got up," she says. "He led me towards the bathroom, so I went into it and turned the light on. I said, 'Look, there's nothing wrong.' But Oscar walked farther into the bathroom and stood beside George."

Her husband of 30 years had passed out. She called 911. Medics revived him and rushed him to the hospital. Later they told her Oscar probably saved George's life. He suffered no permanent damage from the cardiac episode and was released from the hospital after four days.

"If it hadn't been for Oscar, he probably wouldn't have made it," Thelma says. "Oscar is precious. George gives him special treatment every day. He just can't get enough of him."

He's a first dog for the Millsboro, Del., couple. Great timing: They adopted Oscar from the Delaware SPCA on Aug. 8. George collapsed Sept. 4.

To read the rest of the stories please click here.

Tuesday True Stories -- Michael Vick's dogs

 Remember these dogs?  Whatever  became of them after all the hubbub died down?  There is a new book out called The Lost Dogs that I just purchased to read.  This started me wondering about the dogs I had watched on television being rescued--so pitiful and scared.  I decided to search and see what I could find out.  Below is just some of the sites I found.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Happy ending for most of Vick’s dogs

 By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports Sep 21, 12:21 pm ED
The resurrection of Michael Vick(notes) took another swift step forward Sunday when he led the Philadelphia Eagles to victory in his first start in more than three NFL seasons. Now he’s in the middle of a debate about who should be the team’s regular starter. It’s a welcomed type of argument for a man who spent 21 months in federal prison, lost a $100 million contract and became a national pariah for his role in a vicious interstate dogfighting ring.
Jim Gorant was less concerned about Vick’s future than that of Vick’s victims – the 51 dogs authorities recovered on Vick’s property in rural Virginia, 22 of which went to Best Friends animal sanctuary in Utah. If Vick paid his debt to society (as he did, even becoming a Humane Society lecturer), he’d no doubt get a second chance (as he should).

One of the rescued dogs hides in its shelter at Best Friends animal sanctuary, north of Kanab, Utah.
(Douglas C. Pizac/AP Photo)

But what of Michael Vick’s dogs? It turns out there’s a redemption story there as well, one that Gorant, a writer for Sports Illustrated, details in the just-released book “The Lost Dogs”.
It starts with the decision by authorities to raid Vick’s property in April 2007 and carries through the rescue of the animals, the Vick legal proceedings, the groundbreaking decision to not destroy the mostly pit bulls and eventually a series of success stories for many of the dogs.
It’s a book that’s equal parts horrifying and hopeful. And while every person and dog involved would’ve been better served if Bad Newz Kennels never existed, there are plenty of positives coming out of a story that at first seemed to contain only misery.
Forty-seven of the 51 dogs survived. While not all have fully rehabbed, a good number of them live with families. Their new owners view the dogs’ scarred bodies as loveable and marvel at the ability to put years of aggressive training and systematic torture behind them. Four even work in therapy roles – including one in California which is so gentle and peaceful he’s used as a “listener” for self-conscious children trying to work on their reading skills.
Perhaps most remarkably, if it wasn’t for the high-profile nature of the Vick case and the quarterback’s ability to pay for their postrescue care (Vick reportedly spent a court-mandated $1 million on it), each of the dogs would’ve been destroyed. Dogs which came from fighting busts had previously been considered so far gone that trying to retrain them would take a disproportionate amount of already limited resources.
“Ninety percent of the time, they would’ve been put down,” Gorant said. “Even PETA and the Humane Society recommended it. [The theory was] there are already good dogs out there who need care. Why invest time, effort and money to save these few when so many dogs are out there that need help?”
The public outcry over the Vick dogs helped change that. An attempt was made to retrain them, and the success rate was so high that “the Humane Society changed its official policy,” Gorant said.
The major change, according to Gorant, is to evaluate each dog as an individual case rather than make a sweeping ruling on all animals which come from a fighting ring.
“It’s definitely a positive,” he said.
There’s more. The Vick case drew so much public outrage that police across the country have reportedly stepped up efforts to break fighting rings. Where the crime was considered a lower priority in the past, now resources are offered – if only because it often leads to the discovery of other criminal behavior. It’s not cub scouts who operate these things.
“Law enforcement realized that this is something worth their time,” Gorant said.
The book also delves deeply into a look at the pit bull breed, making the case that it is inherently a calm, friendly dog. It was originally bred as a family farm dog. It’s the fighting rings which have ruined the pit bulls’ rep – something that surprised even Gorant.
“All I knew about pit bulls was from the headlines,” he said.

Vick missed all of the ‘2007 and ’08 NFL seasons.
(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The book has its greatest impact in going past the headlines and detailing the recovery process of the individual dogs. The odds for success remained long, but the dogs took to the training at various levels. Seventeen have been deemed adequately adjusted. Seventeen are still in training facilities. The rest are in various spots in between.
The success stories will prove a winner for any dog lover. Consider Hector, a big, brown pit bull whose scarred chest and legs told of a veteran (and thereby successful and vicious) fighter. If there was ever a dog that at first glance would be considered too far gone to save, he was it.
Instead, the shelter found a pleasant demeanor and even a mischievous side (he loves hide-and-seek and is a klutz). He quickly passed his Canine Good Citizen tests and wound up in the Minnesota home of Roo Yori, who is known for training police dogs and flying-disc champions.
Hector now visits schools and nursing homes, offering comfort and entertainment and using his celebrity status as one of “Michael Vick’s dogs” to pound home an anti-fighting message.
Hector didn’t score any touchdowns Sunday. Yet, like Michael Vick, his life has moved forward in ways which few could’ve envisioned three and a half-year ago. Vick is back to being a football player, Hector a normal dog.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Badrap.org

Never has a group of pit bulls received as much media attention as the dogs from former NFL player Michael Vick's yard. While it's certain nobody would've known about these victimized dogs had they not been part of a fallen sports figure's dog fighting venture, they earned celebrity in their own right by surviving two certain deaths, thanks to a large scale rescue effort led, in part, by the federal government - a first of its kind.
Public opinion fell strongly in favor of helping the dogs. In this landmark animal welfare case, federal prosecuting attorneys, federal agents, the USDA, six Virginia animal shelters, a court appointed animal law expert and several rescue organizations including BAD RAP all teamed together to reach the goal of evaluating 49 fight bust victims and then sending them to new and better lives with rescue organizations around the country.
In the past, shelters have been encouraged to put all fight bust dogs to their deaths because it was assumed that they were each going to be dangerous, uncontrollable animals. They’ve been called ‘Kennel Trash’ and accused of taking up space normally reserved for other dogs. Evaluating them as individuals revealed new information about dogs from fight busts and helped shatter old myths previously used to condemn them.



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you visit this link http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/dogtown/3684/Overview#tab-Overview,  , you can view videos from DogTown that show all the work that went into saving these horribly abused dogs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Rescue Groups Rehabilitate Michael Vick's Pit Bulls (huffingtonpost.com)
• The Lost Dogs Finds Redemption for Michael Vick's Pit Bulls (animals.change.org)

Tuesday's True Stories -- Lucas: Love Champion

Image via Wikipedia

Tuesday's will now be dedicated to telling true stories about dogs all over the world.  Rescues, strays, pets, etc.; you name it and I will post it.  As a true dog lover, I always enjoy good stories about man's best friend.  It seems that our world is getting meaner and meaner (people-wise) so to find balance I need to read about the unconditional love and loyalty freely given to us by our four-legged pets.

Here is an article I found on For Your Entertainment about the meanest of the Vick pit bulls.  This is a great story and it will make you smile.  Enjoy!  Please check out some of the other hilarious posts at that blog site and leave them a comment.
_____________________________________________________________________________

In my time as a caregiver at Best Friends I've worked with all kinds of dogs with all sorts of temperaments, but I haven't had too much contact with the Vicktory dogs, the pit bulls that were formerly owned by Michael Vick. There are a few I say hello to that live in staff offices and whom I see fairly often, but just haven't had the opportunity to get to know any of them too well... until a few weeks ago!

I was helping out with a transport of two dogs that needed to see medical specialists in Las Vegas. When I got in the van along with ace BF Lead Dog Tech Sarah Kubacki I discovered that we'd be transporting two dogs: Jingles, an awesomely friendly little pit bull with a mysterious eye issue, and Lucas, one of the most legendary of the Vicktory dogs. Thought by investigators to be Vick's champion fighter, this large brown pit bull has quite the impressive scar collection, particularly around his face and muzzle, and is one of two dogs compelled to live out his life here at Best Friends by order of the court. He also has a reputation for being an all-around sweetheart and nice guy and I'd met him a few times in an office where he visits sometimes and greets staff and visitors to BF. My time at Best Friends has only deepened my love for pit bulls and I was quite happy to be spending time with Lucas and Jingles!

The ride down to Vegas was uneventful and Jingles went to her ophthalmologist appointment, where she needed to stay for a while, so we continued on with Lucas for his cardiologist appointment. He's one of the BEST dogs for medical handling I've ever seen and was open and friendly as the vet did his physical exam... and then his two vet students repeated the exam, with Lucas smiling the whole time! He got the same excellent reviews from the techs who escorted him into a private room for his echocardiogram. Lucas is being monitored for an enlarged heart caused by heartworm, which was treated when he arrived at Best Friends. I'm happy to say that the cardiologist was very pleased.

We got some news about Jingles, too: she was going to have to stay overnight for a minor surgical procedure in the morning. It didn't make sense to drive all the way back to Best Friends only to have to return to Las Vegas in the morning, so we made some phone calls and came up with a plan: we would stay in Las Vegas overnight... and take Lucas on his very first sleepover outside of Best Friends! Once we were out of the vet's office with Lucas I made some reservations and found a dog-friendly hotel for the evening.

Lucas remained friendly at the hotel, but at first he didn't want to leave the bathroom! He was fascinated by the shower stall and wanted to hang out in there - obviously a little intimidated by the brand new environment. We gave him a little while to decompress and get comfy and gave him some water, and after a bit encouraged him to come out and explore... which eventually, he did. When we made it clear that he was welcome to come up onto the bed if he wanted, he did... and plopped himself down between us to watch some TV. We petted him as he watched, transfixed by the antics of Steve Carell, a real couch potato! As he grew more comfortable with his surroundings he rolled on his back for belly scratches and occasionally wandered up to give us some kisses. He was also fascinated by the pizza that was delivered! (Of course, I would never give a dog people food... y'know, except a little crust...)

We wandered out for his evening walk - he was amiable and curious and accepted the extremely blustery winds and the sights and sounds of a bustling city, so unlike what he is used to, with admirable ease. When bedtime came, he stretched out between us and slept soundly while snoring lightly, waking us in the morning with happy kisses and a wagging tail.

We had some time in the morning before we had to pick up Jingles, so Lucas came with us on an outing to the park. He did great and enjoyed himself immensely - he was particularly interested in the duck pond and was very curious about the ducks and geese! We saw some other leashed dogs at a distance and while he was curious about them, he didn't show any sign of aggression. He was loose and happy and loved walking on grass, something he doesn't have much of at the desert sanctuary! After our park outing we picked Jingles up from the vet and headed home to Utah.

Lucas is one of the most well-known of a group of dogs whom some leaders in animal welfare thought - and some still think - should be killed. They were called "ticking time bombs" and "some of the most aggressively trained pit bulls in the country". "Rehabilitating fighting dogs", one animal group opined, "is not in the cards." As I woke up in that hotel room with a scarred, battered, happy, silly, joyous pit bull licking my face, I had only one thought: I wish that people who truly love animals but believe that pit bulls or fighting victims are somehow different or irredeemable could have the same experience I had, to spend an evening in a hotel room with Lucas and a night with him rolling over for scratches, being silly, investigating new things, and sleeping peacefully by your side - and wake up to this incredibly resilient, affectionate and forgiving animal licking your face. Lucas is a wonderful dog on his own merits, and I very much hope that one day the court will allow him to be adopted so he may have people of his own. He deserves it.


Here's the link to the original posting......click here

Related articles by Zemanta

• In Defense of Pit Bulls (lewrockwell.com)
• Ontario's five-year-old pit bull ban is all bark, no bite: critics (nationalpost.com)
• Zynga pulls pit bulls from Mafia Wars after complaint (news.cnet.com)

The continuing saga of the foster dog!

Image by This Year's Love via Flickr

It is time to renew my lease, so being the proper person I am, I told them about the "foster dog" and added him to my pet form.  Well......I was asked, not too politely, a million questions about this "dog" and told quite rudely that there are stipulations and he needs to meet their rules or leave.  I answered all of their questions about Austen and apparently he meets the requirements--over 1 year old, small, all shots, etc.  I now am informed that I have to pay an additional $325 deposit (my original deposit was $175 for Satchmo) since the pet deposit for two pets is $500 total.  WTF???

So, OK, I will pay the deposit because I believe in rules and try to be a good pet owner.  My dogs go outside every two hours on leashes and I walk them in the area allotted for pets.  I even have bags to clean up after them when they are out to "do their business".  They are in good health, well-fed and have manners.  They do not run loose and bite or growl at others.

The big issue for me began this morning.  As is their norm, they woke me up early (still dark) to go out for their morning "constitutional".  Being dogs, they have a particular area that they have chosen for that purpose.  Makes taking them out easy and quick.  Anyway, we are on our way to this area when all of a sudden there is a Pit Bull male dog growling at my leashed little ones.  It seems that the owner of this dog, being lazy or uninformed, simply opens the door and allows his dog to run outside to do his business.  He never looked to see if there might be a problem. 

Austen and this dog are growling and sniffing and the pit bull starts getting excited.  I literally have to pick Austen up by his harness and hold him up in the air to prevent attack from the pit.  Meanwhile, Satchmo has finished his business and runs over to "see the new dog" who then begins to attack Satch.  I have to throw Austen down and lift Satch up by his harness out of "harms' way". 

So I am holding Satch up in the air and yanking Austen's leash to try to get away from this dog when the owner finally comes out to get his dog.  His only response was, "Did it rain all night?"  I, meanwhile, am dragging my dogs off as fast as I can and he has to call his dog "Champ" numerous times before he will come.

This family not only has this male pit bull dog, but also a pit bull puppy in this apartment.  I never would have thought they would simply open the door and let the dogs run out!  The issue here is not that these are pit bull dogs.  I actually like that breed of dog and have owned two pit puppies when I lived out in the country.  Generally, they are loving and loyal dogs--but the breed has been bred for years and years to fight and once the dogs get excited it is difficult to shut down that behavior.

All I could see in my mind's eye was the little dogs lying lifeless on the ground after being attacked by a much bigger dog.  I was shaking and so were the dogs.  Satch began to vomit once we got home.

So, do you think the apartment manager knows about these dogs?  Do you think these people paid $500 deposit?  I don't know and I don't care, but it will be some time before we walk by this apartment again.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Why is your dog off its leash? (timesunion.com)
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls Sweatshirts Due to Strangulation Hazard (dogsbite.org)
• Jessie's Law (socialactions.net)
• Dog owners take note (magnoliavoice.com)
• How to respond to aggressive or happy-looking canines: Ask Dog Lady (cleveland.com)

Homeless L.A. man back with his pit bull

Here's a great story about love and loyalty.  Only a dog lover will truly understand, but I think everyone needs to see the connection we have with our dogs.  Pets provide more than just companionship, protection, company, etc.  Pets make up an essential part of our everyday life and living with pets makes us truly human.

Please read the story below.  I found it on a blog, Ohmidog!   I hope you will visit this blog for more wonderful stories about life with pets.  I know I will be back to visit  and soon!

I was driving down Century Boulevard when I spotted them — a homeless man, judging from the Vons grocery cart he was pushing down the sidewalk, and a three-legged pit bull in a service dog vest, hobbling alongside, her leash tied to the cart.
I made a u-turn, saw him walking down Hawthorne and, after one more u-turn, pulled my rental car alongside the man and dog as they turned down 101st Street.
His name is Mike Reed, and his dog’s name is Topaz, and as we sat on the sidewalk and talked — next to his bottle of King Cobra malt liquor in a black plastic bag — Topaz, weary from a just completed walk, snoozed on the concrete, wearing a service dog vest that said “Don’t Touch Me, I’m Working.”
Reed has had Topaz for five years. He takes care of her. She takes care of him, helping him cope with life on the streets — the kind of life that can turn violent at any second, and on Aug. 31 did just that.
On that day, he and Topaz found themselves standing innocently in the middle of a confrontation between another homeless man and officers from the Inglewood Police Department.

Reed had just met the man minutes earlier — after the man entered a store and an employee noticed what appeared to be a gun in his pants. Police were called, and tracked the man down. Not knowing whether Reed was an accomplice, officers put Reed in a squad car. Topaz remained on the sidewalk, leashed to Reed’s grocery cart.

As Reed decribes it, police told the suspect to put his hands in the air. The suspect raised and lowered his hands two times. The third time he lowered them, he reached for what police thought was a gun, and a barrage of shots followed.
The gun turned out to be a plastic toy.
Four or five shots struck Topaz, one shattering her hip bone.
“She pulled my Maserati (his shopping cart) off the curb and fell over, but she kept looking at me.”
He pleaded with police officers to let him go to her. “I said, ‘Let me get to my dog, let me get to my dog, let me get to my dog,’ and they wouldn’t.”
Eddie Franco died in the shooting, in which eight officers fired a total of 47 shots, according to KTLA-TV. Topaz was taken away in a police car. Reed was taken into custody, and his possessions were confiscated. He was later released – but given no information about his dog. Having watched as she was struck, he presumed she was dead.
“It threw me,” Reed said of losing his dog. “I’m OK, I can survive an attack or two; we’re in L.A. But they shot my dog. They shot my dog. You can shoot me, but don’t mess with my best friend.”
Reed, 50, who has been described as having “mental problems,” says he has been homeless, or, as he put it  “pulling a Vons” for the last 10 years
Without his dog, “his world was just taken away,” said his friend Tina Larson, who went to high school with Reed and lives near one of the spots where he hangs out.
Two days later, though, a message was relayed to Reed that his dog was alive.
Months before the incident, Ingrid Hurel-Diourbel, founder of Streetsmarts Rescue, had seen Reed and his dog on the street, collecting recyclables, and stopped to talk to him.  She placed one of her organization’s rescue tags on Topaz, who had no identification, and Reed gave her his stepmother’s phone number.
When the Carson Shelter’s animal control unit — where Topaz was taken after the shooting — saw the tag, they called Hurel-Diourbel, who got the message to Reed.
She also started contacting other rescue organizations to raise money for the surgery Topaz needed.
Meanwhile, Reed retrieved his dog, and apparently wasn’t told about how serious her condition was. For several days, rescue organizations searched for him so that Topaz could get the surgery.
When they finally found him, infections had set in. Vets removed her right rear leg at the hip.
It took about two months for Topaz to get up and around, Reed said, and she can’t cover as much ground as she used to. “We can’t go too far no more. We have to stay close. She’s not vicious or anything, but she’s a good guard dog. She she still watches my back,” he said.
“I help her during the day. She helps me at night.”
(Photos by John Woestendiek/ohmidog!)

Here's a post called "Adopt a Senior Pet Month"

 I just found this wonderful blog and wanted to share it with you.  Below is a delightful story about her experiences in adopting a senior pit bull.  I found this to be both sad and uplifting.  Such a character!
Anyway, I love when I find someone else who is crazy about dogs and I love when I find such great posts.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
__________________________________________________________________________________
ASPCA’s Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog
Olive was my first senior adoption. She was already an older adult when she was rescued from a horrid situation with forty other neglected animals (check out my friend Michelle’s wonderful Ode to Maggie - a fellow quirky dog from the same cruelty case).
Olive was a strange dog. Sometimes she’d stare into space, or leap up from a deep sleep barking for no apparent reason. She had doggy OCD that manifested itself in the habit of curling into a tight ball to suck on her hip. She stamped her feet when she barked, which mostly happened at dinner time as if she was cheering me on as I prepared her food. She was flat-footed due to neglect, so she had a funny, uneven trot as she raced across the yard in the winter to come back inside the second she’d finished her business. She actually liked wearing sweaters in the winter - she’d prance around as soon as you dressed her up. In the summer, she could lay in the sun for hours.
She never quite got the hang of training. One obedience class instructor tried to use Olive to show tricks that would get a difficult dog to lie down. It never worked, no matter how many different types of cheese or hot dog or liver we tried to lure her with; no matter how long the class stared at me sitting on the floor with Olive standing over my legs licking my face instead of lying down to root out the treat I was holding beneath my knees. Right until the end, she would kill a stuffed animal with gusto, but she was never destructive around the house. On walks, Olive would march straight ahead with a sense of purpose, not bothering to sniff the ground like the other dogs. Any unexpected turns (especially a turn-around to go home) would cause her to freeze and the walk would degenerate into a negotiation of coaxing her a few steps at a time…until I gave up and carried her as far as I could.
Olive was one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever known. Everyone of every species was greeted with a wagging tail. She was always gentle, even with packs of children crowded around her to say hello. And, despite everything she’d been through, she was a happy dog. If she heard you talk about her when she was napping, her tail would thump against the couch. This little 40 pound pittie LOVED to be carried. As soon as she was picked up, she’d lay her head on your shoulder and fall asleep with the corners of her mouth turned up in a peaceful smile. If you put her down, she’d blink at you, like she wasn’t sure what she did to deserve it.
By the time I adopted her, she was already a senior dog. I didn’t know how she’d adjust to being in a home after the cruelty case and then two years with a rescue group. I didn’t know if she’d ever get housetrained or bond with the other animals and me. But she did. It was an immediately rewarding adoption, with none of the training frustration that can come from getting a younger dog, or the uncertainty about what sort of dog you really got. Olive already was who she was - in all her weird and wonderful ways.

I only got six years with her - she was estimated somewhere between sixteen and a hundred and sixteen by the time mammary cancer took her. It was a tough loss, definitely not enough time together. When is it ever enough time? That’s the hard part with a senior dog, but it’s worth it.

Please visit her blog and read all her wonderful posts!