A few days ago I broke up a serious dog fight between two dogs. I was out in the backyard with Pandora (deaf Boxer), Eeyore (deaf American Staffordshire Terrier) and Gus (hearing Basset Hound mix). These dogs have been living together in my house for several weeks now with no problems and we’d been out there for awhile when suddenly a fight started between Gus and Eeyore.
Gus may be vertically challenged, but he refuses to let that slow him down. He’s one of the most stubborn dogs I know, and when he decided Eeyore got too much into his space, he attacked him. Eeyore decided not to back down, and suddenly a full-blown fight was in progress. Although I was standing just a few feet away, I was unable to distract the dogs or break up the fight immediately. I tossed the contents of the outside water bowl on the dogs with no effect, and then turned the hose on them full force which also had no effect. I then grabbed Eeyore by his back legs and picked him up off of the ground. At that point he had a hold of Gus and wasn’t letting go. Most dog breeds will snap erratically at their opponent, biting and releasing repeatedly. But dogs of the terrier breed, including pit bulls, will usually bite and hold. So at this point I’m standing there holding Eeyore upside down completely off the ground and trying to drag him away while he continues holding onto Gus and shaking his head. I was terrified, but Gus apparently wasn’t, because for a second Eeyore let go, and instead of running away, Gus came right back at him and renewed the fight. Did I mention he’s stubborn? This time Eeyore got a good grip on Gus’ front leg and wouldn’t let go. I ran into the house and grabbed a break stick – an emergency tool that I had purchased more than a year ago but never before had to use. I ran back to Eeyore and put the break stick into his mouth and twisted. Instantly Eeyore was biting the break stick and Gus was free. This time Gus got smart and ran into the house as fast as his little legs could carry him. I then held onto Eeyore’s collar and walked him to the door so I could go inside while ensuring that Eeyore could not follow me into the house. Eeyore walked calmly beside me as if nothing was going on, while I was in a panic over what had just happened.
I rushed Gus to the emergency vet clinic, and he had to get stitches in his front leg and chest. The vet tech asked what happened and I said he was in a fight with a pit bull, and she muttered “I’m getting really tired of those dogs.” And I felt horrible that I just contributed to the bad image that pit bulls have, when I know they are wonderful dogs and I know that Gus is the one that started the fight, not Eeyore. So I almost didn’t write this blog post, because the last thing these poor dogs need is more bad press. But there is so much misinformation about pit bulls out there, that I can only hope by sharing my experience I will help someone else who may someday be in the same situation. The truth is, pit bulls are not just like other dogs, at least not when it comes to dog fights. It’s not all in how they’re raised, and it’s also not all in their genes and whether they came from fighting lines. It’s not even how they’re trained or managed 100% of the time. Eeyore is a smart dog who has learned basic obedience commands and loves human attention. He has been around many other dogs and even spent a week at a doggy day care facility without any issues. But any dog of any breed can get in a dog fight, and it’s important that multi-dog households are aware of that. Responsible owners should take measures to prevent such fights, but should also be prepared for the worst.
There is a lot of good information out there on how to break up a dog fight. I would suggest reading it now because if a fight ever happens you’re not going to have time to go read it then. Most importantly, be cautious when trying to break up a fight. Don’t get bit in the process. Don’t grab a dog’s collar or place a leg or arm in between two dogs who are fighting. If you have a pit bull type of dog, buy a break stick, or make your own. Because as scary as it is to witness a dog fight, it’s even more scary to not be able to break them up. Break sticks should not be used on breeds of dogs other than pit bulls, but I can now attest to the fact that it worked great on a pit-bull type dog who was biting and would not let go. I hope I never need to use one again, but if I ever do find myself in a similar situation I will panic a little bit less and feel a lot more prepared to deal with the situation.
Showing posts with label pit bulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pit bulls. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Reason Ziggy is being DNA Tested
You may wonder why, after all this time, I’ve decided to give Ziggy a DNA test. The reason is because I’ve exhausted all other efforts to get Ziggy adopted. He’s gone through as much training as I can possibly give him, he’s been advertised everywhere, including on TV, and now I seem to have run out of ways to get him noticed. At least until the DNA results come back. Then, everything will change. Suddenly Ziggy will no longer be just a pit bull mix. He’ll have a whole new adoption listing, with a scientifically accurate breed result! The possibilities are endless! Here are just a few possible results that would greatly benefit Ziggy’s chances of finding a home:
A) If Ziggy has any poodle in him at all, I will be able to call him a Ziggypoo and tell everyone he’s hypoallergenic and a designer breed. That’s sure to get him adopted!
B) People love rare dogs, so if Ziggy has any DNA from a rare breed such as a Black Russian Terrier or an Xoloitzcuintle, people will want to adopt him immediately!
C) Another option is if he turns out to be 100% Weimaraner. At that point I will be able to transfer him to a Weimaraner rescue and let them find him a home.
There are so many ways that this DNA test will help Ziggy get adopted, that I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier. Of course there’s always the slim chance that the results will come back showing that Ziggy is officially a pit bull mix – but really, how likely is that? Even the experts have their doubts. At a recent fundraiser I was able to introduce Ziggy to the St. Louis area’s leading pit bull rescuer. She doesn’t think Ziggy is a pit bull (American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier). That could be because she has heard enough Ziggy stories to know how he acts nothing like a pit bull. In fact, if we guessed his breed based solely on his personality, a pit bull would be somewhere at the bottom of the list. Here are some excerpts from the breed temperament descriptions of four purebred dogs. Which ones sound most like Ziggy to you?
Dog type A: This is not like your average domesticated dog and is not recommended as a house pet for most people. If properly socialized, it can be tame enough to tolerate the handling of humans.
Dog type B: They are busy, bold, inquisitive and stubborn, but they also love to monkey around, being playful and mischievous. A lively, sharp-witted dog that is courageous and confident….he does best with a family who has a very good sense of humor.
Dog type C: This is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet that is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master.
Dog type D: This dog has a good sense of humor. It is sensitive, independent, intelligent, skillful, tough on itself, and energetic. A robust, persistent, and powerful dog, it is willing to take on virtually any game animal.
The breed names that fit these descriptions can be found at the end of this post. Suffice it to say that Ziggy’s appearance does NOT fit his behavior. Nonetheless, people tend to seek out dogs to adopt based on how they look, not how they act. So I can only hope that the DNA test finds genes in Ziggy from a breed that more closely fits his behavior, and then perhaps he can find an adopter who will appreciate him for who he really is -- an independent, persistent, bold, mischievous dog with a good sense of humor, and tame enough to tolerate the handling of humans – sometimes.
Answers:
A) New Guinea Singing Dog
B) Affenpinscher
C) American Pit Bull Terrier
D) Karelian Bear Dog
A) If Ziggy has any poodle in him at all, I will be able to call him a Ziggypoo and tell everyone he’s hypoallergenic and a designer breed. That’s sure to get him adopted!
B) People love rare dogs, so if Ziggy has any DNA from a rare breed such as a Black Russian Terrier or an Xoloitzcuintle, people will want to adopt him immediately!
C) Another option is if he turns out to be 100% Weimaraner. At that point I will be able to transfer him to a Weimaraner rescue and let them find him a home.
There are so many ways that this DNA test will help Ziggy get adopted, that I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier. Of course there’s always the slim chance that the results will come back showing that Ziggy is officially a pit bull mix – but really, how likely is that? Even the experts have their doubts. At a recent fundraiser I was able to introduce Ziggy to the St. Louis area’s leading pit bull rescuer. She doesn’t think Ziggy is a pit bull (American Staffordshire Terrier or American Pit Bull Terrier). That could be because she has heard enough Ziggy stories to know how he acts nothing like a pit bull. In fact, if we guessed his breed based solely on his personality, a pit bull would be somewhere at the bottom of the list. Here are some excerpts from the breed temperament descriptions of four purebred dogs. Which ones sound most like Ziggy to you?
Dog type A: This is not like your average domesticated dog and is not recommended as a house pet for most people. If properly socialized, it can be tame enough to tolerate the handling of humans.
Dog type B: They are busy, bold, inquisitive and stubborn, but they also love to monkey around, being playful and mischievous. A lively, sharp-witted dog that is courageous and confident….he does best with a family who has a very good sense of humor.
Dog type C: This is a good-natured, amusing, extremely loyal and affectionate family pet that is good with children and adults. Almost always obedient, it is always eager to please its master.
Dog type D: This dog has a good sense of humor. It is sensitive, independent, intelligent, skillful, tough on itself, and energetic. A robust, persistent, and powerful dog, it is willing to take on virtually any game animal.
The breed names that fit these descriptions can be found at the end of this post. Suffice it to say that Ziggy’s appearance does NOT fit his behavior. Nonetheless, people tend to seek out dogs to adopt based on how they look, not how they act. So I can only hope that the DNA test finds genes in Ziggy from a breed that more closely fits his behavior, and then perhaps he can find an adopter who will appreciate him for who he really is -- an independent, persistent, bold, mischievous dog with a good sense of humor, and tame enough to tolerate the handling of humans – sometimes.
Answers:
A) New Guinea Singing Dog
B) Affenpinscher
C) American Pit Bull Terrier
D) Karelian Bear Dog
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Message From Ziggy
I just heard that today is the national Pit Bull Awareness Day. I have to say, I'm rather sad about how I've been treated today. No one has acknowledged my presence. My foster mom got up early to go to an adoption event, and she left me at home. Alone. In my crate. She didn't even leave me a chew bone. Oh wait, yes she did. But I ate it so fast I almost forgot about it. Does anyone remember me, here all alone? I'm a pit bull. Today's my day. Where is the awareness?
Friday, August 19, 2011
Introducing Morgan
I walked into the animal shelter with plans to talk to one of the workers about a cat, and then get out. I had six foster dogs at home, and no interest in adding to that number. But of course it's very difficult, if not impossible, for a dog rescuer to enter an animal shelter and NOT look at the dogs. So I decided to just walk through and say hi to them - nothing more. There was a beautiful red pit bull there, appropriately named "Red". He lay by the door, looking quietly at me. He looked sad, and he didn't get up or bark or do anything but look at me with big eyes that looked hopeless. I had just found out that my work was going to be laying off people at the end of the year, and I was one of the people who would be cut, so I was just as sad as he was. His family had gone to a homeless shelter and had to turn him in to the animal shelter. He felt even more lost than I did at that moment. So I felt an instant connection to him. Still, I have Ziggy and Roxy, both pit bull fosters, and it would be very tough to bring in another big dog right now, so I kept walking and greeting all the dogs. Then I stopped back by the office and let them know that if Red ran out of time, to please contact me first. Like most shelters and rescues in the area (and all over the country), pit bulls are very difficult to adopt out. I don't know if I'll be able to save Red even if they contact me, but I couldn't just leave him there without doing something. If Roxy or Ziggy (ha) gets adopted then Red will be the first pit bull I will try to save. As it was, as I talked to the manager about Red, she told me about another dog that was out of time right then. This dog was a puggle. Puggles are a designer mix of a Pug and a Beagle. They're not my favorite breeds, and our group already had two Puggles available for adoption, so I immediately thought I'd be able to say no. I wasn't looking for a new foster dog, and especially not another problem dog. As sad as it was that this dog was out of options, I have to say no to dogs that are out of options every day, so this one would be no different. Then she showed me the puggle. And I sighed. Because the puggle was so extraordinarily cute and happy to see us. She jumped in the air, and ran in circles, and smiled a giant smile. And she cheered me up and made me forget all my problems. And I couldn't walk away. I asked about the reason she was out of time, and they explained that she had separation anxiety. Many dogs have this to some degree, including my foster dog Roxy, so I wasn't too concerned. But the reason they weren't making her available for adoption anymore was because she'd already been adopted and returned. And adopted again and returned. Then a third time. And a fourth. After the fourth return, they said they couldn't keep doing that to her. Obviously her separation anxiety issues were pretty severe, and not something they were able to work with in a shelter environment. But the only complaint the last owners had made when they returned her was that she barked nonstop when they left and the neighbors had complained. I live in the country and have no close neighbors, so I said okay, I'll take her and see what I can do.
I took her to my mom's house and kid-tested her with my young niece and nephews. She did great! Then I took her home and cat tested her - passed with flying colors. Then a slower introduction to the other dogs, and again, she was perfect. Then after she was settled in and comfortable, we performed the first test of her separation anxiety. I put her in a wire crate with a bed, some water, and a couple of toys. I sat down on the couch in the next room where she could still see me, and I ignored her as she barked and cried. This went on for awhile, and I wasn't looking at her because I didn't want to encourage the barking. Suddenly I realized the barking sounded closer. I looked over, and she was out of her crate and standing behind the baby gate, still trying to get to me. So I investigated and this is what I found:
Somehow she'd managed to bend out the wires in the top of the crate and crawl out. I was amazed. She then proceeded to jump over the three foot high baby gate to get to me. I was even more amazed. So I named her Morgan after the famous female escape artist. Because if the human Morgan ever needs an assistant, I think puggle Morgan is the one for her!
I have had to leave Morgan a couple of times since she arrived, and have found a plastic crate that so far she has not figured out how to escape from. She does continue to bark while I'm gone, but I've received some helpful advice from some Facebook friends and I don't think her separation anxiety is anything too serious. We'll keep working on it and I'll try to find her a permanent home with someone who is able to also work with her, and is home most of the time to make it as easy on her as possible. Until then, I guess she's my therapy dog, because it's hard to be sad when you have a dog who looks at you like this:
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Miss Popularity
I am a middle child. I have one sister who is a year older and one sister who is two years younger. My sisters have always been my closest friends. They've also always been more outgoing than me. They were both cheerleaders in college, and had large groups of friends growing up. I was more of a loner. So often when there is more than one dog around, I tend to gravitate to the shyest of the bunch. Or in cases where their behavior is the same, I often feel a stronger connection with the less "popular" dog. I am a bit surprised that in the case of my foster puppies, there has been such a large difference in popularity. Although they look almost identical and act almost identical (nicknames not withstanding), Venture has received a lot more interest than Zoe at last weekend's adoption events and online. So far Venture has received three adoption inquiries at events and two online applications. Zoe has not received any inquiries or applications. And although I am pretty sure that Zoe would not mind being less popular than her sister, I've still decided not to tell her. She'll find out soon enough how hard it is to be a black pit bull mix dog in this world.
There is a lot of work to be done in educating people about pit bulls. During last weekend's adoption event, one potential adopter came up to us oohing and aahing over the puppies, but stating that she was looking for an adult that would be a good cuddle companion. We suggested a couple of possibilities, and one of them was a pit bull. When we showed her a picture of the dog, she immediately backed away and firmly stated "I do NOT want any pit bulls". I may have sounded a bit smug as I pointed out that the puppies she was so crazy about were pit bull mixes. Most people, me included, change their mind about pit bulls after they actually meet them and spend some time with them. In this case, the lady couldn't believe the puppies were part pit bull because they didn't act like her idea of a pit bull. I wish she understood that pit bulls can be some of the best cuddle companions out there. Right now, Venture and Zoe are young enough and cute enough that they will hopefully be easy to adopt out. But for all the black pit bull mix dogs in the shelters that are no longer 9 or 10 week old puppies, being a pit bull mix, and being black on top of it, is enough to cause an almost immediate death sentence. I hope that Zoe and Venture will continue to change people's minds about pit bulls as they grow up.
 |
| Venture, aka "Miss Popularity" |
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| Zoe |
There is a lot of work to be done in educating people about pit bulls. During last weekend's adoption event, one potential adopter came up to us oohing and aahing over the puppies, but stating that she was looking for an adult that would be a good cuddle companion. We suggested a couple of possibilities, and one of them was a pit bull. When we showed her a picture of the dog, she immediately backed away and firmly stated "I do NOT want any pit bulls". I may have sounded a bit smug as I pointed out that the puppies she was so crazy about were pit bull mixes. Most people, me included, change their mind about pit bulls after they actually meet them and spend some time with them. In this case, the lady couldn't believe the puppies were part pit bull because they didn't act like her idea of a pit bull. I wish she understood that pit bulls can be some of the best cuddle companions out there. Right now, Venture and Zoe are young enough and cute enough that they will hopefully be easy to adopt out. But for all the black pit bull mix dogs in the shelters that are no longer 9 or 10 week old puppies, being a pit bull mix, and being black on top of it, is enough to cause an almost immediate death sentence. I hope that Zoe and Venture will continue to change people's minds about pit bulls as they grow up.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Pibbles
I was going to write this post explaining about how wonderful pit bulls are, and why I went from being afraid of them to deciding they were my favorite breed of dog. But then I got sidetracked. Because a pit bull is not really a breed at all. And just explaining what a pit bull is will take up an entire post! So since I don't want to bore you too much, I will give you the short version, with pictures. I promise to be as accurate as possible, considering that even various experts on the breeds don't all agree. Some experts claim there are several breeds that make up the dogs called pit bulls. Others say three, and others say two. To make it more confusing, there may be several different names for one breed. So after several hours of research and scouring the Internet for information and photos of dogs who have won awards at dog shows for being the best of their breed, I came up with the following synopsis, which may or may not be accurate.
This is an American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). This is recognized by the United Kennel Club as a real breed, and is definitely one of the breeds that all experts can agree is really a "pit bull". They have to, since the term "pit bull" is part of the breed name!
This is an American Staffordshire Terrier (AmStaff). These dogs are recognized by the American Kennel Club as a real breed, and is the only other breed that all the experts agree is really a "pit bull". The only difference between the APBT and the AmStaff is the AmStaff was bred more for conformation (dog shows) and the APBT was bred more for working ability. But to be really tricky, some AmStaffs are dual registered as both UKC APBT and AKC AmStaffs.
Chances are, you won't be able to tell the difference between an APBT and an AmStaff - I know I can't.
This is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - also known as an English Staffordshire Terrier. Some experts do not consider them as "pit bulls". They are recognized by both the AKC and the UKC as a real breed, and they sure look like pit bulls to most people, including those who write up the Breed Specific Legislation laws. They are generally smaller than APBTs and AmStaffs.
I'm pretty sure that Momma Mia, one of the All Paws Rescue foster dogs currently available for adoption, is part Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
This is a Bull Terrier, recognized by both the AKC and UKC. He is not a "pit bull" by most experts definition. It's possible that Noelle has some Bull Terrier in her. Several people have suggested this in the past, but she has only fully accepted the idea now that she learned her friend Mayzie has some Bull Terrier in her.
This is an American Bulldog. Recognized by the UKC, the American Bulldog should not be confused with their French or English counterparts. This is another breed that is considered a "pit bull" by only a few people.
And then of course there are the mixes. It's no wonder that no one really is clear on what exactly is a "pit bull". So when I take in a foster dog like Ziggy, I tend to call them a pit bull mix, and leave it at that. Because that way everyone either thinks they know exactly what that means, or they know that I'm as confused as the rest of the world, and either way, it's good. Most of you have probably seen this, but if you haven't, here is a fun game to play, to see if you can identify the pit bull in the group: Find The Pit Bull
Chances are, you won't be able to tell the difference between an APBT and an AmStaff - I know I can't.
I'm pretty sure that Momma Mia, one of the All Paws Rescue foster dogs currently available for adoption, is part Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
And then of course there are the mixes. It's no wonder that no one really is clear on what exactly is a "pit bull". So when I take in a foster dog like Ziggy, I tend to call them a pit bull mix, and leave it at that. Because that way everyone either thinks they know exactly what that means, or they know that I'm as confused as the rest of the world, and either way, it's good. Most of you have probably seen this, but if you haven't, here is a fun game to play, to see if you can identify the pit bull in the group: Find The Pit Bull
Monday, April 12, 2010
What's with all the voting?
More and more sites are offering money to groups who get the most votes. There are different companies and organizations getting in on the newest way to garner publicity, and PepsiCo is no exception. They are giving away $1.3 MILLION dollars each month to various organizations. That's a lot of money! I don't really see anything wrong with this - I'd rather they gave a portion of their marketing budget directly to the organizations in need instead of to the radio and TV stations and marketing companies. But I also usually don't share these types of voting requests because it is just one worthy organization competing against another... and in the end, whether the animals in Texas or Missouri are helped, its still animals being helped.
However in this case I'm making an exception, because in this case the animals are competing against things like providing motivation for high school students to improve in school, or producing and publishing 10 minute plays written by young writers, or driving drunk people and their cars home. I'm not saying these aren't worthy causes, but I would rather that Pepsi give their money to an animal welfare organization.
Especially one like North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue in North Carolina. Their old location was wiped out by a flood, and they need funds to build a new permanent shelter for the dogs. From everything I've heard and read about this rescue, they do a great job, and really deserve our votes. So please, join me in voting every day for NMAR to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. They have to be in the top 10 by the end of the month (right now they are in 24th place). You do have to register once with Pepsi, but they won't send you junk mail unless you ask them to. And then you can vote every day until April 30th to help them win. You can also tell others through a widget on your blog, or through Facebook. And if you're busy, you can give your e-mail address to NMAR and let them create the account and vote for you by proxy. See how convenient it is to be a part of changing the world? If every doggie and kitty reader out there would ask their mom and dad to go vote, and tell their dog and cat friends, we could really make a difference for a lot of dogs who need our help. Check out the links below for more information.
Vote Here: http://www.refresheverything.com/northmecklenburganimalrescue (You have to click "Vote for this Idea", then sign in, then make sure to click "Vote for this Idea" AGAIN or you won't have actually voted!) You can vote once each day.
Read about NMAR on the PBRC (Pit Bull Rescue Central) blog: http://pitbullrescuecentral.blogspot.com/2010/04/have-you-voted-for-gubbys-rescue-today.html
NMAR's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-For-North-Mecklenburg-Animal-Rescue-to-win-50K-for-Homeless-Dogs/108356965862632?v=wall
However in this case I'm making an exception, because in this case the animals are competing against things like providing motivation for high school students to improve in school, or producing and publishing 10 minute plays written by young writers, or driving drunk people and their cars home. I'm not saying these aren't worthy causes, but I would rather that Pepsi give their money to an animal welfare organization.
Especially one like North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue in North Carolina. Their old location was wiped out by a flood, and they need funds to build a new permanent shelter for the dogs. From everything I've heard and read about this rescue, they do a great job, and really deserve our votes. So please, join me in voting every day for NMAR to win a $50,000 grant from Pepsi. They have to be in the top 10 by the end of the month (right now they are in 24th place). You do have to register once with Pepsi, but they won't send you junk mail unless you ask them to. And then you can vote every day until April 30th to help them win. You can also tell others through a widget on your blog, or through Facebook. And if you're busy, you can give your e-mail address to NMAR and let them create the account and vote for you by proxy. See how convenient it is to be a part of changing the world? If every doggie and kitty reader out there would ask their mom and dad to go vote, and tell their dog and cat friends, we could really make a difference for a lot of dogs who need our help. Check out the links below for more information.
Vote Here: http://www.refresheverything.com/northmecklenburganimalrescue (You have to click "Vote for this Idea", then sign in, then make sure to click "Vote for this Idea" AGAIN or you won't have actually voted!) You can vote once each day.
Read about NMAR on the PBRC (Pit Bull Rescue Central) blog: http://pitbullrescuecentral.blogspot.com/2010/04/have-you-voted-for-gubbys-rescue-today.html
NMAR's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vote-For-North-Mecklenburg-Animal-Rescue-to-win-50K-for-Homeless-Dogs/108356965862632?v=wall
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Mischievous Ziggy
According to dictionary.com, mischievous has the following definitions:
1.maliciously or playfully annoying.
2.causing annoyance, harm, or trouble.
3.roguishly or slyly teasing, as a glance.
4.harmful or injurious.
---
With my deaf foster dogs, I talk to potential adopters about how to work with and train deaf dogs.
With my foster puppies, I talk to potential adopters about raising a puppy.
1.maliciously or playfully annoying.
2.causing annoyance, harm, or trouble.
3.roguishly or slyly teasing, as a glance.
4.harmful or injurious.
---
With my deaf foster dogs, I talk to potential adopters about how to work with and train deaf dogs.
Ziggy is deaf..
and he's playfully annoying.
With my pit bull foster dogs, I talk to potential adopters about the challenges of adopting and owning a pit bull.
Ziggy is a pit bull...
and he's good at causing trouble.
With my foster puppies, I talk to potential adopters about raising a puppy.
Ziggy is a puppy...
and he has a rougish look.
But in Ziggy's case, even though he's a deaf pit bull puppy, instead of educating people on deaf dogs, or pit bulls, or raising puppies, I find myself spending all my time talking to potential adopters about how to deal with his mischievousness. Because more than anything else..
Ziggy is mischievous...
Which sometimes results in harm to others.
But he is showing improvement, at least on some days. There are days I wish I could keep him. And there are days that I think if he's adopted, he'll definitely be returned. Because there are days that I would return him if I had adopted him. Of course, I'd have to return him to myself as the foster mom - this is the downside of adopting your own foster pet. But on the days when he acts loving and sweet, when I can spend hours with him cuddling on the couch, I forget his mischievous side. At least temporarily.
I love this mischievous dog.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fighting Dogs
A friend sent me a link to this video from the stltoday.com website: http://videos.stltoday.com/p/video?id=6165018. It is a video supplied by the Humane Society of Missouri that shows the conditions of some of the dogs rescued during the July dog fighting raids. I will warn you the video is graphic - it shows dogs with scars, dogs missing limbs, and so on. It also shows the location where the dogs and puppies are being kept until they are released by the federal courts. It's hard to watch, but I hope you'll watch it anyway. Because it happens everyday, and if we pretend it doesn't, nothing will ever change.
Just as a reminder, my matching donation challenge ends in a few days. I am a supporter of BAD RAP, a rescue group who works with pit bulls, including some that came from this July raid. They're raising money to build a safe place to care for dogs in emergency situations like these dogs, and I'm going to match whatever my blog readers donate during the month of September. Here's a link to the post with more details: http://dogfostermom.blogspot.com/2009/08/bad-rap.html.
Just as a reminder, my matching donation challenge ends in a few days. I am a supporter of BAD RAP, a rescue group who works with pit bulls, including some that came from this July raid. They're raising money to build a safe place to care for dogs in emergency situations like these dogs, and I'm going to match whatever my blog readers donate during the month of September. Here's a link to the post with more details: http://dogfostermom.blogspot.com/2009/08/bad-rap.html.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
BAD RAP
One of my favorite blogs is from BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls), a rescue group located in California who works exclusively with pit bulls. They've been working with federal authorities on the recent fighting dog bust in our area, as has the Humane Society of Missouri, and when it comes to pit bulls, the people at BAD RAP are my heroes. They have done a tremendous job teaching people about the breed. They have repeatedly shown that fighting dogs are just like our dogs at home, except they were born into the hands of abusers.
The dogs in this picture are all dogs rescued from the Michael Vick fighting ring. You can see for yourself that they aren't people aggressive, or even dog aggressive. They're just happy, loving, forgiving dogs. They were the victims of cruelty, but they've been rescued and are living good lives now. The BAD RAP blog shares some great stories about pit bulls, so if the idea of walking up to that couch and sitting down with those dogs scares you, please take some time and read about them.
(Photo credit: Tim Archibald - Photo downloaded from BAD RAP website.)
The 400+ fighting dogs that were rescued recently are going to be released to rescue groups soon. Sadly, there are not enough rescues or adopters to save all of the dogs from this bust that are adoptable. I would love to foster one of these dogs, but right now it doesn't look like that will happen. So I'm doing the best I can for them, by helping the groups who are helping them. I hope you'll join me and send a donation to BAD RAP, who already has taken 10 of these bust dogs and will soon be getting many more. They're building a barn in order to have a space to take in dog fighting bust cases and emergency situations. Just to give you an idea of what the 10 dogs are like that they've received so far, here is an excerpt from their blog....
What are they like? Like the Vick dogs, their personalities are a mixed bag. We have the timid/cowering dog, the pushy/optimistic dog, the easily aroused dog and the low key love bunny. We have every range of dog tolerance level from been-there-done-that dog aggressive to the please-be-my-pal dog social. We have highly adoptable, needs some work, and sadly damaged compassion hold status. As always - individuals, individuals.
These dogs deserve to be part of a family and know love and affection. So I'm issuing a challenge - whatever my readers donate to BAD RAP in the next month, I will personally match, up to $1,000.00. I'm doing this for all of the bust dogs who have endured such cruelty, in honor of my own pit bull Noelle who taught me how wonderful pit bulls can be. If you'd like to donate, visit BAD RAP Barnraising to find out how, and make sure to note that you're a dogfostermom blog reader to make your gift eligible for the matching amount.
The dogs in this picture are all dogs rescued from the Michael Vick fighting ring. You can see for yourself that they aren't people aggressive, or even dog aggressive. They're just happy, loving, forgiving dogs. They were the victims of cruelty, but they've been rescued and are living good lives now. The BAD RAP blog shares some great stories about pit bulls, so if the idea of walking up to that couch and sitting down with those dogs scares you, please take some time and read about them.(Photo credit: Tim Archibald - Photo downloaded from BAD RAP website.)
The 400+ fighting dogs that were rescued recently are going to be released to rescue groups soon. Sadly, there are not enough rescues or adopters to save all of the dogs from this bust that are adoptable. I would love to foster one of these dogs, but right now it doesn't look like that will happen. So I'm doing the best I can for them, by helping the groups who are helping them. I hope you'll join me and send a donation to BAD RAP, who already has taken 10 of these bust dogs and will soon be getting many more. They're building a barn in order to have a space to take in dog fighting bust cases and emergency situations. Just to give you an idea of what the 10 dogs are like that they've received so far, here is an excerpt from their blog....
What are they like? Like the Vick dogs, their personalities are a mixed bag. We have the timid/cowering dog, the pushy/optimistic dog, the easily aroused dog and the low key love bunny. We have every range of dog tolerance level from been-there-done-that dog aggressive to the please-be-my-pal dog social. We have highly adoptable, needs some work, and sadly damaged compassion hold status. As always - individuals, individuals.
These dogs deserve to be part of a family and know love and affection. So I'm issuing a challenge - whatever my readers donate to BAD RAP in the next month, I will personally match, up to $1,000.00. I'm doing this for all of the bust dogs who have endured such cruelty, in honor of my own pit bull Noelle who taught me how wonderful pit bulls can be. If you'd like to donate, visit BAD RAP Barnraising to find out how, and make sure to note that you're a dogfostermom blog reader to make your gift eligible for the matching amount.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Boo is back
Boo, my foster pit bull puppy, was returned yesterday. Since she is a "pit bull", she is discriminated against by various insurance companies, subdivisions and condo associations, and entire cities. They don't even know her, they've never met her, but they've already decided she is dangerous and shouldn't be allowed to live there. Poor Boo - she's such a well behaved puppy and would never hurt anyone, but she's not given a chance. The wonderful family who adopted her last week found out that their city doesn't allow pit bulls. They couldn't stand the idea of her being taken from them and impounded if the city found out they had her. I am glad that they loved her enough to give her up to a family who will be able to safely keep her without someone coming and taking her away. I know it was really hard on them to give her up, and I am so sorry that they had to make that choice. I am hoping they will find another Heartland puppy to fall in love with. And I am hoping that there are still some homes out there who aren't restricted from adopting such a wonderful dog as Boo, and that she finds a new home soon.
None of my foster animals found homes this weekend, but we did have a lot of other exciting dog adoptions on Saturday at PetSmart. Brandy, a shepherd mix who is always very happy and gets along with everyone finally found a new home after waiting a very long time. Also, Peanut Butter and Sidney, both golden retriever mixes, and Harvey, the biggest black lab mix I've ever met, were all adopted on Saturday. So four adult dog adoptions was very exciting!
A few people even looked at Noelle on Saturday. I was hopeful she'd find a home, but no luck yet. My husband is happy - he adores that dog. It was so cute this morning... my husband had been in the basement, so he left the lights on down there, and when he came upstairs Noelle was looking the other way and didn't know he came up (she can't hear him, remember). So she thought he was still downstairs, and as soon as I let her out of her crate after she finished eating, she headed straight for the basement. All the other dogs followed me outside, but she went the other way and went from room to room in the basement looking for Dave, her tail wagging, looking so excited. I could just see how disappointed she was when she couldn't find him. They are really cute together. But I hope she gets adopted soon so she can start bonding to her new owners. There are so many pit bulls out there who need help, and as long as I have Noelle I don't have room to save any more hard to adopt pit bulls. She is doing so well now - she's over her mange, and her button tumor is gone and the hair has grown back, and she's housetrained finally, so I am hoping that all of that will make it easier for her to find a home!
None of my foster animals found homes this weekend, but we did have a lot of other exciting dog adoptions on Saturday at PetSmart. Brandy, a shepherd mix who is always very happy and gets along with everyone finally found a new home after waiting a very long time. Also, Peanut Butter and Sidney, both golden retriever mixes, and Harvey, the biggest black lab mix I've ever met, were all adopted on Saturday. So four adult dog adoptions was very exciting!
A few people even looked at Noelle on Saturday. I was hopeful she'd find a home, but no luck yet. My husband is happy - he adores that dog. It was so cute this morning... my husband had been in the basement, so he left the lights on down there, and when he came upstairs Noelle was looking the other way and didn't know he came up (she can't hear him, remember). So she thought he was still downstairs, and as soon as I let her out of her crate after she finished eating, she headed straight for the basement. All the other dogs followed me outside, but she went the other way and went from room to room in the basement looking for Dave, her tail wagging, looking so excited. I could just see how disappointed she was when she couldn't find him. They are really cute together. But I hope she gets adopted soon so she can start bonding to her new owners. There are so many pit bulls out there who need help, and as long as I have Noelle I don't have room to save any more hard to adopt pit bulls. She is doing so well now - she's over her mange, and her button tumor is gone and the hair has grown back, and she's housetrained finally, so I am hoping that all of that will make it easier for her to find a home!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Pit Bulls in the news
I don't read or watch news usually, so I may be sharing news everyone is aware of. But upon reading the Bad Rap blog today, I found some very sad information. Yesterday, 145 dogs were killed, after 3 defendants were sentenced in a dog fighting bust. The saddest part is that the dogs were killed simply for being "fighting dogs" - they were never given a chance. Many people are upset with the Humane Society of the United States, who recommended the dogs be killed. The HSUS claimed the dogs were bred to be fighting dogs and could not be rehabilitated. This, in spite of the many other fighting dogs who have been "rehabilitated" and gone on to be loving pets - some even have become certified therapy dogs! Various reputable groups, such as Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, who have worked with the Vick dogs and other dogs from dog fighting busts had offered to go out and evaluate these 145 dogs on an individual basis, and take in at no cost any who could be rehabilitated. The HSUS turned them down, and said no, they should all be euthanized. So they were - 145 dogs killed - approximately 60 of whom were puppies!
As a fellow blogger stated...
"I'm assuming they killed all the adult dogs, who had no known history of biting, without so much as one evaluation by a qualified behaviorist. I'm assuming all the baby puppies, born in the past couple months, were taken from their dams, and killed. And I'm assuming all the bigger pups, who were seized in the original raid, who never got to grow into their big paws or figure out their floppy ears or have someone tell them to sit their waggy butt down if they want a cookie - I'm assuming they've all been killed too."
She was right - they're all dead.
As a fellow blogger stated...
"I'm assuming they killed all the adult dogs, who had no known history of biting, without so much as one evaluation by a qualified behaviorist. I'm assuming all the baby puppies, born in the past couple months, were taken from their dams, and killed. And I'm assuming all the bigger pups, who were seized in the original raid, who never got to grow into their big paws or figure out their floppy ears or have someone tell them to sit their waggy butt down if they want a cookie - I'm assuming they've all been killed too."
She was right - they're all dead.
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