Pit Bulls In Truth!

Last Call

2008-12-10T23:54:00.000-05:00

Below is Sam's petfinder page. Sam needs a foster home or a rescue. The lady who rescued him off the street is in desperate need of help. She's overloaded and managing all her rescues including this one and is getting more than difficult. To add to the problems, a couple of days ago when Sam was let out to do his business, two dogs jumped the fence and attacked him. Sam's condition upsets the dogs and they want to attack him also in his weakend state, so we're hoping for a safer, calmer environment for him.

If Sam finds his forever home through our pleas we will use the adoption fee to vet him fully. The fostermom has not been able to pull the money together for his shots and neuter. Not being neutered is another reason the other rescues are upset with Sam. His forever family will get a fully vetted dog. If a foster or rescue comes forth to take Sam in, Silver Rescue will donate a 50 lb bag of Science Diet dog food.

Please help Sam. If you can, please contact Rhonda Boyce at pitty_lover@yahoo.com. If you can't please crosspost.

Thank you!

Karina

Silver Rescue
www.silverrescue.petfinder.com
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization
Tax deductible contributions may be
made at to karinamcdaniel@aol.com
at www.Paypal.com

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

Sam

German Shepherd Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier [Mix]

Large Young Male Dog

Silver Rescue, Nashville, TN

Click on thumbnail
to enlarge

NAME: Sam
AGE: 1.5 +/- yrs old
BREED: German Shepherd Dog/American Staffordshire Terrier
COLOR: Fawn with white accents
WEIGHT: 60-70 lbs
TEMPERAMENT: Gentle, sweet, very loyal; a little shy at first but trusts when he sees he's loved.
OBEDIENCE TRAINING: Will be fully vetted and trained before he goes to his forever home

My name is Sam and I am approximately 18 months old, Male. I am very sweet and very loyal I will even sit for you if you ask me to. I think I am kind of handsome to! Possible pit/shepherd mix. (Hence the tall ears!) I was dumped off by previous owners who evidently did not have room for me in their life. I was very shy at first and it took awhile for me to come to the lady that takes care of me now. I warmed up to her and loved the yummy treats that she gave me and she loved my big brown eyes. She has a house full and cannot keep me but she is determined to find a great place for me. I hang around outside and she feeds me every night. She lets me come in when its cold and I haven't had any accidents! I even get along with all 4 of her dogs. Sometimes I hide in the corner hoping no one will notice me and make me go back outside. I have dodged animal control twice already (god is looking out for me). People around the neighborhood have been mean to me because they are scared of me I guess and throw things at me so It takes me a minute to trust you but nothing a little sweet talk wont cure. I haven?t really been around kids to much but would probably be best with older kids. I would be a great protector for a single woman or couple. I am looking for an inside home with a fenced in yard so I can run and play. I love to play! . If a home is found for me the lady that looks out for me will help with shots and neutering. Basically, I am a very sweet boy I just need someone to give me a chance. I have made it this long so I know its meant for me to find a great home.
The adoption fee is $200 and will be used to obedience train Sam with Silver Rescue's trainer when he is adopted.

For an application contact, KarinaMcDaniel@aol.com or Ronda Boyce at pitty_lover@yahoo.com.

My own Pit Bull and Chicks :D

2008-10-03T11:04:00.005-04:00

We have started to raise chickens... mostly fancy breeds, chocolate and blue egg layers :) Halo loved when all of the babies hatched out of the eggs in the bator. He would run and check on them anytime there was a commotion in the brooder. :D He waits for me to say that we are going to see the chickies and he is all ready to go out to the coop (at my father-in-law's) He mostly just likes that he gets to run unleashed and play with FIL's dogs.... but he also stops in at the coop from time to time to check the chickens out.

This is Halo with Roxie, his favorite chook. She can do no wrong :) She is one of the original 2 chicks that we got in the spring and has senority over the others in Halo's eyes

He has even run the other dogs off from the coop, letting them know that they are NOT to harm those chickens. Now they keep a safe distance from the chooks and he knows that they will not harm them and all is well :) Who'd have thunk he'd be such a good farm dog :) He never even had to issue more than a warning growl. Then it was off to run and play with the same dog he said "get away from my chickens" to. He did good :)

BSL ALERT!!!! OHIO trying to BAN and DESTROY pit bulls!!!

2008-05-28T09:48:00.005-04:00

I do want to note this.... That existing section 955.11 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed. So apparently they have repealed this particular section and it no longer inscludes BSL. I am happy to this. If indeed this is true and the BSL HAS been removed from the bill, then I hope it passes However, as a note, if it doesn't pass because of the confusion created by the original inclusion of BSL, I hope that their politicians have learned that it is best to do things right and NOT try to piggyback laws like that. It's a sad thing when very good legislation gets turned down because of the inclusion of something dubious... and even worse when dubious legislation is piggy-backed in on the backs of some wonderful legislation.

Ohio State
Representative Tyrone Yates has proposed a bill today that would prohibit the ownership of “pit bulls” in the state of Ohio. The bill requires all owners to surrender their "pit bulls" within 90 days of the effective date of the proposed law. The bill is unequivocal that the dog warden "shall" euthanize all “pit bulls” within 10 days of their surrender.

Also under this proposal a dog warden or other officer that has probable cause to believe that a dog is a “pit bull” dog, may apply for a search warrant. With the search warrant the officer will have the authority to seize the “pit bull” dog and surrender it to the dog
warden to be killed."

Read more about it here----> adbadog

See this section:

Sec. 955.111. (A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.

(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(D) As used in this section, "officer" has the same meaning as in section 959.132 of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing section 955.11 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.

Out of State Individuals Wishing to Voice Opposition:

Until we determine to which committee the Bill has been assigned, if you
would like to voice your opposition, the best thing to do is to:

(1)Send LETTERS to House Leaders (contact info below) and voice your
opposition.

(2)Call the leadership and leave messages voicing your opposition.

Leadership Contact Information:

John Husted
Speaker of the House
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6008
Fax : (614) 719-3591
Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Kevin DeWine
Speaker Pro Tempore
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111

Telephone: (614) 644-6020
Fax : (614) 719-3970
Email Address: district70@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Larry L. Flowers
Majority Floor Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-4847
Fax : (614) 719-6958
Email Address: district19@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Jim Carmichael
Assistant Majority Floor Leader
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-1474
Fax : (614) 719-0003

Email Address: district03@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)
Michelle G. Schneider
Majority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6023
Fax : (614) 719-3589
Email Address: district35@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Shannon Jones
Assistant Majority Whip
77 S. High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 644-6027
Fax : (614) 719-3967
Email Address: district67@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Joyce Beatty
Minority Leader
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-5343
Fax : (614) 719-3581
Email Address: district27@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

T. Todd Book
Assistant Minority Leader
77 S. High St

14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-2124
Fax : (614) 719-6989
Email Address: district89@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Fred Strahorn
Minority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-2960
Fax : (614) 719-6940
Email Address: district40@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

Mike Foley
Assistant Minority Whip
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Telephone: (614) 466-3350
Fax : (614) 719-3910
Email Address: district14@ohr.state.oh.us (state.oh.us)

A great video!!!!!!

2008-03-21T20:23:00.001-04:00

A small warning besides the graphic abuse of pit bulls shown in the video, there is some language in the song used.

A real tearjerker of a video.

Dog Powered Scooter

2008-02-29T16:23:00.002-05:00

Dog powered scooter available at http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/

A great way to exercise your large breed dog or pit bull! What a great way to get out there and spend some quality time together all the while exercising your pit and taking advantage of that strength and pulling power :D I might get myself one of these some day when I have some spending money ;) I'm sure Halo would just love this! He wants to be by my side 24/7 anyhow, this way I get something out of it too. Not to mention that this keeps the dog at your side in a heel position allowing you to maintain the Alpha role as pack leader. A great idea indeed!

Pit Bull & Chicks

2007-06-26T08:40:00.002-04:00

And people think all pit bulls are blood thirsty animal killers...pleeeease...... see more videos in full post.....

Positive Pitbull Footage! :D

2006-09-08T12:13:00.000-04:00

Wallace on the news

Wallace is a Frisbee dog and darn good at it! At the Championship after a tie breaker, Wallace took the second place trophy. Go Wallace!!! :D

The Dog House

Wallace is one lucky dog. Originally marked for euthanasia at the shelter, Wallace was given a new leash on life by his new family. Not only has he proved that rescued pit bulls can be great family members, but star-class atheletes as well! One of 6 dogs, he comes from a large, happy, furry family. :D If only all pitties could be so lucky!

Keep up the great work Wallace and family!

Foot in Mouth

2006-06-19T11:53:00.000-04:00

It certainly cannot taste that good!

I can only imagine why he would!

He'd have turned green if he could!

Sweet Dreams

2006-06-19T11:34:00.000-04:00

Now that Summer is here and temps are heating up, there's no place the dogs love more than our bedroom! We have a window AC unit that keeps the room nice and cool on hot days. Halo especially loves to lay in front of it on the comforter and chill. If he knows the air is on and he's not in the room he'll cry outside the door and stick his little paws thru the gap at the bottom begging to be let in. When the ac is not on he likes to hog all the cool air by laying RIGHT in front of the fan on the floor downstairs. He certainly knows how to make it thru summer.

Halo

2006-05-31T11:11:00.000-04:00

Our pup Halo. Kind of crazy how he came to be a part of our family... I would never have seen it coming.

We had put in an offer on a house, and all was looking well for us, so we considered the idea of once we were moved adopting an older male pit bull to keep Bridget company. A couple of weeks ago my friend says to me, "I'm going to Missouri to help my friend with some stuff.... we're only gonna be gone for 2 days.... you should come." Of course, with everything going on there was no way I could get away, even for 2 days. Then, she calls me a couple of days later and says...." Guess what! Her ex-husband has pit bull puppies and says that he needs good homes for the last 2 and that I can have one.... do you want a pup?" Now I'm thinking, oh boy..... I really didn't want to take on a pup with a new baby coming in Dec. and after Bridget I am hesitant to get ANY pup! But, this one wasn't my decision. After Bridget turned out to be shy, I promised that my husband would get next pick on any pets that we got. He hates backyard breeders but was interested in the idea of getting a purebred pup from a good breeder as he figured it would be less likely to have temperment problems. So, he was interested in seeing pics of the 2 pups.

Well, THEN she calls me up and says....... "He is in town with the pups!! He decided to save her the trip and came to Michigan. Wanna go see them?" So I said sure and we headed over to see them. Of course, part of me was hoping that it just wouldn't click..... puppies are SO much work. Ha! But, when I got there, I knew that was all there was. He was perfect! Shawn has always wanted a white pit and there he was in all of his glory! White with black on his nose and mouth and little spots on his ears. Brown eyes with what looked like eyeliner and he was so lovey! He ran right up to me tail wagging.... such an opposite to Bridget! He had been raised around children and was an indoor pup. He was not at all shy! Love at first sight :D

So he came home with me. Day one was a bit crazy as Bridget had no idea what to do with something so small in comparison and was having a hard time adjusting to playing with him. She was enthralled with him from day one, even now I hardly get to spend time with her because she is with the puppy. At first she would try to play tug-o-war by grabbing the toy and dragging him across the floor until he let go. Now she knows to stand in one spot and let HIM tug to make the game last longer. hehehehe I was a bit worried at first that she might be jealous. But so far she could care less about us. She just wants to play with Halo. She is surprisingly gentle with him. Carefully grabbing him when they play so as not to apply too much pressure. If anything... he is the aggressor. She will often roll over and let him have the dominant role. It's too funny seeing this little pup having the upper hand with Bridget. They play ALL day long and sometimes in the middle of the night!

He is a smart little whipper snapper. He is ready for bed at 7 pm, and if we are not ready he will go upstairs and sit in front of the bedroom door and howl. Luckily he holds everything all night, but when that alarm goes off at 5:30 am... you had best be on the ball getting him out to go potty! HA!

I never wanted to get another puppy, but I'm glad that we did. I think this will work out well in the long run for everyone. He is a great example of a true Love-a-bull!

I would be interested to hear other people's stories about getting a puppy when you already had an pre-existing adult (Bridget is 1 1/2 years) and how it worked out and what kind of bonds they developed. Of course Bridget is fixed and Halo will be just as soon as he is old enough ;)

Bridget at the Park

2006-04-13T17:21:00.000-04:00

Bridget and Katie playing fetch in the lake at the park.

Forum down until April 2nd

2006-03-31T14:51:00.000-05:00

Well, I exceeded my bandwidth again :P No worries though, it always comes back around each month ;) So, I apologize to any of you who were trying to visit the forum. Please check back again in a day or so :)

http://www.angelwolfstudio.com/pbit/

Negligent Owner

2006-03-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. Mar 29, 2006 (AP)— A woman whose three pit bulls fatally mauled an 82-year-old neighbor as she walked a small dog was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.

................................

During the trial, witnesses testified that Large's pit bulls menaced the neighborhood. Animal control officers had taken two of the dogs away in 2004 after they were accused of killing a kitten. At one point, Large had 13 pit bulls in her trailer.

It is so very unfortunate that irresponsible owners still have access pit bulls and other struggling breeds. Every time one of these people's untrained, neglected and/or abused animals is involved with a very unfortunate event such as this, the entire breed takes the blame for it. It's like blaming "the other woman" :P The owners are the ones responsible for their dogs, regardless of breed. The dogs are animals and only responsible for reacting to stimuli based on the way they had been conditioned to act. They could have just as easily been any other breed of dog. Many large breeds (and tenacious ones such as terriers) can often have small prey drive... which will even sometimes apply to small dogs. If an owner recognizes this in their dog, it is THEIR responsibility to keep their dog restrained and away from other small animals. Of course, in this instance it doesn't sound like this woman had any right to own any dog much less a bunch of pitties. They require a loving yet firm trainer and much attention, much as a child would.

Every time a story like this makes its way into the paper, the whole breed and all lovers of the breed take the heat for it. It is unfair and wrong to judge an entire breed based on the actions of the few. People are the ones to blame here, and until the real issues of responsible dog ownership are addressed, these problems will continue to be prevaliant in certain breeds of dog. Not because of an inheriant trait, but because of a popularity amoungst the wrong type of owner :(

SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. Mar 29, 2006 (AP)— A woman whose three pit bulls fatally mauled an 82-year-old neighbor as she walked a small dog was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.

Deanna Large, 37, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in December for the death of Dorothy Sullivan, who was attacked by the roaming dogs last March.

Sullivan had been walking her Shih Tzu, Buttons, in her front yard in Partlow when the dogs attacked and killed both.

Large was also found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of allowing her dogs to run loose and could have faced up to 10 years in prison.

Sullivan's death sparked outrage in her rural community, where residents said they had long been terrorized by aggressive, roaming dogs. Sullivan's family collected thousands of signatures on a petition urging stricter dog laws, and the General Assembly passed legislation imposing tough penalties on dog owners whose pets seriously injure others.

During the trial, witnesses testified that Large's pit bulls menaced the neighborhood. Animal control officers had taken two of the dogs away in 2004 after they were accused of killing a kitten. At one point, Large had 13 pit bulls in her trailer.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Forum for Pittie Lovers

2006-03-07T16:24:00.000-05:00

I know that things have been a bit slow lately..... but, I am sure it will pick up. So many people have stopped by the site and I would just like to say "Thank You!" If the forum or blog has helped to educate even one person, then I feel like it has been worth it :D

I know that my posts have been sparse lately... so much going on in the real world right now that I have little time for the computer :P But, I will try to get things going once we move and get settled in. Please do not hesitate to swing by the forums and join and post away! Please share all that you can as many new pit owners and lovers need a place to learn, share and grow.

Please be sure to check out the links..... many of them stay much more up to date than I am able to. There is much useful and important information on BSL to be found and shared. And don't forget the free photo album at the Pit Bulls in Truth forum.... share your little angels with us :D We love to see all the loved pitties out there!

And don't forget..... if you are interested in joining Pit Bulls in Truth as a blog poster, email me (found in my profile) to get signed on. It's FREE and there are no obligations to post.... just post pittie related topics and stories whenever you feel like it :D I'd love to find a few people to help keep the blog fresh with new pictures, stories and headlines!!!

Thanx to all who have stopped by!
Angie & Bridget (my luv-a-bull)

2006-03-06T08:20:00.000-05:00

Visions of Bridget

2006-03-06T08:18:00.000-05:00

Bridget hates me taking pictures when she is trying to rest.... she eventually got up and relocated, but I did manage to get this shot :D

Big Bad Bridget

2006-01-22T09:58:00.000-05:00

Oooooo..... see the Big Bad Bridget! Doesn't she look so tough and cool in her sunglasses, hangin with Shawn? HA! She wishes! She's really just a big pansy! Read on to hear the full story about the BBB.

Late one night Bridget and I were lying in bed watching tv. It was about 2:30 am and the shows were starting to get lame. All of a sudden we heard a big "CRASH!" come from downstairs! Bridget leapt up from her comfy spot on the bed and started barking... WOOF!WOOF!WOOF!!! Groooooowl!!! WOOF! She barked and growled frantically. Hackles raised she stood at the end of the bed and made her stand. I however knew that the cat had been getting into trouble in the bathroom of late and had obviously knocked over the towel stand. But poor BBBridget thought that there was either an intruder or a monster in the house.

Even in the dark, I could see, and feel, her shaking like a leaf. She was so scared that her body was one tremor after another.

I got out of bed and opened the door to let her go downstairs and see for herself that it was just the cat.... but Noooooooo, she wasn't having it. She wasn't going to leave the room. So I grabbed her by the collar and moved her outside the room and said "Go see Bridget. It's just the kitty cat.", and shut the door so she would go investigate. No way. She sat in front of the door and wouldn't budge.

Well, I figured I had to put an end to this silly scariness, so I led the way downstairs. All the while Bridget hung close behind, peering out from beside my legs as we walked down the stairs. She followed close behind, jumpy and scared as we made our way to the bathroom... the source of the loud noise.

As we walked in we spotted the cat throwing about a roll of toilet paper and lo-and-behold the towel stand was on it's side in the middle of the floor. Bridget was relieved to find the cat the culprit.... though I was rather distressed at the amount of chaos in the bathroom.

With a chuckle I followed Bridget as she led the way back to the warm sanctuary of the bedroom. She didn't fall right to sleep as she wanted to check the grounds thru the bedroom window a couple of times just to be safe...... but we eventually left the crappy late-night tv schedule behind for dreams of giant destructive radioactive kitty cats!

The Love of a Pit Bull

2005-11-12T10:40:00.000-05:00

LMFAO...he's gonna kill me for this ;) hahahahaha.................................. EVERY morning for about the last 2 months now, when Shawn comes home from work in the morning, Bridget meets him at the door. All wiggly butt and EXTREMELY happy to see him, she awaits the lovin :D LOL He greets her and then sits down in a chair to take his shoes off. She will LEAP into his lap and sit on it....hugging him... giving him oooooodles of hugs and kisses! OOOODLES!!! LMAO That is their morning ritual... afterwards, she spends the rest of the day with me :D I only wish my photos could show you how fast her tail wags! LOL

To see another image I created....

Photographs

2005-11-07T14:27:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I fear that photographs will be all that is left.......... Please help educate people about the truth on pit bulls and help us fight BSL!

Collage and damaged photo created in PS CS

Court TV Ticker Story

2005-11-07T14:22:00.000-05:00

Saw today on Court TV on the ticker about a 6 year old who was critically injured after 3 pit bulls escaped from a home and attacked 6 people and the little boy.

Has anyone heard the specifics on this story???? I hate when they use such "choice" words in a one sentence quip that creates a sense of panic and fear How come you never see any other dog attack stories being broadcast like that? gggggrrrrrrrrr I really wish people would stop picking on a specific breed.

Maybe it could be made to where they can only use the word dog in the headline, and NOT the breed. Then it wouldn't sell as many papers, as most people won't take time to read the specifics to see what breed it was. Because we all know, dog bite stories don't sell papers.... only pit bull attacks It's so very sad.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-dogs06.html

Three pit bulls rampaged through a McHenry County neighborhood Saturday, mauling six people, including a 10-year-old boy listed in "very critical condition," the county sheriff said.

The dogs were pets in a home in the 6700 block of Hawthorne, in an unincorporated area near Cary. A door to the home was propped open with a box, allowing the dogs to come and go, Sheriff Keith Nygren said.

"They were marauding in the neighborhood," he said. "If you were out and they came after you, you were going to be a victim."

Just before 5 p.m., all three dogs left the home and mauled 10-year-old Nick Foley. His father, Harold, 37, came to his aid and was also attacked, Nygren said.

The boy was severely mauled and taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Nygren said. Fog kept rescue workers from airlifting the boy. "I can't imagine what it's like to have one, let alone three, dogs intent on dismembering you," the sheriff said.

The dogs' owner, Scott Sword, heard screams and ran out of his garage to try to stop the attacks, Nygren said. The dogs turned on him, and he, too, was mauled, the sheriff said. Three other people were attacked -- Gerd Gerdes, 42, James Dunne, 48, and Jordan Lamarde, 10, he said.

The victims, some lying in the street, were found in a two-block area, said Cary Fire Protection District Lt. Michael D. Douglass. "It was a chaotic scene," he said.

One neighbor drove his truck at the dogs, trying to force them back into their home. One of the dogs jumped on the hood.

Firefighters couldn't reach some of the injured because of the animals, which tried to attack them. Officers shot and killed two dogs. The third was hit and briefly got away but was fatally shot by Cary Police Sgt. Jim Fillmore, who was blocking off a street. "He looked pretty wild-eyed," Fillmore said.

It was unclear what set off the dogs, which Nygren estimated to weigh 80, 60 and 45 pounds. He knew of no past incidents with the dogs, and said his officers were collecting evidence and would talk with prosecutors Monday about the case. "This is a crime scene."

AAAAGHHHHHHH!!!! Anyone else asking themselves why the hell 3 dogs were allowed free reign of a neighborhood! Now this is a prime example of how an irresponsible dog owner ruins it for the rest of us! 80, 60 and 45? Quite the range.... I wonder if they were even all 3 pits? Of course they never post pictures :(

2005-09-13T23:51:00.000-04:00

Captain Bridget

Bridget's Halloween Outfit! :D

2005-09-10T20:04:00.000-04:00

Bridget's Halloween Outfit! :)

I made it myself ;) I'm actually feeling rather proud that I actually managed to throw it together with no pattern and little sewing experience....... and considering how blah I have been feeling :P Feels good to accomplish something :D

Isn't she CUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!!! LOL She is not too fond of it yet ;) But I think she will warm up to it before Halloween gets here :)

New Forum!!!!

2005-08-31T07:02:00.000-04:00

Now up and running! The Pit Bulls in Truth online forum! :D

It is a Free Forum, open to everyone! Please stop by and sign up to join us :)

My goal is to have a place where people can come not only talk about
the issues related to owning a Pit these days, and fighting BSL...
but also a resource for those trying to find other like-minded
people from certain areas involved in fighting BSL and promoting
the positive image of the Pit Bull.

I especially would like to encourage those of you who keep up with
meetings and BSL to help fill up the sections on BSL listed by State
so that people searching can find the information they need.

There are also areas for general discussion, stories, adoption,
resources and much more!

I need everyone's help in making this into the best and most
thorough Pit Bull forum out there!!!

Won't you join us?

Ang'

Topics include......

Love-a-bulls
Breed Information and History
A place to learn about the Pit Bull

Love-a-bulls
A place to discuss Bully breeds and meet other people who love them!

Testimonials
Share with us what made you fall for the breed :D

In the news
Heard an interesting tid bit on tv or in the paper??? Please share it with us! :)

Breed Specific Legislation
BSL in general
Share your thoughts on BSL here.

Alabama - Georgia
States alphabetically listed! Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

Hawaii - Maryland
States alphabetically listed! Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

Massachusetts - New Jersey
States alphabetically listed! Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

New Mexico - S. Carolina
States alphabetically listed! Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

S. Dakota - Wyoming
States alphabetically listed! Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

Canada and the UK
Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

BSL Abroad
Please post BSL information, meetings, newsletters, groups, organizations, fund raisers and events here!

Judge the Deed, Not the Breed
Pittie Heros!
Share with us your Pittie Hero!!! We want to show the wonderful, loving, AMAZING side of the breeds!

Wrongfully accused
Please tell us of instances where a Pit has been wrongfully accused so that the record can be set straight!

Bad apples
A place for stories of pits that have indeed done wrong. We must be fair in examining both sides, and determining how best to address this issue.

Just for the Humans
The Park
A place for all other discussion and topics not relating to Pitties.

The Laugh Lounge
Have a funny joke?? We could all use a good laugh for sure! But try and keep it clean and non-offensive please ;)

Suggestions
Did I leave something important out? Let me know!

Resources
Books and Reviews
Read a good book on Pit Bulls, training or dogs in general? Share it with us here! If possible, please provide a link to a site like Amazon for those who wish to purchase a copy :D

Personal Websites
Have a website pertaining to Pit Bulls? Share it with us!

BSL Websites
Know of a good website about BSL? Share it with us!

Known Offenders - DNA List
Know of a person or persons that have mistreated Pits and are still seeking to aquire them? Please let us know.

Pit Bull Rescues
Rescue Groups
Please list your rescue group here.

Transport Requests
Have a dog seeking transport to safety or a new leash on life? You can find others available to help here or offer your resources.

Pits in need of Forever Homes
Have a Pit that has been waiting for a Forever Home... post your info here.

London, Ontario City Meeting on PIT BULLS

2005-08-23T07:04:00.000-04:00

From my friend's blog My World According to Conners

The dog to the left is Shasta... one of the loving, sweet and innocent lov-a-bulls that BSL seeks to exterminate :(

Please be sure to read the whole article.....

As many of you know, BSL is fast becoming the hot new way to address dog bite issues.... if only it did ANYTHING to actually prevent dog bites!!! Oh no my friends, it has nothing to do with prevention... it IS about extermination! The powers that be have decided that certain breeds are unfit to live with humans, and this is hysteria NOT fact, and are now looking for "legal" ways to exterminate every last dog. And the worst part of this....... CRIMINALS DO NOT ABIDE BY THE LAW!!!! What? You say... they DON'T??? Well, that means that only good, law-abiding, responsible dog owners will lose their most precious and loved K-9 companions! How can this be!?

That's right.... that IS how it will be. Hundreds to thousands of dog owners per large city will continue to have their rights, their beloved dogs and their faith in the system ripped away from them as BSL plows its way thru every country on the planet. And what do you think will happen when the not only the dog bites continue, since it is not just pitties that sometimes bite people, but the irresponsible pit bull owners continue to breed, fight and train their dogs inappropriately and unethically in underground rings?????? Oh yes, what WILL happen? How will the law-abiding public feel about that!?! Will the government that passed the laws just shake their heads and say "Hmmmmm.... this BSL doesn't seem to be working to help fix the actual problem. But, we are making lots of revenue off of the people who were never even a problem to begin with! Haha! Let's keep this going.... we will control the people with more propaganda and hysteria in order to keep our backing for this faulty legislation!".... that's probably about the jist of it >:(

Please read the full post, and the information that Conners has gathered on the proposed BSL in Ontario, and you tell me...... does it fix anything!? :(

Soon as I hear there was a City Hall meeting today, which I thought was at 4PM, I quickly grabbed Shasta's leash, baggies and my bike. We had to bike pretty far...well, considering I was concerned for Shasta as she was running and I wanted her to pace herself knowing it was a long way.
Since everyday has been warm, I decided to take a light sweater just incase...I should have taken something a lot warmer as the meeting didn't start until 7PM, so it was a long, COLD wait.
While I was waiting a reporter approached me and asked why I was there. I told him I was opposed to the specific breed ban and how London is making it virtually impossible to own a pit bull even by abiding to all the laws the Province of Ontario laid out.

We talked a little off camera and then I was more relaxed and felt more free to talk. I explained about my disabilities and how Shasta had succeeded to get me out of my of my phobia's...explaing that I was housebound, but taking Shasta for short walks, that slowley became longer and then the biking and told him where we had biked from.
I explained that people such as I was multiple disabilities and only a set income shouldn't be penalized for the breed of dogs we have, nor anyone else as long as they are RESPONSIBLE owners. I didn't set out to get a PIT BULL, it just happened and we bonded and she's my trusted and most wonderful companion that doesn't have a mean bone in her body.
He also took a lot of video of me playing with Shasta and then camera ham Shasta, decided she wanted a close up head shot to the camera. She was GREAT!!! No doubt about it. I'm glad we went as she showed the best of a pittie. Even a squirrel went by and she just sat and watched it to everyones amazement.
Since I didn't get to hear the meeting, I did get some information from the others.
This is just a 'bit' of it and I will post more as I learn more.
Here's the pertinent stuff from the 177 page agenda!! Unfortunately, you can't access the Environment & Transportation Committee agenda at www.london.ca at this time, as the agenda is not coming up...so here's what I can tell you. Hang on to your hats!!It's agenda item # 20, page 98. Try to view later.....
*States that London has about 756 licensed pbs. No estimates on unlicensed.
*States that major advantage of passing a pit bull dog bylaw is to provide dor a licensing system (money grab ) for pit bulls that the DOLA does not provide...
*PB licences would only be issued from the date of the passing of the bylaw until Dec. 31, 05; leaves 3 months for owner to get a grandfathered PB licence for the 2006 yr. After that, no more issuing except annual renewal of 2006 licence and any owners of pbs that do not have a pb licence MUST REMOVE THE PB FROM THE CITY OR HAVE IT DESTROYED!!
*No such tag, not allowed in town! At around the 16 year from now mark, no more pbs will exist in London or be allowed in the city. (can you say extermination?);
*No pbs in off leash area(s);
*must post pb property warning signs;
*$1,000,000 in insurance to be purchased;
*No pbs in multiple unit dwellings: too much insurance for landlord; this makes it possible that many pb owners may be required to move or have their dogs destroyed so city decided not to include such a strict provisin in the bylaw as it's "more desirable" to have the money from licences! and to account for the pbs! Mentions that it can be challenged in charter of rights too! Bless the city for this part: "the owner has the right to move with the dog (either out of London or to a non-multiple dwelling in London), to have the pb destroyed or to transfer ownership of the pb to someone who does not live in a multiple dwelling. Furthermore, the owner would have until Dec. 31/05 in order to move, should he or she chose to keep and licence the dog."
*goes on about muzzling;*enforcement: London bylaw used along with DOLA. For instance, searching for and seizing pbs is left to DOLA. There are 2 ways to lay charges:
1) issuing a Part 1 ticket;
2) laying a Part 3 information.Part 1: used at time of offence; defendant can plead guilty and pay fine w/no court. States disadvantage is that the max fine is only $500.
Part3: defendant must go to court and can't pay out of court; max fine is $5000.00; can seek probation order. Disadvantage: cumbersom administratively . Anticipate serious or repeat offences and orders to destroy would then be sought.List of ticketable offenses:
1) own non grandfathered pb: $500;
2) transfer a grandfthrd pb not by gift or bequest: $500;
3) allow pb run at lg: $500;
4) " " " " in off leash area: $500;
5) fail to renew pb lic: $200;
6) fail to attach tag to pb: $200;
7) fail to ensure pb has muzzle: $500;
8) fail to secure pb w/leash: $500;
9) fail to purchase warning sign: $200;
10) fail to post warning sigh: $300;
11) fail to apply to Licence Agent for chng in ownership of pb: $500;
12) fail to ensure pb has microchip: $300;
13) fail to ensure sterilization of pb: 500;
14) fail to provide Lic agent w/new address, phne #: $200;
15) " " " " w/name address, phone# of person to whom giving possession of pb: $200;
16) " " notify " " immediately if pb running at large: $500;
17) " " " notify " " " " " bitten/attacked: $500;
18) fail to remove/destroy pb: $500
The rest of the document, is ammendments to DOLA, definitions of Who's who and what powers they have, what dwellings are running at large, tags, control of pbs, apps for licence guidelines, when destroying dog is called for, fees, sterilization, muzzling etc excemptions, general provisions blah blah blah....so overwhelming and surreal!
Well that's a bit of 177 pages of agenda.
On a positive note, I didn't just sit there and do nothing. I was collecting signatures galour to fight against the Ontario Governments new law as of Aug. 29th. It can't be fought until it is actually law and then we fight for the new amendments.
If we can change the amendments to the Ontario Law, then that should also dismiss what London council is proposing.
If you are from another city, province or country, I think it wise to see what we are going through, just incase you happen to get targeted somewhere down the road. At least this gives you insite of what is possible and if we can change this, then you know the route to take, or something simular.
My goal is not just for Shasta or my city or my province. My goal is to give information of our goings on to possibly help you if it comes around to you.

Please be sure to stop by Conners blog and website for not only more information about pitties and BSL, but also detailed information about the fight against BSL in Canada!

Another (almost) instance of ignorance.....

2005-08-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

Here locally in Battle Creek, MI they are trying to pass a law that will require handlers of Pit bull breeds and mixes to be at least 18 years of age, on 3 foot leads and muzzled in public.

Now, don't get me wrong... I'm all for the basis of it and glad that they are not yet trying to pass BSL that destroys dogs or prohibits ownership. BUT, their BIG story to back this whole plan up is one of hype and hysteria. A boy was bitten by a pit bull in a friend's back yard. And that story has spawned the local laws to go up for a vote.

Even if the laws they want to pass were in effect back then, he STILL would have been bitten. This was not an attack that happened in public. It was in a private setting where the dog would NOT have been required to be muzzled.

Why punish the public for what happened and wouldn't have been avoided by the law being in effect? They are using something that the people find Scary to get backing for the law. Why not just be honest? The laws will not stop people from getting bit by dogs. Not even by pit bulls. It just gives people a false sense of security. Target dogs that have shown aggression and cannot pass fair and thourough aggression tests. Prohibit the conditions that lead to mentally unstable dogs. Apply these laws to ALL breeds, and you will see a reduction in dog bites.

I am not for certain, but by the footage shown, it appears that the dog was a junkyard style dog. Chained it's whole life on a logging chain. If this is the case, as it is in many dog bite cases, it could have been avoided by creating laws that require people to keep animals like dogs as PETS and family members as oppossed to livestock conditions where they are often ignored, neglected and abused and taunted by passer-bys.

The worst thing is that when they pass this law, and they realize that it really accomplishes NOTHING... they will seek to take the next step in the wrong direction.

Pick your battles carefully people. You only better the world thru intelligent, well-planned, fair & conscientious effort.

Pit bulls are NOT for everyone, hell, they're not even for most anyone.... but no more so than Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Greyhounds, Mexican Hairlesses, Beagles or Teacup Poodles. Every breed has specifications and care concerns that an owner MUST be knowledgable about before adopting. People really need to take a lot of time and consideration before getting a dog. They are not all the same. And because people vary so vastly in lifestyle and personality, there is no such thing as a worthless breed. Every breed has something to offer and something to be aware of.

My child has just as good a chance, if not better because the media teaches us that only certain breeds bite, of getting bitten by my friend's White Shepard, my neighbor's Black Lab mix or my mother's Aussie mix. Why? Because each of these people dog's are NOT trained and cared for properly. Why should they? They don't own a "Dangerous Breed"???? There are no dangerous breeds folks.... only Dangerous DOGS! And they can be effectively controlled if people are willing to take the time and utilize the resources to do so.

But honestly, with so many government and local cutbacks... what animal control has the time to investigate every aggressive dog call, to take the time to do temperment tests, and provide followups? How many times have you watched an Animal Cops show just to hear.... this person wasn't allowed by law to possess any more animals..... but yet, they do! Why, because no one took the time to make sure that unfit owners weren't getting MORE pets! So let's just slap a band-aid on it and call it fixed! If we ban the pit bulls.... no more children will get mauled by dogs. WRONG!!!

If you really want to do something to stop the problem, encourage local government to provide your local authorities with the proper laws, training, tools and resources to help put an end to dog bites.

An article from WWMT

BATTLE CREEK (NEWS 3) - Battle Creek officials have backed away from plans to strictly regulate the city's pit bull population - at least for now.

An ordinance change was to be introduced at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting. It would require that, when in public, pit bulls be muzzled, kept on a 3-foot leash and restrained by an adult.

After lengthy public comment, commissioners voted to shelve those proposed changes. The City will reconsider how to deal with the ongoing problem of vicious dogs.

At Monday's public hearing, Tanya Raab of the United Kennel Club encouraged Battle Creek to strictly enforce existing leash laws, and to continue to root out the practice of dog fighting. "It's the people that need to be taken care of, and not the dogs," she said.

Battle Creek officials began studying the issue in June at the request of the police department. In a memo, Assistant City Attorney Barbara Hobson told commissioners that pit bulls and pit bull mixes have become the "weapon of choice for many youthful offenders.

In the month of June, five pit bulls were shot after charging at Battle Creek police or animal control officers.

In that same month, the city's Animal Control picked up 105 stray dogs, 44 of which were pit bulls or mixes.

Meantime, a West Michigan animal advocate is leading efforts to change Michigan's dangerous dog laws.

Steve Lawrence, Director of Kalamazoo County Animal Services, says existing state laws give animal control officers little power to intervene - until a person is badly mauled.

Lawrence is proposing a new classification called "potentially dangerous dogs." Aggressive dogs and their owners could be put on notice. Animal control could require owners to fence their yard, muzzle their dogs, or even mandate obedience training for problem animals. "You put the responsibility back on the owner," he said.

Lawrence is working with officials in surrounding counties and plans to deliver a proposal to state lawmakers in coming months.

I am happy to see that they are handling this fairly and reasonably and that they will seek better, alternative methods to helping fix the problem.

Update on Sparta Meeting :(

2005-08-04T23:23:00.000-04:00

It is with much sadness in my heart that I have to announce that Sparta has passed a pit bull ban. I am also extremely saddened by the fact that I was the only person who attended the city council meeting in opposition to BSL.

I put together a packet of information which was reviewed by Henry, the attorney I work for. Henry, who is also very politically inclined, thought the packet was well put together and made many sound arguments. Unfortunately, the city council never even looked at it. Their minds were already made up. Immediately after I made my statement, the mayor recited bogus facts related to the PSI in a pit bull's jaws and many other of the pit bull "myths". Although I was allowed to rebut these statements, other members of the council immediately motioned for a vote, which was passed unanimously.

The mayor specifically made the statement to the council that we can be "reactive" and focus on dangerous dogs (which is what I urged them to do), or "proactive" and focus on pit bulls.

In speaking with Henry earlier today, we acknowledged the fact that I had so much trouble getting on the agenda because the council had, in fact, already decided this issue. Henry assured me that if the ban passed, he would personally call the Sparta city judge and also take my packet of information to him to review. At this point, the only hope we have is that Judge Mitchell will review the information and find the ban to be unconstitutional and speak with the council. Otherwise, pit bulls are banned in Sparta, Tennessee.

Jodi

BSL in Sparta & Woodbury, TN meet THURS

2005-08-03T23:36:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that the Sparta Board of Aldermen and the Mayor will meet at 5 p.m., at Sparta City Hall tomorrow - Thursday, August 4, 2005. The proposed pit bull ban - which is in response to Sparta's drug problem, not a dog problem - will be the main topic of discussion. I would love to see as many of you there as possible to politely encourage the Sparta officials to focus on the problem at hand and not use pit bulls as their "scapegoat."

Thanks! Jodi

I went to Sparta this afternoon to visit the mayor and to get his approval to speak at the city council meeting on Thursday. After experiencing much runaround, I am on the agenda so pitties will have a voice and be represented in Sparta!!

I have been corresponding with a Commissioner in Woodbury. Fortunately, we do have an ally there as she is very much against BSL, and has promised to keep me advised as to what is transpiring there.

At any rate, keep those letters coming going to both cities.
Please write with positive pit bull information and opposition to BSL

Sparta city hall fax: (931) 836-3941.
Woodbury contact info: http://www.sparta-chamber.net/gov.htm
Thanks!!
The headline is very misleading. I just talked to someone in City Hall... this HAS NOT been passed yet. However, it can be passed after 2 readings, and the second reading is August 4... NEXT THURSDAY!!! The ban can be passed on 2 readings, and this will be the second reading. No one was aware of the first reading, so no one showed up to oppose it.
We really need people to show up at Sparta City Hall next Thursday in opposition to the breed ban. Breed bans do not work as they take the focus of the true issue - irresponsible owners - and target all the dogs of one breed, the guilty as well as the innocent.

Sparta is the next town over and 15 minutes from me!! We have just a little over a week to voice our opposition to this law! The Sparta city attorney is co-council on a case with my boss, so I'm going to ask him to talk with her about it to see if he can get any info. I will try to come up with more contact info, so far all I have is the mayor:

Sparta Mayor
Tommy Pedigo
6 Liberty Square
P.O. Box 30
Sparta, Tennessee 38583
FAX NUMBER: (931) 836-3941

I don't know how many of the below contacts are relevant, but I'm sending them all. I am also attaching a link to an article that states the breed ban was proposed due to "recent attacks on children." I live about 15 minutes from Sparta, and I have heard absolutely nothing about any attacks. Also, one of the girls I work with lives in Sparta, and she hasn't heard anything about any pit bull incidents either.
Update:
We got the "real" scoop on the proposed pit bull ban in Sparta. It is not in response to recent attacks on children as the newspaper articles indicated, it is because the city officials say "all the meth heads have pit bulls." Ok... so if you get rid of the pit bulls you automatically get rid of the druggies??

http://www.newschannel5.com/content/news/13271.asp

City of Sparta
www.spartatennessee.com

Sparta is governed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
The City Council meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays
at 5:00 P.M. at the City Hall which is located at 6 Liberty Square.

Mayor Tommy Pedigo
9 Cook Street
(931) 836-3273

Vice Mayor, Hoyte Jones
227 Cliffview
(931) 836-2426

Aldermen:
Ben Holland
58 Whispering Pines Drive
(931) 738-5955

Howard "Fuzz" Griffin
519 Cedar Lane
(931) 836-3408

Bobby Officer
216 S. Oak St.
(931) 837-4673

Margaret Pearson
P.O. Box 22
(931) 836-3772

Debbie Sopha
1136 Highland Drive
(931) 837-9000

City Officials
City Administrator
Marty Carmichael
PO Box 30
City Hall Liberty Square
(931) 836-3248

Administrative Assistant
Angie Wilhite
(931) 836-3248

City Recorder
Tonya Tindle
City Hall
(931) 836-3248

City Clerk
Lorie Cannon
(931) 836-3248

City Attorney
Lynn Sparkman
(931) 836-2226

Manager Sparta Electric & Water System
Wayne Rogers
Box 468
(931) 738-2281

Municipal Court Judge
Denny Mitchell
112 S. Main St.
(931) 836-3192

Police Chief
Jeff Guth
323 E. Bockman Way
ph (931) 836-3734

Fire Chief
Ed Kay
715 North Spring St.
(931) 738-7380

Codes Enforcement Officer
Dennis Clark
City Hall
(931) 836-3248

Animal Control Officer
Animal Shelter
East Bronson
(931) 836-6476

Street Superintendent
Clay Parker
South Carter St.
(931) 836-3422

Waste Treatment Plant
Dalmas Bussell & Ron Hutchings
(931) 738-3290

Jodi Preis
Bless the Bullys
http://www.blessthebullys.com/

Do justice to the orphans and the needy, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
Psalm 10:18

LAST CHANCE PITS
http://last-chance-pits.tripod.com

Dawn Watch Update on BSL

2005-08-03T21:06:00.000-04:00

ALL THIS NEWS AFFECTS EVERYONE WHO LOVES PIT BULLS IN OUR NATION!

July 27 -- ABC NEWS
"Ban Has Denver Pit Bulls Marked for Death"
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=975154&page=1 -- Typical of the media, they got it wrong! CA is NOT considering a pit bull ban. They are working on laws to mandate spay/neuter, as well as have breeding licenses and fining irrresponsible owners (it's BSL, but not a death sentence; in fact, I think those laws should be in place for ALL dogs). And I doubt that the city council has only heard from 10 people in Colorado on this issue, and 1,990 from other states.

July 29 -- MSNBC
"Denver pit bull ban leads to 'dogs in hiding'"
http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644998/

Updates on BSL -- Thank goodness for sane Maine!
http://www.napbta.com/bsl.html

Aug 2 -- Los Angeles Times
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050802/ts_latimes/denversdoggedoutlaws

[DawnWatch alert on LA Times story above -- ACTION NEEDED!!!!]
The front page of the Tuesday, August 2, Los Angeles Times has a heartbreaking story about people having to either adopt out family members or leave their homes thanks to Denver's overreaching pitbull ban. It is headed, "Denver's Dogged Outlaws; The city has banned pit bulls. Owners hide them, move away or turn to an 'underground railroad' to keep them from being put to death."

After some heartbreaking stories, including one about a man now living in a car so that he can keep his dogs, we learn that "Denver is not alone in banning the breed -- cities including Cincinnati, Miami and Lanett, Ala., have outlawed pit bulls." But then we get welcome news about California: "California cities cannot ban specific breeds of dogs, but a bill in the state Legislature would permit them to require certain breeds be spayed and neutered, making them less aggressive."

As California kills hundreds of thousand of dogs every year in shelters, most true animal advocates would be thrilled to see compulsory spay/neuter of all breeds as long as there are any dogs dying for lack of homes. Why not start with those breeds deemed dangerous, that tend to attract those who enjoy organizing dog fights for sport? I write that as the adoptive mother of a sweet little red-nose pitbull, who is, of course, spayed. But thousands of her relatives die every year in California shelters and countless others die in organized dog fights. A ban on breeding them would be wonderful. And it is no doubt the compromise needed that will prevent a misguided over-reaching law like that in Denver, which takes loving dogs out of loving homes.

The bill is SB 861, authored by Senator Jackie Speier, a democrat from the San Francisco/San Mateo area. It states, "Cities and counties may enact dog breed-specific ordinances pertaining only to mandatory spay or neuter programs and breeding requirements." You can read it on line at: http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/bill/sen/sb_0851-0900/sb_861_bill_20050705_amended_asm.html

The California Legislative Action Alert recommends that we "Tell the legislators that local government needs to have the ability to regulate the breeding of pit bulls, the unnamed subjects of this legislation, for the welfare of both the public and the dogs themselves. Too many misused and mistreated pit bulls flood the animal shelters."

Californians, you can WRITE IN FAVOR to your assembly member and please also send a quick note of support to the bill's author, Senator Speier. You can email her at: Senator.Speier@sen.ca.govIt is likely the office will print out emails in support. A written letter is preferable (but only if it actually gets printed out and sent) and should be sent to:

Senator Jackie Speier
State Capitol, Room 2032
Sacramento, CA 95814

You can read the full Los Angeles Times article on line at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20050802/ts_latimes/denversdoggedoutlaws

OR http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-pitbulls2aug02,1,5499635.story OR try this Tiny URL http://tinyurl.com/amjb4

It presents a great opportunity for letters about California's companion animal overpopulation crisis and the need for extensive spay-neuter legislation. Legislators look to letters to the editor pages as barometers of public opinion, so your letters matter. The Los Angeles Times takes letters at: letters@latimes.com

Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Shorter letters are more likely to be published.

Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. To unsubscribe, go to www.DawnWatch.com/unsubscribe.php. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this tag line.)

Debate on BSL in Madison

2005-07-28T13:00:00.000-04:00

My latest post from the debate over at Madison.com

It took hours or searching to find the information contained within...... to me, it bears repeating.

ChicagolandTails

“It turns out that Pit Bulls are, in fact, absolutely the same as all dogs,” argues Dr. Karen Overall, a veterinary behaviorist and researcher in the psychiatry department at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine–Philadelphia, who bases her view on research she and others have conducted. What’s more, last summer, the Supreme Court of Alabama ruled there is no genetic evidence identifying Pit Bulls as inherently more dangerous than other dogs.

The truth is that Pit Bulls were indeed bred (using mostly various Bull Terrier breeds) to fight other dogs. “It’s true that some Pit Bulls are genetically hardwired to be dog-aggressive, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with being aggressive to people,”

Arkanimals

The pit bull attacks in Orange County on February 24, 2004 were tragic, but could have been prevented by enforcement of leash laws and the teaching of responsible pet ownership.

There are laws in every state and community related to pets, their care, and management. One of the more important is the leash law--a law that dictates that a dog be managed by the owner while it is out in public. Unfortunately, there are irresponsible pet owners who let their animals roam unattended on a regular basis.

Pit bull and other dog attacks frequently occur here around the nation because people let their animals run "free." It is a big problem that requires neighborhoods and local communities to push for enforcement.

wgnradio

pitbulls.jentown

badrap

Mercury news

Animal People News

PitBull Press

Dr. Patrice A. Whittington, aveterinarian who works with the shelter and practices in Yorktown and Armonk, said pit bulls are ''ideal patients,'' noteworthy for ''the way they never complain during procedures.'' Sara Etkin, an animal behaviorist, described them as highly intelligent and easy to train. The tragedy, Ms. Etkin and Dr. Whittington explained, is that their inherent traits have been used against them by the wrong people: their willingness to follow commands, for example, makes them subservient to cruel owners who force them to fight.

NewYork Tails

With the testimony of an animal behaviorist, Peter Borschelt, Ph. D., the judge was convinced that the statute was unconstitutionally vague, and that due to the fact that many of the "pit bull type" breeds are actually recently created breeds made by mixing of various other breeds. As such, most individual dogs could not be definitely identified as being of one breed or another, unless the dog's parents were known.

National Geographic News

Zawistowski, a certified applied animal behaviorist, says if given the choice of six breeds, he could create a dog in ten years that would make drug dealers "pee in their pants."

But he adds it's more than just genetics that determine how a dog behaves. Training and environment also play a part.

"A pit bull that has been properly socialized and trained—and kept in a home, walked on a leash, and kept in a yard with a fence—isn't necessarily dangerous," Zawistowski explained.

"Nobody has been killed by a pit bull since [the ordinance took effect] in Denver," she said.

Still, it hasn't stopped residents from owning the dogs. City officials estimate 4,500 pit bulls are being kept illegally.

Bui, vice president of the American Canine Foundation, said breed-specific legislation doesn't protect the public or stop illegal activity involving dogs and it wastes thousands of dollars of taxpayer money, which could be better spent on enforcement of animal control laws.

The San Francisco SPCA Behavior and Training Department says:

Although Pit Bull attacks on humans are headline-makers, it is difficult to tease out how much these incidents are due to the genetics of the dogs concerned and how much to the rearing practices of the irresponsible owners that are often drawn to "tough breed of the month" dogs such as Pit Bulls. And, tomake matters more complicated, the same irresponsible owners may have selectively bred strains of PitBulls that are more aggressive to people. That said, it is probably safe to say that randomly bred orfighting line Pit Bulls that are properly raised arenot at elevated risk for aggression to humans. It is also safe to say that Pit Bulls, on the whole, are at elevated risk of aggression directed at other dogs. This isnot to say that every Pit Bull will become dog aggressive. Far from it: they are simply at greater risk compared to most other breeds of dog. Scores of Pit Bulls and Pit Bull crosses are ridiculously dog-friendly or have dog-dog issues that are within the normal range seen by trainers, and are modifiable.

Marinij

Trish King, a Marin Humane Society animal behaviorist and trainer, says that aggression in dogs can be a result of poor breeding or of lax training.

The Sake of the Argument

Personal experiences and media reports are focused on individual dogs, not the breed as a whole. If you want to ban/restrict the entire breed, you need to consider the entire breed. As a canine behaviorist and researcher with a focus on pit bulls, I know quite a few facts on the breed as a whole.

Fact: 83.9% of American Pit Bull Terriers tested by the American Temperament Testing Society (atts.org) have passed. This is a higher passing rate than the Dalmatian, German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and Weimaraner, to name a few. If you have never been to a Temperament Test, I highly recommend it. Your jaw will drop.

Fact: Dogs of "breed unknown" account for 56% of deadly dog bites over 17 years of CDC data (1979-1996, I haven't been able to find anything more recent). Purebred "pit bull"-type dogs are at the top of the KNOWN breeds (17% of deadly bites). But these statistics vary widely from year to year. For instance, in 1995-1996, there were 3 deaths from purebred pit bulls (6%), no deaths from pit mixes, and 10 from Rottweilers. Twenty-two deaths in those two years were caused by "breed unknown". It should be noted that these numbers alone are meaningless with regards to breed temperament and aggressiveness. Take a statistics refresher course or type "dog bite statistics" into your web browser.

Fact: American Pit Bull Terriers are THE breed used for dog fighting. They are bred, trained, and abused for this purpose. No other breed is subjected to this torture. Dog fighting is ILLEGAL, but it happens anyway. In fact, it is on the rise across the nation. Children are often present.

(Question: Knowing the above fact to be true, why aren't there MORE pit bull attacks on people?)

Fact: With the exception of experienced dog handlers, canine behaviorists, and knowledgeable dog owners, the majority of the populace does not understand, and misinterprets, dog body language (i.e. aggression). Note: Dogs DO NOT just "snap"; there is always a reason.

Fact: The OWNER is ALWAYS responsible for what their dog does. A good owner does his/her homework, understands body language, socializes and trains, maintains control at all times. A good owner recognizes when there's a behavior problem and seeks professional help immediately.

Fact: Individual dogs and individual owners are at fault for the attacks we hear so much about. Therefore, it would be logical to punish individuals for their actions, not entire groups.

DoubleDogs

The bottom-line is that BSL is not a community’s answer to dog bite prevention. In addition to the reasons mentioned before, the AKC has this to say about BSL:

Breed-specific laws are not the best way to protect communities. An owner intent on using his or her dogs for malicious purposes will simply be able to switch to another type of dog and continue to jeopardize public safety. The list of regulated breeds or types could grow every year without ever addressing responsible dog ownership. Deeds, not breeds, should be addressed.

For additional information regarding this unfair epidemic you may visit the following websites:

Center for Disease Control

Humane Society of the United States

The American Veterinary Medical Association

ASPCA

American Kennel Club

Missouri Pit Bull Rescue

Pit Bull Rescue Central

American Temperament Test Society, Inc.

Valley Pet News

AVMA REPORT CONCLUDES BREED-SPECIFIC LAWS WON'T SOLVE DOG-BITE PROBLEM

I think the MOST important thing to remember here is THIS......

Still, it hasn't stopped residents from owning the dogs. [Denver] City officials estimate 4,500 pit bulls are being kept illegally.

If that is the case.... then WHAT HAVE THEY REALLY ACCOMPLISHED???? Aside from the destruction of family pets!

Who says????

2005-07-25T00:15:00.000-04:00

Who says Pits can't have fun like other dogs? Bridget and Buddy running thru the wet sand on the lake :) It was a good time :)

I just want to add..... this is NOT a dog she grew up with or anything of the sort. She went to meet Buddy 2 days prior to our trip, just to be sure before going all the way there.... aside from Buddy's cranky old man attitude..... they got along great :)

Such a SWEET Face!!! :D

2005-07-25T00:12:00.000-04:00

"How do you say no?"

MISSING PIT BULL!!! Family Pet! Memphis area!

2005-07-18T13:07:00.000-04:00

We lost our pit bull on July 5th in the Park & Highland area of Memphis, TN. He is all white, clipped ears, very muscled, about 3 years old. His name is Houser.

We are very worried that someone may want to fight him. He is very gentle and is an inside dog. I am attaching a picture of him. (Please let me know if you can't open the picture. I will be happy to send it in any format you need. We've checked the pound and vet nearby. Don't know where else to turn, so just in case he ends up being rescued, could you please keep this on file. We really need our baby back! His sister is missing him real bad. Thanks.

Deborah Foshee
fosheede@hartcool.com

I will add the pic when I get it..... please contact Deborah via email if you think you have seen her dog!

Please send a polite letter opposing HB78 - BSL in GA

2005-07-15T16:42:00.000-04:00

Subject: Please send a polite letter opposing HB78 - Breed Specific Legisaltion against pit bulls in GA

PERMISSION TO CROSS POST BY ALLISON WOOD

JULY 18th & 25th @ 9 AM ~ 11 AM
18 Capitol Square Room 506 (5th Floor)
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: 404-656-0202 Office of Earnest Williams (Sponsor)

Please email me at americaagainstbsl@yahoo.com for questions or if
you are attending!

If you can not attend, at least email them, or give a phone call and
let those people know how you feel. They are very willing to hear
suggestions/complaints/alternatives. We need you help people! You
love this breed so much, why not save them?

Here is a link to view the full text of HB78.

http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/fulltext/hb78.htm

This is a list of all of the bench people. Email them your opinion!

(1) Williams, Earnest 89th ewilliam@legis.state.ga.us
(2) Brooks,Tyrone 63rd tbrooks@legis.state.ga.us
(3) Watson,Stan 91st staxx@bellsouth.net
(4) Mosby,Howard 90th mosb7101@hotmail.com
(5) Stephenson,Pam 92nd pstephen@legis.state.ga.us
(6) Jordan,Darryl 77th djordan@legis.state.ga.us

There is a really great (and long) Pit Bull Educational Packet,
fresh for 2005 at www.understand-a-bull.com
I have already printed out 6 copies to distribute to the board at
the first meeting (If I can get off of work).

Anyone in GA, Please let me know.

Allison Wood
haynespitbulls@yahoo.com
http://americaagainstbsl.tripod.com
http://aabsl2005.suddenlaunch3.com

Oklahoma looking to propose BSL!!! :(

2005-07-08T15:31:00.000-04:00

http://www.channeloklahoma.com/news/4636103/detail.html?subid=22100424&qs=1;bp=t

MOORE, Okla. -- In the wake of an attack that severed the arm of a 3-year-old boy, an Oklahoma City-area lawmaker said Tuesday that he would propose legislation to ban the American pit bull terrier breed in the state.

Please, visit the link and vote NO and also stay tuned for petitions and addresses of who to contact to get this straightened out!

URGENT!!!! California Residents!!!!!! BSL Petition!!!!!

2005-07-04T11:16:00.000-04:00

http://www.petitiononline.com/nocabsl/petition.html

Very Urgent!!!! Please, if you are a Resident of California against BSL and against predjudice of breed and their owners.... PLEASE sign!!!

Letters and phone calls are also needed!!!!!!

******Please Crosspost!!!*******

Just wanted to remind everyone that the hearing regarding BSL in California is tomorrow (Wednesday).
I cannot stress enough how important this is to us all. California tends to set the precedent for the country. If BSL passes there, pit bull owners everywhere will all be in a terrible position. Not only that, it would be a huge blow to our fight against BSL as California is one of the twelve states the prohibits BSL.
Marcy Setter (who is with PBRC and is the "expert" when it comes to BSL) has advised that the California officials have not received enough opposition to SB 861. PLEASE, PLEASE get your letters to them today. Let legislators know that you are against BSL, and encourage them to pursue legislation that would hold owners accountable for the actions of their dogs, regardless of the breed.
Sample form letters are available at: http://stopbslintn.tripod.com/id17.html. These letters are very simple - you just add the e-mail addresses and change the location. Contact information for the officials can be found at this link: http://www.capeddogservices.org/Legislative_Contacts.html while the key playes are listed below.
Please guys, I know you are tired of hearing me ramble over and over about this, but I just want you all to know how very important this is. The bottom line is, our dogs are at risk, and we need to do everything in our power to make sure they are safe and they we don't lose our right to keep them!! Thanks!!
Jodi

Gavin Newsom: http://us.f506.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=gavin.newsom@sfgov.org (sfgov.org) Fax: (415) 554-6160
Senator Speiers: http://us.f506.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Senator.Speier@sen.ca.gov (sen.ca.gov) fax 415-557-7864
Norreen Evans: http://us.f506.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Assemblymember.Evans@assembly.ca.gov (assembly.ca.gov) fax 916-319-2107
Mark Leno: http://us.f506.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Assemblymember.Leno@assembly.ca.gov (assembly.ca.gov) fax 415-557-3015 (Originaly commented on co authoring)

2005-06-22T00:48:00.000-04:00

Bridget on Vacation..... I love my Pittie Mix! :D She really knows how to play hard! :)

2005-06-21T20:23:00.000-04:00

Checking my Hello Program out. Fractal painting of Bridget :)

Missing & Found Pets Nationwide!

2005-06-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

Missing & Found Pets Nationwide

Please stop by! It is JUST getting started, but please keep it bookmarked in case you need it in the future!

Please stop by if you or someone you know has lost or found a pet! It is FREE to post pictures and information to help find missing pets and missing owners.

Please crosspost everywhere you can! The more exposure, the more pets who will find their families!

Thanx,
Angie

Please feel free to use the above banner and link to www.missingandfoundpets.com

Gizmo - Chinese Hairless Crested MD area!!! MISSING!!! REWARD!!! NEEDS MEDS!!!!

2005-06-21T11:15:00.000-04:00

PLEASE CROSSPOST

EVERYWHERE ASAP!!!!!!!

Especially those in the MD area! If you have a blog or site, please add this post to help get the word out!!!!!!!

Subject: [phillydog] Gaithersburg,MD:Lost hairless
Chinese Crested

Contact: erinlcrum@yahoo.com

I am letting everyone know that my little Hairless Chinese Crested Gizmo has been missing. He was last seen in the Rockville/Gaithersburg MD area.
Gizmo is 1.5 years old, he has been missing since June 8th... I don't know if your site can help, But I have been devastated since he has been gone. If anyone hears anything, we are offering a large reward for Gizmo, He last had on a little black t shirt...He needs his meds and treatments. He suffers from really bad dry eye, so it needs a lot of care. He was actually being babysat,while all this happened, otherwise he would never have run.

Thank you
Erin Crum

Contact: erinlcrum@yahoo.com

Please, if you have ANY info on this little guy... contact Erin at the email addy listed. They want little Gizmo home safe and sound!!!! Losing a beloved pet is like losing a child. You worry about them everyday until you know what has happened to them! If you even think you might have seen this little guy, or know of anyone who has recently aquired a "stray" Chinese Crested.... please give this info to Erin so that it can be followed up on ASAP!

Thank you!

Wonderful page on Pit Bulls and their History as GREAT Dogs!

2005-06-20T23:05:00.000-04:00

Truth about Pit Bulls at Furry Friends Foundation

Includes fabulous vintage images, amazing stories of pittie heros, and MORE!!!

Be sure to check out their adoption pages for loving pits that need loving homes! :)

Slideshow of Vintage Pics

Enjoy! :)

PETA in support of BSL!!!

2005-06-19T21:51:00.000-04:00

YOU HYPOCRITICAL
JERKS!!!!!!!!!

PETA has had some recent bad exposure due to them KILLING dogs and cats because they believed that gasing them was not as humane as the injections THEY wanted to give. So instead of donating the proper kits to the shelters, they took it upon themselves to not only kill and dump the animals in secret, but to lie to shelters and veternarians in order to get the animals they were planning to kill!!!! >:(

Now, as if that weren't bad enough..... I found out that they support BSL. Breed Specific Legislation.... which, any of you following my posts realize is pure ignorance and a blind hate generator :(

From their website.....
PETA factsheet on companion animals

Quote "Few good homes are open to dogs perceived as overly aggressive. Breed-specific legislation (with a "grandfather clause" for those dogs already in existence) can be an important tool in ending the tragic exploitation of these breeds."

What a bunch of BS!!!! How can they say they support the ethical treatment of animals, but then support laws that not only add to hate and misunderstanding about certain breeds, but also allow for the murder of animals!!!!! Even if people stop to actually consider the "Grandfather clause" of which they speak, it still only leads the the death and eventual annihilation of the breed!!!! Perceived aggressiveness should be on a dog by dog basis!!!!! NOT a breed basis!!!!! Pit Bulls and other breeds covered under BSL are NOT aggressive breeds!!!!!! A few bad apples have spoiled the pie :( I cannot believe an organization for the ethical treatment of animals could support such a horrible law!!!! What are they thinking???? They certainly only care for certain animals!!!!! They should have to post a list of animals whom they do NOT support...as it is obvious that they do not care about ALL living things!!!!!

And nicely enough, they leave you with NO easy way to contact them regarding issues or concerns! How nice of them to ignore the people.>:( Gggggrrrrrrr...... makes me sooo mad!

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/08/EDGDLD4G1S1.DTL

Ingrid Newkirk is president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (www.peta.org) and the author of "Making Kind Choices" (St. Martin's Griffin, 2005).

Kind choices my ASS!!!!! >:( Newkirk has obviously seen an oppurtunity thru PETA to make a personal crusade, based on personal experiences, AGAINST pit bulls!!!! Sure, there are pits like the ones described in the article.. but what about the THOUSANDS of pits that live in perfectly loving homes with perfect manners and temperments!!!! And this crap about it being ok for a chihuahua to be aggressive.... it is NOT ok for ANY dog to be aggressive...regardless of size!!!! A pomeranian killed a baby!!! Size does NOT matter!!! :(

Sure, maybe some dog owners relish the idea of the annihilation of the Pit Bull breed.... but most TRUE BLUE dog owners do NOT agree with BSL!!!! Banning an entire breed for the acts of the few is insane!!!!

Let's hope it is a trend setter......

2005-06-15T18:07:00.000-04:00

http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050615/MTCN0401/306150055/1309/MTCN04

Excerpt "Gallatin resident Nancy Wike said she supports the idea of strengthening the county’s vicious dog laws and other animal control initiatives designed to keep Sumner County citizens safer.

Wike spoke before the Sumner County Commission’s vicious dog committee recently because she was concerned that the committee might propose adopting breed specific legislation (BSL) for pit bull terrier breeds.

So far, that has not been the case.

“I am extremely pleased with the way the committee is now proceeding,” said Wike, the owner of a American Staffordshire Terrier named Bo."

Let's hope this is the first of many cities and counties to stay clear of BSL. Education is the key to reducing dog bites, not hatred for a breed. Tougher laws should be made against dog fighting, backyard breeding, animal abuse/neglect and other issues that lend to dogs becoming aggressive and/or put in a position to bite.

Outrage!!!! They Bulldozed LIVE dogs!!!!! MONSTERS of people!! >:(

2005-06-13T20:44:00.000-04:00

Warning: Graphic images of what humans are capable of :(

http://nacer.org/outrage.html

http://nacer.org/outrage2.html

*******PLEASE CROSSPOST*******

If you have a moment and are touched by the following story of a poor, devoted Mexican woman and her animal shelter in Cancun, please send a short note of protest to the owners of the Opresa Construction Company.

This is not a request for donations. NACAR, who areassisting Rosalinda, are a very mainstream group of community workers who also contribute funds to place computers in Mexican primary schools.

Directions are posted at the bottom of the first link.

http://nacer.org/outrage.html

http://nacer.org/outrage2.html

DenisePresident

Southern Mexico Dog Rescue

Crossposted- Lucy

2005-06-13T20:31:00.000-04:00

Dear rescue friends,

My name is Laurie Bleier of brooklyn animal foster network

On Saturday, June 11 we removed the now net famous Brownie from the CACC in Brooklyn. Brownie, an adorable, pit puppy was hit by a car and then mauled by a dog or dogs on Stanley Avenue in Brooklyn. She was taken to the ACC where it was decided that she should be destroyed as her care was to extraordinary for hospital routine. We answered the plea-mail titled URGENT IN NYC - RESCUE NEEDED TODAY FOR STARVED PIT PUP IN BKLYN CACC - SHE NEEDS RESCUE TODAY OR WILL BE EUTHANIZED

You may remember it.

We did remove Brownie (now Lucy) and admitted her to the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan where she is undergoing surgery as I write this to repair a broken pelvis and fractured femur.

The final bill including medical and transport will come to about $3,000 on Lucy and we are asking anyone who CAN afford to send a check to help to do so. Any amount will be accepted. As the AMC bill is already paid, we are asking you to write the check out to our Vet Dr. Jeffrey Stein, DVM of Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn. Dr. Stein will then credit that amount to our account where we will be able to recoup some of our costs by defraying future bills and put your generous dollars to work for our other animals.

I am thanking you ahead of time and please click here to meet Lucy . We will update this page as her progress comes along.

Laurie Bleier

Checks can be written to:
Dr. Jeffrey Stein, DVM
put BAFN/Lucy in the memo and mail to:
Laurie Bleier
879 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Sara Whalen of Pets Alive, Janice Sclafani, Augusta Moore, and as always the unstoppable, unsinkable Katie Walter and Dawn Kroll

Why we should adopt instead of buy.....

2005-06-12T21:32:00.000-04:00

http://www.spotsociety.org/fatedog.html

What I did on my Vacation!!!!

2005-06-04T23:04:00.000-04:00

From Bridget's Shy Dog Page She is a Pit mix who happens to be a shy dog as well. Please visit her site to learn more about her and the issues she deals with. You will also find links to shy dog sites if you have a shy dog and are not sure of how to deal with it. Shy dogs come in all shapes and sizes! No breed is excluded from this condition. They are not mean dogs, just very scared and misunderstood. With proper handling and a lot of love, they can sometimes make a full turn around.

Update 6/o4/o5...... What I did for Memorial Weekend! By Bridget

I went up north to Hardy Dam where I got some long needed R&R...well, mostly :P The drive up was long and we had a car full of kids. So I curled up on my mama's lap and napped the whole way up.

We arrived at the cabin where I got to see Buddy again. He was happy to see me and we went outside to play while the people took care of all their silly belongings. We ran around in the fenced in part, as Buddy is not allowed out off a leash. He tends to get into the swamp and run after deer, neither of which make his pappa very happy.

I knew most of the people at the cabin... there was my mama and daddy, the kids that I consider litter mates, my mama's grandma and grandpa (Buddy's people) and a friend of the kids. I am still not sure of Buddy's pappa, as I have only met him once before. But he likes to give me dog treats and doesn't get mad that I am still a bit scared. He is not so bad. Buddy's mom likes to give me treats too, but she sometimes teases me for being scared of her still. I don't like that so much.

Later that evening Aunt Ronnie showed up with her 3 kids, one of which is a baby girl named Cadence. I like Cadence! She never yells at me or teases me. She is far too little to give me treats yet, but I like her company because she is so sweet and calm. The older kids are nice for dropping food everywhere they go! I love that! All I have to do is follow them around and I get all kinds of goodies! :D I had met Ronnie before, but I was still a bit nervous around her. She didn't mind and was very nice and understanding about it all. All and all, I like Ronnie. :) She also brought her friend Kerri whom I have met, but not really spent much time with. I like Kerri too. She is nice and thinks I am pretty.... but I still do not know her well enough to let her pet me.

Before supper we took a ride to the pontoon landing. I had never seen one before, but since everyone was so excited..I could tell it was going to be fun! I hopped on board without hesitation and awaited our departure. The floor seemed a bit wobbley, but I knew I was safe..... that was until we started out on the water! That water was spooky! I could tell because it was dark and deep. And it kept making noises and trying to bite me as we sped thru it. I kept an eye on it though...it wasn't gonna get me!

We stopped at the springs, which I had never seen before. The water was so cool and refreshing..it was GREAT! This was my first time on a lake, and I was loving it! We then moved further down to a better swimming spot for the kids.

Here I am taking in the atmosphere, checking for any stray swans and seeing what this driftwood thing was all about. It was nice to feel the cool wet sand between my toes. :)

Buddy and I had fun playing too.

We made the best of our day at the beach. It started to sprinkle and we headed back for the cabin for supper and rest. It was a good day, and I was tired. I took a nap, but then stood guard the rest of the night while my people slept. There were many strange noises that we don't have at home, and I wanted to make sure that they were not monsters.

Saturday Uncle Mark showed up. I remembered him from Easter and was very upset with him still. I made sure he knew I was watching him, and that I wouldn't be letting him boss me around none. I could tell that this made him uncomfortable, but I felt it was fair, since I was very uncomfortable too. I was thinking this was as bad as it could get, when Uncle Ryan showed up! He brought Trigger the golden retriever with him, so that was cool. Trigger liked to play too, and we all three went out to play.

However, later when I came back in, Ryan kept trying to pet me, and couldn't understand why I was not friendly to him. He just didn't get how a dog couldn't like him.... after all, most dogs I know love EVERYONE! But I am picky, and a person has to earn my trust. He got mad and scolded me for not being friendly...so I growled and barked for him to leave me be, and I went to play with my friends. I never let my guard down, whenever the men would move, I made sure they knew I was keeping an eye on them! I love my daddy, but other men scare me and make me nervous. They need to know that I am on to them! I wished they would go home.

We went out again that afternoon on the pontoon. This time when we stopped, my mamma played fetch with me. I had never played fetch in the water before, and was scared at first to swim out. It is rather scary when you can no longer feel the ground. I had no idea how deep it was, and whether or not I would make it back. But once I got the hang of it... I had FUN!!!! Driftwood is fun to fetch in the water becuase it floats! :)

Getting wet and playing in the lake is the BEST! :D

Once again it started to rain, so we went back to the cabin. We had ribs that night!!! MMMMmmmmmm!!!!! I got a yummy rib bone to chew on...and it was great! I must thank uncle Mark for that ..... he makes the best ribs! We also had corn on the cob, which I love to eat just like my mamma. It was a good day.

I got to run around the campfire that night, picking up after the kids. They always have yummy stuff, sometimes even stuck all over their clothes. I did my best to help keep them clean. ;) Sometimes the oldest kids get mad at me for being too close to their marshmallows, so they kick at me and shove me away. I guess it is fine, I don't mind much, I spose I wouldn't want someone trying to get my marshmallow either. I was feeling tired, so I sat down with my mamma by the fire and just hung out. Kerri was there, and I like Kerri a lot now. I let her know by letting her pet me.

I was sooooooo tired that night, I crawled up into bed with the kids and fell fast asleep.

The next day was good. We went to some garage sales that morning, and then came back for breakfast. I didn't get too much at breakfast because the people really like their food and didn't leave much behind.

We went out on the pontoon again..this time without the Uncles. I didn't mind. It was a good trip. Kerri sat next to me and I let her pet me again... she has been so kind to me, I trust her now. Grandma tried, but I still have doubts about her because she yells at me for being scared. And I just don't understand it. But it's ok.

We went to the beach again. Only this time we got to go on the trails up into the woods! I love the woods! So many animals, and smells, and things to discover!! It is so much fun running thru the woods... no one to bother me, the sounds of the birds, new flowers to find and rabbits to chase! I wish we had a woods in our yard at home.

It was a good trip. The only thing that went bad was that I got blamed for a tiff between Buddy and I. He was cranky and I bugged him to play. I should have let him be, but I was so excited to be in the woods and on the beach..I wanted to PLAY!!! So he bit me in the cheek and just hung there!!! I tried to get him off by running around the beach, but he wouldn't let go! My mamma saw what happened and was trying to catch us. Buddy finally let go, but I was upset then. He really hurt my feelings. So I waited until he turned away, and I pulled his tail!!!! He HATES to have his tail pulled... so I gave it a little tug..and then RAN!!! LOL He chased me and tried to bite me again..we tumbled into Grandma, who was none too happy, and then I was real naughty and pulled his tail again. Grandma saw me do it and assumed that the whole fight was my fault. I probably should have left buddy alone, but he didn't need to bite me like he did. I just wanted to play.

That evening at supper, I let Ronnie pet me too. I also like laying by her, because she doesn't scare me anymore. But those guys.... I don't know about them...I gave them chances, but I still have my eye on them.

We packed up and left that evening to come home. It was a long ride, but I curled up on daddy's lap this time and slept all the way home. I was so happy to be home. I could finally relax and be myself! I loved my vacation to the cabin, especially playing at the lake and in the woods... but I love home! Because I know everything and everybody there... it is where I feel most safe. I think the trip to the cabin did me good though. I made some new friends and have begun to realize that people are not as scary as I once thought they were. I am doing better now with children and most women as a result... and I know someday I will finally stop being scared.

I hope everyone else had a good weekend! I know mine was full of adventure!

Looking for Owner!!!!!!!!

2005-05-30T12:43:00.000-04:00

Waggs
Dog
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mix

Size: Medium
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
I.D:

Notes: Waggs us approx. 3 years old. He is well mannered and is very friendly. Waggs knows how to sit on command and walks well on the leash. Such a happy boy. Waggs was wearing a collar that had an owner's name and phone number on it. The last name was "Lape". Unfortunately the telephone number did not have an area code on it. We have tried 479 and 501.

This pet is: up to date with routine shots, altered
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This pet is eligible for a gift of the first month of ShelterCare pet insurance paid for by Petfinder.com.
For more information on pet insurance please visit us online at http://www.sheltercare.com or call 1-866-375-PETS.
E-mail this pet to a friend!

Lone Pine Ranch Animal Shelter
Centerton, AR
(479) 795-2709
lonepineshelter@yahoo.com

Info on Tennessee BSL! Please Read!

2005-05-26T21:04:00.000-04:00

I know you are extremely busy as rescuers, but PLEASE
READ and forward to other rescuers or adopters!!!

I am a resident of Sumner County, Tennessee. Currently
my family and I own a boxer (adopted December 2003)
and an American Staffordshire Terrier (adopted October
2004).

I have always been opposed to breed-specific
legislation (BSL) pertaining to any because it
demonizes the entire breed of dog instead of targeting
the individual dogs (regardless of breed) and owners
that actually cause problems. But at the same time, I
never thought I would have to deal with that, since
most communities are better educated on the matter and
adopt "dangerous" dog ordinances that are objective
and take into account the actual behavior of
individual animals, whatever their breed, as the
American Veterinary Medical Association and many other
professional organizations (see links on main page)
recommend.

Boy, was I wrong. Mr. Roland Mumford, a commissioner
in Sumner County, recently proposed a resolution to
the commission that would form an ad hoc committee to
study animal control issues and "vicious" dogs, in
particular. This resolution, which in and of itself is
fine, passed on May 16, 2005, and the committee is in
the process of being formed. The problem, however,
arises from Mr. Mumford's statements that he is "going
after the pit bull species." In his vision for this
ordinance, owners of what he deems to be "pit bulls",
and ONLY "pit bulls", will have to register their dogs
with the county as being "vicious," regardless of the
dog's history of behavior. No other dog owner will
have to register their dogs. Also, owners of what he
deems to be "pit bulls" will have to carry liability
insurance on their pets and will have to muzzle their
dog if it is off their property. This is totally
unfair and a violation of the owner's 14th Amendment
right to due process and equal protection under the
law.

"Pit bulls" are not the only dogs that have been
targeted by BSL. Rottweilers and Dobermans are,
traditionally, the other breeds most targeted by BSL.
But if there is not a state law on the books
prohibiting local governments from enacting BSL, then
ANY breed can be targeted.

In the course of conducting research to (1) counter
Mr. Mumford's erroneous statements regarding "pit
bulls," and (2) show that BSL does not work and is a
violation of the owner's 14th Amendment rights, I
discovered that there are currently 13 states that
prohibit local governments from enacting BSL. I want
to make Tennessee the next state on that list. If we
are going to make Tennessee the next state, we need to
band together as dog owners and rescuers, regardless
of what breed we personally favor, to fight this
injustice that discriminates against good dogs and
responsible owners.

I have created a web-site with a lot of information -
http://www.stopbslintn.tripod.com. Please visit it, sign
the petition, and contact your local state
Representative or Senator and ask that they support a
law prohibiting local governments from enacting BSL.
Contact information is located on the "How You Can
Help" page. You can also e-mail me for an e-mail list
that includes ALL state Senators and Representatives.
Let them all know that dog owners and rescuers support
legislation prohibiting BSL!

Update on Gypsy!!! New Pics!!!!

2005-05-26T21:02:00.000-04:00

She has had her surgery...and how beautiful she looks!!!

**WARNING - VERY GRAPHIC PICTURES, ALSO BEAUTIFUL/HAPPY ONES**

http://www.tricountyanimalrescue.net/gypsycominghome.aspx

MUST SEE VIDEO!!!!!!!!!

2005-05-25T17:03:00.000-04:00

If you haven't seen this video, GO WATCH IT NOW!!!!!! If you have, watch it again as it is wonderfully put together to show exactly what is happening with this breed!!!!!

Warning!!!! Does contain some images which might not be suitable for children. Though in all honesty, I will be letting my kids watch it as I feel it is something they need to be aware of....... that Human Beings are the real monsters involved :(

http://www.pitbullproblem.tk/

Petition for Fox News to tell the TRUTH about PIT BULLS!!!!

2005-05-24T12:36:00.000-04:00

A story on the TRUE nature of Pit Bulls! And how it is the irresponsible owners that give this breed a bad name, and not the breed itself!!!!! Fox news reaches a HUGE audience, including a large percentage of America's lemmings. If they were to air a real, unbiased, honest story on Pit Bulls and the TRUTH about them, it could very well make an impact!

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/PitBullAwareness

Please click above to sign the petition, she is very close to reaching her quota!

P.S. People, have a look at some of the sigs...... there is a stalker there. Be on the lookout for him at your blogs, sites, groups and petitions. And geee....what an ass. Hopefully people who read the comments will see the difference between the level headed pit owners who have actual facts and experience to go on and his "work of satin" mis-information hoop-lah!!!! :P Some people :P It is the people like this that we are working against...or rather, that are working against us. The zealots who don't EVER want to consider anything...they just have an idea and they think it is right, even in the bold face of truth, and they go around spouting it like vomit to all they meet :( They are sooooooooooooo set on what they think, that it often convinces lesser people that if he/she is sooooo upset about this, than it MUST be true :P Lemmings :P

Stop HB 1096 and SB 1111 in Houston TX

2005-05-23T12:58:00.000-04:00

CLICK HERE to learn more! http://www.doberman-houston.org/StopHB1096.htm

Please contact your representatives and make them aware of the concerns! The link above will provide you with contact information!

This bill is a VERY bad idea, and would open the door for BSL legislation. Please take a stand!

ATTENTION DENVER PIT OWNERS!!!!!!!!

2005-05-22T18:29:00.000-04:00

If you are in Denver and had a dog who was confiscated and destroyed, please follow the instructions in the article. A class action lawsuit for voilation of your constitutional rights will be filed. If this is the case, I am sorry for your loss. But if there is any good to come from this, your beloved companion's death brought nationwide attention to BSL and the tragedy that results. Hopefully every city and state will learn from the mistakes Denver made.

ElizabethNCARES
www.ncaresonline.org

Article: http://www.usape.blogspot.com/

3 Pits found Decapitated & Mutilated! Help find their Killers!!!!

2005-05-19T21:39:00.000-04:00

Please cross post and lets see if we can get these #$@%^&!@ caught!!!!

Toledo, Ohio - 3 dogs decapitated and mutilated -
Anyone with information can call the Toledo Area Humane Society at: 419-891-0705

TOLEDO -- It's a disturbing discovery that has neighbors in South Toledo shaken and Toledo animal cruelty investigators disturbed enough to ask for your help. Wednesday morning, children found three dogs, all decapitated and mutilated, along train tracks near Curtis and Roff.

Goldie Barnes shook her head in disbelief. After searching for her dog named Southside for two days, her children found the dog and one of her puppies decapitated on the tracks. "The puppy is there next to its momma without a head. Its paw is cut off sitting on the other side. Somebody cut these animals up and pieces and put them on the tracks making people think the train got them," says Barnes.

Goldie was convinced this wasn't an accident because just a few yards away, neighbors found another dog. Its head was also cut off. "It's somebody that's sick that needs to be locked up before we start finding bodies out here as opposed to these animals," says Barnes.

Animal cruelty investigators from the Toledo Area Humane Society took a closer look and confirmed Goldie's suspicions. "The train's not the one that killed the dogs. There's a possibility that the dogs were decapitated by the train, but as of right now the dogs were dead before," says Jeremiah Larson.

Larson says just a few hours earlier, he found another puppy matching the two
dead black pit bulls, limping with a severed back leg. "It looks like someone did it with a knife or some type of object. We did put that dog down due to massive infection inside the dog's wound," says Larson.

Goldie hopes the person is caught soon so no one else is hurt.

Animal cruelty investigators say they will examine the dogs further to determine how they were killed. So far they have no leads or suspects.

Anyone with information can call the Toledo Area Humane Society at: 419-891-0705.

http://www.wtol.com/global/story.asp?s=3363081&ClientType=Printable

Joanna Toms
Cruelty Caseworker
www.pet-abuse.com

jtoms@pet-abuse.com

http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/caseinfo.php

Search Database - http://www.pet-abuse.com/database/

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil,
but because of those who look on and do nothing.",
- Albert Einstein

Please Help Stormy!!!

2005-05-19T00:56:00.000-04:00

The following is an email from a Pit Crusader! Stormy has been thru the Storm and somehow come out the other side a still loving, sweet, affectionate and WONDERFUL dog! How DARE someone abandon her the way they did! :( NO animal should be left to suffer like that...full of fear and pain!

Please folks! Do what you can to help Stormy thru this nasty weather and help her thru treatment and recovery! If you have room in your heart and home for a loving dog, and are ready to be a responsible dog owner, consider adopting a Pit Bull!!! They are loving dogs, often overlooked at shelters, who desperately need loving homes!

Hello,

Could you please post Stormy's pictures and story around to all your contacts,we are looking for every little bit of help we can find.I would foster her myself untill her forever family finds her but I already have 3 pit bull permanent family members and 3 foster pit bulls (1 ex-fighting dog and 1 problem dog)plus a chihuahua.Needless to say my day is filled up with caring for dogs and making sure they all stay separated or else a huge fight would happen.Thank-you for any assistance you are able to give.

I know the pictures are very graphic and maybe some of you took the time to look at all the pictures of Stormy in the Memphis file that is in Photos,but if you haven't seen these pictures,I would like to introduce everyone to Stormy.She was abandoned,tied to a pole in the parking lot of an animal clinic during the night of one of the worst storms of this year.Imagine being sick,hungry,wounded,scared and having to stand all night in a severe thunder storm with heavy rain pelting you all night.

Poor girl,the vet staff calls her Stormy because of the conditions she showed up in..She was very thin,covered in ticks and infested with fleas,but even though she is in alot of pain and absolutely miserable feeling,she never once complained,or objected to the vet staff handling her and examining her,even though the entire staff were strangers to her.Not once did she show the tiniest hint of aggression at being poked and prodded.The staff at the clinic are very impressed with her sweet trusting nature,all she wants is someone to give her love in return for the love she gives to them.The vet estimates her age at 1 or 1 and a half years old,she hasn't really lived long enough to have this much damage done to her, alot of pain in her short life so far.

The puncture wound to Stormy's eye damaged it beyond repair and she has had the eye removed already to relieve the pressure,but she still needs some other medical care,as well as a forever home.If your home has a empty feeling that a sweet,one eyed dog could fill,Stormy would be eternally grateful.Somewhere there is someone who will love her even though she is missing an eye and some toes and part of her ear,somewhere someone will know that all the best Stormy has to offer is right where it should be,in her heart.
If anyone would like to help with Stormy's medical bills,please send donations to:

Greene Animal Hospital Att:Donation for Stormy
3545 Southern Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111

If you feel that Stormy would make a great addition to your family,please contact:
jf215@bellsouth.net
Thank-you,
Julee

Who kicks a dog kicks his own soul towards hell"
Will Judy

WARNING!!! Some of the following images are graphic, and may result in you wanting to find the people responsible beat them and tie them to a pole and leave them there in a typhoon! :(

Eye Injury :(

Leg Wound :(

Missing Toes :(

Prolapsed Uterus :(

Torn Ear :(

What the fuck is wrong with people????? How could they do this to such a sweet doggie!!! They should be ashamed!!!!! :( >:(

Help Now by Buying Stormy Wear!!!
All Proceeds go to help pay for Stormy's medical and living expenses!

Excellent Article on the Denver Ban!

2005-05-19T00:55:00.000-04:00

Dog Attacks or Attacks On Dogs?
by JJswans@aol.com (aol.com)

News reports out of Denver, Colorado this week sent a shock wave through the community of dog lovers throughout the country. Rescue groups have their phones ringing off the hook by callers looking for a safe place for their dogs, but there is far more need than places available. Denver has decided that for the safety of the public, they are outlawing dogs commonly known as "pitbulls and pitbull mixes." Unlike some other cities that have enacted breed specific laws (BSL's), Denver has decided that they will confiscate these dogs from their guardians and destroy them rather than enact a "grandfather clause" that would require people to alter their dogs, make it illegal to bring new pitbulls into the area, and require current pitbull owners to keep their dogs confined, leashed, or muzzled. What has caused this uproar?

First, it's fear instilled in the public by media attention of attacks on people by dogs that are called pitbulls by those that are uneducated in identifying pitbulls. At the end of this article, there is a website showing various dog breeds, asking the viewer to identify the pitbull. Most people cannot. Even many animal control officers have identified the wrong breed as a pitbull. Some breeds, considered "mild-mannered," such as Labrador retrievers, have been targeted as being a pitbull simply because they have a wide head. Denver has decided to target pitbull mixes as well, so any wide-headed Labrador mix is in danger, no matter how friendly s/he is. There are several different breeds that are mislabeled as pitbulls, but when statistics are developed, the statistician lumps them altogether as "pitbull types," which stacks the deck against these dogs unfairly. That is never done with other dogs such as shepherds, for instance. The statisticians never group all bites
or attacks under the label "shepherd type" dogs.

Second, it's completely being ignored that it's not the dogs that are the problem. When attacks do occur, the danger stems from the irresponsible breeders that produce dogs that are temperamentally unsound, breeders who then sell/give the dog to someone who doesn't know how to train the dog so it becomes safe around people and other animals. And make no mistake, if someone is producing puppies, whether intentionally or by failure to prevent puppies, they are a breeder. Poorly bred, temperamentally unsound, and poorly-socialized and badly-trained dogs can be seen in ANY breed. A few years ago, the news reported that a child was killed by Pomeranians, a breed that weighs under 15 pounds, often as small as 3 pounds. Most bites/attacks from any breed are perpetrated by male dogs that have not been neutered, and yet Denver apparently feels that death is preferable to neutering. More bites come from dogs that are typically chained outside, and not inside as part of the family. There are no requirements that people socialize and train their dogs, which would undoubtedly solve much of the problem - for all breeds.

Third, if Denver is going to try to save lives by preemptively destroying the potential dangers, why do they allow hunting, when far more hunters maim and kill people than do dogs? Why are they not confiscating and destroying cars that have been proven to have a high incidence of rollovers and mechanical faults? Why don't they confiscate guns that kill far more people than dogs? The reason why is that there are groups that would cause a furor. Hunters, the NRA, car manufacturers - all would fight to their last dime to protest such actions. As often happens, money talks.

It's up to us to speak out for the dogs. Let Denver know what you think of their new "kill em all" policy. Challenge them to even be able to identify a pitbull. Let them know that the vast majority of dogs, of ANY breed, have not hurt anyone. Let them know that targeting law-abiding dogs and their guardians, ripping beloved companion animals out of their homes, is completely unacceptable. Let them know that it would be far more effective to restrict breeding so that temperamentally unsound dogs will not be produced. Let them know that there should be stricter leash laws, requirements for socializing and training, and neutering. All of these actions will prevent far more incidents than targeting a specific breed/type of dog, destroying loving companions right along with those few who may or may not be dangerous.

And for those of our readers who are attorneys, please consider taking this on as a legal challenge--lawyers have historically been at the forefront of social change. Since most "pets" are considered property under the law, how is it that personal property can be summarily confiscated and destroyed? Have we established "eminent domain" over dogs now too? When? Where? I must have missed that vote. Let's abolish BSL's and promote laws that would require passage and enforcement of responsible dog guardianship for all breeds and breed mixes.

Take the pitbull identification test yourself:
Pet PitBull - Legislation
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/findpit.html

Sign the petition:
Repeal Breed Specific Legislation Law in Denver
Petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/savecyan/petition.html

Read more about this situation:
Eternal Recurrence: Stupid politician tricks
http://www.jacobgrier.com/blog/archives/000377.html

POLITELY contact Denver officials:
Elected Officials - City Council Contact List
http://www.denvergov.org/council_contact_list.asp

The Denver Roundup :(

2005-05-19T00:54:00.000-04:00

THE PIT BULL HOLOCAUST BEGINS!

There is no grandfather clause in the Denver ban which means EVERY SINGLE pit bull in the city limits MUST BE surrendered or confiscated.
There are two very different estimates on how many pit bulls are actually within the city limits. The city sent letters to 200 registered pit bull owners advising them of the May 9 deadline to get their dogs out. However, another report estimates that there are at least 4,000 or so unregistered pit bulls there. It would be absolutely impossible to move them all to safety.

PLEASE sign this petition to STOP the destruction of the Pit Bull breed in Denver, CO.
Sign the petition to STOP this Insanity!!!!

Pit bull roundup begins in Denver

William Hollowell carries his dog, Bandit,
to an animal control van Monday as Denver began enforcing the pit bull ban.

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Good Pooch News Update

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Stop BSL (Breed Specific Law)

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Rocky Mountain News Article

Johnson: Pit-bull ban may reveal unwarranted prejudice
May 11, 2005 A veterinarian's response to the Denver witch hunt

It has to be one of the dumbest laws, ever. And I don't even own or like pit bulls. It's nothing personal, only that I'd never keep any animal that eats as much or more than I do.

Still, I can weep for the pit bulls of Denver, particularly for the puppies that never did anything other than get born into the breed.

Yet here we have the city of Denver, newly sprung from legislative and judicial restraint, rounding up pits over the past couple of days and killing them like rats during The Plague.

A uniformed officer arrives at a home. "I'll get him," she announces to her partner. Rather than fight it all, a distraught man emerges, weighs going to jail and a fine, and in the end hands over his dog.

"I'm definitely sad," he later tells a reporter. "He's like a member of my family."

Later in the day, a woman pleads: "I don't have no dogs!

"There ain't no dogs in the basement!" she yells as the uniformed man and woman, responding to an informant's report of a pit bull, interrogate her. Outside, squad cars filled with police officers wait to see if they are needed.

"I'm just doing my job," the woman officer later laments.

It has been eight years since I last had a dog, God rest him. And the one thing I truly know is I would have never given him over to the dogcatcher to be killed simply because he was a beagle.

I would hardly care if a judge in the city where I lived said it was the rule and the law. Yet this has been happening since Monday in Denver, when a state law prohibiting bans of "breed-specific" dogs was overturned and the city's moratorium on pit bull confiscation and killing was lifted.

And no one much is saying a thing.

It is why we need to speak with William Suro. He is a veterinarian of 45 years, who in 1988 started the MaxFund, a nonprofit that provides medical care for injured animals with no known owners, which seeks new homes for them.

It is a shelter that has never killed a single dog.

Bill Suro, 69, for years has wrangled with Denver in the courts of legal and public opinion over the ban, passed in the wake of the pit bull killing of a young child.

"Unfair. Stupid," Bill Suro says of this week's roundup. "It remains an emotional response to a terrible thing that happened, but one that doesn't really help those hurt or killed by vicious dogs."

Bill Suro is a blunt-spoken and uncompromising defender of animals, and a man who believes in harsh punishment for those who abuse and kill them.

He has in recent hours counseled numerous terrier owners, given the shock of their lives simply because their pets resemble pits and were threatened with euthanasia. Denver animal control authorities acknowledge receiving and being sent on numerous "could be a pit bull" calls.

"It makes me and every animal lover and organization across this country just sick," he said. "It's crazy."

He and his wife, Nanci, over the past few months have emptied MaxFund of every pit bull they once housed, shipping them to like-minded shelters outside of Denver.

He puts the number at close to 20 pit bulls. Some owners, too, have come to MaxFund, only to be turned away. He and Nanci, he said, have done all they could.

"We would absolutely love to be the Underground Railroad for pit bulls, but we know the city would close us down."

Yes, I tell him, but aren't pit bulls actually the human flesh-ripping monsters they are portrayed to be?

Bill Suro snickers at my naivete.

"I've been a veterinarian for 45 years, and I've never once been attacked or bitten by a pit bull. There are other breeds where I have gone into an examination room and really been on my guard. I will not tell you which, but they scare me."

Cities like Denver, he says, whip up pit bull hysteria. And that is all it is, he said. People now all believe every pit bull "is a coiled and snarling attacker. It's nonsense."

Cities, he said, would be much better served if they took a simple look at canine attacks from recent years.

"Eighty percent all fatal attacks in the U.S. are caused by male dogs. I guess, given this, it would be prudent to now ban all breeds of male dogs."

Denver, he said, does not at the same time send dogcatchers to cite owners of non-neutered dogs,

"It should know there have been fatal attacks in the U.S. by Pomeranians, that half a dozen attacks that caused death or serious injuries were by cocker spaniels."

And then he raises an issue I had not contemplated, and which I do not lend much credence to. But I will give him his say because it matches what has happened the last two days in the city:

"There appears a racial end of this," Bill Suro says.

"Look at the dogs that have been impounded, and the surnames of their owners. . . . They aren't killing dogs from Cherry Creek. They pick on the easiest people to pick on, the ones who give up easiest," he said, adding that he has forwarded this claim to the American Civil Liberties Union.

What happens, I ask, when all of the Denver pit bulls have been rounded up and put down?

He would not want to be a Malamute, he said.

A male Malamute attacked and killed a 7-year-old girl in Fruita last Saturday night.

"It is not the breed," an unsmiling Bill Suro said.

Bill Johnson's column appears Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

MORE JOHNSON COLUMNS »

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Pit bulls leave Denver

Boulder County shelters take in four adoptable dogs

By Ilene Rosenblum, Camera Staff Writer
May 11, 2005

More dogs need homes in Boulder County now that the Denver Animal Control reinstated enforcement of a countywide ban on pit bulls Monday.

Eight of the dogs arrived at Boulder County shelters in the past week, officials said.

Four pit bulls deemed fit for adoption arrived at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley since last week and are awaiting homes, said Jan McHugh-Smith. They're probably only a portion of those to come, the society's chief executive officer said.
"People are going to probably relinquish them to us because their options are minimal," McHugh-Smith said.

The shelter receives about 7,800 animals a year, and last year, 400 were pit bulls, McHugh-Smith said.

It can be more challenging to find homes for these dogs because of their reputation for violence, McHugh-Smith said. But these pit bulls, just like all animals released from the shelter, are safe because they are evaluated first, she said.

At an average cost of $250 for each animal's stay, the influx of pit bulls could be financially burdensome, McHugh-Smith said.

"If you take four or five extra a week it adds up," she said.

Denver isn't the only local city with a pit bull ban. The dogs are also outlawed in Louisville, McHugh-Smith said.

The Longmont Humane Society said they weren't too worried. Area shelters should be able to divvy up the additional animals, said Michael Helmstetter, the Humane Society's development director.

"Just a few animals wouldn't compromise our level of care," he said.

Of the four that arrived in Longmont last week, only one was determined fit for adoption and is waiting for a home, said Dee Fowler, the Humane Society's director of operations.

Denver Animal Control only has 250 pit bulls listed in its database, but there are likely many more, said Doug Kelley, director of the Denver Animal Control and Denver Animal Shelter.

"We have no idea how many there are," he said.

Between Monday and Tuesday, Denver Animal Control collected 12 pit bulls, Kelley said.

Kelley said that during the moratorium on enforcement, Animal Control saw a lot more pit bulls even though they were not legal.

"We made it very clear that pit bulls were not legal in Denver," Kelley said, "We just weren't enforcing the law."

Contact Camera Staff Writer Ilene Rosenblum at (303) 473-1328 or rosenblumi@dailycamera.com (dailycamera.com).

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Rocky Mountain News Article

Pit bull roundup begins in Denver

William Hollowell carries his dog, Bandit,
to an animal control van Monday as Denver began enforcing the pit bull ban.

On first day of effort, city's animal control officers seize 12 dogs
By David Montero, Rocky Mountain News
May 10, 2005

Officer Lorraine Pacheco didn't know what to expect Monday - the first day of Denver Animal Control's enforcement of the city's ban on owning pit bulls.

"At first, I was like, do I even want to come into work today," Pacheco said from behind the wheel of her city-issued white van.

"People not wanting to give up their dogs, saying 'I love my dog, why are you taking him?' It's not a witch-hunt."

It is the law, though.

The Denver District Court ruled this year that an ordinance passed in April 2004 was legal, and about 200 owners of pit bulls were notified by mail that they would have to turn over their dogs beginning Monday.

Doug Kelly, director of the Denver animal shelter, said that, as of early Monday evening, 12 pit bulls were in custody after owners either relinquished them or they were picked up by officers such as Pacheco."We really didn't know what to expect," he said. "We were prepared for a higher caller volume."

Of those dozen dogs, he said six will likely be euthanized after 24 hours. The others, which the city picked up, will be traced back to their owners, he said. If the owners had previous pit bull violations, the dogs won't be returned and will be euthanized. If the dogs had no prior violations, the owners will have the opportunity to relocate them outside the county of Denver.

William Hollowell had received a notice and gave up his dog voluntarily when animal control officers arrived Monday afternoon.

Three animal control vans parked outside his brick house while his dog, Bandit, jumped and barked inside a small fenced area of the backyard."I'll get him," Hollowell said quietly as animal control officials closed in with wrangling equipment.

The 50-year-old with long dreadlocks opened the fence's door a crack and slipped behind the chain-link door separating the officers from the snarling dog. He calmly put a chain leash on Bandit and started to walk him out. Bandit struggled at first, lunging in different directions before his owner picked him up and brought him to the back of the van. In the background, two American bulldogs barked loudly.

"I'm definitely sad," Hollowell said. "He's like a member of my family. There's going to be a lot of sad people."

Pacheco said because Hollowell voluntarily gave up the dog, he wouldn't be ticketed. The fine for violating the city ordinance is up to $999 and/or a year in jail.

As they were finishing loading up the dog, and Officer Frank Jimenez was explaining to Hollowell his options, Pacheco got another call about a pit bull running loose in a Montbello neighborhood.

When she and Jimenez arrived about a half-hour later, the home in question had no evidence of a dog. The woman who answered the door when Pacheco knocked wasn't too happy to see them, either.

Between a flurry of obscenities, the woman said she gave up the pit bull days ago. A little girl inside the doorway to the house mentioned it might be in the basement. Officers asked her if they could look there.

"I don't have no dogs," the woman yelled. "There ain't no dogs in the basement. You want to search the house, get a warrant. And then I'll sue you."

Keri Lafave, a neighbor, said the black pit bull had been running loose in the neighborhood earlier in the day. However, she said the dog wasn't mean.

Both Jimenez and Pacheco called Denver police officers for backup and, while they waited for the squad cars to arrive, they stood watch by the backyard in case the woman tried to flee with a pit bull. When the officers arrived, the woman refused entrance to her house and Pacheco said a warrant would have to be issued.

"I've been called everything in the book," she said as she got in the van and drove away. "I just try and tell them I'm just doing my job."

monterod@RockyMountainNews.com (RockyMountainNews.com) or 303-892-5236

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Denver pit-bull owners in a pinch

By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
May 7, 2005

A nameless Denver resident left a pit bull terrier, housed in a crate, on the doorstep of the Longmont Humane Society in the middle of the night this week.

The shelter has taken in three other pit bulls from Denver owners who are desperate to find a sanctuary for their pets as the city prepares to resume its ban outlawing the breed on Monday.

"As far as we're concerned, it's a really difficult problem for us and across the board," said De Sowler, director of operations for the Longmont shelter.

"Any animal that comes to our door, we'll take. We do not guarantee placement. We're hoping they'll use us as a last resort."

Denver's Animal Control Department has sent letters of warning to about 250 residents who own pit bulls or a mixed breed of the dog, reminding them of the Sunday deadline.

The Colorado Attorney General's office decided last week not to appeal a district court judge's ruling that upheld the city's right to ban pit bulls.

The city sued to protect its ban after state lawmakers adopted a law last year that prohibited cities and counties from outlawing a specific breed of dog. In upholding Denver's ban last month, Judge Martin Egelhoff said that the state failed to disprove the violent nature of pit bull attacks.

Doug Kelley, director of animal control for Denver, said the city will begin impounding pit bulls spotted during routine neighborhood sweeps, and will visit the homes of those who received letters in coming weeks.

Denver resident Elena Garcia, 41, said she's been hard-pressed to find a new home for her two pit bull terriers, Zeus and Thunder.

"We're trying to find a good home where I know they'll take care of them and feed them well," she said. "If worse comes to worse, I'd rather them put them a sleep myself than have someone else do it," Garcia said, as she choked back tears.

Animal shelters from Colorado Springs to Tabletop Mountain Animal Center in Jefferson County say they have room to take in pit bulls, but are bound by various restrictions.

Humane Society of The Pikes Peak Region may only come to the rescue of pit bulls outside Colorado Springs that are no older than 4-months.

In all cases, pit bulls taken in by the shelter are evaluated for behavioral issues to ensure they are safe to adopt, said Ann Hagerty, spokeswoman for the society.

"It's a sad situation," she said. "It's so hard for the pet owners. People aren't looking to adopt pit bulls."

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Pit Bulls Banned Again In Denver

City Ordinance Enforced Starting Monday

POSTED: 2:18 pm MDT May 9, 2005

DENVER -- It is once again illegal to keep a pit bull in Denver.
Original Article

The animals were banned by city ordinance in 1989, but a state law passed in 2004 prohibited the singling out of certain breeds of dogs.

The city of Denver sued and In December 2004, Denver District Court Judge Martin F. Egelhoff issued a ruling that the state law violated Denver’s home rule authority under the Colorado state constitution. Egelhoff ruled that the state could not impose such limitations on Denver.

Last month, 150 Denver residents were sent letters from Denver Animal Control, warning them that the city planned to resume its ban outlawing pit bulls within city limits on Monday.

City officials estimated earlier that there were about 4,500 pit bulls kept illegally in Denver before enforcement of the ban ended last April.

Denver's pit bull law prohibits any person from owning, possessing, keeping, exercising control over, maintaining, harboring, or selling a pit bull in the City and County of Denver. A pit bull is defined in the ordinance as any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, an American Staffordshire Terrier, a Straffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds.

Copies of the three official breed standards are available at the Denver Municipal Animal Shelter, located at 678 South Jason St. For more information, call (303) 698-0076.

Discuss: Are Pit Bulls Getting A Bad Rap?

Copyright 2005 by TheDenverChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Gypsy

2005-05-19T00:51:00.000-04:00

Well, we have all heard of the notorious Pit Bull. Course, what most of us haven't heard of is the loving, warm and caring hearts these dogs posess! Yes, sometimes a pit (or ANY dog for that matter) will become aggressive, but this truly is less than one would be led to believe by the media. Just check out these Stats Pits bite less often than even Golden Retrievers!

Also, if you already love Pits, or have a soft spot in your heart for dogs..... please consider adopting a pit. More often than not these dogs, of all ages, are destroyed rather than adopted. You can help change this. Please check your local shelters for a dog before buying from a breeder!!!! You can also find reputable Pit rescue agencies. Here is one Yahoo group that often has infomation on rescued dogs, Pit-Bull-Crusaders

Here is a dog that shows us how HORRIBLE dog fighting really is! And yet, somehow this poor dog has maintained a heart of gold! Please help her!!! You can Buy a Magnetic Ribbon or donate what you can! (just click on the image to visit her page)

Please help spread the word that Pits are not the monsters the media would have us believe! They are big babies with loving hearts and want nothing more than to please their owners! And help spread the message that dog fighting needs to STOP!!!! These dogs don't deserve what is being done to them!

Also, if you have a shy dog, you can find support online and a variety of training techniques and information to help overcome this condition.

Every year there are misinformed media stories about Pit Bull attacks! When in reality MANY of these dogs are not even Pit Bulls!!!!

Think you can tell the difference between a Pit Bull and many other dog breeds? Play the "Find the Pit Bull Game" here.... Find the Pit Bull