Baby, 10-Year-Old Pit Bull, Saves Family And Its Dogs From Fire

BABY IS A HERO!  This is an incredible story!

A 10-year-old pit bull named Baby rescued a family and its dogs not once, but twice, during a house fire.

On Tuesday, Rhonda Westenberger and her sister, Evelyn, were sleeping when their Wellston, Okla., home of 17 years began filling with smoke and flames, KOCO reports.

Immediately, their pit bull, Baby, began barking and pounced on them until they woke up.

"There were flames shooting down the hallway," Westenberger told KOCO in the video above. "If Baby hadn't woken Evelyn up, I don't think either one of us would have come out of it."

Read the full story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/baby-pitbull-fire_n_2688270.html

Disallow Michael Vick from the Cortland Campus

Please consider signing the following petition on Change.org

Michael Vick has recently become a member of the New York Jets football team, which practices on the SUNY Cortland campus.  Vick has served a short sentence for bankrolling a dogfighting conspiracy, but animal cruelty charges were dropped in return for his guilty plea.  This does not mean, however, that his crimes should be forgotten-  He tortured more than fifty dogs, attaching them to car batteries via jumper cables and throwing them into water to watch them drown, beating and hanging them, slamming their heads and spines into the ground until they died, setting them against each other in brutal fights, rendering them defenseless and using them as bait for training, and more.  He is a monster and a disgrace, and has never once apologized.  He has even admitted that he would continue to fight dogs if given the chance.

I love SUNY Cortland, and cannot abide welcoming this sociopath onto our campus with open arms.  We need to stand by what is right as a university by barring him from the grounds.  I don't want him anywhere near my beloved college or community.  We MUST send the message that we won't be party to the torture of animals by conveniently forgetting what he has done.  If we welcome Vick onto our campus, we are complicit in his crimes.

If you agree and think that Michael Vick should not be allowed on SUNY Cortland property, please sign this petition and share it with your friends.

Puppy and the Treadmill

How Pitbulls Really Fight

Pit Bulls: Responsibility

Cesar Millan

 A Letter from Cesar Millan:

A month ago today in Little Rock, California (a small town located forty miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles), a woman named Pamela Devitt was out for a jog when she was attacked and killed by a pack of four dogs.

Of course, the dogs were immediately identified as pit bulls in the headlines, whether they were or not. So far, only one dog’s photo has been released, and it is clearly a pit bull mix — but the problem with most news stories about people being attacked by dogs is that every dog becomes a pit bull in the headline.

This is nothing new and only the breed changes. At various times in the past, it would have been Rottweiler, German shepherd or Doberman pinscher. However, in the tragic case of Pamela Devitt, authorities have gotten one thing absolutely right, and it offers a bit of hope that things may be slowly changing when it comes to anti-breed prejudice.

Three weeks after the attack, Alex Donald Jackson, the owner of the four dogs, was charged with murder by the LA County district attorney — possibly a first for the area, according to prosecutors. They decided to do so because, since January of this year, there had been at least three reports to police about his dogs attacking other people.

Ultimately, the courts will decide Jackson’s fate and I’m not going to discuss his case specifically. However, this incident should be a reminder to dog lovers everywhere that, ultimately, we are responsible for our own dogs’ safety and behavior, and we are the ones who should face the consequences if they should ever attack someone.

Read more: http://www.cesarsway.com/the-scoop/cesarsblog/Responsibility#ixzz2WUnCUpfT

Sgt. Stubby - War Hero Dog

Meet America's first war dog, a stray Pit Bull/Terrier mix, named Stubby. He became Sgt. Stubby, was the most decorated war dog of World War I, and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat.

One day, he appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut, while a group of soldiers were training, stopping to make friends with the soldiers as they drilled. One soldier, Corporal Robert Conroy, developed a fondness for the dog. He named him Stubby because of his short legs. When it became time for the outfit to ship out, Conroy hid Stubby on board the troop ship. In order to keep the dog, the private taught him to salute his commanding officers, warming their hearts to him.

Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and 18 battles. The loud noise of the bombs and gunfire did not bother him. He was never content to stay in the trenches but went out and found wounded soldiers.

Stubby entered combat on February 5, 1918, at Chemin des Dames, north of Soissons, and was under constant fire, day and night, for over a month. In April 1918, during a raid to take Schieprey, Stubby was wounded in the foreleg by the retreating Germans throwing hand grenades. He was sent to the rear for convalescence; and, as he had done on the front, was able to improve morale. When he recovered from his wounds, Stubby returned to the trenches.

After being gassed and nearly dying himself, Stubby learned to warn his unit of poison gas attacks, continued to locate wounded soldiers in no man's land; and, since he could hear the whine of incoming artillery shells before humans could, became very adept at letting his unit know when to duck for cover.

He was solely responsible for capturing a German spy in the Argonne. The spy made the mistake of speaking German to him when they were alone. Stubby knew that he was no ally and attacked him, biting and holding on to him by the seat of his pants until his comrades could secure him.

Following the retaking of Chateau-Thierry by the U.S., the thankful women of the town made Stubby a chamois coat on which were pinned his many medals. There is also a legend that while in Paris with Corporal Conroy, Stubby saved a young girl from being hit by a car. At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby home.

Upon returning home, Stubby became a celebrity and marched in, and normally led, many parades across the country. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. Starting in 1921, he attended Georgetown University Law Center with Conroy, and became the Georgetown Hoyas' team mascot. He would be given the football at halftime and would nudge the ball around the field to the amusement of the fans.

Stubby was made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross, and the YMCA. In 1921, the Humane Education Society awarded him a special gold medal for service to his country. It was presented by General John J. Pershing.

In 1926, Stubby died in Conroy's arms. His remains are featured in The Price of Freedom: Americans at War exhibit at the Smithsonian. Stubby was honored with a brick in the Walk of Honor at the United States World War I monument, Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City, at a ceremony held on Armistice Day, November 11, 2006.

Related blog post:
Pit Bull is US's Most Decorated Military Dog

How Did Pit Bulls Get Such a Bad Rap?

This is a great article from CesarsWay.com:

By Jon Bastian

If current news reports are to be believed, pit bulls have been attacking and biting humans left and right—to the point that many communities are considering breed-specific bans on pit bulls.

Would it surprise you to learn that pit bulls used to be America’s darlings? Before the mid-80s, stories of pit bull attacks are practically non-existent. There is even some confusion over exactly which breed of dog is a pit bull—the definition includes the American pit bull terrier, the Staffordshire terrier and, at times, the bulldog. This confusion seems to have dogged the breed from the beginning, as there is some disagreement over the origin of pit bulls.

Where do pit bulls come from and how did they get such a bad rap?

Read the full story on CesarsWay.com.

Pit bulls may be freed of ‘vicious’ label

UPDATE 2/21/12!!
Kasich signs dangerous dog bill into law, ends 'vicious' pit bull label


The Columbus Dispatch
February 1, 2012

Pit bulls no longer would be classified as “vicious” animals under a bill that soon should be headed to the governor’s desk, and the Ohio Senate is expected to vote today on a separate measure designed to crack down on abusive puppy mills.

Ohio is the only state that classifies a specific breed of animal as vicious, but a bill that passed the Senate 27-5 yesterday should change that.

Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Toledo, said Ohio law discriminates against a specific breed. “In doing so, it discourages responsible dog owners from complying with licensing requirements. Canine profiling is expensive, ineffective and infringes on property rights.”

Classifying pit bulls as “vicious” has led to, among other things, the need for liability insurance.

Instead of Ohio’s 25-year-old law labeling pit bulls vicious, the bill, which still needs final House approval of Senate changes, wouldn’t classify dogs that way in advance. Should behavior problems arise, dogs could be classified in one of three categories: “nuisance,” “dangerous” or “ vicious.”

The latter classification would be for a dog that, without provocation, seriously injures or kills a person. Those animals often would be seized and euthanized.

Owners of a dog placed in one of the three classification would face penalties ranging from fines to felony charges.

Read the full story on Dispatch.com.

Additional Resources:

Watch the Ohio Senate vote on Sub. H.B. 14 on The Ohio Channel website (at the 46-minute mark):
http://www.OhioChannel.org/MediaLibrary/Media.aspx?fileId=134307

Read Sub. H.B. 14:
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_14

The Original Motorcycle Dog

Pitbull vs Kitten

Pit bull viciously attacks news anchor

Hysterical!

Transform Vick's Bad Newz Kennels

Transform Vick's Bad Newz Kennels to the DDB Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs

What football star Michael Vick and friends did to Man's Best Friend at the Bad Newz Kennels in Smithfield, Virginia was beyond comprehension to most of dog-loving America.

The dogs all lived chained or penned, and then were forced to endure fighting and possible death in the name of entertainment for man.

Now Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit organization working for chained and penned dogs, wants to rehab this property and transform it to the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.

Every dollar that's given for DDB to buy this property sends dog abusers a message: We don't like what you do and now we as a nation will show you how animals DESERVE to be treated.

Every dollar that's donated for this project purchases one fenced square foot of the property. Can you help us today?

Stand with us to make this center a reality.

Take back power not only for the dogs who died there, not only for the fifty chained and penned dogs who called that place 'home', but for you, for me, for every dog still chained, still penned, still living outside and ostracized from the family in America.

Take back power for the pitbulls, for the labs, for the shepherds, for the mutts that pepper the landscape of this great nation.

Take back power for every single person with a conscience who resides on this planet and is able to judge for him or herself right from wrong.

For more information or to donate from the website, visit this link.

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/ddbcenter.html

Let's raise $30,000 toward the center to give the Dogs Deserve Better foster dogs a place to call home, a place to be loved, housetrained, socialized, and vetted. And a caring, supportive environment to thrive, excel, and even find their own new, inside, home and family.

They deserve all the best this world has to offer.

The Truth About Pit Bulls

This is another amazing article that describes the wonderful breed known as the American Pit Bull.

By Ed Boks

No dog breed in history has encountered more misunderstanding and vilification than the American pit bull. In fact, the pit bull is an all-American breed blessed with tenacious athletic ability, loyalty, intelligence, and high-energy.

Pit bulls are not lap dogs or a dog for the sedentary person. They are not fashion accessories or macho symbols. They are a breed apart from every other canine.

The pit bull was so respected in the early 1900s that the military chose the breed to represent the United States on World War I and World War II recruitment posters. Sergeant Stubby, a pit bull WWI war hero, served in 17 battles, was injured twice in battle, saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack, and single-handedly captured a German spy. Stubby earned many medals for heroism, including one presented by General John Pershing, Commanding General of the U.S. Armies. Stubby's obituary from the New York Times may be viewed at the Connecticut State Military Department's website.

The American pit bull terrier is the only breed ever featured on the cover of Time magazine - and not just once but three times.

Famous people who owned pit bulls include Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, George Patton, Jack Dempsy, Helen Keller, Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astaire, Anne Bancroft and Thomas Edison.

A few celebrities who own pit bulls today include Jon Stewart, Alicia Silverstone, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Michael J. Fox, Bernadette Peters, Brad Pitt, Madonna, and Rachael Ray.

Pit bulls are commonly used as therapy dogs. Whether they are visiting a senior care facility or helping someone recover from an emotional accident, pit bulls are exceptional therapy dogs.

Pit bulls are also used in Search and Rescue work and serve as narcotic- and bomb-sniffing dogs. One pit bull, Popsicle (so named because he was found in an abandoned freezer), lays claim to the largest recorded single drug bust in Texas history.

Pit bulls are great with kids too, as demonstrated by Petey, the beloved dog featured in "The Little Rascals." Pit bulls were actually referred to as the "nanny dog" in the early 20th century because of their gentle and loving disposition with kids.

Pits are known for their personality. Even as they age, most remain playful. They are affectionate dogs who appreciate their owner's attention and approval more than anything else.

While certain purebreds are prone to a long list of health problems, pit bulls are fairly healthy and hearty. They are strong and long-lived. They are low-maintenance because their short coats are easy to care for and you'll have no grooming bills.

Sadly, a lot of pit bulls never have a chance. Many shelters have a policy to euthanize all pit bulls, and do not adopt them out. Irresponsible individuals, bad breeders and biased media attention have given these wonderful dogs a bad rap. Breed-specific legislation has turned this beloved family pet into an outlaw in some communities. Fortunately, there are many people who are educating the public on the breed and dispelling the myths.

According to The American Temperament Test Society, a national nonprofit organization for the promotion of uniform temperament evaluation of purebred and spayed/neutered mixed-breed dogs, the pit bull scores an 83.4 percent passing rate. That's better than the popular Australian Shepherd (81.5 percent), Beagle (80.3 percent), Border Collie (79.6 percent), Boxer (84 percent), Chihuahua (71.1 percent), Cocker Spaniel (81.9 percent), German Shorthair (76 percent), Lhasa Apso (70.4 percent), and Miniature Poodle (77.9 percent) to name but a few.

The American Temperament Test Society found that pit bulls were generally less aggressive when faced with confrontational situations that produced negative reactions in many other stereotypically "friendly" dog breeds, such as beagles and poodles.

The National Canine Temperament Testing Association tested 122 breeds, and pit bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95 percent passing rate.

The fact is that in most communities pit bulls are so popular that they account for the largest percentage of dogs rescued, adopted - and, sadly, euthanized. If you are interested in adopting a super dog, consider a rescued pit bull. Most shelters have adoption counselors standing by to help you select the perfect one for you and your family.

Ed Boks is the executive director of the Yavapai Humane Society. He can be reached at ed [at ] edboks.com or by calling 445-2666, ext. 21.

Ed Boks is the former General Manager of LA Animal Services.

Michael Vick confronted by dog owner

My favorite "SLEAZE" Michael Vick is confronted by Richard Hunter, who adopted one of the dogs that was rescued from Vick's dog fighting ring.

So sad that this scum bag is back out on our streets, living the good life, making millions once again with his football career... and apparently ignoring his past bad deeds.

Now, some would argue that he paid his debt to society. However, for all those dogs that suffered and even died because of his cruel and inhumane, deliberate actions... a few months behind bars certainly doesn't seem to be a befitting punishment for such an ill-tempered, down right mean and dangerous person.

Nope, a few months in jail certainly doesn't excuse or exonerate his behavior. Nor does giving him back a multimillion dollar career with the NFL make much sense either. Just exactly where is the incentive to grow up and become a responsible human being?

People like Michael Vick have ruined the reputation of these dogs. What was once a noble and revered breed is now feared, banned, and killed daily by almost every city in our nation.

So for all you big sport fans and supporters of the NFL... is it worth the lives of an entire breed just so you can sit in front of a big screen TV watching Michael play football?

Perhaps, if the sport fans in this nation paid a little more attention to what's going on in our country instead of being glued to their televisions watching sports, we wouldn't be in such a sad state, nor would we be killing off an entire breed because of the "Michael Vicks" out there who continually exploit these dogs for their own greedy purpose.

Once again, it is not the breed but rather the idiot human that causes the problem. Punish the DEED and not the BREED.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a waste of time and taxpayers' money to give people like this a trial. He should have been shoved in the pit with the dogs. Now that's a much more befitting punishment than a few months in jail with the reward of another multimillion dollar NFL contract waiting for him. Somehow, I find it very difficult to believe much was learned by that experience.

The Opportunity to Overcome

Dear Readers:

The following story was sent to me by a good friend, and I felt it was truly worth sharing as we seldom see anything good written about a Pit Bull. I am thankful that it has received such an overwhelming response!

I want to thank everyone who left comments on this article. Although I wish I could take credit for this rescue, it was actually an Animal Control Officer who is the real HERO, here.

Unfortunately, I don't know the name of this person, nor do I know where the story originated from. It only says "Washington", which could mean just about anywhere. So, if any of you should stumble across more information, PLEASE share it with us. If I should find out more, I'll do the same.

Again, so sorry if it was misleading to my readers. Even though I've had a hand in helping to save many a bully breed, I can't take credit for this one. The ACO who was called to pick up the dogs is the "true" HERO for this Happy Ending.

I am, however, overwhelmed by the response I received. It is truly heartwarming to know that there are people out here who have looked past the stigma of the word "PIT BULL" and have shared their wonderful stories and experiences with these amazing dogs.

As I said, all too often, we hear and see only the negative aspects of the "Bully Breed".

Hopefully, My Pet Rescue Blog has shared some of the more POSITIVE sides to these dogs and is helping to erase the stigma attached to the breed.

Please keep sharing these wonderful stories about your own Pit Bulls. Hopefully, one of these days, we can convenience our lawmakers, law enforcement, and our communities that it is NOT the breed but rather the irresponsible, and sometimes cruel, "human" who is to blame. PUNISH THE DEED, NOT THE BREED.

My best to all of you.

Jo Ann & "gang"

____________________________________________

I am a Pennsylvania State Dog Warden and I received a call concerning two strays that showed up on a front porch early one morning.

When I got there, this is who greeted me:

A female Pit Bull and a male Chihuahua.
The Chihuahua was guarding the Pit Bull!!!

They looked to have been on their own for a while. The Chihuahua was missing fur and the Pit Bull had an injured paw.

I was able to slip a leash over the Pit Bull and walk her into a cage and put her in my truck.

However, the Chihuahua would not allow me to get near him but would not leave the Pit Bull behind…….So I thought of a plan to get the Chihuahua into my truck.

My first option was to make a ramp by using a board.

This proved to be a bit too challenging for the little guy.

I found a stool and it worked like a charm! Perfect! He was in!

Once on the tailgate though, the Chihuahua would not let me get near without putting up a fuss!

Every time I neared, he would bark and snarl, cautioning me to stay away. If I came too close he would jump off and we would start all over again. So I sat on the ground, about 25 feet away, and slowly scooted my way over, all the time having a conversation with a Chihuahua that was guarding a Pit Bull!

Eventually he let me get close enough so we could have a face to face & heart to heart discussion.

I told him that his intentions were very noble and would not go unrewarded for the both of them.

-- Unfortunately with the abundance of Pit Bulls and general misunderstanding of the breed, they are not easily adopted and when found by a Dog Warden, Animal Control officer or Dog Catcher, they usually end up at an Animal Control facility that holds them for 48 hours. If they are not claimed, they are euthanized. However due to this little guy’s tenacity and I do believe true affection for his Pit Bull lady, I was not going to let that happen. --

So with my promise to be their protector, he let me pick him up.

However he wanted nothing to do with separate cages. So together they went!


I took the Chihuahua, his Pit Bull and their story to the Washington County Humane Society.

It took some time to get them into the shelter, not because of who they were, but due to lack of space. Their story of dedication and should I dare say love won the hearts of everyone who came in contact with them. Eventually a space was set up for them in a restroom in the lobby and they settled in. The shelter intends to find them a home that they can share together.




The happy ending to this story is not a typical one for most Pit Bulls who are running at large.

It took the determination of this one small, scrappy Chihuahua to save the life of this Pit Bull.

Can you imagine how many lives could be saved if we humans took the time to look past the stereotype and really looked at each dog as a dog?

You may find a loving, loyal and dedicated companion to fight for like our Chihuahua friend did.

This little man and I both extend thanks to the Washington County Humane Society for giving them a second chance at a life together.

Perhaps this story will give you a second chance to revisit your thoughts and opinions concerning Pit Bulls. They deserve the opportunity to overcome a stereotype that can most certainly lead them to death.

These two thank you for that opportunity.

Donations Needed for Pretty Girl and Justice

My friend and fellow rescuer Robin of Measle's Animal Haven Pit Bull Rescue in Dublin, OH is appealing for donations for two very special Pit Bulls in need of surgeries.

Pretty Girl (pictured at left) is a blue and white American Staffordshire Terrier who is about 2 years old. She came to us with a horribly broken jaw that had been crushed and dislocated when she was a puppy and had healed very badly. She cannot even open her mouth and was very emaciated when we took her. She has now gained weight and is so happy in her foster home, but we want to fix her jaw so she can eat normally and live a normal life. She can only open her jaw about 2 millimeters and if she ever vomits she could choke to death because she cannot open her mouth.


Justice (left) is an American Staffordshire puppy who is 6 months old as of 6/23/10. He was rescued by a kind animal control officer from a horrible situation in which he was being slowly starved to death. Also his back legs had been badly broken and allowed to heal badly. He also has a broken foot, pelvis, and his two rear femoral heads are broken. When we took him he weighed 16 pounds and should have weighed 30+. This puppy has been horribly mistreated by people and yet he loves them more than anything. His favorite thing is to curl up on your lap and sleep with his head on your chest while you watch TV.

Measle's Animal Haven is a 501(c)(3) organization and any donations you give are tax-deductible (we will be happy to provide you with a receipt). Please help us fix Pretty Girl's and Justice's broken bones and continue to save the lives of so many pit bulls every year.

We also need donations to continue our PIT FIX program, which has allowed us to spay and neuter hundreds of owned pit bulls, so we can reduce the number of unwanted bulls that are euthanized every year in Central Ohio. The demand for this service is incredible and it allows us to also educate pit bull owners on how to be responsible owners.

Our Chip In page is:
http://measlesanimalhaven.chipin.com/justice-and-pretty-girls-surgeries

PLEASE help us help them, and the countless other pit bulls we save every year.

Sincerely,

Robin Laux, Director

Measle's Animal Haven Pit Bull Rescue
501(c)(3) Non-Profit No-Kill
P. O. Box 4142
Dublin, OH 43016

E-mail: measlesanimalhaven@yahoo.com
On the Web: http://www.measlesanimalhaven.org

Trumbull County OH: where BSL victims went to die

From BAD RAP Blog:

Imagine you're forced to consider giving up your family pet because BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) has made it virtually impossible to find insurance for your dog's targeted breed? And you're getting friggin' desperate. And you know that your local shelter is a dead-end - emphasis on dead - because, who in their right mind wants to adopt a dog with overwhelming state restrictions attached? And rescues are beyond full with dogs they can't place? And you're thinking, "Good god - How can I possibly put my beloved to sleep?"

And you learn about a sanctuary that takes pit bulls. A no-kill sanctuary with a warm and inviting website for your family pet; the wonderful dog that's been your steady and loyal companion for months or years. Would you take him there rather than euthanize him? Oh hell yeah, you would.

You and me, and many, many other people. When we learned that a sanctuary in Trumbull County Ohio had been raided for overcrowding and horrid conditions, it almost didn't land on our radar. But I grazed the seizure photos at the urging of a friend and nearly fell over.

Read the entire article at:
http://badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2010/03/trumbull-county-oh-where-bsl-victims.html

In Loving Memory of Daddy the Pit Bull

Cesar Millan, all his family and friends, his staff and volunteers, and dog lovers all around the world today will mourn the passing of one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known. Daddy, Cesar’s longtime friend and partner in canine rehabilitation, died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday the 19th of February. He was sixteen years old.

See Daddy's Memorial Page on the Cesar Millan website.

We have lost one of the greatest ambassadors for the Pit Bull breed our country has ever known.

"Daddy" was the finest example of what a Pit Bull truly is.

How sad that our news media and law enforcement only seems to focus on the negatives with this breed and continue to label them as "vicious killers" -- and insist upon trying to ban them from society.

To me, it certainly doesn't take the brains of a rocket scientist to figure out that any time you have a vicious dog, no matter what breed, an irresponsible "human" is to blame.

We have a decorated War Hero, Sgt. Stubbs, and a movie star, Petey, from the Little Rascals -- both were Pit Bulls -- as well as countless others who have performed services to their communities, including saving human lives.

Even some of Michael Vick's dogs have gone on to become therapy dogs in hospitals and nursing homes. However, none of these dogs made the front page of our local newspapers or the feature story on the evening news. It's always the unfortunate Pit Bull who fell into the wrong "human" hands that make headlines. How unfair to this breed to be so "one-sided."

Cesar Milan's "Daddy" showed the entire world what a true loving disposition these dogs have as well as the achievements they have accomplished.

Our hearts and prayers go out to Cesar and his family for the loss of their beloved Daddy.

Little Junior will have some mighty "Big Paws" to fill, but I'm sure he's up to the challenge and will soon become our next Ambassador for the Breed.

Demand Justice for Oreo

Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary has started a petition to demand the resignation of ASPCA President Ed Sayres. According to the petition, Pets Alive says:

"Ed has demonstrated that he no longer has the capacity to act in the best interest of the animals in their care.

One of many examples is the case of Oreo. The MIRACLE dog, thrown from a six story building, and LIVED. After getting her broken bones fixed and her health restored, Mr. Sayres believed her to be a danger to society and ordered her euthanasia.

Pets Alive, a no kill animal sanctuary - one of the largest in the United States offered sanctuary to Oreo and was rebuffed. When the head of the ASPCA decided that DEATH is better than rehabilitation under a well respected organization, it is time he GETS OUT.

SIGN THIS PETITION TO PROTECT THE ANIMALS OF NEW YORK. Ed Sayres MUST GO."

The petition can be signed at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/demand-resignation-of-aspca-pres-ed-sayre

Also see the following article on Gothamist.com:
Oreo The Dog Is Dead, Blame Game Is Not

Although I understand that some abused dogs can be extremely difficult to rehabilitate, I still feel that every effort should be made to at least try. Perhaps the ASPCA didn't have the qualified personnel to understand and correct Oreo's behavior issues. However, other options should have been considered before making the decision to euthanize. We have several good rescues and sanctuaries that are well qualified to deal with abused, aggressive animals. We also have Cesar Milan who has performed miracles with this type of dog. I'm sure Mr. Milan would have been happy to access Oreo's behavior, provide a much more accurate evaluation, and possibly even been able to get her back on track to becoming a good canine citizen. So sad that the ASPCA believes they are above asking for outside help and chose to kill instead.

Perhaps we should choose to reconsider our financial support the next time we receive that URGENT request for donations so they can SAVE another animal in need.

The ASPCA spent lots of donated money to save this dog's life... only to end up killing her. Does anyone else, besides me, see anything wrong with this?

Happy Ending for Dogs Caught in Dogfighting Raid

Hundreds of Pit bull dogs rescued in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history have been waiting since July to learn their fate. Now dozens are finding new homes.

More than 120 of the dogs are headed to foster homes, thanks to the help of pit bull rescue groups across the country. And another 117 pups are waiting to be shipped out soon.

Read this great article in its entirety on Examiner.com.