What kind is he?

I rescue pit bulls (sometimes they’re pit bullish). Further, I am a foster mom to up to four furbabies at a time and countless bottle babies, Bandit being my current. Of the little ones, always I am asked, “What is it?” (Sarcasm answers, “A dog.”) Notice the picture of Bandit in this post. Can you tell what he is? Better yet, how come it matters? Am I going to change my mind about helping him just because he might be a breed I don’t particularly care for?

Nope. I save all dogs, regardless. I pick up strays regularly. I have been known to chase a dog around my neighborhood for hours, hoping to get close enough to grab its collar. I believe every single animal on this planet deserves a fighting chance at a safe and happy life. Bandit is a baby who needs a little extra attention and I’m more than willing to help.

The constant inquiry about his breed got me thinking about humans and how we place people into categories, race and gender being the biggest, most obvious examples.

Think about it.

When we meet someone new, most of us try to “place them”, or slap on a label that often pigeon holes them into a type. Then forevermore we use those basic assumptions, aka stereotypes, to inform how we are to deal with them and others like them in the future. On occasion, when we find someone that doesn’t fit into a single category or for whom labels don’t apply, we cast them off as strange, weird, odd, and even scary. The propensity for ignoring said person is high because they make us uncomfortable.

Many of us feel a strong urge to ask about an individual’s ethnicity when it is not immediately obvious. When other aspects of their self are visually and/or audibly accessible yet we cannot place it, such as an accent or facial feature, we may feel a strong urge to ask.

Once I attended a camp session where a young British man was also in attendance. My friend kept asking him to say her name every time she saw him because she liked the way it sounded. After a full day of this, he grew weary and she didn’t get the hint. Noting his fatigue, I asked her to chill out for a bit, to give him a break, then reminded her she would have gotten equally as frustrated at being asked to repeat something over and over again just because she sounded cool.

In my own life, I do not like to be labeled. However, I’m easy to peg: white, lower middle class, single mom. On the outside, I took like the typical WASP. On the inside, I am anything but. Many of us attempt to project a certain appearance so as to fit in, keeping our inner most selves a secret until we get to know one another better.

And that is something I try to keep in mind when meeting new people as should you. Worry about labels later, if/when they might actually apply.

Keep reading....

Here I Am!

Don't I look different? The hair is longer and brown again. I still wear the same glasses but that's because they're so damned expensive. Peanut took this picture at my request so I could have some doggie and me pictures of my very own.


Peanut is covering Memphis' eyes because he thought I was taking pictures to show potential adopters. I had to reassure him that I was simply taking them to show the world pits love kids and are cuddle bugs even with half-pints.

Keep reading....

Don't let PETA fool you

Sure they were out demonstrating yesterday before and during Vick’s sentencing, but they have gone on record to call for the eradication of the pit bulls and other species like them. Ingrid Newkirk calls for all impounded pit bulls (and eventually all of them) to be killed as soon as they walk in the door.

Her other suggestion is to ban pit bull breeding, which is definitely something I can support as shelters in cities are inundated with them. The rescue I am currently fostering a male blue pit for (and after Christmas will be adding an adult female) has over 20 dogs in foster homes and approximately 30 more dogs in the shelter waiting for a foster home to open up or someone to adopt them.

Pit bulls are perhaps the most abused dogs on the planet. These days, they are kept for protection by almost every drug dealer and pimp in every major city and beyond. You can drive into any depressed area and see them being used as cheap burglar alarms, wearing heavy logging chains around their necks (they easily break regular collars and harnesses), attached to a stake or metal drum or rundown doghouse without a floor and with holes in the roof. Bored juveniles sic them on cats, neighbors' small dogs and even children.

The problem isn't the pit bulls themselves, but the people who get hold of them. Again, we're blaming the victim here and not the persons perpetrating the crime. Yet state laws still make it hard to prove any wrongdoing on the dogs behalf and the punishment is no where near intense enough to deter repeat offenders.

My housemate has told me on several occasions that I need to give up, keep Memphis inside and away from all people and other animals until he gets adopted. She said this when I announced I was going to take Memphis w/me to the local coffee shop, have a smoothie and a snack, and sit w/him by the front door where people will be going by him, and possibly other dogs, too, during our visit.

I later took him to PetSmart where he did beautifully. And we’re graduating from a basic manners and obedience class tonight.

My answer to her was: you can't judge a book by its cover. Just because he is a pit doesn't mean he's vicious. I used the analogy of a person dressed in religious clothing, such as a burqa, and how the common person judges that woman by what she is wearing, not who she really is.

My housemate informed me that was not an apt comparison though I think it is. I extend my dogs to almost human status. I am the alpha and I run my house that way, too.

Needless to say, Memphis was chained up somewhere and had entirely too many negative experiences so the only way to work that out of a dog, or rehabilitate him, is to give him lots of positive experiences to draw from.

Sequestering, which is essentially isolating, can only make matters worse and that's dangerous for a pit as they get no 2nd or 3rd chances.
Keep reading....

Vick sentence too light?

For those of you questioning whether or not Michael Vick, who is currently suspended from the Atlanta Falcons indefinitely and the large paycheck that goes w/it, got a tough sentence yesterday for "just killing some dogs," let me remind you of one important fact:

Animal abuse has been linked to the abuse of humans for almost the same.exact.reasons.

I think he didn't get a harsh enough sentence, but then again, anyone found guilty of animal neglect and/or abuse is hardly given a tough enough punishment in my opinion.

If a person is willing to maim, torture or kill any type of animal, who or what is to stop them from doing the same to a human regardless of age, ability or gender?

Keep reading....

Michael Vick sentenced to 23 months

When I drove by the courthouse this morning at 7:40am, there were protestors already lining the streets. Included was a guy who put up 5 or 6 Vick jerseys w/various signs on the back and fronts, one of which said something like, "Make sentencing fair for Michael Vick."

What is fair about him being the financier for an illegitimate kennel where only pits were bred for fighting purposes? And who is going to speak for the 8 dogs he killed mercilessly?

I told Peanut this morning that I could care less if he goes to jail as I think a permanent suspension from the Falcons would do far more damage as that's his $7 million paycheck that he is not entitled to but lucky to have.

Anyone treating animals this way frustrates me because one of these days the state and federal legislative branches will get a clue to the connection between animal and human abuse. If a human can beat, maim, torture and/or kill an animal, then they are capable of doing it to humans as well.

Keep reading....

Meet Memphis Blue

He's our foster pup for Ring Dog Rescue and he's been the greatest dog. I got him at the beginning of August because I had an open space for a dog but wanted to do something good so rehabilitation/fostering was a great fit for us.

Memphis was approx 20lbs when he first came to the shelter, had lots of missing patches of fur and was heartworm positive. He now weighs 45-50lbs, has a beautiful coat of blue grey fur and is now heartworm negative. He has even found his 2nd puppyhood!

He is my snugglebug and sleeps on the pillow next to me each and every night. He loves to lay on me if not right next to me and I'm going to miss him when he's gone. We're all going to miss him when he's gone, even my other dog, Penelope.

Keep reading....

Animal Testing

I would like to know why repub's and the religious right think it is distasteful and murderous to use stem cells to complete research and testing that might help save future lives yet they allow induced aneurysm's in dogs for the sole purpose of testing new medical/surgical procedures.

What the fuck is up with double standards anyway?

Last time I checked, when you step on a dog's paw, tail or body, they yelp in pain. This means they, too, have feelings and suffer.

So really, what exactly is the difference again?

Do note the article states it is uncommon for them to use the procedure for sales pitches, but they do it regularly as a means of research.

I despise animal testing and do my best to buy/use things that have not been tested on the creatures I choose to keep company with. This includes Iams (believe it or not), most any makeup, most any shampoo (Aussie, TreSemme and Paul Mitchell are a few that do not participate) and I still haven't found an organic/non name brand toothpaste I like since most every other choice is from Proctor & Gamble and they seem to love animals only to test on them.

(If you don't believe how evil it can get, then check out these other links.)

Keep reading....

I don't do this often

But a NYC Council Member has decided city residents should no longer be allowed to own pit bulls.

New York City Council Member Peter Vallone, Jr. said the city should ban residents from owning pit bulls and he is calling for the repeal of a state law prohibiting breed-specific legislation. Overturning this law would clear the way for NYC to enact legislation banning city residents from owning pit bulls. North Shore Animal League America opposes this campaign and encourages you to send an email to Councilman Vallone, Jr., encouraging him to reconsider his campaign to ban pit bulls from New York City.

"Dear Mr. Vallone,
North Shore Animal League America of Port Washington, NY, would like to respectfully express our concern and disagreement with your pit bull breed legislation campaign. After reading your statement in the New York Sun, it has come to our attention that like many people who share your fears and concerns regarding "pit bulls," you may be misinformed regarding the behavioral, psychological and physical attributes of these collective breeds, which usually contributes to this common confusion."

"Pit bull" is a general title used to describe several breeds of dogs who share similar physical characteristics. Commonly, the American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier fall under the category of "pit bull," though many others are often associated with it as well. However, using such a generic term, like pit bull, is as non-specific as saying retriever or hound. Therefore, we request that you clarify which exact animal you are referring to so we can all fully comprehend your notion and feel confident that you fully comprehend it as well.

Please sign the open letter today and let Vallone know how you feel about breed specific legislation, which has been proven not to work because owners will either move out of the city or move on to a different breed of dog.

Would this ban include pit mixes? How about dogs who look like pits but really aren't? Who exactly is going to foot the bill for regulating these dogs? Are they going to give city animal control workers a raise? How about a bonus?

Or, an interesting concept would be to actually start cracking down on dog fighting, taking it and what it does to the animals involved, seriously. I bet that would work much better at fixing the real problem instead of blaming the dogs. Like Supernanny told some parents last night (except she was talking about kids but it applies to animal mommies and daddies, too), "How dare you blame the dogs for how they turned out. They didn't ask to be put here."

Keep reading....

They aren't "just dogs"

Nor will they ever be to me. Hell, even a squirrel isn't "just a squirrel" when they can figure out how to outsmart a bird feeder that designed to keep them out in mere weeks, then somehow manage to let their friends know how to do it, too.

This story is sad but it's not a one time thing. I'm sure there have been many more instances of such horrible cases of animal abuse; we just don't get to hear about them as much as the drive-by's. After all, they're "just dogs," right? Or in some cases they're "just cats." Fuckers.

A Denton County man has given police two different versions of how a 10-month-old puppy was burned over 60 percent of her body:

She bumped against a barbecue grill, he told police. Later, he said two men burned her because he owed them money.

Deshann Brown, 21, was arrested shortly after midnight in Corinth, a community in Denton County, and charged with animal cruelty, said Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough, Dallas police spokeswoman.

The 10-month-old puppy, named Mercy, died Sunday despite efforts to save her from extensive injuries. She had been cut, stabbed, doused with gasoline and set afire, police said.

On April 13, witnesses saw Mercy, ablaze, running through the parking lot of a north Dallas apartment complex. The witnesses extinguished the flames by dousing her with beer, police reports said.

The witnesses told police that the dog belonged to Brown, who was questioned a short time later.

He told police "he was attempting to grill on his patio when his dog, 'Brandy' - a pit bull mix - accidentally bumped (the) grill and ignited herself," the reports stated.

In succeeding days, however, witnesses told a much different story to police and animal control officers.

A woman said Brown wanted his dog to mate with hers, but that his dog "would not cooperate." She told Brown to remove his dog and he became angry and repeatedly kicked his dog as they were leaving, the reports said.

The woman followed Brown "at a distance and next observed his dog to have cuts (and) stab wounds."

Another man said saw Brown's dog on fire and running through the parking lot; he later saw Brown carrying a gas can, the reports said.

The dog had burns over 60 percent of her body, and she was turned over to Operation Kindness, a non-profit shelter in Carrollton that tries to find homes for abandoned or abused animals.

Officials interviewed Brown again April 17, and he told them that he lied to them about the grilling incident four days earlier. Brown then told them that "he owed money to two guys for an Xbox and they had retaliated by burning his dog," the reports said.

Witnesses called the media, accusing Brown of being a torturous thug and complaining that he wasn't swiftly arrested.

Kimbrough said police were working with animal control officers to develop the case against Brown.

She said undercover officers from the North Central Deployment Division obtained a warrant for Brown's arrest and set up surveillance on several North Texas locations he was known to visit.

Included was his mother's home in Corinth. The officers saw him driving from there shortly after midnight Thursday, and they followed him, Kimbrough said.

Patrol officers from the Corinth Police Department stopped Brown for a traffic violation and turned him over to the undercover officers, Kimbrough said.

He was subsequently placed in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center and charged with animal cruelty, a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to two years in jail, plus possible fines up to $10,000. Bail is $50,000, Kimbrough said.

This asshole was indicted on a third degree felony charge by the Dallas County Grand Jury and goes to trial April 23, 2007. I hope he gets the maximum 10year sentence and $50,000 fine. Thank heavens he will never be allowed to own another animal as a result of this conviction; however, unless there is someone enforcing it, a piece of paper will do nothing to stop him or others like him.

Keep reading....

Felony Animal Fighting Bill Passes the US Senate

and unanimously at that. Yay!

You can click here to see if your House Rep. is a sponsor of this bill and if not, send them a letter or give them a call to urge them to support it.

This bill makes interstate trafficking of various animals and "weapons" used for fighting purposes a felony. Did you know that most often younger, helpless animals (such as puppies and raccoons) are used to bait pits into fighting?

It's disgusting. Even if you don't have any animals of your own, hopefully you will take the time to support a bill that could prompt lawyers and police officers to actually enforce and search out the assholes that create monsters out of such great animals.

(And just so you know, roosters can be very mean but I still don't think they should be pitted against each other unnaturally.)

Keep reading....

Sometimes I just really hate people.

This article, also in the WashPo, reviews an HBO documentary being aired tonight. They found out that dogs being sold for research are 1) mostly stolen pets that a family is undoubtedly missing and 2) being sold to the kennels for $15 a head but sold to labs for $250.

(I really hate that research for make-up, shampoo, toilet paper, etc., is done on any kind of animal so I try to use brands that don't participate in this inhumane acts though it isn't always easy to do.)

What this documentary, called "Dogs", seeks to shed light on is the poor conditions the dogs are subjected to while waiting to go to the various labs or research facilities that will torture them even more. (Can we say Iams?)

So pretty much it's like, "Hey, you should be treating these dogs with utmost respect because they're going to be tortured even more! We should love and care for them until they have to get tubes shoved into their precious tummies, their eyes filled with mascara's and eyeliners or strapped onto a table to see what kind of reactions they have to various chemicals."

Agh. Sometimes I just really hate people. Because in my head, that group who did the undercover work should care about what happens to the animals at all stages of their lives, not just the parts before being sold into involuntary (unknowing) servitude.

(No, I am not a PETA freak. They take things too far and are for a nationwide ban on pit bulls and their eventual euthanizing/eradication as a breed.)

Keep reading....

Pit Bulls Banned in Denver

This story has me livid. Banning a specific breed* of dog because it has the potential to be dangerous to others is ridiculous. Do we ban white guys for beating their wives or for having the potential? Some may say that I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I think a person's pets should be additional family members. If you can't treat them as you would want to be treated, then you shouldn't have them.

Of course, Denver is saying the ban exists because "all" pits are being used in dog fights and to protects drug lairs. Yep, that's a great way to solve a much bigger problem: just get rid of the dogs then hey, all those dog fights will stop and those guys will stop running the drugs. Jesus fucking christ people!

Then I read this:
Georgia and New Mexico have recently introduced bills that would ban the breed statewide.

WTF? Where will all those dogs go? They plan on euthanizing them, that's where.

Owners who already have pit bulls get to keep them only if they have the dogs fully neutered, leashed and muzzle in public. Damn if this doesn't ring of discrimination doggie style.

I have recently started volunteering for an organization called Pet Harbor who mostly rescue Huskies. They are one of the best breeds for family's and children I think, yet Huskies are on most states dangerous dogs list because they have a high prey drive. Peanut loves Brock because he gets up on the trampoline with Peanut and jumps/plays with him but its not rough. Brock played carefully with Peanut, almost as if he understood this was a kid. When other dogs got up on the trampoline with him, Brock would growl and fight them off.

A dog being of a certain breed does not give any indication the dog will turn into an Evil People Attacking Machine. There have been enough of just about every breed that bite, but we seem to only hear about the same dogs over and over again. No one gets to hear about the Great Danes, Golden Retrievers, Collies or Springer Spaniels that bite kids/adults on a regular basis. We only get to hear the hyped up stories of the more aggressive dog breeds as a sort of media frenzy attack in order to scare the shit out of people. Dogs become agressive and a problem because of their owners and upbringing, not their breed.

Not too long after the pit bull attacks near my house in Spotsylvania County happened, I saw a guy walking his two pits (massive babies they were) on the sidewalk in Carytown. Then there was another guy walking his pit puppy (brindle and the cutest). I have 3 pit bull mixed breeds and the only one that is iffy around kids is the pure bred who was severely abused when she was a puppy (so much so that she still can't hear the jingling of a belt and it's been 7 years at least).

I think it's about time that legislator's start punishing the owners of the agressive dog(s) or take each occurance as a case-by-case basis. By banning a whole breed, it's like saying all black guys are thugs so if police arrested them all and put them in jail, they'd be saving themselves a lot of time by getting it out of the way already.

I love pit bulls, bull dogs, bull mastifs and the like. I have met more good pits than bad as it depends on the ownership and care the dogs get. By banning the breed, the overall problem of bad ownership is being condoned and those who want dogs to protect them will just find another breed to do it with. Next thing you know, no one will be able to have any dogs because they will all be considered too dangerous.

*Pit Bulls are actually two breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier and American Stafordshire Terrier. The former are usually smaller and more Bull Dog, the latter are taller, lean but still muscular. Most of pit bulls get bored easily and have a "dumb dog" complex but get to be very smart as they mature (my youngest can open doors with the handles).

Keep reading....