Tag Archives: pitbulls

It’s Not Just a “Pit Bull” Thing. Cattledogs Get It Too.

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OK, OK, I know. A lot of my friends have or work with or volunteer for Pitbull type dogs.  Two of Artie’s bestest friends are pit-type dogs.

The Spousal Unit with Kinners: two guys hangin’ out.

 

Oreo: he’s down with that!  Artie loves him!

 

The boys check out Co
usin Artie

So yes, we have contact with many “big heads.”  And we love our pit-type friends.  We hear the stories, the misconceptions, the comments about them.

 

I’ve been a lot of places where there are dogs and now because of my exposure to pit-types, I don’t have any pre-conceived notions.  It’s a dog with a (usually) square head, period. I ask if I can pet etc. just as I would with any dog.  And I’ve done events with a pit-type on my arm, so to speak, and have educated and advocated for them for years now.

 

I think I’ve heard darn near every comments a person can make about pit-type dogs and I’m here to tell you, it runs the gamut from “Awesome” to “Satanic.”

 

I’ve heard, “You can’t trust ’em, not one of ’em,” to “Best damn dog my family ever had!”

 

What is fascinating to ME, personally, is for as many bad or  fearful stories that people tell, I’ve heard an almost equal amount of curious, respectful questions to misty-eyed memoirs to powerful stories of love and loyalty.

 

I can honestly say (if the locale is pretty neutral) that the nice comments or questions run about anywhere from 40-75% of what I’ve heard if the dog I’m with is a nice, mellow dog or goofy, happy dog.

 

The negatives just seem louder than the neutrals and positives.

 

Now folks who have pit types wail and gnash (rightly so) about how misunderstood their dogs are.  They are.  I’m not saying they’re NOT!  BSL, extreme prejudice, unnecessary killings and incarcerations. Pit type owners have every right to feel, nay, be paranoid, vigilant and on guard. If you’re on a Pit Group on Facebook or you know folks who have them or work with them, this is nothing new. It’s an exhausting round of educating John Q. Stupid-Public.

 

However, you’re not the only ones.

 

We have (for those of you who don’t know us) a lovely female mix and an Australian Cattledog (ACD). He will be 2 in Sept. 2013 and his name is Artie or “Blooby” as he is most often known.  (Blame the S.U. on that.)

 

Artie is my 7th (including fosters) ACD. This is my 20th year with cattledogs.

 

Brief synopsis for the uninitiated: An ACD (sometimes known as a Blue Heeler, Queensland Heeler or Heeler) is a medium sized herding dog breed, originating in (who’d a-thunk?) Australia!  They come in blue or red (plus blue or red speckle).  They were bred to herd and guard feral cattle in the outback.  They are also used on sheep and other stock, including reindeer! They are very smart, pretty biddable (I think) and tough. They have teeth (scissor bite) which they use to herd stock with, often nipping at the heels of recalcitrant cows. Thus the name “heelers.” They are often called “velcro” dogs because they want to know what you’re up to at any given moment.

They are athletic and sturdy with a weather-resistant coat. They should have upright ears and tight “cat feet.”

They are loyal to their humans but often diffident to down-right suspicious of strangers. They often are not tolerant of other dogs.  They need a ton of positive socialization. They have a lot of energy, although I have had a few that were pretty laid back. (That’s not the norm.) They are a “busy” dog but I think there are many dogs that are far busier.  They love brain and/or body work and excel in a wide variety of dog sports.  At 17-20 inches, it’s an easy size to live and travel with.

 

Artie has some of the best qualities of his breed and of a companion dog in general.  We’re very, very blessed.

 

ACDs are also an extremely unusual LOOKING dog. Once you know what a cattledog looks like (or SHOULD look like) you can honestly say, “Yep, that’s a cattledog!”   They are pretty unforgettable!

 

(I have to preface this by telling you I live in the Midwest.)

 

Here are some of the “usual” comments who someone has met Artie (or any of my other cattledogs.)

 

“Wow, what kind of mix is THAT?”

“Man, how old IS your dog?” (This only seems to happen with blues; must be the grey hairs in the coat.)

“Does that dog have WOLF in him?”

“Is that a little German Shepherd?” (I never know where people get that from.)

And startlingly close to the truth) “Is that a (part) Dingo?”

 

Once in a while (and it’s getting to be more commonplace than it was 20 years ago) you hear:

 

“Is that one of them blue heelers?”  This is often said in the same semi-suspicious tone as many a pit type owner has heard.  “Is that one of them pit bulls?”

 

Now, OK, all right, call me grammatically biased but the minute someone (no matter what city or state I’m in) says “them heelers” or “them there heelers” or even ‘them cattledogs,” (yes Virginia, some people DO get it right), my intellectual-snobbery-hackles start rising up.  Even when someone say “those cattledogs” with the emphasis on “those,” I inwardly cringe.  I’m sure pit type folks do too.

 

“Oh, God, here we go. And it’s not going to good.”

 

Here’s where the pit type folks and the cattledog folks diverge. With a pit type on the other end of your leash, you COULD ostensibly B.S. your way through that query especially if your dog is black, brindle or fawn colored.  I’ve heard lab-boxer mix, hound-boxer mix, poodle-terrier mix (yes, we had one of those of the Humane Society) etc. etc.  John Q. Stupid couldn’t pick out a pure-bred American Pit Bull Terrier out of a line-up!  Many experts can’t either!

 

But if they’ve identified your ACD as a heeler or cattledog, yeah, you’re pretty much sunk.  Here it comes, I think.  The Bad Cattledog Story. And it almost always begins with “My cousin” or “My friend had one of them.”

 

It’s usually a cousin. If it’s a cousin, you know (9 out of 10 times) it’s going to be bad.

 

Let’s say, on a good week, you and your friendly, social dog meet 20 pretty neutral-to-nice people, all men.  In a good week, the pit type folks  might get 40% – 60%  neutral to positive reactions.  The rest, admittedly, are going to suck.

 

In that same week, the cattledog owner, meets 20 people (men) who guess (correctly) what he is. 17-19 of those people will say the following:

 

“Cool looking dog. You know….my cousin (insert other friend or relation) had one of them (there) dogs.  Meanest damn dog you ever saw. Bit everybody.  Loyal as hell but damn, was he ever mean!”  

 

Your heart does a little downward spiral because you know that yet another jerk owns an out-of-control, untrained (or badly trained) cattledog and is doing a huge disservice to the breed. Your brain goes slightly postal and you think with in inward sigh:

 

Educate. Again. It’s a training exercise for my dog, meeting new people. Again.  I bet Lab/Pug/Fluffy Dog people don’t go through this sh*t.

 

So, Pit type dog owners and lovers, you are not the only ones.  If you’re out in public, cattledog people get this all the time.  All. The. Tine.

 

So do Rottweiler people.  And Doberman people. And German Shepherd people.

 

Perhaps it might comfort you folks with pit type dogs to know you’re not alone.

 

 

So Your Pittie Got Knocked Up….

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Heck, if your “any type” b*tch got knocked up….. 

 

It’s particularly bad for “Pit” or “Block-head” types for a wide variety of reasons.  Dog fighting, BSL, etc. etc. etc. 

 

Oh, dear, folks here are going to upset about this one.  The pregnant Pit. I can see them with pitchforks,  gathering wood for fires and setting up the stake in the courtyard…..they’re brushing off the pillory….plucking chickens, heating up the tar….

 

If I had my cat’s “oops pregnancy” to do over again, I’d spay-abort.  But she was due in 10 days. (So the vet at the APL said. Not.)  Granted, those kittens, (now well into their teens) had good homes and good lives. But I was a total Nazi when it came to homes for them.  A She-wolf!

 

Are you ready to take back any one of those puppies at any time during its life, which can be up to 16-18 years from now?  If not, don’t do it. 

 

Do you have totally checked and vetted-out homes for at least 2 times as many puppies as she will have?  Pittie type litters average between 4-10.  If you don’t have all those people lined up with large deposits, no “yeah-buts we’ll take one”…..Don’t do it.  

 

Many people from Rescue and Pit advocacy groups will be very upset about this mistake in dog management. And rightly so. I come from a slightly different angle here, having been in purebred dogs for over 20 years. And no, I’ve never bred a litter or stood my intact dogs at stud. Yes, admittedly you were completely at fault for not being vigilant  A solid tie can happen way quicker than you’d every imagine. (And if you don’t know what that term means….yikes!)  

 

Yes, she should be spayed and your boy should be neutered.  There is no question about that. We’re not talking show dogs here. And many people who show their dogs never breed them. And if neither parent has been health tested for hips, elbows, eyes (PRA, DLL), heart, Van Wildebraun’s etc. then spay-abort. Does one or both parents have skin issues, severe allergies? These are all genetically carried problems that can impinge on the quality of those pups’ lives. If you’ve never heard of any of this stuff or if you have NO idea what I’m talking about, you should spay-abort. 

 

However….if you are really going to go through with this, I hope like hell you have a clean, quiet, warm house, whelping box, old blankets, towels, tons of newspapers a SUPER great vet, a good ER vet clinic and some super-experienced dog people versed in whelping to help you.  If you’re going to continue forward with this….please, I beg you: DO IT RIGHT. Find someone reputable who breeds medium to large-sized purebred dogs on a very limited basis. Not a backyard breeder or an “Oops Breeder”. Not your friend down that street whose b*tch got knocked up last year. (Whelping Toy Breeds is a whole ‘nother story). You need their advice and wisdom.

 

Momma dog should be going to the vet every week for her pre-natal check up and probably be ultra-sounded as well. If she has a breech pup, it could kill her; she may need a Cesarean. That’s at least $1,000 there.  If you’re lucky.

 

Some vets will do very early spay/neuters on the puppies. I do beg you, SPEND THE MONEY. please do not let the puppies go without having them fixed, micro-chipped and fully vetted.  Parvo kills! 

 

People who responsibly breed dogs (and don’t ya’all dare flame me with your “all breeders are scum” vigilante spew) spend a ton of money and never get it back. She’s a Pittie type, so you are going to have to be uber-vigilant about who gets those puppies. I’d do serious background checks, check ALL their references, do a pre-home visit and have a contract that says at any time WITHOUT NOTICE you can visit where that dog lives. Are you ready to be their guardian and advocate for the rest of their lives?

 

You must be prepared to do the “Smart Puppy Program” with these little ones. If you have no idea what I’m taking about, spay-abort. You can Google that and see if you’re up to the task. It will make them much better dogs as they grow. 

 

The average responsible breeder of ANY breed, will spend $250-$1,000+ PER puppy on pre-natal, post natal care and puppy care. That’s not including testing done on both parents. 

 

It is a full time job 24/7 for 8-10 weeks.  By the way, don’t let anybody b.s. you….letting puppies go at any age before then (like 5-6 weeks) is totally irresponsible, in my opinion. I know I know, shelters do it.  I do not approve. Even though Mom has weaned them she still has a lot to teach them.  DON’T DO IT.  Once puppies are mobile, they really become a full-time job with full-time, never-ending clean up.  Puppies are noisy, adorable, messy, destructive, little heart-stealing monsters.

 

Since this was an unplanned pregnancy, I would SERIOUSLY consider a spay-abort even at this late stage.  She’ll be OK. Remember! She and the pups are YOUR responsibility for the REST OF THEIR LIVES. Even when they go to new homes, THEY ARE YOURS ALWAYS. You should be there always for your puppy owners, revel in their accomplishments and cry with their owners when they go to The Bridge, old and grey and loved to the very end.

 

That being said…puppy breath is pretty special stuff, no denying that. But most people are woefully unprepared for the responsibility, time and expense to do it RIGHT. You must be totally committed to doing it right for the rest of their lives. 

 

 

Kelly Ripa and Pit Bulls

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To Kelly Ripa and all fans of her show.

(And yes, I posted this on the LIVE Facebook page but no doubt it’ll get yanked.)

Ms. Ripa: You should not make blanket comments about pit bulls (or even that type of dog). It shows a blatant ignorance and an assumption on your part of biased, quasi-education.

Should we say the same thing about blondes, your appearance or your intelligence, you’d be rather angry, hurt, disappointed, wouldn’t you? Perhaps not, as by your comments, it’s highly doubtful as to whether you possess any of the virtues of basic intellect but rather an alarmist, punt-kick attitude towards dog related things of which you could not possibly have any reasonable knowledge.

In other words, Ms. Ripa, you be needin’ some educatin’!

Moving On From Michael Vick?

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Forgive Michael Vick? Move on from the whole “Michael Vick Thing?” He did the crime and did the time, etc. I can get where some folks are coming from but here’s the deal.

 
He committed a crime. Crime? He committed crimes. Aside from the dog thing, which was horrific, he still got arrested for other stuff. Felony Stuff. He knew exactly what was going on on his property. He aided and abetted all that stuff. He committed other CRIMES besides dog fighting.
 
OK, he served his time. That’s great. However he should NEVER have been allowed near professional sports again. Never. He’s done nothing but profit from his time in the “hoose-cow.” Oh, but he lost all his earnings and potential earnings when he went into prison. Boo-hoo.
 
I don’t see him giving one nickle beyond what he was court-ordered to give to those dogs. If I were his P.R. person, I’d be all over him like spots on a Dalmatian to be doing more and more. Both publicly and privately so some snoopy reporter would find out. 
 
I don’t see him, week after week after week going into schools and community centers and preaching against Dog Fighting and Drug Usage to his idolizing masses. I don’t see him doing one ounce of Good. And he could have. He was and still is in a tremendous position to do incredibly good things, to be a huge power of example.
 
“I screwed up. God will be my Judge and I don’t think He’s going to be happy with me.  I was horrible and cruel beyond words to His defenseless creatures. I enabled people to do illegal, horrible and inhumane stuff. I knew it was going on and I did nothing. In fact, I participated! I will never do it again and I vow to spread the word and tell people it’s wrong, it’s immoral, it’s inhuman, it’s inhumane and don’t you ever do it!  Don’t get caught up the spiral of horror!  It’s not cool!  You’re a big loser if you do it. It’s no way out!” He truly could have had a public “Come To Jesus” moment and done something uplifting with this whole ungodly mess.  A true Man of God (or Goddess) would do such a thing.  And they’d keep on testifying!  
 
That’s why so many “animal people” think he’s such a jerk and still have him in the pillory of public opinion.
 
You don’t hear anyone saying, “Well, Bernie Madoff is doing his time. Let’s move on, shall we?” Nobody that I know of or have heard of is willing to give old Bernie a pass. There are people who are making it their life’s mission to find that money and make restitution. 
 
But because Michael Vick is a football player, an athlete, we should just “move on?”
 
Please do not flip out the “You’re just being that way because he’s black” card.  Dog-fighting, dog killing, dope dealing, trafficking, illegal-gambling, felonious, scum-buckets come in all shapes, sizes and socio-economic backgrounds. I wouldn’t care if he was pink with purple polka dots. He and his charming relatives and friends were a bunch of opportunistic criminals. Period. To pull out the “race card” is demean to people like Martin Luther King.
 
I understand “To err is human, to forgive divine.” (Alexander Pope) And the Latin: “Errare humanus est.” Yes, as spiritual folks, we should pray for Michael Vick, pray especially for his “vick-tims” and for all the people who invested and believed in him. He duped and cheated every stinkin’ one! He is still laughing his way all the way to the bank with million dollar endorsements and contracts. If you or I had committed his crimes, we probably wouldn’t be able to get a job at McDonalds, get a car or buy a house.
 
He is the poster child for “You might get caught, you might have to do some time, but you can profit from this.” What lesson does this teach kids? Where are the ethics?
 
And speaking of…..why don’t most professional athletes have to sign ethics’ clauses?  
 
Why is it that an athlete gets a slap on the wrist but some poor “muther f-er” from the ghetto would still be in jail?  (Better lawyers notwithstanding.)
 
His consequence for committing his crimes should have been banishment from professional sports, in particular football. If he’d been a NASCAR driver (and believe me, I don’t like NASCAR very much) his getting back into the sport would have been a total non-starter.
 
I’m sorry but if you are a professional athlete and you get nailed for felonies, that’s it.  You’re done, buster. If he’d done this stuff, he would have been kicked out of the Olympics!  Nobodyis that good or necessary to the football cause. There are many worthy high school and college kids ready, willing and able to take your place.
 
Get a real job and find out how tough it is for a convicted felon to get work. Then maybe I’ll give you a brief hall pass. Just don’t ever do it again. Ever. The same as with any other felon.
©2012 Mia Knerly-Hess

On Cross-Posting Animals In Need

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©2012 Mia Knerly-Hess
So you want to set up a Cross-posting site? A Facebook Page? OK, great, super. Here are a few ideas. This goes for Cat People too.
It’s just not enough to click SHARE. Any idiot with a left finger and a mouse can do that.
First of all, please, do not bombard people with Cross-Posts. There are a few individuals on Facebook in particular who cross-post well over 100-200 animals a day. Your mind goes into shut-down mode; a sense of helplessness ensues. “How can I possible help? There are just too many!”
 
There ARE too many. That’s the tragic truth. It’s overwhelming. Just one more tragic story, one more sad face. It can be mind-numbing. That’s the fastest way to get un-Friended on Facebook. That and political posts. 🙂 I have un-Friended a few people because of that. It’s heart-wrenching, depressing and in the end, believe it or not, ineffective.
 
If you’re going to cross-post or set up a site for it, it needs to have different ways that people could help.
First and foremost: People have got to have current and complete info on that animal. It’s my biggest bitch! I wouldn’t post anything that doesn’t have enough info on it unless I know it’s a purebred Schipperke and I’m hollering out to Schipperke folks on the web. It’s a huge waste of time. People want to help, they need info in order to do that. See my Blog on this. I think it would help a ton more dogs if they did better marketing. Plus you, as Site/FB -page Master. need to follow up on each listing and pull it off if the dog is out or dead.
 
There is a HUGE need for a clearing house, a networking site for Rescues and Fosters, locally in your community, as well as county-wide, area-wide, state-wide, country-wide and internationally as well. If you’re in America, there may be a rescue in Canada that may be able to help. Same as in Germany finding a rescue in Italy. Someone needs to shell out some serious bucks and pay a few people to set that up and keep in current. It shouldn’t be completely manned by volunteers. It is too vast and the skills involved need money. Even setting up a local Rescue Networking site is a huge undertaking.
Big Note: A lot of these shelters won’t let John Q Public take that dog/cat out, even in a High Kill joint or off the Urgent list…..and rightly so. They’re figuring whoever is getting that (usually) unfixed dog out is just going to use them for bad things. Having a Rescue/Foster clearing house or network that is kept current is essential for getting animals out and safe in foster.
IF you’re going to set up a Cross-Posting site or FB page you need this:
“Here are other ways people can help”
 
*MONEY.
Donating money or items.
Having a fund raiser. Kids can do that!
If there is a Chip-in to get Rusty out of the shelter, and you’ve got the bread, cough it up.
*Find out what your rescue/shelter needs other than money and see if there is a way to get it. Flea markets, garage and estate sales, etc. etc.
*Figure out what’s going on at the Local shelter and who might be the “go-to” person. Do a little sleuthing and see who can help or who’s got info. Be respectful and kind. Contrary to popular beliefs, not everyone who works at a High Kill is the anti-Christ and gets a Heinrich Himmler hard-on while gassing or heart-sticking kittens. If there is some monster working there, the devil you know…. You could then work politically to get that person fired but have a few replacements in mind. The Monster has connections? Find somebody with better connections. There is always a way, there is always someone higher up the food chain with a bigger hammer.
 
* If you’ve really got some moxie, some balls, a suit and some bread; get on the Board of the Local. Find out who is on the Board too. Those are people you need to watch. That’s where the money is and policy is made. Board Members of many organizations are usually very clueless about day to day workings of any place, notoriously non-profits or publicly run or funded shelters. They have their own agenda for being on that Board and it’s usually NOT because they’re all mushy about animals. It’s either monetary, political or resume driven. Or all of the above.
*Contacting or networking with rescue orgs. Life is truly all about networking.
*Connections, connections, connections. Use them but don’t abuse them. Have something to give back.
*Are you a professional photographer or a budding Ansel Adams? Donate your services, take pictures or video of animals in need. Snag a friend or staff member for a few minutes to help. One good photo or video can make a huge difference for that one animal.
*Offers of transport. Often the rescue and foster combo is possible, but the ride isn’t. If you are driving for a legit 501(c)3 tax exempt means you can write off stuff like the gas on your taxes. (Or you used to be able to do it; it may have changed.)
*Checking references on behalf of a rescue. Or about a rescue!
* Conducting a home check. (I’ve done this. Very interesting and rewarding.)
* If you are a certified CPDT dog trainer or Animal Behaviorist, perhaps donating your services once a month for a training class or seminar for the general pubic or people who adoptedanimals you know about. Animal “misbehavior” is usually tops on the list as to why Fluffy gets dumped at the Local. There’s a whole lot of crazy information out there but people don’t know where or how to get HELP! This will actually help your business in the long and often in the short run.
*Encouraging your vet to have a one day spay-neuter clinic. Or Shots. Or microchips. Or all of the above. Or find someone or a business willing to write this off on their taxes as a charitable donation. Offer to make food for the staff and docs etc.
*Hooking up with local rescues and local kennel kennel clubs. In the Rescue World especially, find out who’s in and who ain’t. Find out who says they’re a rescue and who actually has the 501 status. I can say I’m a Jack-Rabbit Rescue and, being a great schmoozer, I could convince you I am. Trust me, I’m NOT!
*Never Trust Everything YOU Read On The Internet. It is not infallible. It is not the Gospel of anything. Use the phone for starters.
*Ask an org (rescue, shelter) “How can I help?” It may be something as simple-stupid as making (vegan) chocolate chip cookies. (There is a way, but I don’t like them myself.)
* Go into your community and see if there is someone you could help with adequate food, shelter etc. for their dog. Get that dog off its chain or off the back porch. That’s outreach and it’s huge. We only save one dog at a time, really. Look at this one. Break The Chain on Long Island, NY and C.H.A.I.N.E.D. In the Detroit, MI area are some others that come to mind.
*Educate people on the benefits of spay/neuter. Educate people about dog fighting, cruelty, not getting bitten, dog body language, etc. etc. All ages need educating! At about 4th grade, kids are starting to get very jaded.
*Offer to underwrite a Neuter-Scooter for your area.
*Help a foster parent. You can’t do it yourself but you can help! Know someone who is fostering? They are the true ANGELS in this whole mess! Go over and give them a hand. Watch the dog go potty or keep an eye on him while the Foster Parent has a cup of Joe or goes to the movies. Throw cookies at the dog, help him learn something. I swear, it takes a village to raise or help or rehab a dog or cat. You could be that dog’s honorary Auntie or Uncle!
*Men. We Need Men. Ask Men.
Women, God bless us, we sit around and get sad, get mad, write, blog, yack on FB about the horror, the injustice of it all. We form groups and/or rescues and a lot of the time bad-mouth all the other groups/rescues out there.
Men, God bless them, give them a plan or a task and let them implement it. A poor person with no money and a dog on a six-foot chain needs a dog house and a fence? A two-story Craftsman-style dog condo, insulated with gable roofing and windows made out of scrap from a lumber yard I got for free? I’m ON IT! Let them build it; they will come.
Get more men involved especially in the area of a spay/neuter. We ladies can cluck about how male dogs make babies but some big old Bubba could give a sh*t because, what do we know? We don’t have balls. Get your husband/boyfriend/son/dad/brother to help with this one.
The old argument: “You’re taking all his fun away?” Trust me, if Gonzo wants to screw, some still do. I had a neutered male that still did. He’s not making babies; that is the bottom line. They are not YOUR balls, dude. It’s not personal. If a man in your life is some kick-ass, tough as nails, Marine-type, recruit that dude!!
Just remember, Bubba: he’s still your lovable dog and if you’re that hung up about what’s hung under, have those fake balls put on your dog. He’s still going to lick his….uh….Richard. He can always do that. A pocket-rocket happens with male dogs, with or without ’em!
*Organize, brave soul that you are, a dinner-party or picnic or cocktail party and invite every stinkin’ rescue org in your area. Have food. And invite your local AKC, UKC, kennel club, training club reps. Don’t be a lazy person, use emails, phone calls and a written invite. Get to know who does what. Oh, it could get ugly putting all those different groups and factions into the stew, but if you’re a sick broad like me, you might get a vicarious thrill. More importantly, you’d get the players straight in your head. As an added extra bonus some of the combatants may get their heads out of their butts and say, “Uh, well, shoot, scooter, we all want to help dogs. Maybe if we work together a bit more?”
*THERE IS NOTHING LIKE FACE TO FACE TIME! We rely TOO much on the internet and Facebook.
*Rescue People, I know you get inundated with calls and emails, pleas, begging, tears but you got into Rescue for a reason. Be accessible. Don’t blow people off like you’re a Force 10 hurricane. Keep tracks of the idiots, of course. “We just cannot take one more dog into our rescue,” (but maybe provide options) is a rather lengthy way of saying, “No!” but it’s still no. “No” is totally OK. You do what you can with what you got.
If you can’t do it anymore, whether it’s your heart, your health, your life circumstances — no reasonable person is going to flail you —- after a while. They’ll find a new b*tch to burn at the stake eventually. Get out with grace and dignity.
Now I know I’ve mentioning getting in touch with and on board with your local kennel club. A lot of rescue folks and people involved with shelters are saying, “Eeeeeuuu!” I say, get over yourself. A ton of people involved in shelters and rescue are very resentful towards purebred dog owners, handlers and breeders, citing them as The Problem. “They breed dogs. There are too many dogs dying in shelters, being abused,” etc. Trust me, people involved in showing dogs in any arena know exactly (and far better than most of you do) how many dogs (and cats) are dying every day.
 
Here’s a clue by four for you? Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they are NOT the problem! Read that again. Most people involved in showing and/or breeding dogs (The Fancy, agility, herding, obedience, etc. etc.) are deeply committed to breed rescue. The problem is not purebred dog folks for the most part, it’s your idiot neighbor next door. Or worse. To force a mandatory moratorium on dog breeding will not stop it. That is an airy-faery dream that you need to jettison. It will drive the “good folks” out of dogs and it will drive the bad people (dog fighting, puppy mills etc.) further underground and the fallout in terms of animal cruelty and horrific deaths will astound you.
 
While purebred rescue is their primary focus (and rightly so), many folks involved in purebred dog stuff have a love of DOGS, period. They are also high on your list of go-to folks to fight against Breed Specific Legislation and Puppy Mills. Purebred dog people with medium to large breeds “get” BSL. You don’t have to preach to that choir; they are (99.9% of them) overwhelming opposed to it. And Small/Toy dog folks immediately “get” puppy mills. Rescue groups, shelters and purebred dog people don’t always communicate and they really should. Is the lady who shows Japanese Chins going to be partial to Chins? Of course. But she might have networks the Average Rescue Person has never even considered!! I’ve know quite a few show folks who have done dog transports as well, on the down-low, quietly helping as they can.
 
Don’t diss the purebred dog community or your local kennel club. Network with them, maybe join up and help out a dog show (of any kind). You’ll actually learn a lot about dogs, learn about dog breeds and types (thus helping with your identification process) and meet some nice folks ofttimes. Yes, there will some snotty people, but, come on, really. Think about it. There are some Seriously first-class, Grade A weirdos in the Rescue community as well.
 
In short, if you are going to cross-post, broaden your horizons to beyond your Facebook Page.
Just my opinion.
©2012 Mia Knerly-Hess

Animals In Need: A Facebook Failure

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Bitch of the Day:
 
I am getting horrifically pissed at seeing completely inadequate “Dogs/cats/horses/animals in need postings.”
 
Contrary to popular belief we are NOT psychics.  Gosh, hate to disillusion you and, oh, guess what —-FB is international.  Which means people are going to read your posts everywhere!  
You want to help —- BE SPECIFIC!!!!!!.  Here is an example.
Picture(s) of animal than say: (for example)
Dog, Urgent.  Can only be released to a Rescue Organization (if that’s the case.).
8 year old medium-sized female  17-19″ tall, a very slim 45 pounds.  (Better than saying she’s scrawny and needs a lot of good meals and has tits hanging down to her knees.)
Since so many pictures are crappy (another bitch of mine), a detailed description please:
 
She is a pit bull mix type dog, not spayed.  Now use some adjectives! She is a stunning dark tiger brindle with white markings on her chest and cute little white toes. Her eyes are a deep brown and her teeth are good but they might benefit from a cleaning and good diet. She’s Vet checked, has kennel cough which is treatable etc. UTD on all shots.  (Whatever medical issues  are needed to know, be honest.)
Here’s another colossal failure with posters.  Where the hell is the dog located?  Some missle base?  On Mars?  Like I really know where in Brooklyn, NY?  Oh, wait…..let me get out my Ouija broad and see if I can find it?
 
Try this instead:
Available at Barks-A-Lot Shelter,
2668 First Street, Ipswich, Ct. 60008
Durham County, Near State route 22 and cross street X.
Open M-F 8-5pm etc.
Phone number: 800-555-1000 email contact: susieQ@ email. net
Passed her SAFER test with all 1s.  (Post any temperament test results or assessments if you’ve got them.)
Volunteers write:  “blah-blah-blah.”  Some kind of personality assessment!
Do not give me that malarky about “we don’t know weight or height.”  The vet or tech who checked in the dog knows the weight or an approximation.  
Height is easy to determine, you can self-measure that dog.  At home, get a yard stick and have a friend  tell you what inch is the bottom of your knee cap, the top of your knee cap, the middle of your shin and the middle of your thigh.  That pretty much takes in most dogs and you’ll have a ballpark figure.  Where do the dog’s withers come on you! Duh.  Don’t need to be a brain surgeon for that!  And if you don’t know what a “wither” is on a dog, google it!
And stop, for god’s sake, saying she’s a Pit Bull.  The likelihood of her being a UKC Registered American Pit Bull Terrier is so slim you’d be more likely to win the mega-millions.  At least give her half a chance by saying she’s a Pit Bull mix.  Or if she’s low and wide, an AmStaff mix. And that would be the truth!

I Am Lennox

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Today in Belfast, N. Ireland, after a two year court battle and amid world-wide outcries, protests, social media frenzies, petitions, thousands of emails, letters and even death threats, a dog named Lennox was destroyed because of what he looked like.  


DNA tests showed he was a Lab/Staff cross. It didn’t matter. 


The so-called “expert” that “assessed” him was debunked by veterinarians, behaviorists, animal trainers and dog experts world-wide and even in court.  It didn’t matter. 


Lennox’s legacy is he may join the ranks of the Vick(tory) Dogs and Patrick the dog tossed down a garbage chute.  He may be the face of injustice. He may help eventually to end BSL.  If you don’t know what that stands for it’s “Breed Specific Legislation.”


Why does Lennox’s death matter?  Who cares if one more dog dies today?  It’s just a “pit bull” thing, isn’t it? Or maybe a German Shepherd or Doberman or Rottweiler thing.  It doesn’t affect me. it doesn’t affect my dog.  I have a (insert breed or type or size dog here).


Here is why it should really truly matter if you never, ever, EVER own a dog or any pet for that matter for the rest of your earthly existence. It should matter even if you don’t like animals very much.  (I worry about you if that’s the case….)


It matters because The Government came into Lennox’s house, onto his owner’s property and seized the dog without cause. A dog who had NEVER bitten anyone, never attacked, was never a “nuisance.”.  A dog who actually was helping the daughter of the house.  A family’s pet.  Well-loved, not chained out in the backyard or left with no food, shelter, water.  A pet.  A family member.  It matters.  A lot.


It matters even if you are not a “pit bull” fan. It matters even if you really do not like that type of dog at all. it matters because, at any time, the pendulum could swing and your breed or type of dog could be the next target. It matters because if you are a good neighbor, you take care of your dog(s) or cat(s), at any time your animals could be seized and destroyed.  Lennox could be my Elke or my Artie.


I’m talking regular people, not puppy millers, hoarders, stupid, careless, abusive, neglectful people.  Lennox’s family were just regular folks, like most of are.  A Joe who went to work to provide for his family, a little girl with some special needs, a Mom like anybody’s mom.  They could be your next door neighbor.


It matters because Lennox was judged on his looks alone. And killed for his looks alone. He looked “bad.”


I am Lennox.  


I am a middle aged female home-maker who makes a bit of scratch here and there doing this and that with a vision disability.  I don’t see as well as most folks do.  I can barely drive a car.  I read things up real close.  I’m colorblind. I wear sunglasses even on cloudy days.


I am Lennox. I am judged by how I look.  


My over-50 husband has a fused spine; he can’t turn his head and he has more metal in him than most formerly heavy-metal appliances. 


He is Lennox too. 


According to TV demographics we’re “too old.”  They are cancelling high rated shows because we’re the “wrong” demographic.


We can overcome, we can persuade people, convincing them that we can “do” a ton of stuff “better” than many.  But in the end, in this increasingly superficial society, we are judged.  We’re seasoned, we’re a bit tattered and torn. We’re not “young and beautiful.”  (Just beautiful!)


We are Lennox: we judged on our age, sex, looks, sexual preference, religion, perceived abilities. We’re “put out to pasture” because of perception.  We’re disregarded. In times not-so-past we would have been destroyed.  Killed because of perception.  Because of how we looked.  


It is the barest stretch to liken Lennox the dog to a disabled child, a person “of color,”  they guy with the turban on his head, the lesbian couple next door…..whatever the different scary thing “du jour” is.  We all have our prejudices.  I do. I really do. (Scientologists, I admit, scare the heck out me.)  One would hope that our prejudices might be based on behavior rather than appearances!  


Lennox was a dog.  Plain and simple.  Canis lupis familiarus.  He was never judged as any dog would or should be. He was judge solely on how he looked. It’s the same as judging a person on color, sex, gay/straight, age, etc.  There is no difference.  None. If you think there is, you have lost a touch of your humanity in the seconds it took you to read and process these sentences. 


It does not take an Asimov or a STAR TREK writer to imagine a world where being judged on your looks signs your death warrant.  This feeding frenzy regarding dog “types” is not one whit different that anti-Jewish hysteria in Nazi Europe. Anyone who says it’s like comparing apples and oranges, even apple and rocks has their heads hidden in the sand.  They are in denial.

She is Lennox.


 

He is Lennox.


 

I am Lennox.  Are you?


(PS: Lennox was a Lab-American Bulldog. I erred.)