A happy end to the tale of an ex fighting pitbull

"The Vicktory dogs at Best Friends, indeed all pit-bull-type dogs everywhere, have lost a true ambassador. Ellen, one of the most affectionate dogs a visitor could hope to meet, passed away peacefully last weekend. At 11 years old, she was one of the oldest of the Vicktory dogs (seized from the property of NFL quarterback Michael Vick).

“Ellen's health is failing,” explained Best Friends veterinarian Dr. Patti Patterson right before the decision was made to humanely euthanize Ellen. “Although we do not know the cause of her illness and deterioration, we have exhausted all diagnostic and treatment efforts that we feel could help Ellen.”

The caregivers and medical team fought long and hard for Ellen, but in the end her health wouldn’t turn around. Some unknown disease was causing weight loss and muscle loss, as well as preventing her stomach from emptying. Despite a barrage of tests, the medical team couldn't determine the source of the problems. Her quality of life was no longer at an acceptable level.

During her final two days, Ellen had a steady stream of visitors, all of them stopping over to say goodbye to this dog who was so easy to love."

[...]

"Admittedly, once they heard about Ellen’s background, many of the visitors were somewhat hesitant at first to meet her. After all, there are a lot of myths still floating around about fighting dogs and their personalities. Such reservations, however, only lasted seconds once she turned on the charm. “You could just see them change their perception,” Tom says. “She went a long way toward helping not only the Vick dogs that are here, but pit bulls in general. She helped to dispel the myths about them.”"

Read the full article on the Best Friends Society site here

And watch their tribute video:

Popular Dogs- The American Pit Bull Terrier

"[Buddy]’s an American Pit Bull Terrier. His patience, good humor and ability to just chill when parading around in a costume in front of other dogs doesn’t jive with the snarling, man-biting, dog-aggressive stereotype from which the breed suffers. But those who know and love this breed, like Bobbitt, know that a real live APBT can be an animal that differs radically from the breed’s not-so-sterling public image. Here are some surprising facts about what it’s really like to live with an APBT.

[...]

The APBT likes nothing better than to please his people. Janice Snyder, an APBT enthusiast from Fallon, Nevada, recalls with pride the day her dog earned a title in the canine sport of weight pulling. “At the end of the trial, the judge made a comment to all that she was so impressed by my dog’s willingness to please me,” Snyder says.

That willingness to please is no accident. Although the APBT’s forebears were bred to fight other animals, they also were bred to willingly go to extremes to please their human owners. Today, this eagerness makes the APBT surprisingly easy to train. “I have found that these dogs are very eager to please and are most happy when they are working their minds as well as their bodies,” Bobbitt says.

[...]

“The fact of the matter is that APBTs are animal aggressive,” she says. “Many terriers are this way. While each individual dog may not be animal aggressive, it’s important to remain cautious.”

Still, some owners find that their APBTs can deal appropriately with other dogs, and even pass tests that require them to be well-behaved around other canines. “I have titled dogs of this breed in conformation, obedience, agility and weight pull in addition to the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen test and the American Temperament Test Society’s temperament test,” Bobbitt says proudly. “I know some people who hunt or herd with their APBTs, although that is not common. Some participate in dock diving, drafting [carting], scent work and protection. Their willingness to work is their greatest asset with the right owner, and their biggest downfall [is when they’re in] the wrong hands.” "

Read the full article here .

Bahrain implements TNR for control of stray dogs

"DUBAI: In a move being praised by local animal rights advocates, the Bahrain government is looking to end the massive number of stray dogs on the country’s streets, but is to do so humanely.

The $795,000 birth control program hopes to eliminate stray dogs in the country within five years by spaying and neutering the animals, instead of killing them.

“I think this is a great move and something that should have been thought up long ago,” activist Yara Hussein told Bikyamasr.com, adding that “the continued killing of animals was another dark spot on the continued abuse of life in this country and glad to see it ending.”

[...]

“We are looking for the most humane way of dealing with these animals and neutering them without killing them is the best option,” said Hughes.

“Our teams will handle the dogs carefully and vaccinate them so they don’t infect other animals. After castrating them, we will return them to the wild with a clipped ear to identify them from other dogs. They will be able to eat and live normally without reproducing, which will mean that we will be able to see no trace of this problem. " "

Read more here.

" Jonny was one of 51 pit bulls seized in April 2007 from Bad Newz Kennels, the Smithfield, Va., dogfighting ring run by Michael Vick, then quarterback of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Although too young to have been a fighter, Jonny probably had his mettle tested a few times, and like most of the other Bad Newz dogs, he’d spent his entire life either locked up in a pen or chained to a rotating axle in the woods, with little or no positive interaction with people or other dogs. 

After the raid on Vick’s property, Jonny and the other dogs were deemed evidence and put into shelters to be held until the investigation was complete. Conditions varied, but even the best dogs can break down after a few months of confinement. With Vick’s dogs, this wasn’t much of a concern; it was assumed they all would be destroyed upon the delivery of a verdict.

[...]

But public outcry, as well as the defendant’s bulging bank account, moved U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson to issue an almost unprecedented order: that nearly $1 million be set aside to rescue and rehabilitate as many of the dogs as possible. The ASPCA was asked to assemble a team of animal-behavior experts to evaluate them. 

[...]

Cohen put Jonny on a firm program of walks, feedings, playtime, and relaxation, which helped relieve his insecurity and fear, emotions that can drive canine misbehavior. “A big part of it is building trust,” Zawistowski says, “teaching them that the world is not out to get them.” Within 10 days, Jonny embraced his routine and began to relax. 

[...]

So what conclusions can we draw from the fates of Vick’s pits? “We know so little about dogs like these because so few of them have been allowed to live,” Dr. McMillan says. “We’re learning a lot, but the work still doesn’t permit concrete conclusions. These dogs really represent the start of these kinds of studies.” "

Read the full article here.

Declaration of the No Kill Movement

"II. No Kill Resolution

Whereas, the right to live is every animal’s most basic and fundamental right;

Whereas, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm;

Whereas, traditional sheltering practices allow the mass killing of sheltered animals;

Whereas, every year shelters in the United States are killing millions of healthy and treatable animals who could be placed in homes, and are also killing millions of feral cats who do not belong in shelters;

Whereas, life always takes precedence over expediency;

Whereas, the No Kill movement in the United States has successfully implemented new and innovative programs that provide alternatives to mass killing;

Whereas, lifesaving change will come about only if No Kill programs are embraced and further developed;

Whereas, failure to implement No Kill programs constitutes a breach of the public’s trust in the sheltering community;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that No Kill policies and procedures are the only legitimate foundation for animal sheltering; and,

It is incumbent upon all shelters and animal groups to embrace the philosophy of No Kill, to immediately begin implementing programs and services that will end the mass killing of sheltered animals, and to reject the failed kill-oriented practices of the past."

Read the full article here. 

Lennox's Death Sentence

I am in shock and utterly saddened. 

"A Belfast woman has failed in a final attempt to spare the life of her pit bull terrier-type dog.

Northern Ireland's most senior judges rejected Caroline Barnes' legal bid to overturn an order for the destruction of her pet, Lennox.

The dog was seized by Belfast City Council dog wardens in May 2010. He was assessed to be a danger to the public and subsequently ordered to be put down

Two lower courts had already ruled that the dog should be put down.

Ms Barnes, 35, had accepted her pet was a pit bull type, but claimed there had been a failure to properly consider a possible exemption scheme.

Her legal team went before the Court of Appeal seeking to compel the County Court judge who confirmed the destruction order to state a case on points of law.

They argued that the animal had never bitten anyone and had behaved impeccably since being impounded. They said the dog has not been given the chance to show it could be safe.

The decision that Lennox should be put down came after amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act were extended to Northern Ireland in 2011.

However on Tuesday, the Appeal Court judges dismissed Ms Barnes' application.

"The judge had heard evidence on the issues relating to this dog over a protracted two-day hearing, carefully considered the evidence and the issues and he reached conclusions of fact which have not been vitiated by any error of law on his part," Lord Justice Girvan said."

BBC

For those unawares, here is a link to Victoria Stilwell's take on the issue, from a few months ago:

Positively

JUST ONE DAY

"Today is June 11. Just another day? Hardly. Eleven years ago, the animal sheltering movement changed forever: http://bit.ly/kinJqY. Today is the anniversary of the first No Kill community. And I wasn’t the only one who was there: http://exm.nr/LujQMl. In celebration, over 700 shelters and other organizations, including some of the largest animal control shelters have pledged to make this the safest day for animals in shelters this century by putting down their “euthanasia needles” and picking up cameras."

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=9479

(from Facebook) "Some shelters are reporting they've run out of animals for adoption, others have lots of empty cages because they'd done more adoptions today than they normally do in a week, one animal control shelter reported mass crying by their staff as the animals went out the front door in the loving arms of new families in droves.

In just one community, 88 out of 100 dogs and 28 out of 30 cats were adopted by 11 am. In another, they stopped at 186 adoptions because they ran out. 

If you are one of those communities, don't close shop. It is still early. Call neighboring shelters, call local rescue groups, have them bring animals for adoption to your facility! Imagine being an animal control shelter and RESCUING animals FROM rescue groups!"