KSTP TV - Minneapolis and St. Paul - Rehabilitated pit bull becomes state champ
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
From The Slackmistress - On Michael Vick
Michael Vick was released into house arrest yesterday, after serving 18 months in a Federal Prison. Unless you've been living under a rock - and a big one at that - you'll know that he was sent there for dogfighting charges. Most of the dogs were killed - either in the ring or at the hands of Vick and his cohorts. The ones that were lucky enough to make it out alive found their way into the very few (and I stress very few) rescues that had the skills and resources available to rehab a fighting dog. As you can see, most of the Vick dogs - dogs that had been abused, beaten, starved, and fought - are now family pets, therapy dogs, and canine ambassadors. You can what happened to them here.
But what about Michael Vick? The ex-quarterback will be on house arrest for two months, missing out on the 2009 season. While still on suspension, he can petition to be reinstated to the NFL in 2010.
One can argue a million-dollar home in Norfolk, VA isn't exactly punishment, but the reality is Vick has served his sentence. As Jason Smith, the talk radio jock who hosts All Night With Jason Smith, said last night on his show, do not confuse that with paying his debt to society.
Unlike the dogs that survived his wrath, here's no indication that Vick has been rehabbed. There's talks that he might do a series of PSA with the Humane Society or PeTA (which is ironic since PeTA wants to kill pit bulls dead <-- note that this link includes some ugly images) but that's more about rehabbing Vick's image. He's a PR nightmare, but he's a PR nightmare who has played professional football, which means that there might be a team out there desperate enough to sign him.
I've seen plenty of images of dogs who were used as fighters, of dogs that were used as bait. You don't need to take a class in ethics to know that dogfighting is wrong. You just need a single shred of humanity.
However, we do have a legal system in this country, and no matter what you think of it, when he's done with house arrest Vick will have served his sentence. The NFL has every right to reinstate Vick for 2010. But more so than any PSA, than any post-prison interview, than any in-depth feature in ESPN magazine, the NFL has a chance to show current and future players who break the law - especially in such a cruel and tortuous way - will not be tolerated.
If you feel the same way, please email or call NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and ask him to not reinstate Michael Vick:
Roger.Goodell2@nfl.net
Telephone #: 1-212-450-2000 or (212) 450-2027
On twitter: @nflcommish
I understand that there are other NFL players who have done terrible things and continue to play. This is not to say that I think that I think one thing is worse than the other, or that those crimes committed do not warrant the same judgment. But as a pit bull owner and a football fan, this one strikes close to home.
Respectfully,Nina Bargiel
the slackmistress
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
New Designs in Our CafePress Store!
"Honor the Solider. Stop Military Breed Bans."
That's a soldier's dog and an actual soldier's shirt as background.
Click here to order: http://www.cafepress.com/pbrcstore
That's a soldier's dog and an actual soldier's shirt as background.
Click here to order: http://www.cafepress.com/pbrcstore
Friday, May 8, 2009
Rescued dog becomes rescuer
Posted: Thursday, May 7th, 2009 in The Brookings Register Eric Peterson of Brookings is a rescuer times two. First, he rescued Eve, a 2-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier. Now, with a demanding training regimen behind them, he's ready to undertake some search-and-rescue missions - with a lot of help from his pawed pal and partner.
Eve is now qualified in "tracking and trailing ." She and Peterson are part of the Brookings County Sheriff's Department K-9 Search and Rescue program.
A scenario for her and Peterson might be a situation where a nursing-home resident suffering from dementia wanders off or a child wanders away from home and becomes lost. A "tracking dog" follows a subject's footsteps, being oriented to a mixture of human scent and ground disturbance where the subject walked; a "trailing dog" is oriented to the cells that people are always shedding, which would happen as the subject walked along the ground. Eve can find a subject using either or both methods. Other search dogs work with orientation driven by an airborne human scent. And, finally, some search dogs are trained to find human remains.
Should the call for the services of Eve and Peterson come, they're ready to respond. Defending, rescuing dogs like Eve Peterson, manager of Powershop Gym in downtown Brookings, defends dogs like Eve, whom he got via "Pit Rescue of the Great Plains," based in Sioux Falls, for which he serves as board secretary and Web master.
He likes to clarify the definition "pit bull" ; he calls it a "slang term." It's a more generic term that covers a wide variety of canine types with similar physical characteristics. In the United States, dogs like Eve are likely to be American Pit Bull terriers or American Staffordshire terriers. Peterson said the two breeds are cousins. He explained, "We basically rescue American Pit Bull terriers in need, usually from shelters. We don't take owner surrenders."
But while there have long been organizations dedicated to rescuing a wide variety of dog breeds, adopting dogs like Eve just recently caught on. Peterson explained, "Unfortunately , up until a few years ago, the Sioux Falls Humane Society would not adopt out American Pit Bull terriers. There's too much of a stigma and negative media publicity from people who either didn't socialize their dogs or kept them for the wrong reasons or treated them wrongly. There's a lot of shelters that will just put them down. "No questions asked, no matter what. It could be the greatest dog in the world, but they just put them down if they suspect that they're an American Pit Bull Terrier."
For Peterson, it's his "breed of choice." But Eve won't be providing any additions to his breed of choice: she has been spayed. "Absolutely ," he said. "Everyone should spay or neuter their dogs."
A key reason for his selection of Eve was his own personality and lifestyle. "I am an athletic person; I like to be active," said Peterson, whose life work is helping people get fit. "I wanted an intelligent , smart, athletic breed."
He's also practical: "I'm not a huge fan of long-coated dogs. So the nice, short coat is a good option. And small size; 60 pounds should be breed-standard max." Eve weighs in at 57 pounds and is "in summer shape." Finally, she is "very intelligent," willing to work for her owner-partner , and "very trainable" - in a wide range disciplines.
He and his wife, Stephanie, adopted Eve when she was 15 weeks old and "very much a puppy." So he's had plenty of time to train her. And he'll keep training her. He says a big responsibility for owners of dogs like Eve is ensuring that their dogs develop social skills. Peterson explained, "They're very, very social dogs. These dogs absolutely need to be in a house with a family. If they don't have social contact, they will not be happy. And if they're not happy, they can have issues."
And those issues, some of which can lead to bad press, Peterson blames on the owners: "Stupid people make stupid owners make stupid dogs." Eve: a 'good citizen' Eve has been through such classes as agility, obedience, manners, outdoor activities , and "K-9 Good Citizen" training, which is affiliated with the American Kennel Club.
Peterson believes that dogs like Eve always "need a good outlet of energy. Dogs are happy when they're tired." Recognizing that need for an energy outlet for Eve, Peterson saw the next step was a program where he and she "could train all the time." That led to search-and-rescue training, via the Brookings County Search and Rescue K-9 program; it offers "training all the time and constant challenges, new terrain, new scenery, trails that are never the same - whatever you want to make of it."
Peterson equates the rescue work he will do with Eve to service as a volunteer firefighter, which he considered. But, he explained, "I have her; why not involve something with her, that we can do together, productive, give back to the community."
So while Eve was earning her tracking and trailing skills, he was training to be a "Ground Pounder." That involved basic training in grid-searching techniques, clue awareness, basic tracking, knot tying and compass and topography map-reading. Add crime scene preservation training with a deputy from the Brookings County Sheriff's Department.
Now Eve and Eric are ready to "give back to the community." Smiling, he summed it all up, saying, "She was rescued; now she's ready for rescuing others."
John Kubal may be reached at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.
Eve is now qualified in "tracking and trailing ." She and Peterson are part of the Brookings County Sheriff's Department K-9 Search and Rescue program.A scenario for her and Peterson might be a situation where a nursing-home resident suffering from dementia wanders off or a child wanders away from home and becomes lost. A "tracking dog" follows a subject's footsteps, being oriented to a mixture of human scent and ground disturbance where the subject walked; a "trailing dog" is oriented to the cells that people are always shedding, which would happen as the subject walked along the ground. Eve can find a subject using either or both methods. Other search dogs work with orientation driven by an airborne human scent. And, finally, some search dogs are trained to find human remains.
Should the call for the services of Eve and Peterson come, they're ready to respond. Defending, rescuing dogs like Eve Peterson, manager of Powershop Gym in downtown Brookings, defends dogs like Eve, whom he got via "Pit Rescue of the Great Plains," based in Sioux Falls, for which he serves as board secretary and Web master.
He likes to clarify the definition "pit bull" ; he calls it a "slang term." It's a more generic term that covers a wide variety of canine types with similar physical characteristics. In the United States, dogs like Eve are likely to be American Pit Bull terriers or American Staffordshire terriers. Peterson said the two breeds are cousins. He explained, "We basically rescue American Pit Bull terriers in need, usually from shelters. We don't take owner surrenders."
But while there have long been organizations dedicated to rescuing a wide variety of dog breeds, adopting dogs like Eve just recently caught on. Peterson explained, "Unfortunately , up until a few years ago, the Sioux Falls Humane Society would not adopt out American Pit Bull terriers. There's too much of a stigma and negative media publicity from people who either didn't socialize their dogs or kept them for the wrong reasons or treated them wrongly. There's a lot of shelters that will just put them down. "No questions asked, no matter what. It could be the greatest dog in the world, but they just put them down if they suspect that they're an American Pit Bull Terrier."
For Peterson, it's his "breed of choice." But Eve won't be providing any additions to his breed of choice: she has been spayed. "Absolutely ," he said. "Everyone should spay or neuter their dogs."
A key reason for his selection of Eve was his own personality and lifestyle. "I am an athletic person; I like to be active," said Peterson, whose life work is helping people get fit. "I wanted an intelligent , smart, athletic breed."
He's also practical: "I'm not a huge fan of long-coated dogs. So the nice, short coat is a good option. And small size; 60 pounds should be breed-standard max." Eve weighs in at 57 pounds and is "in summer shape." Finally, she is "very intelligent," willing to work for her owner-partner , and "very trainable" - in a wide range disciplines.
He and his wife, Stephanie, adopted Eve when she was 15 weeks old and "very much a puppy." So he's had plenty of time to train her. And he'll keep training her. He says a big responsibility for owners of dogs like Eve is ensuring that their dogs develop social skills. Peterson explained, "They're very, very social dogs. These dogs absolutely need to be in a house with a family. If they don't have social contact, they will not be happy. And if they're not happy, they can have issues."
And those issues, some of which can lead to bad press, Peterson blames on the owners: "Stupid people make stupid owners make stupid dogs." Eve: a 'good citizen' Eve has been through such classes as agility, obedience, manners, outdoor activities , and "K-9 Good Citizen" training, which is affiliated with the American Kennel Club.
Peterson believes that dogs like Eve always "need a good outlet of energy. Dogs are happy when they're tired." Recognizing that need for an energy outlet for Eve, Peterson saw the next step was a program where he and she "could train all the time." That led to search-and-rescue training, via the Brookings County Search and Rescue K-9 program; it offers "training all the time and constant challenges, new terrain, new scenery, trails that are never the same - whatever you want to make of it."
Peterson equates the rescue work he will do with Eve to service as a volunteer firefighter, which he considered. But, he explained, "I have her; why not involve something with her, that we can do together, productive, give back to the community."
So while Eve was earning her tracking and trailing skills, he was training to be a "Ground Pounder." That involved basic training in grid-searching techniques, clue awareness, basic tracking, knot tying and compass and topography map-reading. Add crime scene preservation training with a deputy from the Brookings County Sheriff's Department.
Now Eve and Eric are ready to "give back to the community." Smiling, he summed it all up, saying, "She was rescued; now she's ready for rescuing others."
John Kubal may be reached at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pit bull pup recovers in Boyertown from desertion, broken leg
New owner says she cried when she read about how cruel someone had been to the puppy, found along the Schuylkill River in January
By Steven Henshaw
Reading Eagle
When you see Olivia the pit bull puppy playfully wrestling with two older dogs on the living room floor of her new Boyertown home, it's all the harder to understand how someone could have thrown her over a bank of the Schuylkill River like a worn-out tire.
Fortunately for Olivia, loving care seems to have wiped away any memories of abandonment and the resulting leg injury that kept her confined to a cage for several weeks.
One of Olivia's new owners, Amanda Schearer, 19, said she cried when she read about how cruel someone had been to the puppy in January, when Olivia was about 4 months old.
The puppy was rescued Jan. 4 after boys playing in Baer Park in northwest Reading heard her cries and went to investigate, authorities said. They found her limping in thick brush along the shore. The pet carrier she had been in when she was tossed over the bank was stuck on a tree branch.
Animal Rescue League personnel rescued her and took her to the organization's shelter in Cumru Township.
It took dogged determination for Schearer and her boyfriend, Ben Sell, 22, to adopt Olivia because several other people wanted her after reading of her plight in the Reading Eagle.
Sell said he was so upset when he read about the puppy that he called Schearer from his job and suggested they adopt her.
The couple, who already own a 1-year-old male pit bull, were looking to get another dog anyway, Sell said.
But he warned his girlfriend that other people would be in line and that she would have to be persistent.
"I was calling the Animal Rescue League every day," Schearer said. "It got to where they'd say, 'Hi, Amanda.' "
Vicky Hoffman, an Animal Rescue League volunteer, named the puppy Olivia. The dog's broken leg was surgically repaired at an area veterinary hospital.
Staff and volunteers showered Olivia with love and attention during her two-month recuperation.
In early March, Schearer and Sell took her home. Schearer had agreed to take Olivia to water therapy appointments, which ended this month.
Harry D. Brown III, executive director of the Animal Rescue League, said the organization is grateful to local veterinarians for helping with Olivia's care and recovery.
As for her new owners, Brown said, the couple's interest in Olivia was quite evident.
"They spent a lot of time with her during her rehabilitation," he said.
Olivia shows few lingering effects of the leg injury, Schearer said.
"She's a little stiff in the morning when she first gets up, but once she starts moving around she's fine," Schearer said.
As Schearer and Sell talk about her, Olivia takes a break from gnawing on the ear of the couple's other dog and starts chewing not so gently on a visitor's hand.
It's clear she's found a loving home.
"She's a lap dog," Sell said. "She wants to lie on your lap and sleep."
By Steven Henshaw
Reading Eagle
When you see Olivia the pit bull puppy playfully wrestling with two older dogs on the living room floor of her new Boyertown home, it's all the harder to understand how someone could have thrown her over a bank of the Schuylkill River like a worn-out tire.
Fortunately for Olivia, loving care seems to have wiped away any memories of abandonment and the resulting leg injury that kept her confined to a cage for several weeks.One of Olivia's new owners, Amanda Schearer, 19, said she cried when she read about how cruel someone had been to the puppy in January, when Olivia was about 4 months old.
The puppy was rescued Jan. 4 after boys playing in Baer Park in northwest Reading heard her cries and went to investigate, authorities said. They found her limping in thick brush along the shore. The pet carrier she had been in when she was tossed over the bank was stuck on a tree branch.
Animal Rescue League personnel rescued her and took her to the organization's shelter in Cumru Township.
It took dogged determination for Schearer and her boyfriend, Ben Sell, 22, to adopt Olivia because several other people wanted her after reading of her plight in the Reading Eagle.
Sell said he was so upset when he read about the puppy that he called Schearer from his job and suggested they adopt her.
The couple, who already own a 1-year-old male pit bull, were looking to get another dog anyway, Sell said.
But he warned his girlfriend that other people would be in line and that she would have to be persistent.
"I was calling the Animal Rescue League every day," Schearer said. "It got to where they'd say, 'Hi, Amanda.' "
Vicky Hoffman, an Animal Rescue League volunteer, named the puppy Olivia. The dog's broken leg was surgically repaired at an area veterinary hospital.
Staff and volunteers showered Olivia with love and attention during her two-month recuperation.
In early March, Schearer and Sell took her home. Schearer had agreed to take Olivia to water therapy appointments, which ended this month.
Harry D. Brown III, executive director of the Animal Rescue League, said the organization is grateful to local veterinarians for helping with Olivia's care and recovery.
As for her new owners, Brown said, the couple's interest in Olivia was quite evident.
"They spent a lot of time with her during her rehabilitation," he said.
Olivia shows few lingering effects of the leg injury, Schearer said.
"She's a little stiff in the morning when she first gets up, but once she starts moving around she's fine," Schearer said.
As Schearer and Sell talk about her, Olivia takes a break from gnawing on the ear of the couple's other dog and starts chewing not so gently on a visitor's hand.
It's clear she's found a loving home.
"She's a lap dog," Sell said. "She wants to lie on your lap and sleep."
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Working Towards PoppyMart 2009!
Our volunteers are gearing up for PBRC's 6th annual PoppyMart auction!Last year with our supporters help we raised over $15,000 to help the dogs and we hope to make this year's auction even more successful! The auction wouldn't happen without all of our dedicated supporters, buyers, donors, and volunteers that work very hard pulling it all together.
This year's auction will start September 10th, so start saving all your pennies! When shopping, please remember to check out our auction donors page and purchase from the companies that generously support PBRC with donations: http://www.pbrc.net/auction_2008/sponsor_2008.html
Remember to start saving now, Poppymart will be here before you know it... If you or your company would like to donate to PoppyMart 2009, please contact PBRC's PoppyMart committee: fundraising@pitbullinfo.net
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Happy Gotcha Day, Patch!
It's been one year since we rescued Patch. Lets go down memory lane: March 30 2008 someone threw a dog from the back of a pickup in front of my work place. Truck and dog went down the road.Next day the dog was at my work, huddled in a dog house we have here for our work mascot Goldie. I tried to get the dog out but tread lightly because I saw this was a pit bull. He was covered in mange, thick scabs that were weeping on his face and body, hardly any hair!
I decided to feed him (he was very hungry) and get some mange meds till I could figure out where I could take him. The people at work did not want him around because he was a killer pit bull, looked awful and smelled bad.
I work for a wildland agency and some of the people here are unkind to animals that are sickly, they threw rocks at him etc. I was the only person he would come to, tail tucked behind his legs, head hanging down looking very pitiful. I started my search for a place for him. Because he was a pibble the shelters around here didn't want him.
I contacted a group in Portland and got some info. in the back of my mind I thought of bringing him home wondering how the other dogs would like him.
April 1 2008, I greeted Patch in the morning, fed him, gave him his meds and went home for lunch. On my return he came over to my truck with the saddest look on his face. He had some goup in the middle of his forehead. I took a kleenex and got it off, smelled it and it was french fry sauce!
Some ass threw it at him (another person witnessed this ) His eyes were pleading almost like he was saying please take me with you!
I called my hubby and said come take a look at this dog and see what you think. The next thing I knew my hubby came down to work and put Patch in the back of the truck. He said lets give him a home, I will go home and bathe him. I thought this ought to be good.
When I got home from work there he was, all clean and very very pink, remember he had hardly any hair! The next day he was at the vets for shots, neuter appointment and more meds. He had lots of scars on his back legs and a hole in his left back leg.
We put bag balm on his scabs to help them not get so crusty, he took mange meds for 6 weeks, antibiotics, the works. He ran to a crate we had and seemed to be comfortable there. After about a week he started to come out of his shell, and into the house he goes.He got the hang of not peeing in the house very quickly and enjoyed sleeping on our bed. He gets along with all the dogs, in particular Bella his BFF. He has come a long way.
He is learning to play with toys, is learning basic commands and has become very attached to me and my hubby. I should have named him shawdow! I have never regretted taking him home, he has proved to be a loving friend, he makes us laugh with his antics and boy does he work those little sad eyes.
April 1 2009, it seemed just like yesterday when I took in a
little pibble no body wanted. Today his coat his silky and shiny, black and white. He prances when he walks, he talks to us and gives us pibble licks. He has a big heart with lots of love in it. The day he was thrown away like a piece of trash was out lucky day, Patch's too!He was about 9 month old when we got him so I am guessing his birthday to be sometime in July. We decided to give him July 4th for his birthday. Sorry this was so long.
Suzi and Patch ( l love my forever home )
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