America’s most-maligned dog wants to be sweet and docile, but well-meaning humans mess it all up.

By Joan Raymond courtesy of Newsweek.com on Oct 30, 2009.

A 10-acre stretch of land just outside Los Angeles is pit-bull Nirvana. It’s called Villalobos Rescue Center and it’s run by Tia Maria Torres, an unabashed pit-bull lover. Torres has found homes for thousands of pits since the rescue opened its doors 15 years ago. Some of these animals were abandoned. Some were shelter dogs slated for euthanasia. Others were confiscated in drug busts or fighting rings. And some—like Mouse, a small white pit bull—are victims of nature, the so-called Hurricane Katrina dogs of New Orleans.

It’s a 24/7 job, but Torres gets help from a posse of volunteers, her four children, and six ex-cons, who she calls her “pit bulls on legs.” Her work is chronicled in a new six-part documentary, Pit Bulls and Parolees, airing on Animal Planet, the first of which premiered on Friday night. You’d have to carry a cold heart to not feel something for what these dogs have endured.

But I have a problem with pit bulls. And it has more to do with the two-legged creatures holding their leashes (if there is a leash).

Because of their sheer numbers—estimates show that there are anywhere from 5 million to 10 million pit-bull-type dogs in the U.S. today, out of about 61 million total dogs—pits have become the dog du jour for a lot of people, not just gangbangers and wannabe thugs who use a pit as proxy for toughness. About 20 percent of dogs in ASPCA shelters are pit mixes.

I’ve seen those who adopt these dogs for all the wrong reasons. The fearful might get a pit because they want a great guard dog. (Pits make lousy guard dogs. A well-bred pit is just too human-friendly to protect your property.) Some get a pit because Rachael Ray has one and they want to rescue a dog. (Why didn’t you take up cooking instead of getting a dog that you know nothing about?) And the trendiest pet owners spend thousands of dollars for a “blue” pit because the dogs are rare. (No, they aren’t, and you just got swindled by an unethical breeder who contributed to the overpopulation problem.) But pets aren’t purses, and people who jump into pit-bull ownership without the requisite training and education can often do more harm than good. That’s why when I see a pit off-leash and I’m walking Turk, my 20-pound schnoodle, I’m scared.

Armando is one of the parolees working for Tia at Villalobos.

Let’s face it: pit bulls are public enemy No. 1. That’s quite a comedown for a pup once considered “America’s dog.” They were owned by the likes of Helen Keller and Teddy Roosevelt, and when I was a kid, a wiry American pit-bull terrier named Sam endured the indignity of being called a “horsy” as he pulled me around in a wagon on an upstate New York farm. But in talking with pit-bull experts, it’s clear that some current owners are too easy to spook, are too ill-informed, and have unrealistic expectations of what pit bulls can do.

Torres knows all about the pit bull’s people problem. “Oh, my God, I see it all the time,” she says. “Some of these people are completely clueless. They get a pit and then they want to get rid of it if it grabs and shakes a toy and barks. They don’t understand why it loves everybody, but scraps with dogs. It’s insane. And it’s hurting the pit bull.”

Some of the so-called pit problems are directly linked to the dog’s history. Today’s pit bull can trace its roots back to bulldogs, which were used for bull baiting, a gruesome spectacle in which the dogs would try to pin a tied bull by latching on to its nose. When bull baiting was outlawed, these bulldogs were then bred with small terriers, feisty dogs known for their drive. The end result was the original pit bull, a “canine gladiator” bred specifically for dog-on-dog combat.

Duckie (who is becoming a quick favorite amongst volunteers) is available for adoption through itsthepits.org

Though the majority of pit bulls today are no longer being purposefully bred along fighting lines, pit bulls still can be dog aggressive (as are many other types of dogs). How that plays out will vary from pit to pit, and the dogs need a smart owner to keep them in line. Dog aggression can be managed by getting a pit into a training program that offers structured, controlled socialization, says Mary Harwelik, a certified dog trainer and founder of The Real Pit Bull, a pit advocacy and education organization in New Jersey.

Pits are also among the most human-friendly canines. In tests conducted by the American Temperament Test Society, which evaluates stability, friendliness, and other traits in several hundred dog breeds, the American pit-bull terrier scored 85.3 percent, higher than a golden retriever. Their human-friendly nature remains strong even in horrific circumstances. “I thought I was going to meet a bunch of Tasmanian devils,” says Dr. Frank MacMillan, a veterinarian with Best Friends Animal Sanctuary who is working with some 20 pit bulls rescued from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels. “I was stunned at how sweet they were.”

That inherent sweetness toward people can lead well-meaning humans to be too permissive with their precious pooches. Because of its tendencies toward dog-on-dog aggression, Torres advises pit owners to keep their dogs out of mosh-pit, free-for-all dog parks. “Not a lot of pit owners want to hear that,” says Torres. “If there’s a fight, no matter what dog started it, the pit will be blamed.”

Tia Torres and one of her many loving pit bull rescue dogs.

At Villalobos, Torres does an exhaustive interview with potential adopters. She wants to know what kinds of dogs they owned in the past, whether there are kids in the house, if it’s a multi-dog household, if they have a cat, and what they want from their pit. Once they answer those questions, Torres tries to match them up with the right pit bull. “Everybody thinks they want a Ferrari, when they really need a Yugo,” she says. “The good thing about a pit is that some of them can be high energy, others just want to watch TV. “

Despite laws in many parts of the country that place restrictions on pit ownership, things might be looking up for the breed. “People are having a lot more empathy for the pit,” says Torres. “They understand that this is a great dog that is enduring a lot of hell.” If you want to rescue a pit bull, Torres’s advice is simple: Make sure the dog is the right one for you, and you are right for it. Get the dog spayed or neutered, obey leash laws and any local regulations, and do ongoing training. That’s smart advice for any dog owner, even if you want a yappy Shih Tzu.

This is a great article explaining how most people are blaming the wrong end of the leash, and most of the time the owners are not doing it intentionally. Of course there are the gang members, drug dealers, and people that get them for either protection or to support an image but (I would hope) most people adopt them strictly as pets.

Owning a pit bull comes certain responsibilities and most people do not know or are unwilling to take those responsibilities seriously. A lot of exercise and training are necessary for the majority of this breed and without those pit bulls can become unruly and on occasion destructive.

Make sure to do your research about this breed before you commit to one. Pit bulls can be the most amazing pet as long as the owner is willing to put in the work that is necessary.

And don’t miss your last chance to take pics with this very special, one and only Santa this Saturday 12/19 11am to 4pm at Petsmart Encinitas 1034 N El Camino Real.

Thank you to Santa John, and the elves Kris, Rachel, Kathy and Jacky & Mike who came to Encinitas Petsmart to help with our first photo shoot. It was slow, we did only 18 photos today.  This coming Saturday should be better/busier.  That will be with team John, Tonya, Elaine, Steve, and Heather on Saturday. Here are some photos from today, just for fun.

-Elaine

Get a 4X6 photo in a holiday frame for only $9.95!

Santa, Yvonne & Jack with Pups

Santa Unleashed

Santa John with Elves Elaine & Kris

Santa with Little Dachshund

Santa with Big Boxer

Santa with Six Cuties

Santa & Kathy with Pups

Great Family Photo

Article courtesy of www.stltoday.com by Elizabeth Holland on 10/15/2009.

Just a few years ago, dogs such as Fay, Junior and Jakob — pit bulls seized as part of a massive dogfighting raid and rescue — probably wouldn’t have had a second chance.

Oct. 14, 2009 - Jakob gets a kiss from cruelty investigator Kyle Held at the Humane Society of Missouri headquarters in St. Louis. Jake and five others seized during the raids will soon leave the Humane Society's emergency shelter in St. Louis for new homes. Jake is headed to Los Gatos, Calif., for a new career as a therapy dog.

On Wednesday, though, the Humane Society of Missouri placed them and three other seized American pit bull terriers with rescue groups that have found, or are determined to find, homes for the dogs.

“These are the first of many that will go to rescue groups and homes,” Humane Society spokeswoman Jeane Jae said.

The six are among the 407 dogs seized July 8 in raids across Missouri and Illinois as part of what was called the largest dogfighting raid and rescue in the U.S. Twenty-one of the dogs were pregnant and have since given birth to some 100 puppies.

Four or five years ago, dogs with such violent histories would have been euthanized after a raid, said Debbie Hill, vice president of operations for the Humane Society of Missouri. But the thinking regarding rehabilitation of fighting dogs is shifting, she said.

Still, experts have told the organization that while many of the dogs have the potential to be rehabilitated, it should prepare for the possibility that only 5 percent to 10 percent of them will be, Hill said.

But Hill said she expects far more to survive. “These are not horrible killers,” she said. “A good number of them can be rehabilitated.”

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Hill said the Humane Society doesn't know the status of all 407 dogs and their offspring because the organization doesn't have custody of all of the dogs.

The dogs have been held at an undisclosed facility here.

In the meantime, more than two dozen people in Missouri, Illinois and six other states have been charged as a result of the raids. Last month, four of them pleaded guilty in federal court in St. Louis to dogfighting-related charges. In doing so, they agreed to forfeit the dogs, training equipment and any weapons found by authorities.
Regarding the dogs deemed too violent or injured to save, Hill said there is at least the knowledge that the dogs were plucked from hellish conditions and finally treated well, if only for a short time.

"Their entire lives they've been tortured ... and that will never happen again," she said. "It does help me to know that they've had that love and compassion that they'd never had before."

Fay, Junior, Jakob, Eli, Kali and Carlos appeared Wednesday at the Humane Society's headquarters to have received a healthy dose of that love and compassion. The dogs, and the young puppies of another rescued dog, were doted on by representatives of the organization and the rescue groups intent on finding them homes.

Junior, 11, already has a new address in the works, said Tiffany McBee of Broken Hearts, Mended Souls Rescue in Fulton, Mo. The group has agreed to help find proper homes for 25 pit bulls seized in the raids, she said.

Junior's face is graying and scarred, and his ears look nothing like the pair he was born with. He has what's called a "battle crop" — ears that were intentionally severed at some point in his likely fighting career.

Kyle Held, Humane Society of Missouri animal cruelty investigator pets Junior.

“He’s old and he deserves a chance — he made it this far,” said McBee while petting the calm, appreciative dog. Fay, the dog whose badly disfigured face may be most associated with the dogfighting raids, also deserves a chance, said Gale Frey of the St. Louis rescue group Mutts-n-Stuff.

Fay, 5, has no lips and is missing part of her nose.

“For five years, she lived a life of hell … a life of cruelty,” Frey said as a Humane Society employee rubbed Fay under her pink plaid collar. “She is one of the ones that we know is going to need a little work and extra socialization.”

That will include obedience training and even training to certify Fay as a therapy dog, Frey said. “Just to see she made it could inspire,” Frey said.

Specialists have evaluated the dogs and were to prepare a report detailing which dogs must be euthanized and which face other outcomes.

The Humane Society asks that qualified rescue groups or experienced individuals interested in fostering or giving permanent homes to the dogs call the organization at 314-802-5712.

A dear pittie friend recently visited Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. I ask her to share her visit and some photo’s with us. Enjoy.

My Mom & I went to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (Dog Town) a couple weeks ago for 4 days …a girls’ trip. We had the most AMAZING time out there. At first glance, many people are like, “why in the hell would you want to take a vacation at a dog shelter?”  It was absolutely beautiful. I know that not all of you are into rescue, shelter stuff, but you really don’t have to be to actually get this… it is way more than that. If you’ve seen “Dog Town” on National Geographic with the Michael Vick dogs, this is the same place.

To get there, you fly into Las Vegas (closest airport) and then drive about 4 hours through the most beautiful countryside to get to Kanab, Utah where the sanctuary, Dog Town is located.

It is situated on 37,000 acres in Angels Canyon (Kanab) - near Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. They have about 1,500 animals – including dogs, cats, horses, mules, bunnies, pot bellied pigs, turkeys etc…They give tours, allow people to volunteer whilst out there and also allow people to have doggie overnight stays at your hotel. We had a pit bull “Tuie” for 3 days. He was gorgeous, well-behaved, super chill and loved the down pillows at the Comfort Inn :O) … They send you home with an overnight bag – full of treats, toys, blankets etc… everything you need and then you just bring the dog back the next morning at 8:30AM.

Tuie with her pillows

I got the opportunity to meet 4 of the Michael Vick dogs. Ellen, Denzel, Ray and Curly. They are off limits to the public for various reasons of liability and to protect them. 3 of the 4 were so sweet – Ray has some serious emotional issues, which was hard to see… but they are safe at the sanctuary and very well cared for… Ray was very fearful – as a human going into his kennel meant something bad was going to happen to him. He growled and barked and paced.

Denzel high fived us and Ellen *named after Ellen Degenres* rolled on her back for a belly rub. Sadly from her scaring on her face, she looked like she’d been one of Vick’s prize fighters and then turned into a breeder later on, as her teats never went back to normal. She’d obviously been bred a lot. We did not see Georgia. Cherry has since been adopted ).

Denzel

Ellen

They have a cemetery there with over 500 wind chimes, it’s called “Angels’ Rest”. It is beautiful. Many people bring their dogs remains / ashes to be buried there with little notes and collars next to their grave. It was really peaceful, but sad to see the notes from the owners who had to leave behind their babies.

Angels' Rest

As you seen on the show, all of the kennel rooms (Octagon shaped) at the sanctuary have heated floors and are air- conditioned. Toys are everywhere. They have marked off trails to walk them with park benches and water for a break. They have a ”dog park” where you can take a dog for an off-leash romp. The dogs are fed really good food… the Sanctuary doesn’t miss a beat – everything is done “right” and thoroughly. The dogs are safe there, as euthanization isn’t a issue. Most of the dogs there are second chance dogs, there were many Hurricane Katrina dogs still there.

The place is magical. The people LOVE their job and the vibe is beautiful. My mom cried when we had to leave… sad for saying good bye to the dog we had,  ”Tuie” and sad for leaving such a loving place. I highly recommend you go… you won’t be disappointed. It was SO inspiring to go there – totally recharged us and gave me hope and faith in humankind to protect the
voiceless…

- Jenn Aldridge

Update – The Vick dog that I mentioned that was having a tough time… He just passed his
CGC (canine good citizen test) and has made leaps and bounds in his progress and ready for adoption!!!!!!

Jen- Thank you so much for sharing. Sounds like it was a life altering experience. I am so happy to hear that Ray’s condition has improved so drastically. Your dedication and passion for this breed is truly admirable and I am happy to call you a friend. Keep up the good work.

Article courtesy of examiner.com written by Jennifer Nicole Hack on May 29 2009.

Dog Food
Ah, the big one.  If you have a large-breed dog, this is going to be the bulk of your costs.  Super-premum dog foods are expensive.   But you know what is more expensive?  Vet bills for an unhealthy dog.  You can only skimp so much on food.  Giving your dog cheap food is like you eating McDonalds every day in order to save money, it’s just not healthy. But you still have options to save.  I save on raw diet for my dogs by finding meat on sale, buying a lot, and freezing it.  Kirkland Dog Food (sold at Costco) is inexpensive and has decent ingredients, read the bag and compare- no corn or by-products.  It is a good middle-range food, and at around $22 for a 40 pound bag, the price is right.  It is perfectly fine  to switch brands of food, just do it slowly over about 5 days to prevent stomach upset.  If you are sticking to your regular brand, remember the bigger bag you buy, the more you save.  Just keep your pet food in an airtight container.

Shop around for good deals

Dog Training

Good dog training truly is an investment.  Imagine what the cost of not training a dog can be…  Damaged property, ruined shoes, destroyed rugs and carpets… and on.  Even the lawsuit of a dog bite or an attack upon another animal.  For a dog, training can mean the difference between life or death.  If you are looking to time and money on dog training, the best option is to do private lessons with a professional trainer.  In one private lesson, you will get a ton of info and a lot to practace at home on your own.  As opposed to a class, which takes more time, you get a lot more individual attention and your dog can learn the basics without having to override the distraction of 10 other untrained dogs in the room.  Avoid training at big box stores like Petco or Petsmart, they are not professional training facilities, some are very inexperienced, and you will not get the same results.

Toys
Stuffed plush toys in pet stores are overpriced.  They can cost an average of $6 each, and your dog just rips them up anyway.  On a recent visit to Village Thrift Store in Roscoe Village, I browsed an entire wall of stuffed animals, all of which were cheap.  I bought a few for my dog.  Look for stuffed animals that have nothing inside them but cotton filling, never Styrofoam bits or mechanical parts.  You can also remove the plastic eyes if you want to.

Treats
Treats are often overpriced, and your dog does not need them.  Look at what you are paying per pound for treats, it may be even more than you pay for dog food.  Sure it’s nice to be able to buy all-natural, holistic treats, but nowadays, maybe a good old Milk Bone won’t hurt Fido.  Have leftover crackers that went stale?  Don’t throw them out, most dog biscuits are mostly flour and grain anyway.  My dogs like Wheat Thins, especially the ones with cheese flavor.

Bones and Chews
Going broke on rawhides?  They aren’t cheap!  A 3-pack of 7” Bully Sticks is $8.99.  For just 3 chews, that’s pretty pricey.  A 12-pack of Greenies is $22.99!  They are a processed product that only lasts 60 seconds with my dogs!  Rawhides are also unsafe because they can cause an intestinal blockage if ingested in chunks.  Instead, I buy raw beef marrow bones from the grocery store or butcher.  They are healthy, natural, and they do an excellent job of cleaning the teeth.  Your dog will chew for a long time trying to get all the meat off the bone and eat the marrow from inside it.  Buy pieces that are large enough so they won’t present a choking hazard.

Raw beef marrow bones

Leashes and Collars
The biggest mistake people make is buying cheap nylon leashes and collars, or fashion collars.  They don’t last.  They fray, wear out, or discolor.  Buy a good quality leather collar and leash.  It‘s an investment that is worth it over time, because quality leather can last 15 years.   Your dog doesn’t need a different looking collar every season!  One annoyance some pet parents  have is their dog chewing their leashes- this is a bad behavior and needs to be corrected through training.

Bowls
Simple:  Two stainless steel bowls.  You will never buy bowls again.  Plastic may be cheaper, but it can be chewed up and can harbor bacteria.  Ceramic bowls can easily break.  Going really cheap?  Buy bowls from the thrift store or use old bowls you already own.

Bedding
Need a new dog bed?  Try a folded up blanket or comforter, both of which can be found for a super price at your local thrift store.  And if it gets ruined, so what, it was only $5.  If you have multiple dogs who sleep together, or a giant breed like a Great Dane or Mastiff, an infant crib mattress can make a great bed.  These can be found for cheap at garage sales or on websites like Craigslist.  The crib sheets are washable, too.  For a cute bed for your giant dog, a used toddler bed is great.

Waste Bags
Before they made doggie waste bags in all kinds of pretty colors and scents, there were plastic grocery store bags.  Save ‘em, and have your friends and family save them for you, too.  You can also use plastic newspaper sleeves.  Or if you have a yard, use a scooper and give the environment a break.

These designer poop bags cost $20! A bit pricey to try to look good picking up poo!

Supplements

The supplements sold for pets have a high mark-up.  Glucosamine (for joints), MSM, fish oil, vitamin C, all types of herbs, and many other supplements can be bought on sale at the drug store, grocery store, or Costco for a better price.  You can also be assured it’s human quality.  Read the ingredients!  Also, you do not need a puppy multivitamin if you are feeding a high-quality, balanced diet.

Cats
Didn’t want to totally exclude cats here.  For an inexpensive litter, some people use pine pellets, which are about $2 a bag and can be found at feed stores.  If you have a strictly indoor cat, there is no reason to vaccinate for anything, since the cat won’t be exposed to feline diseases.  For good health, cats should be fed a grain-free, high-protein, quality food.  They should also get moisture in their diet in the form of wet food- this helps prevent urinary problems and high vet bills treating them.

AVOID:

• Expensive Treats like dried chicken strips, etc.
• Cute items your dog doesn’t need
• Buying new fashion collars and leashes
• Paying for plastic bags
• Re-vaccinating pets every year
• Supplements marketed for pets

DO

• Choose a high-quality dog food
• Bathe your dog at home!
• Complete formal obedience training
• Buy on sale and use coupons
• Shop thrift stores and get creative!
• Make your own dog treats

Thanks for the lead Jen.

This is SO funny - was posted on Craigslist.

Please help! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY! We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn’t be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be
arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend!

They are described as:

One male — his name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn’t bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female — her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix),strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn’t take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what’s right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

Genius, pure genius!!!! Great job guys, very creative!

Article courtesy of Time.com written by Karen Ball on Dec 7, 2009.

There’s something especially loathsome about torturing helpless creatures for fun and profit. And evidence of torture is what investigators found on July 8, when federal and local authorities working in teams across eight states staged the largest raid in history against the underground dogfighting racket. Twenty-six people were arrested (five of whom are scheduled to be sentenced to as much as five years in prison on Dec. 8 in St. Louis, Mo.), and more than 500 dogs were rescued, most of them pit bull terriers.

With scars from bite wounds on her face and forelegs, Layla probably survived several prolonged fights David Harry Stewart

The cruelty visited on the canines is harrowing. Some had been pulled behind cars to build up their stamina, their necks scarred by heavy collars and logging chains. Many had lost eyes, lips and limbs in battle. But it is hard to say whether they, generally the victors, secured the better fate or whether the vanquished were in fact the lucky ones: fighting dogs who lose are routinely hanged, drowned or electrocuted. (See pictures of dogs rescued from a life of fighting.)

The raid revealed a brutal paradox. Large-scale crackdowns like this one are rare precisely because the dogfighting business mistreats so many dogs. Busting a breeder means taking custody of the dogs, yet no police department or sheriff’s office has the resources to kennel, treat and attempt to rehabilitate dozens, let alone hundreds, of abused animals. Indeed, this raid could not have happened without the extraordinary cooperation of the Humane Society of Missouri. Supported by animal-protection agencies and volunteers from across the country, the society equipped an empty warehouse with hundreds of wire pens to hold the victims, recruited veterinarians and secured tons of food.

Ladybug, left, was pregnant with 10 pups. Dharma had her mutilated leg amputated.

When the rescued dogs arrived, the warehouse became a riot of barking, growling, whimpering — and the first loving human tones the animals had ever experienced. The population soon swelled as pregnant females delivered more than 100 puppies. The exact location of this St. Louis — area haven remained a well-guarded secret, however, because some of those puppies and dogs can be worth more than $5,000 each on the black market. (See a video of the rescued pit bulls.)

Aubrey, left, was dehydrated and full of parasites. Sherman's ears were crudely razored off for fighting.

If this sounds like a dog lover’s more-the-merrier fantasy — 101 Dalmatians times five — think again. The rehabilitation of even one fighting dog is a long and uncertain project. First comes the medical care. Beyond their obvious wounds and infections, some of the dogs arrive with broken ribs and internal injuries — from being kicked. After the physical exams comes a psychological evaluation. Experienced animal handlers gauge the dog’s mental condition: How aggressive is it? How traumatized? How far gone? This screening is a final life-or-death ordeal for a dog, because a fighter that cannot be tamed must be euthanized.

At the start, Daisy, left, was too scared to leave her pen. Sly's neck was inflamed from her tight collar.

Those receiving a positive prognosis, however, may be placed in a sort of halfway house for old fighters — a place like Tiffany McBee’s Broken Hearts, Mended Souls Rescue in Fulton, Mo. Programs like McBee’s will try to prepare the abused dogs for adoption, which doesn’t happen overnight. “They need time to decompress” from the stress of their violent upbringing and the cacophony of the warehouse, McBee explains. An animal that was raised in secret, hidden in remote woods, tethered by heavy chain to a buried axle, suddenly finds itself chilling in suburbia. “They have to learn: What is a couch? What is the TV? Are they going to be able to adjust in an appropriate way?” says McBee. “We have to teach them manners.”

Marlin "the Moocher," left, cons treats. Dandi was one of the most severely scarred dogs.

Such socialization can require months of effort, and even if the process proves a success, the old gladiator may never be entirely tamed. It’s still unwise, experts say, to place a former fighting dog in a home with other pets or crawling children. After all, they have been bred and raised and terrorized to kill four-legged creatures. Do the math: The sort of person who would be willing to make a pet of a rehabilitated fighting dog is, by nature, an animal lover. And animal lovers tend to have pets already. The supply of suitable homes — loving but petless — is therefore small.

Dolly Too, left, is tolerant of her foster sister's rough play. Fay's lips could have been torn off in a fight or cut off by her owner after getting mangled in the ring. Fay's perpetual snarl startled her rescuer until she licked her hand. Panting with excitement here, Fay is now under the supervision of a vet who is trying to come up with a way to protect her teeth and gums.

Meanwhile, the number of dogs from the raid that are fit for adoption is turning out to be much higher than expected. When the animals were seized, the Humane Society anticipated that most of them would have to be put down because of their injuries or their temperament. In fact, more than half the adult dogs and almost all the puppies are still alive nearly five months later. About 200 have been placed in private homes or in rescue programs like McBee’s. But that still leaves more than 100 dogs in kennels at the warehouse.

Of course, in the midst of all this passionate effort, the animal shelters of Missouri and elsewhere continue to receive the usual sad supply of abandoned, neglected and lost pets, most of them doomed to the needle. Does it make sense, some wonder, to go to heroic lengths to save potentially violent dogs while harmless strays die hardly noticed? For that matter, how high a priority is the shortage of homes for fighting dogs in a country where options are too often scarce for the human children of abusive parents?

Marilee gave birth four days after her rescue. Bonnie's leg may have been cut off after a fight.

Hard questions. But the answers, as we grope for them, should not be clouded by misplaced blame. A number of towns across the country have passed ordinances banning pit bulls, but what are we really seeing in the bared teeth of a snarling dog? These often terrifying animals demand pity because they have had the misfortune of meeting up with the most dangerous breed of all: the human. “Pit bulls have gotten this bad reputation because of the type of people who own them,” says Humane Society investigator Tim Rickey, who led the July rescue. If these muscular terriers have a flaw, their defenders maintain, it is an excess of devotion. “Their love for humans is why this breed is in trouble,” says McBee. “They will take the abuse.” Placed with the right companion, their devotion becomes a virtue — as Helen Keller knew. One of her pets was a pit bull.

Ultimately what it comes down to is that these dogs were fought because of their love and devotion (to their owners). Hopefully that is what will get them out of this as well.

“200 have been placed in private homes or in rescue programs” this alone shows that these dogs can and will overcome.

Imagine how excited I was when I heard there was an article about pit bulls in Decembers issue of 944. It’s not about our rescue, It’s The Pits, but it is positive pit bull coverage. 944 San Diego reaches about 30,00 people a month. Lets hope at least a couple read and believe the article then take action.

See the article below. If you cannot read the images download the pdf here.

Audio slide show of Vick and the rehabilitation of the VICKtims courtesy of The Washington Post.

View here.

Walking rescue dogs, adoption events, transportation, fostering and everything in between; there is bound to be some funny yet embarrassing moments for dog rescue volunteers. The things we endure for the love of the dogs and the rescue!

Here are some of the volunteers laugh-inducing stories:

Melina- “I had the pleasure of taking the lovely Josie to work with me two weeks ago. While out dropping the mail and doing the bank deposit someone expressed interest in her. I stopped and started the normal script: “This is Josie she’s for adoption. She is 6 months…..” when she picked something up and down the hatch. Not knowing what it was I automatically reached into her mouth and got a hold of it… at that same time the something squished between my fingers and my heart dropped. I pulled it out and whipped it to the ground smelling the horrid stench of dog poo. My fingers were a vibrant brown and I started feverishly looking for something to wipe them off with, even tempted to take off my second shirt. I still had to go to the bank and there was no where to wash my hands on the way. I was going to have to deal with it till I got back to work. On the way to the bank I was stopped 2-3 more times with people admiring Josie all the while holding my hand behind my back hoping they wouldn’t notice the stench. All this and I still hadn’t reached the bank which I went to 2-3 times a week. Needless to say I washed my hand vigorously when I finally returned to the office. Thanks a lot Josie for a good laugh!”

Josie is available for adoption through itsthepits.org.

Angelic- “When I took Josie to Lake Murray she poo’d in the middle of the walk way. I know this is T.M.I. but it was kind of a soft poo so I had to basically scrape it off the asphalt. When I was doing so a guy on a bike went by and Josie wanted to follow so she yanked me and I brushed the bag with the poo everywhere. I got it all on the back of my forearm and I had my ipod and keys in one hand the poo bag in the other AND a rambunctious puppy. I was also wearing a long sleeve shirt that was too big for me so I kept having to push the sleeves up when it felt like it was coming close to the poo! I was a mess and it was a long haul back to the car, all I could think about was a shower. “

Hanna- “I was walking Honey for the first time and on the way back to the kennel, she exploded on the side walk right in front of the stairways to Starbucks.  The customer’s at Starbucks that were enjoying their coffees outside had  horrific looks on their faces.  I had a plastic bag as a poop bag and tried to grab as much as I could.  Just to let you know, I’m not too sure what she had to eat that day but her tummy was not happy.  Her stool was a mess; I didn’t want to gag in front of everyone so I held in my breath.  As I was picking up her mess I looked over to Honey and she had this look on her face like .  I’m pretty sure if she could talk, she would have apologized for her mishap.”

Elaine- “Just a word of advice so you don’t have to repeat my mistake…  When using a plastic grocery bag as a poop-pick-up bag, before picking up that huge pile of poop check the bottom seam of the bag to make sure it doesn’t have a rip in it.  OY!!!!”

But you can ask anyone of us, and we would do it all over again.