The Little Guy's Story

I can't believe it's taken me so long to post the little dude's backstory--it's tough to find time to update a blog when there's a puppy dashing madly about the house! Anyway, I was at schutzhund training all day on Saturday. I got home, played with Tucker, talked to Rob, opened a beer, then went downstairs to surf the web. I logged onto Pit Bull Forum, as is my habit since I'm a moderator there. I happened to see a post from a girl in Baltimore who lives very close to me. She was out on Friday night and someone offered to give her a pit bull puppy. She went to their house with them and when they brought the puppies out, she said they were three walking skeletons. She talked the people into giving them all to her, got them home, and realized she needed to get them to a vet quickly. She brought them to a local vet ER, who told her they were seriously malnourished and wormy but didn't seem to have any other serious issues. So she posted about it on the forum and said she desperately needed someone to take them off her hands to foster. Two people stepped up, but she still needed a place for the third puppy--who was apparently the smallest and most sickly of the pups. Because I am a complete sucker, I called her. And by the next evening, she brought the puppy to my house. He was in horrible, horrible shape. Hip bones, spine, ribs, and shoulder blades all protruding. He's all scarred up and scabby. Huge wormy belly. No energy to do much of anything. I have seen and handled a lot of really neglected dogs, but he really was pathetic. Fortunately, puppies have an amazing capacity for recovery. And over the past few days, the little guy who we've been calling Pops (because he looks like a little old grandpa) and Button (because he reminds us of the old-man baby from the Benjamin Button movie), has come back to life. He's already gained weight. His scabs are healing over. His belly is starting to shrink to normal size. And he's playing and running around and acting like a normal puppy. We couldn't be happier about his progress. "Daddy Tucker" and "Uncle Doc" have been helping to teach him the ropes. He's learning to sit and to crate when we want him to, and hopefully in a week or two he'll be healthy enough to properly socialize him to new places out in the world. He's definitely eager to get out there and check it out.
Eventually, we hope to place him in a permanent home. More news on the new kid as we get to know him better.

Doc and Tucker have a guest

He has a story, which I'll tell later when I have some time.

He's here to get healthy, then it'll be time to see about finding him a home.

Best Friends and Second Chance Pit Bull Rescue Offer to Evaluate Wildside Dogs

Another update on the Wildside/Faron bust.

Say what you will about Best Friends (I know some people don't like the idea of keeping dogs alive in cages indefinitely at animal sanctuaries, but I'm not looking to get into that discussion here), but I'm glad someone is putting pressure on the Wilkes County authorities to give these dogs a chance.

I like this quote from the Best Friends attorney in particular:

"Genetics is not everything," she said. "Dogs are individuals just like people are, and their temperament should be evaluated as individuals."

Good on her! I'm getting sick of hearing how "inbreeding" for generations has made these dogs particularly mean and unsuitable for adoption.

Shelters adopt out hundreds of thousands of dogs every year that no one knows *anything* about. They could be bred down from anything, anything at all--dog fighting stock, vermin-hunting stock, protection-dog stock, scatterbred and badly wired stock. Nobody knows. But shelters take great pains to temperament test these unknowns and put them out there as pets with the public. Nobody knows what is in the ancestries of these dogs, but they're more than willing to treat them as individuals.

Pit bulls don't deserve the same treatment?

And on another note in this story, what gives with the laws that say that even if Faron's not found guilty he has to pay for the care and feeding of his dogs while held by the county? That's just nuts--reminds me of the time my car was stolen. It was being driven around by some teenagers who got pulled over. The police arrested the kids and impounded my car. They refused to release it to me till they had dusted it for prints, which took them a week to get around to. When they were finally ready to release it to me, they told me I had to pay a bill for impoundment fees for that week.

Um, thanks a lot. I would have been better off if they never found my vehicle at all. But anyway, here's the most recent news.

Animal group offers to help with pit bulls

Dogs were seized from kennel in Wilkes

By Monte Mitchell
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: January 22, 2009

WILKESBORO - Best Friends Animal Society, one of the country's largest animal sanctuaries, is offering to pay an expert to assess more than 127 pit bulls owned by Wilkes County, to spay or neuter those dogs deemed adoptable, and to network with rescue groups to place the dogs in homes.

The dogs were seized from the owner of Wildside Kennels, Ed Faron, 61, during a raid Dec. 10 at his house off Mertie Road in Wilkes County. The county now owns the dogs after Faron failed to meet a court-ordered deadline last Thursday to pay the county $52,925 for the dogs' care. He has a March 4 court date on a felony charge of dogfighting.

County officials have said that if Faron is convicted of dogfighting, the dogs will be euthanized. Animal-advocacy groups differ about whether pit bulls bred or trained for fighting can be successfully adopted as pets.

About half of the dogs seized were puppies. Two or three litters have been born since the raid, according to county officials, who did not know an exact number.

Ledy VanKavage, an attorney for Best Friends in Utah, said that it is not fair to condemn all of the dogs, especially the puppies. "Genetics is not everything," she said. "Dogs are individuals just like people are, and their temperament should be evaluated as individuals."

Best Friends is home to about 2,000 animals, and is the setting for the National Geographic Channel television program Dogtown.

Dawn McCartney, who operates Second Chance Pit Bull Rescue in Rougemont, near Durham, said she could take in some of the dogs. She requires adoption contracts, checks references and does not adopt dogs to people who plan to keep them primarily in the yard rather than inside the home.

McCartney has had pit bulls for 25 years and disagrees with the idea that dogs bred for fighting are so inherently aggressive that their offspring are not adoptable.

A spokesman for Best Friends said that the agency has left a message about the offer with county officials but has not been able yet to speak with them. Attempts to reach county officials yesterday were unsuccessful.

■ Monte Mitchell can be reached in Wilkesboro at 336-667-5691 or at mmitchell@wsjournal .com.

Doc tracking

Went out last weekend and tracked with a friend and her dog. Doc's way out of practice, haven't tracked in over a month. Lazy, I'm bad, I know. But anyway, we went out, it was really damn cold, really, really windy, and the surface of the field at this particular location is really rough for tracking--the grass is kinda short and there's a lot of really swampy spots. But it's good practice, since it forces him to work hard whenever we're out there.

Here is a video of Doc . . . having some conflict at the articles for some reason, I think maybe because I put too much food on this track. I baited pretty heavily because he hadn't been out in a while and I wanted to motivate him. But instead, I think I distracted him and made it so that he was loathe to stop for the articles for his reward--instead, he wanted to keep moving on the track so he could seek out the food. Not the goal of tracking--the goal is to follow the human scent, not the food. But as with anything, it's a work in progress!

Enjoy the vid.

More News on Wildside Bust

OK, so the officials are trying to get Ed Faron to pay up for care of his dogs, to the tune of more than $50,0000. In five days' time. If he doesn't pay, they want him to sign the dogs over to the county, who will then care for them till the trial is over, then kill them all. Because they are fighting dogs and therefore "dangerous animals."

This disgusts me. And further convinces me that the goal in many of these busts is just to get the dogs into custody, signed over, and killed.

This is not humane. This is not just. This is not right.

Yet somehow, it's all legal. And it happens all the time. Frightening.

http://www.journalpatriot.com/fullstory.asp?id=1013

Order filed for cost of seized dogs
by Jule Hubbard

Wilkes County government could soon be the owner of 127 pit bulls seized on Dec. 10 as evidence in a case involving dog fighting.

Chief District Court Judge Mitchell McLean ruled in Wilkes District Court Thursday that the current owner of the dogs, Edward A. Faron of Mertie Road in the Millers Creek area, must pay for the first two months of their housing and other care.

McLean issued the order in a hearing held in connection with Wilkes County Attorney Tony Triplett's "petition for bond" seeking the payment from Faron, 61, charged with felony dog fighting and baiting by the Wilkes Sheriff's Department.

In accordance with state law for this type of proceeding, McLean ordered Faron to pay the money within five business days. It means Faron has until Thursday to pay $52,925, with the money going to Wilkes County government. This includes $36,797 for the first 30 days of care for the dogs, which ends Saturday, and $16,128 as the estimated cost for the next 30 days.

Also in accordance with state law, McLean ordered that the dogs be forfeited to the County of Wilkes and that Faron give up ownership if the money isn’t paid in five business days.

Attorney Brendan Edge, appointed by the courts to represent Faron, said Faron didn’t have the money to pay the $52,925. Faron was present but didn’t speak in court and Edge didn’t make statements for or against the action filed by Triplett.

McLean also ordered that the county continue holding all of the dogs as evidence in the case.

Wilkes Animal Control Director Junior Simmons, who attended the hearing, said earlier that the dogs were being kept as evidence at an undisclosed location until completion of court proceedings in the case. Simmons and other officials haven’t been willing to say where the dogs were being kept due to concerns about possible action by animal rights groups and other security issues.

Faced with the likelihood of county government having to pay for upkeep of the dogs because of Edge’s statement about Faron’s inability to pay, said Triplett, county government officials are talking to the U.S. Humane Society about that nonprofit helping with the cost.

“We are talking with the (U.S.) Humane Society about whether they potentially have funds available that could help offset all or a portion” of the costs of caring for the dogs.

Assistant District Attorney Fred Bauer, prosecutor for the state in the case, said the district attorney’s office was considering county government’s financial burden in planning a trial date in the case. Bauer said authorities are still looking at the possibility of additional charges.

Triplett said the petition was filed on behalf of the Wilkes Animal Control Department. He said that under state statutes, a judge can allow the filing of a new affidavit every 30 days assessing the costs of boarding the animal to a defendant.

Under statutes, said Triplett, Faron could be required to pay the boarding costs even if he won the case.

Simmons said that if the state won the case, the dogs would be euthanized, as called for under the county’s Animal Control Ordinance. He said this was based on the dogs being trained and used for fighting, which he said meant they were considered dangerous.

Arrested at the same time as Faron on Dec. 10 on one felony count each of dog fighting and baiting were Don Juan Casanova, 18, and Amanda Grace Lunsford, 25.

Attorneys were appointed for Faron, Casanova and Ms. Lunsford in Wilkes District Court on Friday. All three have been released from custody under secured bonds of $2,500 each. If convicted, they could be sentenced to between four and 10 months in prison.

Law enforcement officials said the investigation led them to believe Faron was one of the nation’s largest breeders of pit bulls used for fighting, but that authorities have no evidence indicating organized dog fighting occurred on or near the Wildside Kennels property.

Wilkes Sheriff Dane Mastin said the charges were filed under a section of a state dog fighting statute that makes it illegal to possess or provide dogs for dog fighting. “Baiting” refers to harassing a tethered animal.

Mastin said the charges culminated a three-year investigation involving his department, the Wilkes Animal Control Department and the Humane Society of the United States.

BSL proposed for state of Montana

From the AKC website:

The American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department is expecting legislation in Montana that will seek to prohibit the ownership, harboring, or keeping of dogs described as "pit bulls." The legislation defines "pit bulls" to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and "any dog that has the physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for those breeds by the American Kennel Club." If the bill is passed and signed into law, all such dogs would be seized and euthanized. The AKC vehemently opposes breed-specific legislation and encourages all concerned dog owners in Montana to contact their elected representatives and express their strong opposition to this draconian yet hard-to-enforce legislation.

The American Kennel Club supports reasonable, enforceable, non-discriminatory laws to govern the ownership of dogs. We support laws that: establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measurable actions; impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners; and establish a well-defined method for dealing with dogs proven to be dangerous. The American Kennel Club strongly opposes any legislation that determines a dog to be "dangerous" based on specific breeds or phenotypic classes of dogs.

Currently named LC 1087, the bill will:

Make it unlawful, with little exception, for a person to own, harbor, or keep a pit bull dog. "Pit bull" is defined in the act to include Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and any dog that has the physical characteristics that substantially conform to the standards established for those breeds by the American Kennel Club.
Force persons in violation of the bill to surrender their dogs to animal control officials, or risk seizure of the animals.
Mandate that within ten days of surrender or seizure, the animal control agency shall euthanize such dogs.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:

All concerned Montana dog owners should contact their elected representatives and express their strong opposition to this breed-specific legislation. To find your elected representatives, click here.

For a copy of the bill, click here.

For a sample letter to write or e-mail legislators with, click here.

For a downloadable copy of our Deed, Not Breed flyer, click here.

For more information, please contact AKC’s Government Relations Department at (919) 816-3720, or e-mail doglaw@akc.org.

Start writing or e-mailing legislators, and if you aren't sure what to say in your letter, check out this site for thoughts and communication strategies: www.stopbsl.com

Pit Bulls Who Never Bit Ordered Euthanized?

I just read about this ongoing Michigan case somewhere else. I find it rather frightening.

Apparently two pit bulls were contained in a pen and somehow got out. They chased a guy on a bike who kept them away by squirting them with water. The owner then called the dogs and they left the biker alone.

But the biker, it seems, felt threatened by the dogs and made a complaint. Somehow, the case made it to court and a judge ordered the dogs--who the owners say have no previous bite histories--euthanized as "dangerous animals."

You can read the news report about this story here.

Egads.

I did a little more looking around and found a web site belonging to the Michigan author, Chris Wright, mentioned in the news article linked above. I found his web site, which offers more detail on the situation. The dogs have apparently been evaluated by a trainer and were found to be non-aggressive, friendly, normal dogs. They apparently are safe with children. They do not have bite histories. Yet they are apparently scheduled to be put down on Jan. 8--this Thursday.

That site has a copy of what appears to be the witness statement, made by the biker who was allegedly attacked. I don't want to just copy/paste it all, you should go check out Chris Wright's site yourself to read it in its entirety. But here's an excerpt:

"On July 18, 2008, at approximately 8:30 p.m., I was riding my mountain bike south from Pollack Bridge Road on York Trail. About 1/4 mile before the York Trail intersects with Tomahawk Trail/Little John Ave., I turned east onto a dirt trail that runs (south) parallel to the railroad tracks. Shortly after that, I notice a dog coming up from behind me. I dismounted from my bike and placed the bike between the dog and myself. The dog appeared to be a pit bull (or pit bull mix). It was brown with some white markings and did not have a collar. The dog was approaching me in an aggressive manner. I sprayed water from my water bottle at it and it backed off (a little). Whiel I was being confronted by that dog, another dog showed up from the same direction as the first one. This one also appeared to be some type of pit bull mix. It was black with white markings and had a red collar on. it moved in along side the frist dog and both dogs barked and moved at me in a threatening manner.

If I raised my arm (like I had something I was going to throw) or if I shook my bike at them, the dogs backed off a little. However, as soon as I made any movement backwards, they immediately came after me. Using my bike as a shield, I was able to pick up a decent size stick (approximately 3' long). I began backing through the woods in the direction of York Trail. As I walked backwards, the black dog would approach me from the front, while the brown dog would circle around and attempt to aggress me from behind. I used the stick (in my right hand) to keep the black dog at bay, while swinging the bike around with my left arm to keep it between me and the brown dog. Using this method, I was able to work my way into the back yard of the (unoccupied) house on the NE corner of York and Tomahawk trail and Little John Ave.

As I neared the house, the dogs began to back off just a little. It was at that moment that I could hear someone yelling from a house or two over on Little John. The person was yelling for the dogs, although I can not recall exactly what was said. The dogs immediately took off in the direction of the voice."

That's pretty much it. The rest describes how he rode around on his bike to see what else he could see, then went and made his complaint.

So in sum:

Guy on a bike gets chased by dogs (I can't count the number of times this has happened to me). Dogs get called by owner. Dogs go home. No one is injured. Dogs put to death.

Let me be clear: I think the owners of these dogs are entirely to blame for not having contained their dogs properly. The guy who was riding his bike is not at fault for being chased or for making a complaint about this situation. I place blame squarely on the owners for being irresponsible with their animals.

But euthanasia? Because dogs chased a guy on a bike? Absurd. I wonder if these dogs were labradors or nondescript mutts whether they would receive the same death sentence. Somehow, I doubt it.

Granted, there are so many idiot pit bull owners out there that have created huge problems in their neighborhoods that I can somehow understand why people are suspicious of the dogs and the people who own them. But still--the law should not be implemented based on fearfulness of a particular breed of dog. Dogs shouldn't be put to death because someone thinks they might do something because they are of a particular breed.

This case underscores how important it is for all pit bull owners to be super-vigilant in caring for their dogs. If you have a pit bull, you have got to keep your dogs in control at all times, even if you know they are completely harmless--there is NO ROOM for error anymore. None. In most people's eyes, your dogs are dangerous just because they are pit bulls, and this case illustrates that.

Is it fair? No. But it's true, and until we somehow find a way to restore the pit bull's image in the eyes of America, that's the way it's going to be. Until then, there should be no such thing as "Oops, they got loose," or "I didn't know they could jump the fence." Your dog's life--and the reputations of all the good pit bulls in your community--may depend on it.

Baltimore Magazine on Pit Bulls

Went to the grocery this evening and picked up a copy of the most recent issue of Baltimore magazine. The issue on the stands right now is the magazine's ultimate pet guide, and inside there's a sidebar story called "Pit Crew" about pit bulls. It's a positive story, talks a bit about the misunderstandings about this breed of dog, and they interviewed me a bit about the topic as well. Quoted me properly and everything, though I wish I'd been more clear in talking to them that I wasn't the sole founder of B-More Dog. We do have a board full of co-founders, but ah well, what can you do?

Kinda cool, worth picking up if you're in Baltimore and can find a copy. Or read it online. Either way.

Back in Town

Just got back home after 10 days in upstate New York and New York City. Thought I'd have time to update the blog while I was gone, but that was not the case. Lots of people to see and places to go.

But me, Doc, and Tucker are now back so the blog's back too.

I'm sure this has been posted all over the blogosphere by now, but in case anyone missed it: the issue of Sports Illustrated on the stands right now has a feature story about Michael Vick's dogs on the cover. You can read the piece here.

Far cry from the last time pit bulls graced the cover of SI. That was in 1987, and the title of the story was "Beware of This Dog," with an image of a snarling, brindle pit bull. You can read that story here. Kind of confusing when you click on it, but the story is scanned and embedded in a reader on that site.

Here's what that cover looked like.