Just some updates on the off-leash park stuff going on in Baltimore.
Ohmidog! covers a recent meeting on the subject, as does the Baltimore Sun's Unleashed blog.
I personally would love to see a secure, fenced in dog park in Patterson Park, particularly if they provide different areas for large and small dogs, but I really don't think charging for it is such a good idea. The goal is to encourage people to use it, not discourage them.
I dunno. However they work it out, I'm all for enclosed dog parks in city parks.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Doc Does Some Breed PR Today
Today B-More Dog was scheduled to do a humane education/proper dog interaction seminar for some kids at a summer program at a local community center. One of the women who was supposed to go and bring a dog had a conflict, so I filled in with Doc. He did some obedience, ate some biscuits, and got loved on by some kids. He did great. He got bored after about half an hour, so I sent him home with Rob while we finished up answering questions and stuff. But even when he clearly was all worn out, he was very patient and well-behaved, and the program admins really liked him--even the one who was scared of dogs.
Some photos of him with his new friends.
The kid in the white shirt on the left told me he wants to be a dog trainer someday and kept asking me if I could help him find a trainer who would talk to him about that.
More, more, more treats.
I'm a good dog!
Doc and me and friends at St. Francis Community Center.
This was really a pretty cool thing--it was casual, we answered lots of questions about dogs and pit bulls, and the kids really liked the fact that Doc was a chain dog from the middle of nowhere but still managed to "make something of himself."
I was really happy that I ended up filling in for the other dog--definitely a good time, and Doc was a pro!
Some photos of him with his new friends.
The kid in the white shirt on the left told me he wants to be a dog trainer someday and kept asking me if I could help him find a trainer who would talk to him about that.
More, more, more treats.
I'm a good dog!
Doc and me and friends at St. Francis Community Center.
This was really a pretty cool thing--it was casual, we answered lots of questions about dogs and pit bulls, and the kids really liked the fact that Doc was a chain dog from the middle of nowhere but still managed to "make something of himself."
I was really happy that I ended up filling in for the other dog--definitely a good time, and Doc was a pro!
Friday, July 17, 2009
And The Puppies, Too
Puppies are being born to the dogs seized last week in the massive five-state dog-fighting bust.
Monday, July 13, 2009
"They Deserve More"
Nathan Winograd weighs in with his thoughts on the fate of the most recent crew of bust dogs.
Like Winograd, I would also like to see these dogs get a fair shot at life if their owners are convicted of dog-fighting crimes. But unlike Winograd, I'm just not entirely sure that the pit bull community is going to be able to absorb so many dogs--even if half of them were offered up to homes as rescue prospects, I wonder if there would be enough people willing to take them?
Bad Rap posted a blog recently encouraging people who talk the talk to do a little soul searching and consider the possibility of taking in a bust dog--not even from this bust necessarily, but any bust. Because these big busts are the ones that make the news. The smaller local dog-fight busts usually don't. That doesn't mean they aren't happening and that dogs in local shelter all over America aren't being put down simply because they were allegedly "fighting dogs."
The first dog I ever worked with a rescue to save was a bust dog. We called her Peaches. She was a sweet, tiny little thing, absolutely covered in scars all over her head, neck, and body. It was the late 1990s, and she'd been taken in as part of a police raid on a house where a whole slew of suspected fighting dogs were kept in Albany, N.Y. There was, police said, a pit in the basement of the home where it appeared that matches were held, and apparently there were multiple illegal weapons found too. All the dogs were confiscated, the owners of the dogs were found guilty of some crime or other that was not dog fighting--still, the dog fighting evidence was there, and the dogs were then slated for euthanasia. I was told by police and the shelter workers that even the puppies of fighting dogs would grow up to be vicious. I went to see the dogs from this bust, all kept in kennels separated from the main building where adoptions took place. I remember that there were so many little wiggling, happy buckskin pups in those pens. And even though I knew so very little about pit bulls back then, something about what they were telling me about these dogs being inherently vicious seemed so impossible, so not right. Particularly since I'd already met Peaches, who was an adult dog that had more than likely been active in some fighting activities, who was so clearly a fantastic and sweet dog.
The vet techs working with Peaches, who was pregnant and being boarded at a vet's office rather than at the shelter, did not want to put her to sleep and signed her over to me instead of putting her down. I'm sure they could have gotten in trouble for that, and I'm sure I could have too. At that time, I didn't really care about that so much as I cared that, even though I couldn't keep the shelter from killing all those pups and alleged fighting dogs, I could help Peaches, this great little dog who would run around the back room of the vet hospital after hours grinning a funny submissive grimace and wagging her tail. Very cute, very sweet, very loving. But still, very likely a dog that had seen some action in the box. With the help of a local rescue, we got Peaches into a foster home where she had a litter of pups, all of which were eventually adopted.
Peaches was the first dog I ever met that was from a dog-fighting bust. And I took a chance helping her, even though I was told by all the "experts" that fighting dogs were dangerous and unpredictable and that they couldn't be safely placed in the world, not even the puppies.
So glad that I took that chance. And I've taken many, many more "chances" on pit bulls like Peaches over the years. Dogs taken from suspected fight situations, dogs taken in off the streets, dogs of unknown background, dogs found living in abandoned buildings, dogs handed off to me on the streets.
Don't get me wrong: Doing rescue, I have had to put my share of unsound/unsafe dogs down, but each and every time, it has always been individual temperament, and not breed disposition, that led me down that path. Interestingly, of the pit bulls that I have had put down due to temperament issues that made them unsuitable for adoption, none were dogs that showed any evidence of alleged dog fighting. For what it's worth.
Like Winograd, I would also like to see these dogs get a fair shot at life if their owners are convicted of dog-fighting crimes. But unlike Winograd, I'm just not entirely sure that the pit bull community is going to be able to absorb so many dogs--even if half of them were offered up to homes as rescue prospects, I wonder if there would be enough people willing to take them?
Bad Rap posted a blog recently encouraging people who talk the talk to do a little soul searching and consider the possibility of taking in a bust dog--not even from this bust necessarily, but any bust. Because these big busts are the ones that make the news. The smaller local dog-fight busts usually don't. That doesn't mean they aren't happening and that dogs in local shelter all over America aren't being put down simply because they were allegedly "fighting dogs."
The first dog I ever worked with a rescue to save was a bust dog. We called her Peaches. She was a sweet, tiny little thing, absolutely covered in scars all over her head, neck, and body. It was the late 1990s, and she'd been taken in as part of a police raid on a house where a whole slew of suspected fighting dogs were kept in Albany, N.Y. There was, police said, a pit in the basement of the home where it appeared that matches were held, and apparently there were multiple illegal weapons found too. All the dogs were confiscated, the owners of the dogs were found guilty of some crime or other that was not dog fighting--still, the dog fighting evidence was there, and the dogs were then slated for euthanasia. I was told by police and the shelter workers that even the puppies of fighting dogs would grow up to be vicious. I went to see the dogs from this bust, all kept in kennels separated from the main building where adoptions took place. I remember that there were so many little wiggling, happy buckskin pups in those pens. And even though I knew so very little about pit bulls back then, something about what they were telling me about these dogs being inherently vicious seemed so impossible, so not right. Particularly since I'd already met Peaches, who was an adult dog that had more than likely been active in some fighting activities, who was so clearly a fantastic and sweet dog.
The vet techs working with Peaches, who was pregnant and being boarded at a vet's office rather than at the shelter, did not want to put her to sleep and signed her over to me instead of putting her down. I'm sure they could have gotten in trouble for that, and I'm sure I could have too. At that time, I didn't really care about that so much as I cared that, even though I couldn't keep the shelter from killing all those pups and alleged fighting dogs, I could help Peaches, this great little dog who would run around the back room of the vet hospital after hours grinning a funny submissive grimace and wagging her tail. Very cute, very sweet, very loving. But still, very likely a dog that had seen some action in the box. With the help of a local rescue, we got Peaches into a foster home where she had a litter of pups, all of which were eventually adopted.
Peaches was the first dog I ever met that was from a dog-fighting bust. And I took a chance helping her, even though I was told by all the "experts" that fighting dogs were dangerous and unpredictable and that they couldn't be safely placed in the world, not even the puppies.
So glad that I took that chance. And I've taken many, many more "chances" on pit bulls like Peaches over the years. Dogs taken from suspected fight situations, dogs taken in off the streets, dogs of unknown background, dogs found living in abandoned buildings, dogs handed off to me on the streets.
Don't get me wrong: Doing rescue, I have had to put my share of unsound/unsafe dogs down, but each and every time, it has always been individual temperament, and not breed disposition, that led me down that path. Interestingly, of the pit bulls that I have had put down due to temperament issues that made them unsuitable for adoption, none were dogs that showed any evidence of alleged dog fighting. For what it's worth.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Will I ever stop being troubled by this?
Image linked from www.stltoday.com
OK, so I just read a story about the recent massive dog-fighting bust, in which the HSUS Drone Wayne Pacelle said this about the dogs:
"It's just unclear what will happen," said Wayne Pacelle, head of the
Humane Society of the United States. "I think it's pretty certain that
a lot of those dogs will not pass a behavioral test."
Why can't this man stop painting these poor dogs with the same broad brush of negativity? Why can't he see what he's doing to this breed by constantly speaking ill of bust dogs? There are nearly 400 dogs taken as part of this raid--400!--and just days after the raid Pacelle can already say that it's "pretty certain" that the dogs will not pass behavioral tests.
Here are some photos of the bust, by the way. Look at these dogs--though humans are interacting with them, manhandling them, and carrying them around, I'm sure they're ready to "snap" at any moment and show us how dangerous game-bred dogs really are.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
New WPBTCA Newsletter
The Working Pit Bull Terrier Club of America has revived its member newsletter. It looks great, and you can read it online at the WPBTCA site. Check it out!
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
HSUS Press Release on the bust
And here's the HSUS release on the bust. Indicates that the dogs will be evaluated for placement with rescue groups.
Here We Go Again . . .
Another massive dog-fighting bust. They say they've seized 200 dogs. Wonder if they have made plans for how to handle all of those dogs, or if they'll put them all down and try to pin the blame on rescues not having room for them or some such.
Baltimore City Announces Animal Abuse Task Force
Today Mayor Sheila Dixon and Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld announced the formation of a Baltimore Animal Abuse Task Force. The announcement was made in response to a couple of pretty horrific incidents that took place here this summer. The first was the burning of a young pit bull on the streets of southwest Baltimore. The second was a dead cat found tied to a utility pole with ropes and chains, under whose head someone had lit firecrackers.
The goal of this task force, the city says, is to come up with best practices for preventing and prosecuting acts of cruelty against animals. They'll examine methods used in other cities, and they have one year to come up with a list of recommendations for preventing dog fighting, educting people about the connection between animal abuse and violence against human beings.
The goal of this task force, the city says, is to come up with best practices for preventing and prosecuting acts of cruelty against animals. They'll examine methods used in other cities, and they have one year to come up with a list of recommendations for preventing dog fighting, educting people about the connection between animal abuse and violence against human beings.
According to the press release, the members of the task force will include:
Sheryl Goldstein, Director of Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice,
Representative from the City Council President’s Office, City Council, State’s Attorney’s Office and the ASPCA,
Baltimore City Police Commissioner (or Designee),
Baltimore City Health Commissioner (or Designee),
Ms. Zoe Michal, Mayor’s Office,
Jennifer Mead, Executive Director of BARCS,
Aileen Gabbey, Executive Director of the MD SPCA,
Bob Anderson, Director of Baltimore City Animal Control,
And, two Baltimore City residents
Sunday, July 05, 2009
HSUS "town hall" meeting in DC
As I think I've made clear before, I am not a fan of HSUS. Or Wayne Pacelle. But I wonder if it would be worth it to go to this and attempt to ask some questions the organization's plans for dealing with the American pit bull terrier "issue" after that mysterious summit they held in Las Vegas.
I'd love to know what the organization's specific strategy is for changing the rhetoric is uses when talking bout pit bulls. I'd like to know how, when they do their next dog-fighting bust, they'll ensure that there is appropriate money and resources to care for confiscated dogs so that they aren't a drain on the shelters that have to care for them while court cases drag on. I'd like to know, if they care so much to combat dog fighting, if they plan to implement more and new programs in every major metropolitan area in America to teach kids what they can do with their dogs besides dog fighting. I know there's a plan in Chicago, funded by HSUS for instance. I do know we don't have a good one here in Baltimore, where pit bulls make up more than 90 percent of dogs in the city shelter . . . oh well. Anyway. HSUS is coming to DC. If you have any good questions for them, it might be worth checking out and keeping the pressure on.
I'd love to know what the organization's specific strategy is for changing the rhetoric is uses when talking bout pit bulls. I'd like to know how, when they do their next dog-fighting bust, they'll ensure that there is appropriate money and resources to care for confiscated dogs so that they aren't a drain on the shelters that have to care for them while court cases drag on. I'd like to know, if they care so much to combat dog fighting, if they plan to implement more and new programs in every major metropolitan area in America to teach kids what they can do with their dogs besides dog fighting. I know there's a plan in Chicago, funded by HSUS for instance. I do know we don't have a good one here in Baltimore, where pit bulls make up more than 90 percent of dogs in the city shelter . . . oh well. Anyway. HSUS is coming to DC. If you have any good questions for them, it might be worth checking out and keeping the pressure on.
Friday, July 03, 2009
And this is what we are up against . . .
This is from Holland, not the U.S., but I think it does a good job illustrating the kind of mentality people who own pit bulls are up against.
The author believes that an increasing number of pit bulls on the street--whether they bite or not--means more dangerous dogs are on the streets.
She is also angry that people would like to see stronger animal-control laws that apply to all dogs.
How do you, as the owner of a pit bull, combat that kind of mindeset? I don't think that simple "education" is gonna cut it. Frustrating.
The author believes that an increasing number of pit bulls on the street--whether they bite or not--means more dangerous dogs are on the streets.
She is also angry that people would like to see stronger animal-control laws that apply to all dogs.
How do you, as the owner of a pit bull, combat that kind of mindeset? I don't think that simple "education" is gonna cut it. Frustrating.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Off Leash Hours in Baltimore City Parks?
So I read this story in the Baltimore Sun today.
Over the past few months, the city's leash laws have been a huge issue here. First, the City Council voted in favor of cracking down on violators, charging them $1,000 for having a dog running free in a non-designated off-leash area. After much complaining, they backed off on the bill and suspended the fines, pending further investigation.
Seems to me that the smartest thing to do would have been twofold: Investigate ways to create more dog parks in the city (we really have so few for the people who like them--maybe one or two?) and look at a tier system, by which people who are caught violating the law can be fined in a reasonable and fair way. Maybe $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and so on.
Instead, it sounds like they plan to just suspend leash laws in some city parks during designated "off leash" hours. Which I think is a horrid idea. The off-leash hours proposed in this story are 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.--basically any and all times people with day jobs might want to use a city park. Any time someone like me, who has a dog that hates to be molested by unruly off-leash dogs, might want to walk my dog peacefully in a city park. I love dogs--all dogs, not just my dogs. I understand that they need exercise and stimulation and time to just be dogs. But I don't think that unfenced areas in city parks, where the dogs are free to run up on people and other dogs that don't wish to share in the fun, are the right venue for that.
And by the way, one of the obedience classes I attend happens to take place in one of these city parks between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. So now, should this pass, we will have to contend with dogs illegally off leash during those hours, which may wander through and disrupt the class. Why can't the city just make it easier for citizens to band together, raise some funds, and create dog parks? nstead, from what I hear, people who try to do so get hit from all angles with obnoxious obstacles and red tape.
I am not a dog park person. I never go to dog parks, have no interest in taking my dogs to dog parks (especially not the pit bulls--no need to tempt fate there). But I would love it--LOVE IT--if the city would create more safe places for people to run their pet dogs where they aren't going to chase after people and dogs that are simply not appropriate for off-leash play. A dog park in every park, as far as I'm concerned, then fine the hell out of the violators. But that'll probably never happen--instead, we'll just make it legal to let your dog off leash during the busiest park hours. Smart.
Over the past few months, the city's leash laws have been a huge issue here. First, the City Council voted in favor of cracking down on violators, charging them $1,000 for having a dog running free in a non-designated off-leash area. After much complaining, they backed off on the bill and suspended the fines, pending further investigation.
Seems to me that the smartest thing to do would have been twofold: Investigate ways to create more dog parks in the city (we really have so few for the people who like them--maybe one or two?) and look at a tier system, by which people who are caught violating the law can be fined in a reasonable and fair way. Maybe $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second, and so on.
Instead, it sounds like they plan to just suspend leash laws in some city parks during designated "off leash" hours. Which I think is a horrid idea. The off-leash hours proposed in this story are 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.--basically any and all times people with day jobs might want to use a city park. Any time someone like me, who has a dog that hates to be molested by unruly off-leash dogs, might want to walk my dog peacefully in a city park. I love dogs--all dogs, not just my dogs. I understand that they need exercise and stimulation and time to just be dogs. But I don't think that unfenced areas in city parks, where the dogs are free to run up on people and other dogs that don't wish to share in the fun, are the right venue for that.
And by the way, one of the obedience classes I attend happens to take place in one of these city parks between the hours of 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. So now, should this pass, we will have to contend with dogs illegally off leash during those hours, which may wander through and disrupt the class. Why can't the city just make it easier for citizens to band together, raise some funds, and create dog parks? nstead, from what I hear, people who try to do so get hit from all angles with obnoxious obstacles and red tape.
I am not a dog park person. I never go to dog parks, have no interest in taking my dogs to dog parks (especially not the pit bulls--no need to tempt fate there). But I would love it--LOVE IT--if the city would create more safe places for people to run their pet dogs where they aren't going to chase after people and dogs that are simply not appropriate for off-leash play. A dog park in every park, as far as I'm concerned, then fine the hell out of the violators. But that'll probably never happen--instead, we'll just make it legal to let your dog off leash during the busiest park hours. Smart.
Hometown Dog
Good dog, Grant, showing a small town in the middle of the country what a real pit bull is all about.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
WPBTCA Nationals
The Working Pit Bull Terrier Club of America is hosting its national championship in Flint, Mich. this year.
The event is going to be held Sept. 19-20, and as usual, there will be weight pull, agility, tracking, and protection events for dogs to compete it.
Novice or champion, it's an event that has a little something for everyone. I was lucky enough to attend the event a few years ago, when it was held in Fallston, Md., and Doc and I competed in weight pull and tracking. We didn't do so hot on the tracking, but Doc came in third place novice for weight pull. It was his first time ever pulling, and I was pretty proud of his willingness to give it his best shot for me.
I can't remember how much he pulled, but I do remember that the only reason we stopped was because I fouled us out by touching him before all four of his feet made it past the finish line--d'oh!--otherwise he would have kept on going.
If you're in or near Flint, Mich., it's definitely an event worth checking out.
More info on the WPBTCA site for those who are interested.
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