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Research about Solid Gold Sundancer Dry Dog Food with Curcumin, it continues to Help in a Variety of Health Problems. Additional research reprinted in the Dallas Morning News, August 16th, 2011. The title of the article in the newspaper: “Could This Powder be “Solid Gold’?” PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, lists more than 4,000 studies using curcumin as herbal medicine by practicing physicians. Dr. Bharat B. Aggurwal, professor of experimental therapeutics at the University of Texas at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, has helped produce more than 100 of these curcumin studies. He says curcumin has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal qualities. He also recommends it for pain management and Alzheimer’s. Further research in the book, “Real Cause, Real Cure,” Dr. Jacob Tertelbaum at the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers shows how curcumin blocks the inflammatory cytokines, helps white blood cells move faster, decreases allergic inflammation and strengthens cells against bacteria. Solid Gold SunDancer dry dog food with curcumin comes in 4, 15 and 33 pound hermetically sealed bags. Some dog food companies have reduced the size of their bags to 25 or 28 pound sizes. Not Solid Gold. Our bags remain at 33 pounds. The Solid Gold Sea Meal is always fed with our dog food. See our catalogue specially for Oriental dogs, Arctic dogs, and dogs from England, Scotland, Ireland and all water dogs (labs, poodles – as well as terriers, spaniels and retrievers). In 1958, the U.S. Congress wanted to fund a study using curcumin and cancer. But the pharmaceutical companies lobbied against it. They said it might interfere with their revenue from their cancer drugs so the lobbyist stopped the study. In 1971, President Nixon tried to have the study begin, but Watergate ended that. Ask your local animal supply store to get in the Solid Gold SunDancer dry dog food with curcumin. It is the chicken/white fish base with tapioca and quinoa to control gas. It is also helpful for tear-staining, ear infections, bladder stones and chewing at the feet. You have tasted curcumin when you eat mustard. Curcumin gives mustard its bright yellow color and its spicy flavor. It’s also called curry. The Indians (in India) refer it to curcumin as Solid Gold for a variety of healing problems.
Solid Gold Holistic Animal Nutrition Center 1331 N. Cuyamaca, El Cajon, CA 92020
Ask your local pet store for a free catalogue. If they don’t have a SunDancer catalogue, call us at (619)258-7356, M-F, 10am to 5pm Pacific time. Or e-mail us at sarah@solidgoldholisitc.com, you can also visit our website at www.solidgoldholistic.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WINTER
12 I Love My Really Big Dog! 15 It’s Good to be a Mastiff! 16
Whiskey River Smith
HECTOR THE PIT BULL
36 From Victim to Vicktory Dog 38 Throw Me A Frisbee!
Positive & Inspiring Pit Bull Stories
ECHO DEAF PITTIE MIX
40 Dogs in Love 43 Action
GREMLIN
20 Against the Odds
Santa Cruz SPCA
SMOKEY THE PIT BULL
Awesome Attitude INDIGO JONES
24 Nosy Neighbors
44 2011 Halloween Contest Costume Winners
46 Compassion
Vonn – Miraculous Survival
LILLY THE PIT BULL
26 Enjoy Life Every Day
PETEY ONE EYED WONDER
28 I Love Everybody! 30
Making up for Lost Time
HANDSOME DAN
Cover Story
18 Celebrate Life
22
34
ROCCO THERAPY PIT BULL
Spreading the Pittie Love! WILSON POTTER
32 Born to Fly!
BELLE BRINDLE PIT BULL
48 Dedication
Animal Farm Foundation
52 Motivate
Evie the Litter Dog
54
Devotion
56
Inspire
Dolly’s Foundation Allison Argo - Filmmaker
60 Famous Dog on Facebook
Dolly's Foun datio n photo by Flying Fur Pet Photography (www.flyingfurpetphotography.com)
6 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
2011
TABLE OF CONTEN TS
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4
62 Famous Dogs on Facebook 68 Fitness
85 Inhale
Pot Roast
Walking or Running in the Snow
90 Natural Health
Your Own Backyard
93 Safety
70 Explore
With Dr. Elliott Harvey Keeping Your Pet Safe
72 Entertainment
94 Health
Movie Night
Keeping Your Dog Healthy
73 Relax
Dog parents Chill Out!
95 Wellness
Anti-Aging Foods for Pets
76 Dog Culture
98 Training
78 Working Dogs 80 Dr’s Corner
100 Dog Parent Families 108 Bedtime Books 110 Featured Author
82 Nutrition
111 Happily Ever After
83 Devour
112 Happily Ever After
84 Savor
114 Everyday Doggie Hero
Pit Bull Documentaries Freedom Service Dogs Mushroom Toxicity In the Dog’s Kitchen Bison Steak
photo by Stephanie Cline
BRUCE
Tackling the D Word
Jim Gorant Violet Olive
Peace Love and Pit Bulls
photo by Rachel Carter
AMBER
photo by Mary
MAGGIE MOO The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 7
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
HELP FIGHT BREED SPECIFIC LEGISLATION ADOPT, FOSTER, VOLUNTEER, OR Donate!
Jamie M. Downey, Founder/Publisher with Cheyenne, Chester and Cassie
All or Nothing Pit Bull Rescue Angel City Pit Bulls Animal Farm Foundation Bad Rap Bama Bully Rescue Bless the Bullys BraveHeart Rescue Bull 911 Casa Del Toro Bully Breed Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue Dead Dog Walking Pit Bull Rescue Defending Dog Denver Kills Dogs Dolly's Foundation Don't Bully My Breed For Pits Sake Hug A Bull Game Dog Guardian Incred-A-Bull Indy Pit Crew Jasmine's House Karma Rescue Love-A-Bull Love A Bull Rescue Mid-America Bully Breed Rescue Mike's Dog House Pit Bull Happenings Missouri Pit Bull Rescue Natl Canine Research Council Orange County Pit Bull Rescue Our Pack Out Of The Pits PAWS New England Paw Printz Pit Bull Rescue Pawsitively Pit Bull Pit Bull Rescue Central Pit Bull Lovers Pit Bull Rescue San Diego Pittie Love Rescue Recycle-A-Bull Rescue Ring Dog Rescue Roverlution Save A Bull Rescue Save The Pit Bulls Saving Grace Pit Bull Rescue Stop BSL StubbyDog Project Tough Love Pit Bull Rescue Understand A Bull Villalobos Rescue Center Wiggle Butts Bully Rescue
8 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
www.atlantapitbullrescue.com www.angelcitypits.org www.animalfarmfoundation.org www.badrap.org www.bamabully.org www.blessthebullys.com www.braveheartrescue.com www.bull911.com www.casadeltoro.org www.chicagolandbullybreedrescue.org www.deaddogwalkingpitbullrescue.org www.defendingdog.com www.denverkillsdogs.com www.dollysfoundation.org www.dontbullymybreed.org www.forpitssake.org www.hugabull.com www.gamedogguardian.com www.incred-a-bull.org www.indypitcrew.org www.jasmineshouse.org www.karmarescue.org www.love-a-bull.org www.loveabullrescue.com www.kspitbullrescue.com www.mikesdoghouse.org www.pitbullhappenings.com www.mprgroup.net www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com www.ocpbr.org www.ourpack.org www.outofthepits.org www.pawsnewengland.com www.pawprintzpitrescue.tripod.com www.pawsitivelypitbull.org
www.pbrc.net www.pitbulllovers.com www.pitbullrescuesandiego.com www.pittieloverescue.com www.workingpitbull.com www.ringdogrescue.org www.roverlution.org www.saveabull.com www.savethepitbulls.8m.com www.savinggracepitbullrescue.org www.stopbsl.com www.stubbydog.org www.toughlovepbr.blogspot.com www.understand-a-bull.com www.vrcpitbull.com www.wigglebuttsbullyrescue.org
fOUNdER / PUBLIShER
jAMIE M dOWNEy
ASSOCIATE PUBLIShER
hEAThER GREEN
ASSOCIATE PUBLIShER
ShARyN BERGLUNd
ASSOCIATE PUBLIShER
NANCy ALLEN
EdITOR IN ChIEf EdITORIAL dIRECTOR ART dIRECTOR
jAMIE M dOWNEy LAUREN WINEBERG kELLy MAyER
CREATIvE dIRECTOR
MIChAEL ANTONE
COvER CREATEd By
jAMIE M dOWNEy
COvER dESIGNEd By SENIOR EdITOR MANAGING EdITOR SENIOR COPy EdITOR COPy EdITOR BOOk REvIEW EdITOR AdvERTISING dIRECTOR PROdUCTION COORdINATOR
kELLy MAyER dAvId REvIERTER CASEy ROdARBAL SONdRA LEvINE dEBORAh jOhNSON NANCy ALLEN jAMIE M dOWNEy kIM ThORNTON
SOCIAL MEdIA dIRECTOR
jAMIE M dOWNEy
dISTRIBUTION MANAGER
jOhN hAddOCk
BUSINESS MANAGER SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER
ANN jAMISON EMMA BROWN
contRibutinG pHotoGRapHeRs: TAMRA MONAhAN, ChERyLyNN kELLER, ROO yORI, ALEkSANdRA GAjdECzkA, vALERIE WILSON, SUSAN hARP, ALExANdRA GOLASzEWSkA, ANIMAL fARM fOUNdATION, ThERESA COzzONE,ARGO fILMS, fLyING fUR PET PhOTOGRAPhy, jAMIE dOWNEy, LARRy WAdSWORTh, STACEy GREENWALd, GAdABOUT PhOTOGRAPhy contRibutinG WRiteRs: dR. ShANNON jORdAN, dR. ELLIOTT hARvEy, TAMRA MONAhAN, dOUG & ELIzABETh SIMPSON, SAShA LEvINE, WhISkEy RIvER SMITh, MANdI hART, jAMIE dOWNEy, ChASTITy ROdGERS, SUSAN hARP, ERICA dANIEL, REBEkAh PIEdAd, EvE-MARIE kUNTzMAN, STACEy GREENWALd HOw TO REACH US: The Dog Publishing, DBA: The American Dog 20269 e. smoky hill rd. #B-136 centennial, co 80015 Phone: (303) 840-6111 (colorado) info@theamericandogmag.com www.theamericandogmag.com For advertising Inquiries: email to: advertise@theamericandogmag.com Letters to the editor/story ideas: email to: editor@theamericandogmag.com subscription rate is $20 per year within the United states and $50 per year for all foreign subscriptions. U.s. funds only. subscriptions are non-refundable. subscribe online: www.theamericandogmag.com
Subscribers: if the postal service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. email change of address to: subscribe@theamericandogmag.com Postmaster: Please forward change of address to: The Dog Publishing 20269 e. smoky hill rd. #B-136 centennial, co 80015 Copyright 2011/2012 no part of this publication may be reproduced without expressed written permission of the publisher. no part may be transmitted in any form by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Publisher accepts no liability for solicited or unsolicited materials that are damaged or lost. Views expressed by editorial contributors do not necessarily reямВect the views of the publisher.
10
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
I LOVE MY REALLY BIG DOG!
HAGRID BOERBOEL Hagrid is a 4 year old, 135 pound brindle South African Boerboel who lives in Texas. He guards his horse ranch (and the couch) and lives with three rescue dogs. His best bud is a miniature Poodle named Popcorn, but he loves his “pibble� (Pit Bull) sister, Ziva, and Cully, the Chihuahua. He possesses a generous temperament despite his size, and he truly lives up to his namesake, Hagrid the Giant, from the Harry Potter series. He graduated his obedience class with flying colors and is working on his Canine Good Citizen certificate. He visits grand kids and friends and goes camping while traveling in the motor home with his family. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/HagridBoerboel
TOBIT MASTIFF Tobit is a 3 year old, 200 pound Old English Mastiff who lives in Ohio. He is a very sweet and gentle boy who loves to play with his favorite toy, a Kong Frisbee. He loves Starbucks whipped cream, snuggling, and playing with the other Mastiffs and children in his house. Tobit also enjoys it when his mama makes his favorite dinners and treats, and he even has his own personal scarves and drool towels! This is an easy dog to please with a funny sense of humor. Tobit really cares about other dogs, so he helps to raise awareness about large breeds in rescues with his best friend, Whiskey River Smith, a fellow Mastiff. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/TobitMastiff
12
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
I LOVE MY REALLY BIG DOG!
DOZER HOWARD Dozer is an 8 year old English Mastiff who lives in TX. He weighs 185 pounds now, but had topped out at 208 pounds. Dozer was a stray turned into a shelter and was adopted when he was 18 months old. He loves to sleep, and for the past year he has been battling cancer (Spindle Cell Carcinoma). Dozer loves to play with any toy that his brother has, and if he could accomplish anything, it would be to catch the squirrel in his backyard. He is one of five rescued English Mastiffs in the house and he gets to work at his mom’s bakery, Three Dog Bakery in Southlake, TX tasting treats. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/DozerHoward
OTIS PASSE Otis is a 2 year old brindle English Mastiff who lives in Rochester, Minnesota. He weighs 160 pounds and is a super sweet dog. Otis loves to greet his mama with a couple of toys in his mouth every day when she gets home from work. He also spends a lot of time in the koi pond off the deck when it's hot outside! His favorite treats are bully sticks and dried liver treats, and he loves going for car rides. Otis is also one of the “Chippendogs All-Stud Review” that are helping to raise money to support the rescue efforts of Big Dogs Huge Paws Rescue in Colorado. Right now, they are selling t-shirts with the pictures of all of the Chippendogs on it. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/OtisPasse
GUS WILLIAMS Gus is a 3 year old Bullmastiff who lives in Tennessee. He weighs 196 pounds. He loves stuffed animal toys but prefers playing with footballs. Gus also enjoys posing for pictures, because he knows doggy treats are always involved. His most favorite activity is to go for off-leash walks in the woods where he can sniff everything. Gus also has a sister; she’s a cat and her name is Baby Orange Kitty. The two of them spend the day together playing and snuggling. Baby Orange Kitty is always following Gus around, and he really loves his little sister. And this big boy really enjoys being comfortable, especially lying on the bed with his head on the pillows. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/GusWilliams
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
13
I LOVE MY REALLY BIG DOG!
BOONE MASTIFF Boone is a 1 year old English Mastiff who lives in Missouri. He weighs 160 pounds and stands 33" inches tall. He is a Mastiff representative of The Chippendog's All-Stud Revue, a fundraising effort for Big Dogs Huge Paws Rescue in Denver, Colorado (www.bigdogshugepaws.com). Boone spends his time harassing his little sister Brinkley and chasing the cat. He loves to go swimming and hiking, enjoys playing, and pretty much doing all things dogs love. Becoming a therapy dog may be in his future! Boone has a job at: www.facebook.com/BooneandBrinkleysPetBoutique
BRINKLEY MASTIFF Brinkley Mastiff is an English Mastiff who just celebrated her first birthday, so she still has a lot of growing to do! She weighs in at 150 pounds and stands 30" tall. She likes to spend her time being lazy and playing with her big brother Boone. Brinkley is active in the show ring, and with her family, she is involved in various fundraising efforts for animal rescue. She is being featured in Inside Columbia Magazine’s November Issue – Columbia’s Cutest Pet! She and Boone are also official product testers for their parents’ business, Boone & Brinkley’s Boutique. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/BrinkleyMastiff
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Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
IT’S GOOD TO BE A MASTIFF!
wHISKEY RIVER SMITH LEAd SINGER Of WhISkEy RIvER ANd ThE jELLO ShOTS WITh ThE GENTLE GIANTS BANd!
portrait painteD by JenniFer geraghty oF tripoD Dog DeSignS
createD by DeSigner Debra eVangeliSto
whiSKEy RiVER SmiTh wANTED TO TELL hiS OwN STORy (iN hiS OwN wORDS)!
My name is Whiskey River Smith. I was named that because of the great old Willie Nelson song and because I was the color of a fine bourbon when I was a pup—but my color deepened with age! But bourbon does that too, so I guess that was pretty appropriate! I was born on Memorial Day in 2008 and I’m an Olde English Mastiff. We’re the biggest breed of dog, but at 170 pounds, I’m kinda small since I got Mastiff buddies who are over 250 pounds! I have a canine sister named Brandy Rose, and she’s a 45 pound Husky. My daddy’s name is Steve, and my mama is Tina. I sure do love my family! I have been called a mama’s boy, but that’s okay, because I really love my mama, and she takes real good care of me. I love the weekends when my mama cooks and I get to help out in the kitchen. I lie on the floor in the walkway and pretend to be asleep so that she has to step over me, and then when she trips and fumbles the food she’s carrying, I clean up the mess for her. It’s a symbiotic relationship. I need her to drop something so I can eat it, and she needs me to clean up the mess that tripping her created.
On some weekends, we go traveling and camping in our RV, and I get to meet other campers and their dogs. People shake their heads when they see a great big dog going in and out of a little camper, but I like the attention! Daddy loves to show me off to people and tell them that I have my own world-famous, all-Mastiff band, and they should look me up on Facebook! Me and the band (Whiskey River and the Jello Shots with the Gentle Giants Band) got involved in dog rescue, and we raise money and raise awareness for rescuing big dogs! We give 100% of the profits from our concert t-shirts and sweatshirts to Big Dogs Huge Paws of Denver, and they use the money to rescue gentle giants, get them medical care, and find them fur-ever homes... and we’ve saved a lot of lives, too! Whiskey River and the Jello Shots with the Gentle Giants Band is the world’s only all-Mastiff band. There’s 14 of us! There’s me (I’m the lead singer), and there’s my hottie backup singers, the Jello Shots: Athena’s from Kansas, Justice lives on a mountain in Montana,
and Alannah lives in Ohio. Then there’s the Gentle Giants Band: Axel lives in Melbourne, Australia; Tobit and Chaos are from Ohio; Taz is from Ontario, Canada; Angus is from Indiana; Chione and Beamer are from Mastiffchusetts; Quincy is from Manhattan, New York; Clark’s from Pennsylvania; and Porsche is from Colorado. Porsche is super famous herself. She gained national fame from being rescued after being attacked with a baseball bat and then getting hit by a car when she tried to run for her life. You can see the scars in her picture. She does public appearances for Life is Better Rescue, and she has her own Facebook page called “Justice for Porsche.” You can read her whole story on our band’s Facebook page, along with the bios of all the band members. They’re all great Mastiffs— some are champion show dogs, and some are rescues.
Become a fan: www.facebook.com/whiskeyriver.Smith www.facebook.com/bigDogshugepawsrescue www.facebook.com/whiskeyriverandtheJelloShotswiththegentlegiantsband
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
15
COVER STORY
AT TN: BIG-TIME MEDIA! ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, ESPN, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, USA, WSJ, AP
WE HAVE THE POSITIVE & INSPIRING
PIT BULL STORIES YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Why does the mainstream media; national TV news, local TV news, and nationwide newspapers pounce on every single negative story involving a Pit Bull dog bite, Pit Bull attack, or Pit Bull mauling? Why do they try to instill a feeding frenzy of fear-mongering panic in people against the misunderstood Pit Bull? Why is there no national news coverage or reports on the wonderful, heroic deeds these dogs are famous for? It’s about time for the national media to step up to the plate and stop reporting pit bulls as monsters and start reporting the good stuff about Pitties! If truth be known, many Pit Bulls are exemplary canine good citizens and also make great therapy dogs. This breed is known for being affectionate, athletic, courageous, energetic, friendly, humorous, intelligent, loyal, loving, noble, playful, and strong!
n i l m Gr e
In our winter issue, we shine a spotlight on eleven amazing and exceptional Pit Bulls who have overcome abuse or neglect in their life, and then went on to become inspiring role models for the breed and set fine examples as Pit Bull ambassadors. Many of the dogs featured are therapy dogs and visit children in schools and hospitals. Some of the dogs are fantastic athletes, and all of them are to be respected for their contribution to society and deserved to be recognized for their accomplishments as Pit Bulls. I hope everyone takes the time to read each individual story of these eleven heroes; Gremlin, Smokey, Indigo Jones, Lily, Petey, Rocco, Wilson, Belle, Hector, Handsome Dan, and Echo, all of them Pit Bulls!
16
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
photo courteSy oF chriS hugheS
COVER STORY
READ ALL ABOUT OUR FABULOUS PIT BULLS! sM okey
GReM lin
on page 20
on page 18-19
in DiG o J on e s on page 22-23
Rocco
p etey
lily
on page 26-27
on page 24
belle
Wilson
on page 32
on page 28
on page 30-31
HectoR
HanDsoMe Dan
on page 34-35
on page 36
ec Ho
on page 38-39
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
17
CELEBRATE LIFE
GREMLIN’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY: Tamra Monahan reports
** Update: Gremlin passed every single test in the Pet Pal program at Rainbow Children’s Hospital and she is the only Pit Bull in the program!
18 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
CELEBRATE LIFE FROM BAIT DOG IN A DOG FIGHTING RING—TO VICTIM OF HORRIFIC ABUSE—TO REGISTERED THERAPY DOG—TO DADDY’S LITTLE GIRL! To stare into Gremlin’s soft brown eyes and see her tender smiling face, you would never know that she was used as a bait dog in a Washington, D.C. dog fighting ring. Her gentle nature belies the vicious abuse she endured during years of physical torture and horrifying living conditions. This beautiful Pit Bull’s story is filled with desperation and hope, pain and healing, loss and now love. Gremlin and her mother were purchased by an undercover police officer in the Washington, D.C. area during a dog fighting investigation. Once the ring was busted and everyone was taken into custody, the dogs were placed in a shelter as evidence in the animal cruelty case, but, unfortunately, no charges were ever brought against the people involved in the dog fighting ring. Gremlin was scheduled to be euthanized because of all the injuries and damages to her body, but Odessa Second Chance Rescue and Rehabilitation (OSCR) in Goochland, Virginia saw the potential that Gremlin had, and rescued her. Eventually, Gremlin was adopted by Chris Hughes, founder of Rowdy to the Rescue, who embarked on the monumental task of healing this fragile, broken puppy. Chris has started volunteering with OSCR and says, “I adopted Gremlin because I knew she was going to have a tough life and was going to be a high needs dog. I did not want her going to someone who wouldn’t make the commitment to not only her medical bills, but the time it would take for her wounds to heal, both physically and mentally.” During her time as a bait dog, Gremlin’s owners broke her back legs inward at the same spot. Chris says, “My veterinarian said this is a common thing to do which prevents the bait dog from running away while they test the aggression of the fighting dogs. She was also not able to bark, and tests revealed that her vocal chords had been ruptured. The vet explained to me that dog fighters jam the end of a photo courteSy oF chriS hugheS
baseball bat or a stick down the bait dog’s throat to prevent them from making noise and drawing attention to the dogs because the animals are tied up outside.” Sickened and angered by this information, Chris was determined to give Gremlin a new life, one without pain and fear. After years of abuse, Gremlin could barely walk and would often not use her back legs at all. Although Chris knew getting his new Pittie to walk again was a huge endeavor, one look in her big brown eyes told him they would succeed. “The biggest obstacle Gremlin had to overcome was walking,” he says. “She had a very hard time and was getting worse and worse when I first got her. After we started hydrotherapy, things really started to look up for her and she made huge strides in getting to be a hundred percent independent. Although, for a while at night she wouldn’t use her back legs at all and would actually walk from one room to another just on her front two legs. It was like she was doing a handstand.” During Gremlin’s long rehabilitation, Chris was very worried and said, “It often looked as though she was going to need a wheelchair to get around.” But this gutsy Pit Bull’s drive and determination allowed her to rise against the odds. Two years and thousands of dollars later, she was healed, running with her pack and into the hearts of many. Soon after, Chris says, “We started Gremlin on the basic obedience training and Gremlin received her Canine Good Citizen certification and became a registered therapy dog through Therapy Dogs Inc.” Every week, Chris and Gremlin visit Aristocrat Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for mentally unstable patients where she gets hugs and kisses from clients and staff who love their new furry friend. She also brings joy to kids in a special education class at Avon East Elementary School, and next year this perky Pittie is going to become a Pet Pal at Rainbow
Children’s Hospital. "She will visit with the kids in the hospital and let them read to her or just sit and pet her which is great therapy," Chris says. Gremlin also likes going to work with her daddy. Chris explains, “A typical day for Gremlin consists of coming to work at the tennis club we own, and she sits at the front desk with me and plays with all the kids that come in. After work we go home and she plays around with my three other dogs and any dogs we currently have in rescue.” Gremlin’s siblings consist of Rowdy, a Golden Retriever who came from a puppy mill; Quinn, a German Wirehaired Pointer who came from a hoarding case; and Sammy, a Pit Bull who was found tied up in the basement of an abandoned foreclosed home. Chris proudly states, “Gremlin also has a boyfriend, his name is Wilson Potter and she met him on Facebook! Wilson is also a Pit Bull who had a rough start in life, but now he lives like a king with his mom in Atlanta!” Both these canines spend a lot of time talking to each other via Facebook (with the help of their parents), and Gremlin is quite smitten with her little man Wilson. Thanks to a determined police officer, a caring rescue organization, and a kind-hearted guy, Gremlin’s life of fear and abuse changed to one of love and tenderness. This courageous canine went from baiting fighting dog to educating people, showing us that Pit Bulls can be friendly companions with hearts of gold. “Gremlin is more than just a part of my family,” Chris says. “I couldn’t imagine life without her. Her mission now is to travel the country and expose the nation to the truths of dog fighting. She is the face of Rowdy to the Rescue, and our hope is that Gremlin will inspire others for years to come.”
For more information or to contact: Visit: www.rowdytotherescue.com become a fan of gremlin on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/gremlin
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
19
AGAINST THE ODDS
SMOKEY THE PIT BULL A Survivor’s Story!
FROM ACID POURED ON HIM AS A PUP—TAKEN TO A KILL SHELTER—RESCUED BY HIS DADDY—AND NOW A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY PITTIE WHO IS SPREADING THE LOVE! The American Dog reports
Smokey the Pit Bull was found abandoned at three months old with severe acid burns down his back in Bakersfield, California, in July 2009 and was brought to the animal shelter where he would be euthanized due to his severe injuries. When Tyler Z Nasise saw the posting about this abused little Pittie, he rescued Smokey from the high-kill shelter and brought him back home to San Diego, CA. There, the dog underwent eight months of treatment and surgeries to heal his extensive injuries. Tyler says, “Smokey has never harbored any grudges or distrust with people due to his past abuse. He’s 2½ years old now and he absolutely loves everyone, all the people and animals he meets—no matter what their size, shape, or type!” Tyler is also amazed at how Smokey has touched the lives of so many people in his short time. “Smokey brings endless smiles to adults of all ages and
photos courtesy of Tyler Z Nasise
children. He has changed the minds of many people about the Pit Bull breed by his sweet and docile nature, and he’s always greeting people with a smile or a roll onto his back for a belly rub.” Smokey the Pit Bull has completed all his training classes in San Diego, including a pre-therapy training class. “While in San Diego, we went to visit the elderly and sick in an assisted living facility with a group that, at first, were a little intimidated by him,” says Tyler. He explains that the wheelchair-bound group of patients made a circle, and Smokey just made himself comfortable and laid right in the middle of the circle, smiling and then rolling over for a belly rub. “Within minutes, all of the patients were smiling and laughing. Smokey gently laid his head on the laps of some of the patients and the softness of his eyes brought them such joy. Smokey has also visited patients in
20 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
hospice care and with the families of hospice care patients.” Currently, Smokey is training for his AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) and for his therapy certification. “Since we relocated to San Antonio, Texas in July 2011, our focus is now on hospice patients, children, and assisted living facilities as well as burn victims,” Tyler states. Smokey is the inspiration of In Smokey We Trust Rescue, a Pit Bull rescue located in San Antonio/Devine, TX.
For more information please visit: www.iswt-rescue.webs.com www.facebook.com/pages/ SMOKEY-The-Pit-Bull www.facebook.com/pages/ In-Smokey-We-Trust-Rescue www.facebook.com/profile/ TylerZNasise
AWESOME ATTITUDE
INDIGO WHEELED
Abused. Rescued. Adopted. Loved. Turned Pittie Advocate. Proof That with Love Anything Is Possible!
A wonderful act of kindness by a compassionate family changed a Pit Bull’s life from a nightmare into a dream come true. Indigo Wheeled Terrier Jones, “Indy” for short, was kept chained outside and was abused by his former owner. One night, as his owner beat him with a shovel and kicked him repeatedly, a neighbor made an anonymous call to 911, and the police and animal control arrived. The owner was arrested; the severely injured Pittie was placed in a shelter as evidence in the criminal proceedings against his abuser. The shelter was instrumental in helping Indy and getting him placed into Ring Dog Rescue, a nonprofit Pit Bull and bully breed rescue located in Richmond, Virginia. The chaining and beatings had left Indy partially paralyzed and incontinent, as well as shy and mistrustful of humans. To start his road to recovery, Ring Dog
Rescue contacted Katie Jones about fostering him until he was ready to be adopted. They explained that Indy was a little wobbly on his legs and might need some therapy. Katie said they would be glad to help him. When Indigo arrived, Katie says, “It was clear he was more than ‘a bit wobbly,’ and the brave Pit Bull could barely get up off the floor. He was dragging himself after a few attempts at taking steps. It also became clear that he had little control over his bowels and bladder. He had an acute urinary tract infection, a skin condition, ear infections, and a terrible cold.” Katie remembers looking at Indy and thinking, “Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?” But her apprehension disappeared as soon as Indy joined the family. Everyone fell in love with the sweet Pit Bull who peed indiscriminately and could barely walk. And when his
22 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
adoptions fell through, the Jones family was relieved. They decided they would keep Indy and show him that humans can be gentle and kind. “As a foster family, you prepare to lose your fosters to adoptions,” Katie says, “but the week we thought he was leaving, our family was a mess, which is unusual for us. When the adopters backed out, we sat down as a family and made the decision to adopt Indy and keep him forever. It was the best choice we could have made.” It soon became apparent that Indy needed help walking, so Ring Dog Rescue and Eddie’s Wheels provided him with a pet wheelchair. Through continuous physical therapy and the assistance of his wheels, Indy is a new dog who loves people and travels all over the United States as an ambassador for Pit Bulls and pets with disabilities.
AWESOME ATTITUDE
TERRIER JONES By Tamra Monahan
Photos courtesy of Indigo Jones
Katie describes a typical week for Indy and says, “Lots of walks, therapy, diaper changes (Indy wears custom-made diapers from www.seasonals.com), playtime, and baths (Indy has a chronic skin condition that he needs medicated baths for). We also go swimming and hiking as we live near a state park, and Indy has plenty of room to explore in the 4 acres of land that we live on. Food is a very important part of Indy’s life. He loves his meals and his snacks, and according to him he doesn’t get enough of them! Other family activities involve cuddling on the couch, playing tag, and watching Animal Planet on TV.” Shortly after adopting Indy, Katie started a Facebook page for their special puppy as a way to keep the dog’s rescuers apprised of his improvements and challenges. But less than three days after the Indigo Wheeled Terrier Jones page was created, Indy had over 1,000
friends, catapulting him from ordinary canine to pop-star Pittie—and his popularity continues as more friends visit him every day. With such a huge following, Katie realized she could use Indy and his Facebook page as a platform to educate people about Pit Bulls, discriminatory laws against dog breeds, and animals with disabilities. This lovable Pitty works hard to educate people about the problems of Breed Specific Legislation by demonstrating that Pit Bulls are great dogs who make wonderful family pets. Indy gets along with everyone in his family, which consists of four humans, five other Pit Bulls, one Rotweiller, and several cats. In fact, he is so sweet-natured that he shares his toys with the cats and lets them snack on his treats. His favorite activity, aside from playing fetch, is cuddling with his family—canine, feline, and human.
Indy’s gentle nature and exuberant personality, as well as his interesting legs on wheels, have made him a star and a role model for dogs with disabilities. From a life of abuse and pain to a life of love and happiness, this remarkable Pit Bull has shown the world that he is a survivor who can accomplish anything. “Indy is happy, healthy, and enjoying his life like I have never seen a dog enjoy life before,” Katie says. “He’s welladjusted, and frankly we don’t even think he realizes that he has a handicap because he enjoys his life so much.”
For more information or to contact: Visit his Website at: www.indysinjuredreserves.com Email Indy at: indythewheeledterrier@gmail.com Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/IndigoWheeledTerrierJones
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 23
THANK GOD FOR NOSY NEIGHBORS!
lily
pitBULL
ThE
photoS by alexanDra golaSZewSKa
ThE AmERicAN DOg REPORTS
REScUED By PENNSyLVANiA SPcA ANimAL cOPS whEN ThE TV ShOw ANIMAL COPS: PHILADELPHIA ShOwED UP AT hER hOUSE BEcAUSE A NEighBOR hAD cALLED AND REPORTED ThE ABUSE gOiNg ON! Alexandra Golaszewska first heard about Lily from her brother who was working on the show Animal Cops: Philadelphia. He had emailed her asking if she would be interested in fostering a dog they had just rescued filming a show. From the information gathered, Alexandra says, “Someone had called the humane law enforcement because there was a dead dog in a neighbor’s backyard (an autopsy later showed that he had died of starvation). The caller said that they had originally seen the dog alive, and there were also other pets in the house. When the Pennsylvania SPCA Animal Cops (and the TV crew) arrived, they found Lily and another dog alive in the house.” Before Alexandra chose Lily, the PSPCA had tested her with some cats to see whether they got along, and Lily did fine. “When I brought her home, she immediately befriended my cat Scout— they touched noses within an hour. I had some work to do, so I sat down at my desk, and Lily promptly curled up at
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my feet and went to sleep. It seemed that she had never been trained, because she didn’t know any commands; she had no idea what ‘sit’ meant, but she had such a great disposition,” Alexandra says. “She just loves my cat Scout. When they play, Lily tries to play like a cat— it’s really cute! Some of her other close friends are a Puggle named Molly, a Curly-Coated Retriever named Marley, and a Greyhound named Sarenka.” Alexandra explains that Lily gets to see her friends a lot because they live in a neighborhood with so many dogs, and almost all of them are walked outside of their yards. “Lily also gets invited to many dog birthday parties, and my neighbor Leslie is always giving Lily bones. She is crazy about those bones. She probably has two dozen of them by now, and she likes to have 6 or 8 out at a time. Also, tennis balls are a favorite too,” Alexandra says. Since Alexandra is a social media consultant, she saw an opportunity to
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
show the other side of Pit Bulls through a Facebook page for Lily (www.facebook.com/LilyThePitBull). “This is a place for the positive stories of Pitties that don’t make the news. Lily now has 5000+ fans, and I hear all the time from people that they used to be afraid of Pit Bulls, but they aren’t any more! The positive images they see on social media sites like Facebook has had a lot to do with changing the negative stereotype of Pits. Some of these people have since adopted Pit Bulls for themselves, or are planning to do it,” Alexandra says. Lily has passed her Canine Good Citizen test and is now certified as a therapy dog—she passed both tests on the first try! Alexandra says, “About once a month we visit a nursing home, but I’ve also taken Lily to meet students who were learning about why dog fighting is bad.”
For more information or to contact: become a fan at: www.facebook.com/lilythepitbull
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ENJOY LIFE EVERY DAY
PETEY THE ONE-EYED
The American Dog reports
In the first few days of August 2011, Petey was turned in as a stray to a Maricopa County Animal Shelter, in Arizona, and scheduled for euthanasia because of his disfigurement—his left eye was missing and his face was swollen and distorted. Luckily for Petey, his picture was taken by a group called 5AM Babies, and it was posted on Facebook with a plea asking for a rescue group to sponsor him so that he might avoid his death sentence. Shortly after Petey’s picture had circulated, an amazing group called Rockstar Rescue (www.rockstarrescueaz.org) stepped up and sponsored Petey. On August 5, they went down to the shelter and rescued this scared and shy Pittie and took him to their boarding facility so that he could be evaluated. On August 8, Petey was then taken by Rockstar Rescue to a veterinarian in the Phoenix metro area. This vet did a quick exam, gave Petey a shot, and said that there was nothing more to do for him. Clearly, this vet was disinterested in him. Rockstar Rescue said, “Petey’s visit to the vet was uneventful to say the least. No real exam or answers given. The vet says his jaw was broken at some point and has since healed misaligned, but he can eat just fine though. The eye is still in the socket, but damaged and shriveled up, and there’s no way he can see out of it. Doc thinks a bite from another dog caused the eye to be that way. No plan for surgery to rid the socket of the eye, to clean out the infection building in the socket or stitch the eye lids shut. He’s on antibiotics for now.” On August 9, when Rockstar Rescue posted the news of Petey’s veterinary visit on the Facebook wall, John Schill saw the posting and decided to call Rockstar Rescue and see whether they would be interested in speaking to another vet. The organization agreed that a second opinion would be best, so a visit was set up.
26 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
ENJOY LIFE EVERY DAY Petey now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with John and his two Rottweiler brothers. “His brother Junior, who is about the same age as Petey, is his best friend, and they are almost inseparable. It is not uncommon for Petey to whine if Junior is not around,” John says. Petey’s other brother, Rocko, is 12 years old (and went to heaven as we were going to print on this issue).
On August 11, Petey went in and met with Doctor Josh at North Scottsdale Animal Hospital. Doctor Josh spent a considerable amount of time with Petey and confirmed that he did need surgery on his left eye. Further, Doctor Josh confirmed that Petey’s jaw had been broken sometime in the past; however, the deformity would not prevent him from eating or enjoying life. Surgery was then scheduled for August 15, but $600 had to be paid in advance. Rockstar Rescue immediately stepped up and set up a chip-in for Petey. Numerous people and organizations rallied together and shared Petey’s chip-in page throughout Facebook and the Web. Within 48 hours the $600 had been raised for Petey’s surgery. However, the staff at North Scottsdale Animal Hospital did not know the goal had been met; so, on August 14, the night before the surgery, they called Rockstar Rescue and offered to pay any remaining balance out of their own pockets. On August 15, Petey had his surgery. John says, “The remains of his left eye
were removed, along with a lot of nasty infected scar tissue. They also performed a complete oral X-ray series to confirm that Petey would not have any additional jaw problems in the future.” Because John had agreed to foster him for a few days during his recovery, he picked Petey up after his surgery. As John was leaving the vet’s office, Doctor Josh pulled him aside and said, “I know you’re a Rottweiler owner, but if there was ever a dog I would recommend for you to adopt, it would be this dog Petey.” Petey then went home with John and spent the next few days recuperating at his house. Heeding Doctor Josh’s words, John began to consider adopting Petey. John had his dog trainer come to the house and evaluate how Petey and his two Rottweilers, Junior and Rocko, got along. Much to John’s surprise they all got along wonderfully. So on August 18, John informed Rockstar Rescue that he was a foster failure and he wanted to adopt this precious Pit Bull whom he now called “Petey the One-Eyed Wonder.”
Also, John says, “Once a week Petey and Junior both have instructional training from their dog trainer, Brice Cavanaugh, at Total Dog. Both dogs are being trained in the basic commands so they can be great dogs around the house, at my office or my law firm, or out in public. In addition, both dogs are being trained in agility type exercises such as climbing obstacles, walking across the top of fences, and swimming to keep them mentally challenged. Brice also takes Petey and Junior twice a week for a dog adventure. This adventure last 4–5 hours and they either go hiking up Camelback Mountain or another trail here in Phoenix, go swimming, and/or just hang out with several other dogs and have play time. This helps both dogs to improve their agility, endurance, and socialization skills.” Now that Petey has settled in and has his forever family, John says, “Petey is quite the ladies man and has several girlfriends. First, there is my sister’s Rottweiler named Joey who lives a few miles from our house. Then Petey has girlfriends named Lela and Hope, both here in Phoenix. Both of these dogs are rescues looking for their forever home. Finally, Petey has a Facebook girlfriend, Gorgeous, the ‘ittie bittie Pittie,’ who lives in New York.” Petey the One-Eyed Wonder has his own Facebook page where he works on a daily basis to help end Pit Bull discrimination, dog fighting, and finally to help other dogs find homes just as he found his. Petey has a new adopted brother now named Winston!
Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/ Petey-The-One-Eyed-Wonder
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 27
I LOVE EVERYONE!
ROCCO
photos courtesy of Valerie Wilson
THE THERAPY PIT BULL
From a shelter survivor to a certified therapy dog! Rocco is a volunteer with Pets on Wheels, and he loves the PAWS to Read program and hanging with the kids! The American Dog reports
In October of 2009, Valerie Wilson saw an urgent crossposting on Facebook for a litter of 7 terrified Pit Bull puppies on the euthanasia list. The shelter in Virginia would not allow the puppies to be placed up for adoption because they discriminated against the breed; however, they did let a rescue called All 4 the Animals pull the whole litter of pups from death row to safety. Valerie tracked down this rescue and inquired about adopting one of the puppies named Rocco, who was terrified of people. Because Rocco was a special case and Valerie was a vet tech who had experience with shy dogs, the rescue waived their policy of prohibiting out-of-state applicants and allowed Valerie to adopt Rocco! She immediately made a game plan to socialize Rocco and enrolled him in puppy classes. After months of socializing and classes, Rocco turned around for the better and even became certified as a therapy dog. Rocco is now 2 years old and volunteers with Pets on Wheels of Central
Maryland (www.petsonwheels.org). He has visited nursing homes, a college, a military base, and several libraries. Valerie says, “Rocco's main ‘job’ is the PAWS to Read program in Baltimore, where he has been volunteering for a year. Rocco goes to the library and helps the kids to read, because the dogs do not judge them if they stutter or mispronounce a word. Rocco has had kids of all reading-skill levels. The program is designed for kids 6–11. Each child picks a book then gets 15 minutes alone with Rocco to read him the story. Some kids even make a point of showing him the pictures! Rocco has had children that were afraid of dogs read to him and the parents commented that, because he is such a mellow dog, it made the child comfortable to approach him. When they learn that the first dog their fearful child is comfortable with is a Pit Bull, they are quite surprised!”
12 years old. Valerie had adopted her when Sadie was hit by a car and then abandoned at the animal hospital (where Valerie works). “Rocco and Sadie love to wrestle and do zoomies in the yard together,” Valerie says. Also, after every session at the library, Rocco gets to play with his two friends, Willow and Moose (both Yellow Labs), who also volunteer in the PAWS to Read program.
Rocco also loves to spend time with his family and play with his older sister, Sadie, who is an elderbull and almost
Become a friend of Valerie: www.facebook.com/ PitBullMamahelpsthePitBulls
28 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
“Rocco is my best friend! He is such a sweet boy who has the most soulful eyes that just seem to draw everyone in that meets him. He is proof that hard work and dedication pay off! No one would have ever imagined that the poor little frightened puppy would grow up and come out of his shell to help others and love doing it. Rocco is so happy with his life, and he couldn’t possibly be loved any more,” Valerie says. For more information: Become a fan of Rocco: www.facebook.com/ Rocco-The-Therapy-Pit-Bull
SPREADING THE PITTIE LOVE!
WILSON POTTER “Wilson is just a really wonderful dog and an amazing bully ambassador.”
By Stacey Greenwald (Wilson’s mama)
Wilson’s full name is Wilson Potter Greenwald, but most people call him Wilson Potter or Baby Wilson. I first heard of Wilson through a friend of a friend. She had posted Wilson’s picture on Facebook with a plea to help rescue him. His doggie mom had rejected him because he was the runt of the litter, so he wasn’t getting much warmth or nutrition. Because the backyard breeders didn’t think he’d make them much money, they were just going to dump him at the shelter. Luckily, a good neighbor heard what was going to
happen to Wilson and offered to take him before the family could drop him at the shelter. The instant I saw his picture on Facebook, I knew I had to help him. I picked Wilson up the day after we heard of him. He was only 5 weeks old. At first, I had no intentions to keep him permanently. I just wanted to save him and help him find a good home. Little did I know— that home was going to be with me! Since I adopted Wilson at such a young age, I have been able to be in control of
30 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
SPREADING THE PITTIE LOVE!
his training and socialization from the very beginning. From day one, Wilson went everywhere with me and was taught basic commands and manners. He is very smart and willing to please. The only thing that really frightens Wilson is loud noises, especially fireworks and thunder. We are slowly working on lessening his anxiety, but it is quite paralyzing for him. I have spent many nights up all night because he gets so scared, he visibly shakes and his heart races. Putting a t-shirt on him and giving him little massages seems to help though. He’s a tough little guy. The main reason I work hard to keep up with his Facebook page is that Wilson and I try to take every opportunity we can to educate people about BSL and what Pit Bulls and other bully breeds are really like. We have been really lucky to have gained the audience we have through his page, so I feel it’s my responsibility to use that platform to give other dogs a voice. We have come across many people who assume Wilson is mean just because of his breed. We have been told to leave parks, stay away from kids, and put a muzzle on him, for no reason. It makes me sad for him but I try to look at the positive and take every opportunity to educate people who are willing to listen. Wilson loves
to attend events where he can meet people and other dogs. He is extremely social. We attended the Pups in Pink event at a W Hotel last year, and he even wore a special pink bowtie. Currently, we try to do as much as possible with two great groups in Atlanta: Atlanta Pit Bull Parents and Atlanta Underdog Initiative. They are run by some fantastic people and help to bring awareness and education to Atlanta, where backyard breeding, animal neglect and abuse, pet overpopulation, and dog fighting are all big issues. When Wilson is not “working” he enjoys playing with other dogs every day! There are always multiple dogs at our house, and we visit other dogs too. We love it when dogs come over to play, and we even had a big party for his first birthday. There are lots of dog-friendly events in Atlanta, so we attend as many as we can. He also has a beautiful girlfriend named Gremlin (www.facebook.com/Gremlin) who is a rescue dog in Ohio. She is a former bait dog turned therapy dog and a big inspiration for Wilson. Wilson loves the dog park and used to go there a lot when he was younger. Now that he is bigger, I’ve decided it’s too risky because of how quickly blame goes towards the Pit Bull if there is ever an altercation.
Wilson has never been in a dog fight nor been at all aggressive, but it is not worth the risk of the blame falling to him if a fight breaks out near him. Once, a small dog bit him at the park and Wilson just stood there, shocked, and then went and pouted at the other end of the park. He didn’t retaliate; his feelings were just hurt. I really wish he could go to the park like any other dog, and Wilson loves it so much, but unfortunately being a Pit Bull parent means we have to take extra precautions. So, instead, I try to give Wilson as many opportunities as I can to play with his friends at home or in play dates. It’s a win/win. Wilson is just a really wonderful dog and an amazing bully ambassador. He helps show off what Pit Bulls are really like—loving, funny, smart, and tolerant. It sounds cliché, but I didn’t rescue him. He rescued me. We are very lucky he has found such a great following through his Facebook page, because it gives us a platform to help give other dogs a voice and share positive bully information. We will go anywhere to help educate and combat dog fighting, neglect, and discrimination. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/mrwilsonpotter
Photos courtesy of Stacey Greenwald
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 31
BORN TO FLY!
THE BRINDLE PIT BULL
photoS courteSy oF burt tienKen
liVes FoR disc dog comPetitions!
In October 2006, Burt Tienken and his family adopted an 8 week old puppy from the Owen County Friends of Animals at a PetSmart adoption event in Kentucky. Burt says, “She was just an 8 week old furball at the time, and we named her Belle. We really had no idea what breed of dog she was, but after having her for about a week I started to suspect she might be a Pit Bull based on the shape of her head. I took a moment to Google ‘Brindle Pit Bull puppy,’ and the photo that popped up looked exactly like our Belle!” Though Burt recalled reading the horror stories about Pit Bulls portrayed in the media, he says, “As a ‘dog person’ I didn't believe that any breed of dog was inherently bad. We took it upon ourselves to learn about the Pit Bull breed and began looking for ways to help out in presenting a positive Pit Bull image to the public.” As Belle began to grow, the Tienken family was impressed with her athletic ability. Burt explains, “Belle showed amazing speed and jumping ability. As part of our research on Pit Bulls, I came across Roo Yori’s Facebook page for his dog, Wallace the Pit Bull, and saw their accomplishments in Canine Disc.
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I contacted Roo via email and he was very gracious in giving us training advice for Belle.”
Belle and Burton have won many medals, but these have been their major accomplishments:
Shortly after Belle was healed from her spay surgery, Burt says, “My son Burton and I took her out to the park with a disc in hand and started throwing it to her. She took to it right away and it’s been her favorite pastime ever since. We entered Belle in her first competition in July 2007, and she and Burton took 3rd place in the Time Trail event. We were so proud of them both, and since that day they have competed in disc dog events in many states and have an overflowing trophy case.”
• 2011 Skyhoundz Canine Disc World Championships: Youth Freestyle - 3rd Place
Since Belle joined the family, they have become active with local rescue groups such as TPC (The Pet Castle) Animal Rescue and Bark Ark Bully Rescue. “We began fostering and rehoming Pit Bulls as well as helping with transport. Burton and Belle have worked hard to promote a positive image for the breed by performing disc demos at events like Pit Bull Awareness Day, community events, pet expos, and shelter fundraisers. One of their favorite things to do is to invite the young children in the audience to play with Belle. She loves kids and the attention,” Burt said.
• 2007 US Disc Dog Nationals Championship: Youth Toss and Fetch - National Champions
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
• 2011 Skyhoundz North Central Regional Champions: Youth Freestyle - World Qualifiers • 2011 Skyhoundz: Distance and Accuracy - World Qualifiers • 2010 Skyhoundz North Central Regional Champions: Youth Freestyle - World Qualifiers
Even though Belle spends time training every day, she plays daily with her canine siblings, Buddy (hound mix), Flash (Pit Bull), and Bailey (Corgi mix). Her best friend Karma (a Pit Bull) visits quite often. The dogs also have a favorite treat that their dad makes—homemade peanut butter biscuits! Yummy! Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/ belle-the-brindle-pit-bull
PAWS Chicago The Midwest’s largest No Kill humane organization is leading the way in transforming animal welfare. This year, PAWS Chicago will find homes for 4,400 pets through the state-of-the-art, cageless Adoption & Humane Center and sterilize more than 18,000 pets out of the Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic for free or low-cost for families who could not otherwise afford the costly procedure. PAWS Chicago receives no city, state or federal funding and is 100 percent reliant on the generosity of the community to support this life-saving work.
Please help us continue to treat homeless pets with dignity and respect by making a donation today! PAWS has become a national model for No Kill sheltering, working with many communities around the country to replicate lifesaving results.
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MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME!
HECTOR THE PIT BULL “WOOF!”
(TRANSLATION: “THE ONLY THING I FIGHT IS DISCRIMINATION!”) ~HECTOR
ThE AmERicAN DOg REPORTS
Hector has scars all down his chest, front legs, and a few on his back legs. He has a notch out of his tongue and ear, and he is missing his two left canine teeth. These are the physical signs all over his body from his previous life. Hector was one of the more than 50 Pit Bulls rescued from Michael Vick’s dog fighting operation; then he was selected along with 9 other dogs to be brought back to the San Francisco Bay area’s nonprofit Pit Bull rescue group, BAD RAP. Andrew “Roo” Yori and his wife Clara Yori had seen some of the videos and stories about the Vick dogs online that included Hector, and they decided to contact BAD RAP. Roo says, “I knew their rescue had taken some dogs that were friendly and got along with other dogs from their evaluations, so I sent them an email. I let them know my situation and said that if they had a dog that they thought would be a good fit for our home, then I would take a look and consider adopting one of the Vick dogs into our family.”
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Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME! photos courtesy of Roo Yori
When BAD RAP recommended Hector the Pit Bull for the Yori family, Roo flew out to meet Hector. “I had already been doing a lot of positive awareness with our other dog, Wallace the Pit Bull, and I wasn’t really looking to get another dog, but realized this was a unique situation that could shed a lot of light on the issues these Pit Bulls and our families face. I’ve always worked to have my dogs speak for themselves through their actions and accomplishments, so I wanted one of these dogs to have that same opportunity, especially since many people were saying that these Vick dogs didn’t deserve that chance,” Roo says. Roo says that after Hector was rescued, then adopted and given a chance at a better life, he began to shine. “Hector has since passed his AKC Canine Good Citizen test multiple times. He passed the ATTS [American Temperament Test Society, Inc.] Temperament Test and can visit hospitals, nursing homes, and libraries as a Certified Therapy Dog. Hector has also done a lot of work in elementary schools teaching children compassion toward animals and how to safely act around dogs. Hector’s therapy work also earned him a humane education award presented through the Brooklyn Law School.” Roo says that his story has been highlighted
in both local and national media outlets, including The Early Show on CBS, Fox’s Good Day New York, People Magazine, E! Entertainment News, Entertainment Weekly, and NPR’s Fresh Air. Hector loves his job as a therapy dog and he even has a nickname, Hector the Inspector. Roo explains, “His greatest joy is exploring new things. I figured that visiting new places and meeting new people would be something he would really enjoy, and if we could bring some cheer to others that can’t have a dog around all the time, then it would be a great match. Hector likes to visit nursing homes and the hospitals. I think the most memorable session was our very first hospital visit where patients were brought into a room at the same time to meet Hector. I told them Hector’s story, and they asked questions about him. However, the best thing was when they started to share stories about their own dogs. There was common ground that everybody was able to connect through, and I could tell the patients really enjoyed their time with Hector as a result.” It’s not all work for this Pit Bull since there are a total of 6 dogs in the Yori household, so Hector has plenty of siblings to play with. His favorite
snuggle brother is the little Rat Terrier mix named Scooby Snack. Roo says, “When Hector gets excited or I haven’t spent enough time with him, he’ll get the zoomies and run through the house with reckless abandon. We call it Hurricane Hector, and all the other dogs go and hide so they aren’t caught in his path. He usually ricochets off the couch and walls, so under the dining room table and chairs is usually a good spot to lay low until the zoomies pass or mom/dad step in and stop his fun. He loves to explore new things, so when we take him for a walk or run, it’s much more difficult for him to walk nicely on a leash on the way out. However, on the way back, he’s never as bad since he’s already ‘been there, done that.’” Hector the Pit Bull and his brother, Wallace the Pit Bull, travel quite a bit throughout the country and attend events to help educate people about breed specific legislation (BSL) and to dispel the stereotypes and discrimination against these family dogs. For more information please visit: www.pitbullinited.com Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/HectorThePitBull Email Hector at: pitbullunited@gmail.com
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 35
From Victim to Vicktory Dog!
HANDSOME Rescued from Michael Vick’s Notorious Bad Newz Kennels Dog Fighting Ring
photos by Aleksandra Gajdeczka
The American Dog reports
In April 2007, Handsome Dan was one of more than 50 Pit Bulls who were seized from the home of Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels and included in the 22 dogs who were granted custody to Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah. Heather Gutshall and Mark Stoutzen-berger, professional dog trainers and owners of Outbound Hounds in Providence, Rhode Island, heard that Best Friends had 22 of the Vick dogs and contacted them to see if their family would be able to help in providing one of the dogs with a good home. Heather says, “Best Friends knew all the dogs’ personalities the best, so we left the decision up to them as to which dog would be most comfortable in our busy home. We went through a 6 month screening and application process and we also worked closely with Kristi Littrel for months to match a dog with our household and lifestyle. They identified two dogs that were good candidates; Mel was their first choice for us, and Handsome Dan was our ‘backup’ dog. Then our family flew to Best Friends sanctuary to meet and spend time with the dogs. We learned that Mel was already in foster care,
so we decided to meet Handsome Dan first. One overnight visit later and we were in love!” After their visit, Best Friends dog trainer Ann Allums flew Dan to their home in Rhode Island for his 6 month foster-to-adopt process. At the end of that period, Heather says, “We officially adopted him into our family. Though he was part of our family from the first day we met him in Utah.” Dan did come with some baggage, and Heather explains, “Dan is and always will be an incredibly fearful dog. He was likely never socialized with humans as a puppy and young dog. New situations, different environments, and unfamiliar people cause Dan to panic and sometimes completely shut down. We have worked hard to help him settle into his routine. He can handle some things outside of his routine, like a car ride or a visit to the vet, but even at the vet I have to carry him in from the car. He is just too fearful to walk into a new place on his own. He takes comfort in being held closely and with soft reassurance. He is so sweet and loving so we try not to push him too far outside of his
36 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
comfort zone. When he starts to show physical signs of being panicked, such as trembling or excessive panting, we don’t push him any further.” Heather and Mark have fostered many Pit Bull dogs over the years, and they officially became a rescue (Handsome Dan’s Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs) after Handsome Dan joined their family. Handsome Dan’s Rescue focuses on dogs from extreme abuse and/or neglect, including victims of dog fighting and dogs not likely to be adopted at local shelters. Handsome Dan does have a job at home. “The ‘Danimal’ serves faithfully as nanny dog to his 18 month old human sister, Josephine,” Heather says. “He toy-tests her toys to be sure they are safe and free from small parts, guards her crib as she naps from his cozy bed located right next to hers, helps to socialize dogs in our rescue program and the dogs boarding at our place. He is my best friend, co-pilot, and space heater.” For more information please visit: www.obhounds.com Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/Handsome-Dan
THROW ME A FRISBEE!
THE DEAF PITTIE MIX The American Dog reports
Echo came into being when his mama, named Tully, was owned by a homeless man and they were living on the streets in northern California. One day her owner got arrested, and Tully was impounded and taken to the shelter. A day later, Tully delivered Echo and 6 other puppies in this high-kill shelter. The shelter staff immediately began trying to find a rescue to save them, and the Mendocino Coast Humane Society (MCHS) agreed to take the whole family. The 7 pups and their mama were placed in foster care with one of the staff members, where they remained until they were old enough to be adopted. Echo was adopted when he was about 3 months old but was quickly returned when his “disability” was discovered.
Crissy says, “It didn’t bother me that he was deaf, but at the time I was looking for an adult female dog. Meanwhile, Monica Mankinen of Daisy Davis Pit Bull Rescue had taken Echo to an adoption event at the local pet boutique, Paws for Cats & Dogs. A short time after, I was at Paws and telling Mandy, the store owner, what I was looking for—and having no luck locally—and she suggested I go meet Echo. I did, and it was love at first sight!” Crissy says that Echo was then 5 months old; she figured the puppy part was temporary, and she would easily get over the fact that he was a male dog. “Also,” she says, “his hearing impairment didn’t concern me at all since I already had a senior Pit Bull mix who had gone deaf with age, so I had some experience.”
Crissy Tadlock heard about Echo from her trainer at MCHS. He said there was a Pit Bull puppy, but he was deaf.
After Crissy adopted Echo and brought him home, she realized that Echo had a few behavioral problems. “For starters,
38 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
photos by gadaboutphotography.com
THROW ME A FRISBEE!
I can’t stop chasing things
that fly or bounce! he thought my furniture existed for his comfort. It took a little while for him to figure out that people beds are for people and dog beds are for dogs. Another thing we had to work on was his barking and yodeling. He was a noisy pup! To deal with it, I made him work for his meals. When he would bark or yodel, I would give him a sign so that I could get him to speak on command, which also allowed me to teach him quiet. He’s still noisy, but it’s greatly improved. When we meet people on the street, speak is generally one of the favorite tricks to show off in his goody bag,” Crissy says. When Echo was about a year old, Crissy joined the Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate and got Echo involved in disc competitions. So far, Echo has earned a 1st place trophy, two 2nd place trophies, one 3rd place trophy, as well as a Crowd Pleaser trophy! Echo loves his Frisbee (disc), and Crissy says, “Sometimes we’ll train a couple times in a day and sometimes we won’t play with it for days, usually depending on my schedule. Also, if we have a tournament coming up, we do not play for 3–7 days beforehand so that he’s really excited to play when it’s time to compete. I do feel that our other activities contribute to disc; we’ll work on obedience, go for walks or bike riding. Echo is a very fit and active dog, but he does enjoy sleeping.” Echo’s other priorities include playing with his best friend Rio, who is a deaf Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix and is his foster brother. The Tadlock family
fosters Rio part-time, and the two boys are inseparable. “They love each other and have such a good time together. Rio has been with Daisy Davis Pit Bull Rescue for a year now and they’ve really bonded. Echo has really been in dispensable as a teacher for Rio. I’ve considered just adopting Rio, but I want the space to be able to foster other dogs in need.” Crissy says that she’s had other foster pups come through their home as well—puppies who Echo has enjoyed having around and to whom he’s been a mentor. Echo does live with a 4-legged brother, an Australian Shepherd mix named Puck. And Echo also enjoys the visits when he gets to see his mama Tully. “She’s been with MCHS all this time, and I have volunteered to walk and train her for the past 18 months. Echo and Tully enjoy spending time together, and thankfully Tully went to her own permanent home on October 14,” Crissy says. Outside of his disc competitions, Echo has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate and has won two ‘Smartest Dog’ contests. “Echo is just an average dog who loves to eat, play, sleep, and be with his family. I want Echo to be able to show the world that a rescued dog, a deaf dog, and a Pit Bull, can be an amazing pet and a joy to have as part of the family,” Crissy says. Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/ Echo-the-Deaf-Pittie-mix
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 39
DOGS IN LOVE! RuFio is in love WitH suGaR (tHe DalMatian)
Deva playeD HaRD-to-Get, but baRon Won HeR oveR anD noW tHey aRe in love!
FRanco is in love WitH suGaR (suGaR is a veRy populaR GiRl!)
Gus anD His bFF baby oRanGe kitty sunbatHinG toGetHeR 40
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
DOGS IN LOVE! GReta (DoXie WeiGHs 19 lbs) is in love WitH HeR best FRienD sonny (WHo WeiGHs 5 lbs)!
stiMpy J (tHe cHiHuaHua) Fell HeaD oveR Heels FoR Zoey (tHe pittie)
opposites attRact! Moose is Just sMitten WitH His panDa (pittie GiRl)!
RoXy Just loves lieben, He is tHe only Male DoG sHe likes at all! The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
41
ACTION
SANTA CRUZ SPCA photoS courteSy oF Santa cruZ Spca
eXPands to a Retail mall to incRease adoPtions! By mANDi hART, DEVELOPmENT cOORDiNATOR OF ThE SANTA cRUz SPcA
On November 15, 2011, tails will be wagging as the new Santa Cruz SPCA store opens its doors inside of the Capitola Mall located in Santa Cruz County. The 5,000-square-foot retail space will be open five days a week, offering dog and cat adoptions as well as the sale of jewelry, t-shirts, greeting cards, and other SPCA merchandise. Instead of renting space to a pet store that offers puppy/kitty mill animals with thousand-dollar price tags, the Capitola Mall invited the Santa Cruz SPCA into their high-traffic shopping center and donated the store space to the nonprofit, no-kill rescue. One-day adoption events have been held at the Capitola Mall in the past, but nothing quite like this. “We feel absolutely privileged to have been given this amazing opportunity and plan to put as much effort into it as possible,” said Lisa Carter, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz SPCA. Having this opportunity to showcase adoptable animals while interacting with the public on a large scale is a wonderful and welcome change for the rescue. The current SPCA shelter is small and tucked away in an industrial area so if you’re not looking for it, you probably won’t find it. “We look forward to being more accessible to the public and for our orphaned animals
to have a greater amount of exposure. Running this store in such a well-known retail space will help us really show people who we are as an organization,” said Carter. Adoption policies and procedures will be followed as normal and the original shelter will continue to run as usual. The Santa Cruz SPCA recently purchased a plot of land for the construction of a new shelter, which is currently in the design process.
Aside from puppies, kittens, dogs and cats, visitors can also expect to see award-winning Santa Cruz photographer Portia Shao at the new store offering pet portraiture for new adopters as well as the public and their pets. One-of-a-kind, www.MyFavoriteCouture.com canine garments, made by local designer Anastasia Torres-Gil, will be on display for sale. The days of “no dogs allowed” seem to be coming to an end as retail spaces all over the nation are saying yes to
pets. It’s the decade of dog acceptance; dogs are being thought of as family members more and more and as simple pets less and less. Many indoor and outdoor malls from California and Colorado to Florida and Georgia are catching the four-legged fever as well, much to the delight of their patrons. Aside from the world of malls, it’s not uncommon to see jars of dog biscuits at the desks of bank tellers, hotels, and lunchtime cafés… it’s pawsitively a pet-idemic! With the retail store and home shelter running simultaneously, the Santa Cruz SPCA aims to greatly increase the number of adoptions they do each month and, in turn, be able to rescue more animals from high-kill shelters all over California. As pet lovers, we are excited to see the world continue to lean in the animalfriendly direction, with big business providing animal organizations and owners alike opportunities directly benefiting their pets.
For more information or to make a donation: Santa cruz Spca 2685 chanticleer ave Santa cruz, ca 95065 (831) 465-5000 www.santacruzspca.org
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
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DOGS HAVING FUN!
2011 HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST
WINNERS Petey
"pirate"
pic sent in by John Schill
p o o D
"mummy"
pic sent in by Amber Rhodes
Rufio
"scary witch"
pic sent in by Kathryn Dunlap
e b e B
"miniature horse"
pic sent in by Dianna Childers
s u g n A
"money pit"
pic sent in by Chris Cook
y e t e P
"fallen hero"
pic sent in by Cheryl Chaney
Halloween contest sponsored by Party Animal Pet Food. Each of the 6 winners received a case of their gourmet, organic canned dog food ($50 value incl s/h)! Go to www.partyanimalpetfood.com to see all their flavors or to order online 44 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
COMPASSION
VONN—
It’s a Miracle He Survived! 8–9 month old puppy—used as a bait dog—doused with lighter fluid—set on fire … and he lived!
By Chastity Rodgers (Vonn’s new mama)
This past August, two Pit Bulls, a day apart, wandered onto the property of a good Samaritan outside of College Station, Texas, looking for a drink of water from her leaky water hose. There had been a record 60+ days of over 100°F scorching temperatures. The female, believed to be Vonn’s mother, had burns on about 20% of her body, a broken pelvis, and multiple bites, scratches, and wounds. The nice lady took “Esparanza” to her local vet who agreed to care for her.
The following day, on her way home (in the country) she came across a second younger Pit Bull, about 8–9 months old, with burns covering 60% of his body. His ears had been cut to his head with a sharp object and then sewn with thread, and he had burns around his eyes and on the small parts of what were left of his ears. “Vonn” gladly got into her car, wagged his tail and went with her back to her local vet’s office. Because they were caring for the first Pit Bull, they called in the critical care team at The Teaching
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Hospital at Texas A&M University to assess whether they could provide the acute care this pup Vonn was going to need with a burn of this magnitude. Infections were a huge concern. It was believed that both dogs were used as bait dogs with all the wounds on their bodies, and it was determined that Vonn had probably been doused with lighter fluid and set on fire. The burns to his head and eyes were likely due to his trying to bite at the flames.
COMPASSION After meeting the little guy and seeing his strength, enthusiasm, and will to live, the staff knew they had no choice but to try and save him. They looked to the Development Office to help raise funds for the expensive care Vonn was going to require. That’s where I came in as the fundraiser for the College of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences. I worked with our media relations people to develop a website to report on Vonn’s progress and also to collect donations from all the people who were rooting for his recovery. The community really came together, and we raised over $10,000 for his care and completely covered the vet bills. Vonn was so grateful and appreciative of the care and love he was receiving, and he really inspired me! I started visiting him daily and talked to the lead doctor about the possibility of adopting him and making Vonn a part of my family. I knew there was going to be a lot of interest in adopting him as the story has made the local TV news and newspapers. But they chose me! I had worked for the HSUS previously, so I was very familiar with the atrocities Pit Bulls face in the dog fighting world, and it was apparent that little Vonn (a name, chosen by one of our doctors, which
is Viking for “Warrior”) and Esperanza had fallen victim to such a fate. At the time, I was going through a yearand-a-half-long divorce. I had just lost my last dog (Tahoe, a Great Dane) in March of 2010 suddenly to stomach bloat while I was dealing with the divorce and a job change. I was having a tough time, and here was this little guy who had barely been in this world for 9 months and he was happy—really happy—to be alive and to have people around him. After everything he had been dealt, he still believed in people. I thought about that almost daily as I was spreading the word about his story and pulling for him. He needed me, and frankly, I needed him. While Vonn recovered, he was tested for aggression by one of the college’s experts, and he showed no aggression or fear to anything. He is fearless except for when a towel soaked in lighter fluid was placed in front of him, then he shied away and tried to hide. He is great with other dogs, including his new brother, a Great Dane rescue, Keightley! He likes small dogs and kids too. A typical day for Vonn and Keightley consists of getting up in the mornings and playing in the backyard while I get ready for work, then they come in and have breakfast. They nap until lunch and wait for their walks in the evenings or to have play dates with some of my friends’ dogs. I recently started running, and I plan to take Vonn when he is feeling up to it. We are going to be running buddies, since that type of thing really doesn’t work for Great Danes! They love to ride in my 4-Runner and go almost everywhere with me on the weekends. Vonn stays by my side, and he has to wear clothes to protect his skin. He also joins me at work now and again and regularly visits all his buddies at the Teaching Hospital. Vonn is an extraordinary example of the Pit Bull breed. He is loyal. He is happy. He wants to please. He is goofy. He is good. He is determined. He reminds me every day that my job is important and meaningful. He is as tough as nails. He is resilient—and I am in awe.
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DEDICATION
ANIMAL FARM FOUNDATION
Securing Equal Treatment and Opportunity for “Pit Bull” Dogs photos courtesy of Animal Farm Foundation
The American Dog reports
Every so often, a dog comes along who manages to find her way into the heart of just the right person. A “Pit Bull” dog named Petal did just that. Left abandoned at the city animal shelter, Petal lost hope until she found Jane Berkey and became the inspiration for Animal Farm Foundation (AFF). When AFF was founded in the 1980s, the mission was to restore the image of the American Pit Bull Terrier and protect them from discrimination and cruelty. But in 2011, Animal Farm Foundation changed its mission statement; it now reads, “Securing equal treatment and opportunity for ‘pit bull’ dogs.” “Over time, we realized that the dogs we were helping—and the dogs being discriminated against—were not necessarily purebred American Pit Bull Terriers, but dogs that people called ‘Pit Bulls,’” said Jane Berkey, the founder and president of Animal Farm Foundation. “As time evolved, we came to understand that ‘Pit Bull’ is not a breed or a breed mix, but an ever expanding group that includes whatever an animal control officer, shelter worker, dog trainer, politician, dog owner, police officer, or newspaper says it is.” Fortunately for dogs, Animal Farm Foundation has expanded its resources to support not only American Pit Bull Terriers but all dogs labeled as ‘Pit Bulls.’ “Whether a dog is discriminated against because of his appearance, a breed label, or a stereotype, or because of a DNA test, a pedigree paper, or the human crimes committed against him,
we know that every dog deserves to be viewed as an individual,” says Kim Wolf, Community Engagement Specialist for AFF. “Our goal is to give the underdog a level playing field, the same chance that every dog deserves.” AFF also operates a shelter in upstate New York that rescues and rehomes dogs labeled as “Pit Bulls.” Although AFF is located in a remote, rural location, Kim notes that AFF adopts out nearly 100 dogs a year.
But AFF continues to focus on the big picture. “Instead of taking in more dogs or building more shelters, we need to change the way society views companion animals. Animal Farm Foundation is committed to empowering shelters, rescues, and adopters to recognize the individuality of every dog—from a purebred Pug to a shelter dog labeled as a ‘Pit Bull’ mix. We can affect the most change when we work with the communities themselves, which is why we’re rarely in the office,” Kim explains.
48 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
To achieve this goal, AFF awards grants and operational/educational support to organizations across the United States that share this goal, from volunteerbased rescue groups to national animal welfare organizations. Opportunities range from marketing support to reimbursement for spay/neuter surgeries to programmatic funding. Prospective grantees are also encouraged to submit custom proposals for projects that assimilate “Pit Bull” dogs into the circle of compassion, particularly those that focus on the individual dog rather than the label assigned to him. “There is nothing unique about dogs labeled as ‘Pit Bulls,’ they’re just the ones who need our help right now,” Kim says. “People sometimes ask me if I’m putting myself out of a job by advocating on behalf of ‘Pit Bull’ dogs. The bad news is that history has shown that a segment of the canine population—from Bloodhounds to Dobermans to German Shepherds and even Chihuahuas—can be targeted over time. The good news is that Animal Farm Foundation will be there to ensure that each individual dog gets his fair chance, free of prejudice and hype. I’m proud to be part of such a progressive, common sense movement!”
For more information on funding opportunities or to contact: Visit the Website at: www.animalfarmfoundation.org Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/animalfarmfoundation Email: info@animalfarmfoundation.org
maddie
biscuit
remi
MINDY MAE
neptune
gwen
paddy
ROCCO
zeke
butters
buddy
dolly
riley
reecy cup
juno
milly
MOTIVATE
EVIE SUE the LITTER DOG
“Three a day—the EVIE way!” By Susan Harp (Evie’s mama)
Evie, a 5 year old yellow Labrador Retriever, is the real character from her book, Retrieving With EVIE. After I wrote the book, which promotes anti-littering, Evie became the mascot for Keep Evansville Beautiful in 2007. In the book, Evie goes around the city trying to pick up all the litter but finds that it is more than she can retrieve alone. She knows she needs help from her friends. EVIE’s name is an acronym for “Every Volunteer Is Essential” (to keep Earth beautiful). Evie is an Honorary Vanderburgh County Deputy Sheriff and has visited with over 15,000 children in our community and surrounding communities here in Indiana. She has also shared her adventures with Keep America Beautiful affiliates from hundreds of cities all over the United States. Her Litter Prevention program has won first place in the nation twice from
Keep America Beautiful. Evie loved showing off her skills in Washington, D.C. Then in 2010, her Web game, created by WNIN station and made for PBS KIDS GO!, won another first place in the nation at Keep America Beautiful’s national conference in Orlando, Florida. This Web game is available to all PBS stations across the United States, and you can play her game at: www.wnin.org/kids. Evie has changed the way children and their families react towards litter that is visible in all communities. She visits area classrooms and other community events to promote anti-litter with the help of the Keep Evansville Beautiful staff and her human dad. Sometimes, I’m able to go with them when I’m not teaching my Kindergarten class. The visits include reading Evie’s book, viewing her DVD from WNIN about litter, singing Evie’s litter song,
52 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
taking Evie’s pledge, and watching Evie demonstrate how to retrieve litter. Evie’s program focuses on how to reduce, reuse, and recycle in order to rid the earth of litter. For the kids and Evie, the best part of the visits is when Evie leaves the room and the staff hides litter, then Evie retrieves it—showing the kids how easy it is to do! Evie is a natural when she races around classrooms picking up three pieces of litter. Her human volunteers tell the children that if everyone would pick up three pieces of litter, the earth would be so much cleaner. Her bookmarks bear the message, “Three a day—the EVIE way!” She also gives out litter bags on her visits. Evie does all of this as a volunteer. The impact she has made is awesome. Children pick up litter because Evie wants them to help. Evie stays busy with her classroom visits and is booked a year in advance
MOTIVATE
photos courtesy of Susan Harp
for all types of community events. She has been able to accomplish more than we humans could ever expect in our efforts to get rid of litter and trash. Keep Sevier Beautiful, located in the heart of the Tennessee Smokey Mountains has just recently shared Evie’s book with 65 classrooms in their community this past summer, leaving an autographed book in each room. Evie was also the featured “star” at Dollywood Theme Park and Dollywood Splash Country this past July at their Kidsfest Eco Awareness Event. She has been honored by USA Today as one of the five dogs nominated for their Hero of the Year in 2010. That was how Evie met Surf Dog Ricochet and became Facebook friends with Ricochet’s family. She has also been honored by the Red Cross as a hero and recognized by the Governor of Indiana and by the state legislators for her efforts, and she has received other special local awards and national recognition. When Evie isn’t promoting her antilitter message, she is busy on Facebook trying to help homeless or lost dogs find homes. Recently, Evie and I decided to work on getting oxygen masks for all the fire stations in our community. Evie became friends with Emma Zen (www. facebook.com/EmmaZenFoundation) of Team O2, which raises funds for pet oxygen masks and then donates them to fire depts. Evie was amazed to hear that most community fire departments don’t have oxygen masks specifically for animals; now Evie is currently working with Emma Zen and will be raising money to provide 24 stations in her community with pet oxygen masks.
Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/EvieSue
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DEVOTION
photoS by Flyin Fur Pet Photography
DOLLY’S FOUNDATION ROCKS!
Rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome homeless, neglected, and abused American Pit Bull Terriers and other bully breed dogs! By Erica Daniel (Dolly’s mom), Founder/President of Dolly’s Foundation
I started Dolly’s Foundation 11 short months ago and named it after Dolly, my dog who was rescued from an abusive past. I was tired of seeing the amazing breed I know and love being euthanized for nothing more than being born with a muscular body, block head, and that big Pit Bull smile that brings joy to my heart every time I see it. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome homeless, neglected, and abused American Pit Bull Terriers and other bully breed dogs. We also preserve, promote, and bring positive awareness to the breed and the negative stereotype bestowed upon them. And boy do we have fun doing it! To date, Dolly’s Foundation has taken in about 30 Pit Bull-type dogs who had found themselves in local shelters and were standing on their last leg. Our focus is not quantity, but more quality; we do our best to find wonderful possible matches for each individual dog, so that he or she is set for life.
We also offer a free spay and neuter program for low-income families with Pit Bull-type dogs in the central Florida area, as well as host educational events to promote adoptions and awareness for our dogs. Our most memorable and recognized rescue dog is Harper, the puppy with swimmer puppy syndrome that was rescued from a garbage bag. Harper landed our organization national recognition from groups like the TODAY Show, New York Live, People.com, AOL.com, and many other national and even international news stations. Harper had such an effect on the public that we were given the opportunity to meet an amazing little girl, from Texas, by the name of Harper who has similar physical symptoms as our puppy, Harper. The baby, Harper Howard, has a rare disorder called CDKL5 (www. hope4harper.com) causing her to have frequent seizures, and severe mental and physical developmental impairment.
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In October, the Howard family flew to Orlando so we could introduce the two Harpers, both having unique and oddly similar struggles. While Harper’s mom Penny and I were chatting away about our babies, baby Harper cracked a smile for the first time in weeks. We feel so fortunate to have been able to share that moment with the Howard family and look forward to hopefully spending many more. One of our goals for 2012 is to host an event for Harper Howard and help raise money to find a cure for her frequent seizures and for, maybe one day, CDKL5. Stay tuned into Dolly’s Foundation on Facebook to find out more about Hope4Harper, Dolly’s Foundation, and the amazing, big plans we have for our future!
For more information or to make a donation: Become a fan: www.facebook.com/DollysFoundation Visit the Website: www.dollysfoundation.org Email: erica@dollysfoundation.org
INSPIRE
DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER
photos courtesy of Argo Films
ALLISON ARGO PRODUCER/ DIRECTOR/ WRITER/ EDITOR The American Dog reports
t what age did you A decide you wanted to make documentary films that inspire understanding and compassion for animals? I’ve always loved animals and cared about their wellbeing. As a child we always had a dog and at least one cat, but I was raised in the theater and I went down that road professionally as soon as I got out of school. I did plays on Broadway and television. But it wasn’t until I encountered a gorilla named Ivan who was living in a shopping mall in Washington State that I decided I had to make a film about Ivan and other gorillas in captivity. Reports were
coming in from Dr. Dian Fossey, who was studying gorillas in the wild, and we were finally beginning to understand how they live and what they need to flourish. When I met Ivan, I was shocked to see that a gorilla in this day and age would be kept in isolation. He hadn’t seen the sky or grass in over 30 years and hadn’t seen another gorilla for almost as long. That’s when I decided to make the film, The Urban Gorilla. How did you get started in film? Did you go to school or have a mentor? When I made The Urban Gorilla I knew nothing about making films, only
56 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
what I had osmosed working as an actor on film sets. It took me almost 3 years to make my first film because I was learning as I went. Thank God for a handful of supportive friends in the industry. My greatest asset was being a good storyteller and being extremely passionate about the subject matter. My husband at the time was a wonderful cinematographer, and our best friend was a soundman so I was lucky to have a top-notch crew. I wound up directing, editing, writing, and producing the film myself because I didn’t have the money to pay professionals. I figured the 3 years of making The Urban Gorilla was basically like going to film school— the film was my teacher.
INSPIRE
What was your inspiration to produce The Urban Gorilla, and where did you film it? Ivan the gorilla and the work that Dr. Dian Fossey was doing in the mountain forests of Rwanda inspired me. We filmed in Brazzaville (Congo), the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ohio, Washington State, Alabama, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Atlanta, Georgia. We filmed in locations as varied as an orphanage in the Congo to a shopping mall to a number of zoos. I wanted to give a really thorough overview of the living conditions captive gorillas were living in at the time. ow long did it take H to complete the film, and did you spend time with the gorillas? It took 3 years to complete the film. Yes, I spent more than 2 glorious years with the gorillas. I still dream about them sometimes. I really think gorillas have in common our best qualities. They’re extraordinarily calm and gentle and kind to one another, nurturing to their young and incredibly sensitive. One of the most profound experiences of my life was finally seeing wild gorillas in Africa, years after the film was completed. To see the family grooming and foraging together so peacefully was beautiful, but the most moving thing was when the silverback stood up and led the troop away into the forest. There were no
bars, no cages, and they could exercise their own free will. It made me weep. How many countries have you been to filming your movies? I’ve been to Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Belize, Panama, coast to coast in the US, Canada, throughout Europe, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Congo (East and West Africa), Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. What is your most memorable experience with an animal in one of your films? It would be impossible for me to narrow it down to one. Holding orphaned baby gorillas, grooming my dear friend Pepper (a chimpanzee), spending time with Pang Dao the elephant. The most dramatic and deeply moving experience was witnessing the reunion between Shirley and Jenny at The Elephant Sanctuary. I think I’m a different person as a result of that. How many total films have you produced/made and what are your plans for 2012? I’ve made about 20 films. I’m completely immersed now in a film called The Story of Dao, which is a dramatic feature I’m independently producing that follows an elephant through 50 years of her life in Asia. Readers can learn more about the film on my website at www.argofilms.com.
What awards have your films won and have your films been on TV? Our films have been broadcast multiple times on National Geographic and PBS. Argo Films is also dedicated to producing television programming that makes a difference. Our films have won six National Emmys (12 nominations), a duPont-Columbia Silver Baton Award for journalism, multiple Genesis Awards, CINE Golden Eagles, Missoula, Christopher, USA, Jackson Hole, and countless international awards from New Zealand to Japan. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to do what I do, to have the opportunity to make the films that I make and to experience other species in the intimate way that I’m allowed to. Of course with that privilege comes a huge responsibility to bring their stories to the public and to raise awareness. I feel that I’m a bridge between these beings, who don’t speak our language, and the human audience. I often get frustrated that I cant do more but if I can help foster compassion even in the smallest way, that’s at least something.
For more information or to contact: Visit: www.argofilms.com Email: argofilms@gmail.com Become a friend: www.facebook.com/argofilms
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 57
Biovet Testimonials Kaya, a 13-year-old Husky-Lab mix. She had severe hip and arthritis pain in her hind legs. Four days after taking the Biovet Antioxidant Pet Wafer, her pain subsided. After just seven days, she is able to walk normally. Thank you Biovet! - S. Lamb Hopi, a 15-year-old yellow lab. She had lost her strength in her hind legs. Thanks to Biovet Pet Wafer, her quality of life has improved. She is back to chasing cats again. - D. Durazo The Biovet Pet Wafer has brought back the sparkle in my dogs’ eyes. Their coats are soft and silky again, thanks to Biovet. The best part is that they look forward to their daily “treat.” They love the taste. - T. Costa Riley is half bull mastiff and half lab. He has Lymphoma, and the Chemo has made his hind legs weak and wobbly. Thanks to Biovet Dismutase, he is improving. Thank you, Biovet. - E. Cushing A 10-year-old Border Collie Mix could not stand on his hind legs. The right leg had atrophied and he could not put weight on it for two years. Thanks to Dismutase, in two days he was walking. In just one week, he was putting weight on the leg he had not used in two years. - M. Mitchell Sylvie, a long-haired miniature Dachshund, had become paralyzed in her back legs. Thirteen months after surgery and twice-daily doses of Dismutase, Sylvie walked again! Thank you, Biovet. - M. Fisher
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FAMOUS DOGS
With Friends
"McGRADY THE FABULOUS DEAF DOG"
"YOSHI THE ONE-EARED WONDER"
"NOODLE THE DISABLED DACHSHUND"
"NICO SWANGARRIS"
"FIFTY THE 2-LEGGED PIT BULL"
"CLOVERTON THE DEAF DOG"
"SNOCO"
"NUGGET THE GOLDEN PITTIE"
"BORIAS THE HEART DOG"
60 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
FAMOUS DOGS
oN Facebook!
"BUDDY'S BE THE DOG LIFE"
"SPIKE TAYLOR"
"EMMITT'S PLACE"
"ARCHIE-DEAF BOXER PUPPY"
"Mack the Pit Bull"
"ROXSTAR THE RESCUE DOG"
"KOKO -THE SOCK CHEWER"
"CHOPPER THE BIKER DOG"
"SURF DOG RICOCHET"
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 61
FAMOUS DOGS
With Friends
"AMY ROSITA GILBERT-HIGGINS"
"GET HAPPY WITH GUS"
"LOVE AND LIGHT FROM RILEY BRAVE"
"FOR LOVE OF BENTLEY"
"SERGEANT SNEEZY"
"DIXIE MAE POOPSALOT"
"JUNO THE PIT BULL GODDESS"
"BAILEYS and JACK DANIELS"
"BAILEYS and JACK DANIELS"
62 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
FAMOUS DOGS
oN Facebook!
"JACKTHEDOG"
"FRANKIE, I'M A LOVER NOT A FIGHTER"
"BILLIE VALENTINE"
"ECCO D'ORO"
"DOZER THE THERAPY DOG"
"GINGER GIRL"
"LOUIE THE LOVE MUFFIN"
"JAKE & GORDY'S THORN PATCH"
"MARVIN THE PIT BULL"
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 63
64
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
organicdogsandcats.com
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 65
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FITNESS
WALKING OR RUNNING
IN THE SNOW! In the wintertime your dog still needs to exercise, even if there is a lot of snow on the ground and the temperature is a bit chilly! Smaller dogs will probably need to wear a sweater and booties to keep warm, but it seems most of the larger breed dogs love the cold weather and just want to play in the snow. So take a nice long walk and enjoy the crisp, fresh air, or if you and your dog are feeling frisky, then enjoy a rigorous jog through the snow. Also, don't forget to pick up a few sticks and play a game of fetch with your Fido!
68 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
Don’t Miss A Single Issue! Don’t miss a single issue of this regional magazine for Maryland and Virginia dog-lovers! Get the convenience of having The Virginia-Maryland Dog magazine delivered directly to your home or office—a hot, off-the-press subscription is only a click or call away!
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EXPLORE
YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Because some of the best things in life are free!
Lacey & luke
Bellah
hans
Natalie
dean
70 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
EXPLORE
DOGS love to play in DIRT, MUD, and with STICKS!
Get out there and have fun!
libby
petya's Dog
PERI & MATILDA
petey
rocko The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 71
ENTERTAINMENT
movie night
What better way to enjoy the weekend with the family than to rent a "Dog" movie, make some buttery popcorn, and have everyone, including the dogs, snuggle together on the sofa with blankies to watch the movie!
BEETHOVEN
BEST IN SHOW
GARFIELD
GOLDEN CHRISTMAS 2 THE SECOND TAIL
MONSTER MUTT
CHRISTMAS VACATION 2 DVD photos by Jamie M Downey
72 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
RELAX
DOG PARENTs NEED TO CHILL OUT TOO! Take time out of your busy week to relax and spend an evening with a really good book, a nice bottle (or two!) of wine, and lots of delicious, decadent chocolate!
photos by Jamie m Downey
The American Dog Magazine | Fall 2011 73
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Visit us at: www.theamericandogmag.com 74
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
DOG CULTURE
Meet 3 inDepenDent FilMMakeRs anD tHeiR DocuMentaRy FilMs! Brandon Bond Jeff Theman Roo Yori
"GUILTY 'TIL PROVEN INNOCENT" www.gtpiFilm.com www.FacebooK.com/guiltytilproVeninnocent www.FacebooK.com/preSton.aKa.pig
"wALLACE: THE RISE OF AN UNDERDOG" www.wallacethepitbull.com www.FacebooK.com/wallacethepitbull
"VICKTORY TO THE UNDERDOG" www.VicKDogmoVie.com www.FacebooK.com/VicKtory-to-the-unDerDog
tHey Hope to: RAISE AWARENESS Of ThE BSL ISSUES
76
EdUCATE PEOPLE ANd COMMUNITIES ABOUT ThE BREEd
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
TO BRING ABOUT ChANGE fOR ThE BETTERMENT Of PIT BULLS ANd SAvE LIvES!
"Overall, this is the best dog training video I've seen. Yes, better than the Monks of New Skete, or any pop culture TV show on Animal Planet. These folks really care and are sincere about helping people create a true and long lasting relationship with their dogs. Highly recommended to all dog owners!" ~Amazon review
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 77
WORKING DOGS
b y Tam ra Monahan
Freedom Service Dogs
rescues dogs from shelters
photos by Tamra Monahan
and transforms them into service dogs who save lives!
Kathlee n Fiese lm an’s s erv i ce do g To by, a Golden Retrie ver, s t ay s by her s i de duri ng a fu ndra ising e vent fo r F reedo m S erv i ce Do g s .
Ten years ago, Kathleen Fieselman’s life was a nightmare. The debilitating effects of muscular dystrophy confined her to a wheelchair and compromised her ability to breathe. As a result, she lost her business, her home, and her dreams. Life had become a series of pointless days with no future, until a chance meeting took her from hopeless to hopeful. At a restaurant, she saw a service dog in training and talked to the owner about having a service dog for herself. By the end of the conversation, Kathleen had discovered a ray of hope and a chance at a better life. She contacted Freedom Service Dogs in Englewood, Colorado, and after an application process, Kathleen was paired with her first service dog, a black Labrador Retriever named Blu. A few years ago, Blu had to retire due to illness. But he helped train Kathleen’s second, and current, service dog, a Golden Retriever named Toby. Kathleen credits her service dogs with saving her life, and she appreciates their amazing talents and unconditional love every day.
A f t e r p i c k i n g u p h e r w a l l e t f rom t h e f l o o r, Ka t h l e e n Fi e s e l m a n ’s s e r v i c e d og To b y a n d g e n t l y h a n d s i t t o h e r.
“Having service dogs gave me a life,” she says. “Ten years ago, I was very depressed and thought my life was over. I was scared to go anywhere, but having a service dog gave me my confidence back. Before I just struggled along, but Toby and Blu taught me there is life after a disability.” Service dogs help the impossible become possible for people with disabilities. These highly trained dogs increase the independence of their human partners by helping them perform a multitude of tasks, such as getting in and out of a wheelchair, picking up items from the floor, turning on light switches, pushing elevator buttons, and retrieving items out of cupboards and refrigerators. Only the best of the best can become a service dog, but Freedom Service Dogs (FSD) does not use breeders for their specialized canines. This organization is committed to saving dogs who have been thrown away by society. According to Executive Director Sharan Wilson, the dogs are chosen from shelters or
78 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
rescue programs, but the selection process is extremely specific. Not all pound puppies can make the grade for service dogs: they must be one to two years old, weigh 50 to 90 pounds, and have a very mellow temperament with a high ability to focus for long periods of time. If a dog is chosen but doesn’t make it through the program, he is adopted out, not returned to the shelter or rescue organization. “The well-being of humans and dogs is our highest priority,” Sharan says. “Not only are our deepest resources poured into creating a symbiotic relationship between a person in need and a rescued dog, we also protect the dogs that are ultimately not trained as service dogs. Every dog that comes to us is given a new home. They are never returned to shelters.” Transforming a rescued dog into a service dog takes time and money. FSD spends one year and $20,000 to $25,000 rehabilitating and training each dog. However, disabled people who are
WORKING DOGS accepted into the program pay nothing for their service dogs. Training and veterinary expenses are provided by FSD, and only the cost of owning and maintaining the dog is passed on to each client. The reason for FSD’s generosity is simple: everyone with a disability should have the chance to improve his or her life through the talents of a service dog. “We believe the gift of freedom should come without increased financial pressure,” Sharan says. “Most disabled people cannot afford the thousands of dollars a service dog costs. It is an integral part of our mission to place our life-changing dogs at no charge to our clients.” Service dogs not only change the lives of their owners, they sometimes save their lives as well. Barry Ashworth owes his life to his loyal service dog Libby, a Labrador Retriever who never left his side during his fight to stay alive. Barry, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, fell in his bathtub and was unable to lift himself out. Alone and weakened by
the fall, he was trapped in the tub for six days with no food and little water. While he lay in pain, not knowing if he was going to live or die, Libby stayed with him. She brought him the phone, although it was not charged enough for a call; she kept his spirits up by romping around the room, making what he called "snooty" faces at him; and she licked his cheek to bring him back to reality when he drifted into unconsciousness. “She wanted me to stay alert, so she kept doing things to make me laugh,” he says. “Libby stayed with me the whole time, and I never would have made it without her. I wasn't so much worried about me, but I was very, very worried about Libby.” In fact, Barry’s first thought after falling was to find a way to flush the toilet and teach Libby how to drink from it so that she would have water. After this was accomplished, he worked on saving himself, but with each passing day, his strength slowly faded. Finally,
he resigned himself to the reality that he was going to die. But his last thoughts were not about his life or what might have been—they were focused on his best friend and companion, because he didn’t want her to suffer. “I thought to myself, okay that’s it for me, but I have a cane and I’ll keep trying to flush the toilet for Libby,” he says. “The last thing I do will be for her, and she’ll stay alive.” Although death seemed imminent, Barry was saved by an Access-A-Ride bus driver who heard Libby howling and barking. Sensing something was wrong, the driver went inside and followed the dog to the bathtub where Barry was clinging to life. Through her loyalty and compassion, this heroic black Lab exemplifies what it means to be a service dog: to love, serve, and protect.
For more information: Visit: www.freedomservicedogs.org Become a fan on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/FreedomServiceDogs
E l s a, a one - yea r-o l d Labr ado r Ret r i ev er, o pen s a refrige ra tor door fo r Br i Bo v e.
Bri Bove watches as service dog Elsa, a Labrador Retriever, searches for clothes to take out of the dryer.
A s a servic e dog, E l s a i s t rai ned t o ret ri ev e i t e m s , such a s this bott l e o f w at er, fro m t he refri g er a t or an d hand them to her handi capped part ner.
Se r v i c e d o g s , l i k e El s a , a re t r a i n e d t o o p e n c u p b oa rd s , re f r i ge r a t o r s , d r a w e r s , a n d d r y e rs t o re t r i e v e i t e m s f o r t h e i r h a n d i c a p p e d p a r t n e r s.
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 79
DR’S CORNER
Mushroom T o x icit y By Shannon M. Jordan, DVM, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
Of all potential problems pet owners anticipate their pets to encounter, the ingestion of wild mushrooms probably wouldn’t rate very high on most lists. However, wild mushrooms can be a really big problem for anyone who eats them—including the family dog. Mushrooms sprout seemingly overnight, and many are harmless; but some, like Amanita phalloides, are deadly. The true incidence of toxic mushroom ingestion in dogs is unknown. If no one sees the dog eat mushrooms, it may not be suspected until it is too late. There are several symptoms of mushroom toxicity. Depending on the type of mushroom and the amount ingested, the severity can range from mild gastrointestinal upset (e.g., vomiting and diarrhea) to death. There are about 6000 known mushrooms. Only about 60 are poisonous and potentially deadly. Several hundred more can cause mild to severe physical distress. There are eight categories of poisonous mushrooms, and they are categorized based on their toxins and the effects of the toxins. Some are so dangerous they only have to be touched to be harmful.
photo courtesy of Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital
For more information please visit: www.wheatridgeanimal.com
The symptoms of mushroom toxicity in a dog can occur within several minutes to several hours following ingestion. The signs include vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, loss of coordination, decreased appetite, increased thirst, abdominal pain, nausea, salivation, lethargy, seizures, and coma. Some symptoms associated with mushroom toxicity are only seen later when liver and kidney damage occur. Your veterinarian will typically evaluate liver and kidney values at the time of ingestion and then continue to monitor every 24–48 hours
80 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
as needed. You should inform your veterinarian if you observe any abnormal signs in your dog. If you suspect your dog has ingested mushrooms and he is showing any signs of poisoning, get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Treatment depends on the type of mushroom—if it can be identified. Unfortunately, there is no specific test for mushrooms. If you think your dog may have consumed mushrooms, try to get a sample of the mushroom to help aid in identification. Place any available material in a paper bag or waxed paper. Do not use a plastic bag and do not refrigerate it until it can be examined. Assume all mushrooms are poisonous. Treatment includes making your dog vomit, administering activated charcoal to help absorb the toxins, giving IV fluids to help flush the toxins from the body, managing seizures or tremors, and treating kidney or liver damage if necessary. With treatment, the overall prognosis is typically good, especially if stomach decontamination (e.g., vomit inducement and stomach washing) is initiated hours within ingestion. It ultimately depends on the amount of mushrooms ingested and the toxicity of the mushroom. There is no adequate homecare for poisonous mushroom ingestion. If you suspect your dog has eaten a dangerous mushroom, contact your veterinarian immediately. The best way to prevent ingestion of poisonous mushrooms is to keep your dog away from mushrooms. Periodically check your yard and remove any mushrooms and do not allow your dog to roam the neighborhood, woods, or hiking trail unattended.
NUTRITION
IN
THE
DOG'S
KITCHEN
Jamie M Downey, Publisher of The American Dog Magazine, enjoys cooking for her dogs and she wanted to share a few of the delicious meals she prepares in the kitchen for her ravenous canine kids! Labs love to chow down, and then eat some more, and her dogs' favorite room is the kitchen! We hope you enjoy these three dishes featured with fruit and vegetables that you can incorporate into your dog's favorite dry food! A little variety is the spice of life and your dog will appreciate your efforts to add some new flavors to their meal!
82 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
photos by Jamie M Downey
DEVOUR
photos by Jamie M Downey
BISON WITH SAUTEED VEGGIES Dice potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and bell peppers together in a sauce pan with olive oil and cook over medium heat. Steam spinach in a separate pan. In a third pan brown the ground bison till cooked thoroughly. Then mix the veggies and bison together and add to your dog’s favorite kibble. For smaller dogs slice up the vegetables into really small pieces or mash then add to kibble.
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 83
SAVOR
photo by Jamie m Downey
STEAK WITH BROWN RICE, SPINACH & BERRIES This is a quick and easy meal that your dog will love. Cook the brown rice, steam the spinach, and grill the steak. Then garnish with fresh blueberries and raspberries and add in your dog’s favorite kibble. Of course, you will want to cut the steak into bite-size pieces for your dog.
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Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
INHALE photo by Jamie m Downey
POT ROAST WITH FRESH CARROTS, BABY POTATOES & GREEN BEANS Best way to cook a pot roast is in the crock pot on the “low” setting for 12 hours! Get up early in the morning and it just takes a few minutes to get this meal ready. Pour a cup of water or broth in the crock pot, then add a good size pot roast. Put your fresh carrots, baby potatoes, and green beans on top and let simmer for 11-12 hours. Dinner for the pups will be ready when you get home from work. Just slice up the veggies and roast into small bite-size pieces and add some kibble. The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011
85
$11.95 for one tag and $20.00 for 2 plus $2.00 shipping
NATURAL HEALTH with Dr. Elliott Harvey
Is it a TREAT or is it TRASH? Treats are important in the lives of your dogs and cats. What is life without a treat? Be honest—how many of us can go through a day without giving ourselves some little tidbit as an emotional reward, to satisfy a craving, to increase energy? Though you can control when and what you consume as a treat, your pets are totally dependent on you and your knowledge of treat quantity and quality. Pet treats are valuable tools in training, because they serve as positive reinforcement, by using tiny treats as surprise rewards for jobs well done. How about
a little snack or after-dinner “dessert?" Treats do have many uses, which is why the dog and cat treat companies constitute a multi-billion dollar annual business. But, can pet treats actually be causing health problems that you’re not aware of?
in a glitzy package. The leading brands of pet treats sell on creative marketing, bag graphics, brand identity, or attractive pricing. Are they worth the price? NO. The sharp rise in pet illnesses may be attributed to tasty morsels that contain unhealthy ingredients.
From big box stores to pet boutiques to retail stores, “delicious,” “mouth-watering,” “paw-licking” treats are marketed and aimed at enticing you. Your dog is attracted to the scent and taste of a food item, not the shape or color, and certainly not a cute little name wrapped
Fortunately, today’s pet owners demand healthier treats. In response to that demand, companies are beginning to incorporate natural and/or organic ingredients into the treats. Still, you need to be vigilant and avoid the following ingredients:
90 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
NATURAL HEALTH
What does that tiny tidbit really contain?
Artificial Coloring Blue 1 and Blue 2 These have caused brain tumors. Red 3 A cause of thyroid tumors. Yellow 6 Linked to adrenal gland and kidney tumors; it is really a carcinogen.
ADDITIVES AND SYNTHETICS BHA or BHT Many studies have proved the use of this widely used chemical to be a cause of cancer in rats. Propyl galate A preservative used to prevent spoiling, but has been linked to cancer. Ethoxyquin Perhaps the most widely used chemical and the most dangerous. Not only does it cause many forms of cancer, but it has been linked to mutations of genes that suppress cancer. It has been banned as an “additional” additive in dog foods and treats, but it is allowed to be used in formulas or recipes with further mention on the packaging! That’s sneaky and dangerous. Ethoxyquin is allowed to be used in exotic bird formulas, so read what’s in those mixes for Polly and Pedro Parrot!
Potassium Bromate Has been banned throughout the world, except for the United States and Japan. It is used in flours and causes renal cancers as well as some forms of lung cancer. And we wonder why young women who have never smoked are dying from lung cancer! Acesulfame K A chemical sweetener used in both human and pet foods. Sweetness attracts all mammals, which is why it is tossed into the food. In controlled studies, this chemical caused cancer! These cancers included lung tumors and breast tumors, various types of leukemia, and chronic respiratory disease in the animals. Partially hydrogenated oils A butter replacement in the food industry. It is very high in trans fats which promote heart disease and diabetes. Poultry by-product meal A highprotein ingredient used as a major component in some dog foods and treats. It is made from grinding clean parts of poultry cadavers, which may contain bones, offal, and undeveloped eggs. It also may contain feathers. It is possibly hard to digest, but worse than that—you just don’t know what it is! Meat by-product meal A substandard form of protein, used by many popular pet food and treat manufacturers, because it is cheap. Sources may include road kill, euthanized cats and dogs, including their collars. Don’t forget, the drugs that were used to euthanize the pets are still present.
Brown sugar/sugar/molasses May cause suppression of the immune system, mineral imbalance, hyperactivity, diabetes, kidney distress, weight gain, allergies, excessive pancreatic activity, liver activity, and an increase in bad bacteria in the colon. And sugar is an important nutrient for cancer cells— they thrive on sugar! Additional items to be wary of: Ground wheat (linked to allergies), corn gluten meal, wheat four, ground yellow corn, sugar glycerin, hydrogenate starch hydrolysis, bacon fat preserved with BHA, soybean meal, salt, sorbic acid (a preservative), artificial flavor, calcium propionate (a preservative), blood (animal plasma— can come from any animal and can have toxic elements), glyceryl monostearate, phosphoric acid, other added colors (Red 40, Yellow 5). Just remember: Chemicals are not food!
Dr. Elliott Harvey is: the founder of Great Life Performance Pet Products and the maker of Dr.WooFrs Biscuits, Great Life, and his Gourmet Freeze-Dried Treats.
photo courtesy of Great Life Performance Pet Products
Propylene Glycol An industrial solvent used in acrylics, stains, inks, dyes, cellophane, antifreeze, airplane de-icers, and brake fluid. Side effects on animals include irregular heartbeat; underdeveloped growth; brain, liver, and kidney failure; lowering blood pressure; and even death. Pets love the sweet taste.
If you have any questions: Visit www.doctorsfinest.com e-mail pethealer@gmail.com
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 91
Save Lives, Serve Communities Join the Corps
www.animalrescuecorps.org facebook.com/AnimalRescueCorps
photo by Kristina Bowman/Animal Rescue Corps
1380 Monroe St. NW #326 Washington, DC 20010-3452
SAFTEY
"SUGAR & BEAR"
photo by Angie Sacramento
KEEPING YOUR PET SAFE
SAFETY CHECKLIST your dog should always wear their collar with tags
don’t leave your dog unattended in the backyard
make sure correct phone numbers are on the dog tags
don’t let your dog roam free in the neighborhood
your dog should be microchipped and have current info
k eep your dogs inside your home when expecting repairmen, landscape workers, meter readers, or guests
put a padlock on your backyard gate put a padlock on your front gate (if applicable)
spay or neuter your pets
keep your dog indoors when you are not at home
know where your dog is at all times
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 93
HEALTH
Keeping Your Dog
Healthy! Just like with people, is it important for your dog to eat nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, and to exercise regularly by walking, hiking, jogging, swimming, or playing fetch! But, to make sure your dog stays in optimum health you should incorporate these four items into your dog’s daily diet.
PROBIOTICS Probiotics are the “good, friendly bacteria” that dogs need to combat the “bad, harmful bacteria” in their gastrointestinal tract.
ENZYMES Dogs need enzymes to help digest their food and there are many reputable companies that produce high-quality Enzymes for pets.
FISH OIL Is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and there are many premium brands on the market of salmon oil, sardine oil, and anchovy oil for pets.
CALCIUM Is found in bones and can be derived from eating raw meaty bones such as chicken and turkey necks, or you can grind bones in your food processor
* For additional advice or if you have any questions please consult with your veterinarian, a certified pet nutritionist, or a pet store owner who is experienced and knowledgeable about pet food and pet supplements. Also, do your own research on the internet where there is a magnitude of advice from experts in the field on these supplements.
94 Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
WELLNESS
ANTI-AGING FOODS
FOR PEOPLE AND PETS “Super” foods that are good for you to keep you healthy - can also be good for your dog! Instead of feeding your dog the same boring kibble everyday, try to incorporate some of these “super” foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish) into your pet’s diet!
Spinach & Broccoli Blueberries
Salmon
Bananas
Olive Oil
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Kelp
Lots of Water The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 95
TRAINING
Tackling the D Word—
Dominance By Doug and Elizabeth Simpson, Owners of Tenderfoot Training
So much talk about such a simple little word. It’s all over the television and the Internet in discussions on forums and blogs. People are either trying to defend or attack the theory of dominance, or hierarchy in pack mentality. In many circles the words dominance and submission have become the antichrist of dog training lingo, while others have made them the dog training buzz words.
Sub-mis-sion: noun
1. The condition of being humble or obedient. (Merriam-Webster)
An act of submitting (yield or 2. surrender) to the authority or control of another. (The Free Dictionary)
2. The power or right to make decisions. (The Free Dictionary)
Do dogs behave in dominant and submissive ways? Of course they do, but it is not all they do. Dogs are cooperative and highly social creatures who rely on each other when grouped together. They learn to form a social hierarchy in order to create cooperation and harmony in their lives. If you live with more than one dog, you know this to be true.
3. D ominant position especially in a social hierarchy. (Merriam-Webster)
When your dog leaps on you every time you walk in the door, he is not trying
Dom-i-nant: noun 1. C ommanding, controlling or prevailing over all others. (Wikipedia)
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to dominate you, he simply doesn't respect your personal space and he has learned that it gets him the attention he desires. Dogs are opportunists and do what works at the moment, and when it works, they do it more. When you correct your dog and teach him to greet calmly, he needs to listen to your guidance and comply, which may be interpreted as a form of submission. When people buy into a theory of dog training, they are inclined to jump in with both feet and see training only through that one theory. So when people think dog training is all about dominance and submission, then every act a dog does is immediately tossed into that arena. This is rather like teaching a person to use a hammer— everything becomes a nail.
TRAINING
People’s interpretation of dominance is the greater issue here. People generally assume dominance involves a level of harshness or cruelty, when it may be simply used as a method of establishing who is in charge and leading the way. A good teacher does not need to be harsh with the children in order to be effective; a good trainer doesn’t either. Are there times for dominance between a trainer and a dog? Sure, there can be moments when the behavior of a trainer can be interpreted as dominant and the dog’s as submissive. You want your dog to sit/stay when a squirrel dances in front of him, while the dog would prefer to chase the squirrel; therefore, the desires of the person are dominant over the desires of the dog. In the real world, actions have repercussions, be it good or bad. Drive too fast and get a ticket. If an officer waits for speeders every day at the same location, you will probably drive by at the correct speed. Why? Because you know the repercussions, so you submit to the rules and drive properly. The law takes a dominant position in
your thinking and behavior. In some ways you are being rewarded for not speeding, because your insurance rates won't go up either, which is an equally good reason to submit to the law. This may also be compared to a teacher walking into a classroom of unruly children; the teacher is in charge. Does the teacher dominate the children? In some respects yes, because the teacher sets the rules and structure of the classroom. Ideally the teacher has the best interest of the children at heart and is the decision maker for the group. Does that dominant position have to be harsh? No. A good teacher/leader is clear, patient, fair, consistent, sensitive, compassionate and trustworthy. But he or she is always ready to have an opinion about a child’s behavior, to be willing to correct bad choices, and guide a child in a better direction, while always encouraging the child to choose better behavior on their own. The same relationship should exist between you and your dog. The very best relationships are built on a foundation of love, trust, and respect.
If your dog doesn’t listen to you then you haven’t earned his respect, and if you cause pain or fear you will lose trust. Love is the easy part; trust and respect must be earned over the lifetime of the relationship. In a well-run classroom the children should look to the teacher for advice and guidance just as your dog should look to you, the leader, for advice. You are the ultimate decision-maker in the relationship, and when your dog looks to you for advice before reacting then most of your problems are solved in advance. Relationships are built on good communication and understanding, not harsh dominance. When you learn to create a balanced relationship, both you and your dog will be better for it. Love Them & Lead Them, Doug & Elizabeth Simpson
For more information or to contact: Doug and Elizabeth Simpson www.tenderfoottraining.com (303) 444-7780
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DOG PARENT FAMILIES
Dog Parent Families
who love their dogs and treat them
like family!
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DOG PARENT FAMILIES
KAT AND RICK DUNLAP with Rufio Ricardo and Sugar Joy
photo by Theresa Cozzone
This past summer, Rufio, the 1 year old Neapolitan Mastiff, learned to swim. “The only problem was, we would let him out for a midnight tinkle, and we would find Rufio doing midnight laps!” Kat says their nighttime rituals are comical. Rufio, a normally laid back dog, takes an evening race throughout the house, knocking things over with his “big feet and bowling ball head…and figure eights seem to be his specialty.” The Dunlaps’ 4 year old Great Dane, Sugar, does not want to be bothered with such nonsense. “Her idea of heaven is her nightly walk with ‘Dad,’” says Kat. Later, Rick takes a little piece of hot dog and then points up, and she goes straight up to bed. “I usually find the two spooning when I finally make it to bed. She is such a daddy’s girl!” Rufio has been featured on two Hallmark cards, and the Dunlaps created his own greeting card line at www.RufiosRumblings.com. Part of the proceeds goes to NeoRescue. “Rufio also supports the Humane Society and Big Dogs Huge Paws Rescue (he appears on a charity shirt for Chippendogs).” The Dunlaps cannot imagine a day without their fur-kids. Kat says, “A life without dogs is not a life at all.”
JILL AND MIKE HAYES with Max, Natasha, and Winchester When Jill and Mike adopted Max, a Basenji mix, 17 years ago from a kill shelter, he was a “skillful counter surfer, hunter, and all-around troublemaker,” as Jill describes. Nowadays, the couple keeps an eye on their old blind dog, but Jill says he still gets around. “We recently took him to the beach and he started running on the sand. It was crazy! I think in people years he would be like 120 or something.” So, they make sure that when Natasha (their 2 year old Lab/Border Collie/Pit mix) and Winchester (their 9 month old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon) play tug-o-war, Max is safely out of the way. When they rescued Natasha, she immediately had an operation to fix her broken jaw and puppy teeth. Natasha was wary of the Hayes’ intentions at first, but has grown to trust them. “Natasha is so calm; she learns so well.” Jill thinks Natasha’s best tricks are “say your prayers” and “peek-a-boo.” Winchester is the bravest and craziest of the bunch. “He loves anything we do: hike, canoe, swim, camp, etc.” Many times, during their final potty break, they find Winchester swimming laps in the pool; afterwards, he starts hunting crickets. “They are part of the family. They need the same care as a child…and more exercise.”
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Larry and Shelley Kendrick with Their 6-Pack of Dogs Because Larry, Shelley, and their godson Cody Torres live in what Shelley calls “the Boonies,” Chloe and Cooter, both 7 year old German Shepherd/Coyote mixes, and Aslan, a 5 year old Border Collie, were all dumped off at Shelley’s dad’s house and have taken up residence. Luckily, these three dogs get along very well with Rafa, a 3 year old Schnauzer who plays with shoes, Abby, an 8 year old Jack Russell who barks at the backyard birds, and Lexi, a Black Lab who basks in the sun. The latter three all sleep with “Mommy” and “Daddy” in their king-size bed. “We had to go buy a new one so we could all fit,” Shelley laughs. Cooter has his own rug, Chloe claimed the spare bedroom, and Aslan sleeps anywhere he wants. During the day, Chloe loves to find fruit to carry around, and Aslan watches over Shelley’s dad, who is a widower. “If my dad’s outside, you can bet Aslan is right there with him,” Shelley says. The Kendricks are unable to have children, so a dog pack was the next best thing. Shelley explains, “If we’re sick, they know and check up on us. If I’m sad, I’ve had my Jack Russell come up and lick my tears. We would be lost if something ever happened to any of them. We love them dearly.”
Aaron and Vicky Valdez, daughter Scarlett, with their 4 Dachshund Kids Ten years ago when Vicky’s husband Aaron was traveling a lot for work, the couple agreed to get a Dachshund, Guinness (a black and tan 6 week old female), from a local breeder. Maximillion and Nikita, Max’s mom, soon followed. The next year, the couple learned at a Dachshund rescue picnic that the breeder from which they had gotten their dogs was facing allegations of neglect. After they became involved with the rescue, they were contacted about a young puppy mill Dachshund with an infected tail and a hernia. Vicky recalls, “Elvis Presley is Aaron’s favorite singer. We secretly think [they] named the puppy Elvis on purpose to entice us.” Nowadays, someone is always home with the dogs. “Guinness has an internal clock, she will follow Aaron around the house, barking at him to tell him it is her ball time.” The rest know that when ball time ends, it’s dinner time, so they convene in the kitchen to wait. On the weekends, the fur-kids get carted around in a wagon at crowded events, so they don’t get stepped on. Vicky says having dogs helped them prepare them for parenthood. They had to reset priorities, save money for vet bills, and adjust their schedules. “They rely on us, and we take that responsibility seriously.”
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Tavia Garland Meares and Anthony Meares with their 5 Corgis The pack started with Griffin, now 5 years old, whose favorite toy is a set of three keys on a teething ring. Then Ginger, now 4, whose favorite hobby is to follow her siblings around until one drops a toy—and then steal it! “Theo,” explains Tavia, “joined the family in March of this year. He was an owner surrender; he did not get along with their other dogs, but he fits in right here.” Theo is Tavia’s own personal shadow. Kipper, who is approximately 5 years old and heartworm positive, was adopted just after Memorial Day. The Meares raised money for her heartworm treatment that was just completed in August. Finally, Yoda joined the family in July 2011, as a foster dog. “He has degenerative heart disease, an enlarged heart, and a benign tumor on his left eye.” Tavia says that though he is still up for adoption, they love him like part of the family. Tavia founded and runs Middle Tennessee Corgi Rescue, and she does so for her love of the breed and her desire to help Corgis in need. She says her own Corgis are a bit spoiled, but loved. “I am the primary caretaker of them, and my whole day revolves around their needs.”
Nicole and Mark Feasel with Hope The Feasels’ Labrador Retriever, Hope, learns new tricks very quickly. When Mark asks, “Where do bad girls go?” Hope bolts to her crate and waits for a treat. Nicole says wryly that her intelligence is also their greatest downfall. “She is very stubborn when she doesn’t want to do something,” But she’s getting better with age. Hope just turned one on Halloween. The Feasels adopted her after the passing of Harley, their Golden mix. “We actually named her Hope because that is what she gave us.” Hope spends the day with “Mommy,” then she starts vocalizing her excitement about 45 minutes before “Daddy” arrives home from work. “Then it’s a full body wag… and then my husband takes her outside and plays fetch for the hundredth time of the day.” If they ask Hope whether she’s ready for bed, she runs up to the bedroom. Nicole says that Hope starts the night at their feet and ends up with her head resting on their pillows. On Sundays, the family visits parks and practices Hope’s obedience skills on trails. Occasionally, on warm days, Hope gets vanilla ice cream in a baby cone. “People often say to us that we treat hope better than they treat their kids, and our response is—she is our kid!”
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Lindsay Hostetter and Andy Smith with Chloe and Lucky Chloe and Lucky are mommy’s girls, and when “Mommy” Lindsay grabs the leashes, the girls will dance around in happiness. Chloe, a Shiba Inu mix, used to have issues when meeting other dogs. After the couple adopted Lucky, Chloe hangs back during canine greetings and no longer has problems. Lindsay thinks that though Chloe is more headstrong, because Lucky is older, Chloe seems to look up to her. The girls have adventures anywhere from the dog park to Codorus State Park. Lindsay says that Lucky is not a big fan of the water, but Chloe loves it. “She doesn’t swim that much; she would rather attack the water.” At home, the girls usually sit on the couch, Chloe snuggled up to one side of Lindsay and Lucky on the other. Chloe will even whimper when Andy sits next to Lindsay. “I would say they are more attached to me, and I also feel that Lucky was abused by men,” Lindsay speculates. Lucky used to hide in the bedroom from Andy. She now understands that not all men are mean, and she can relax around Andy. “Lucky really loves her belly rubbed, and Chloe is just an attention-lover.” Fortunately for both girls, they get all the attention they need.
Amber Rhodes and Jayson Dodge with Gizmo and Sparky Seven years ago, Jayson gave Amber a long-haired Chihuahua who they named Gizmo. Then, in February 2010, came Sparky (a.k.a. “Doop”), a Chihuahua with medium hair (slightly curly) and an underbite. Now the group is one big happy family. Amber stays at home with her boys most of the day. “But when Jayson comes home from work... they jump all over him and demand his attention before he can do anything!” For fun, the boys love to play in the yard and go for walks. Amber says that Doop has even been to see Santa. Gizmo’s favorite toy is a squeaky cheeseburger that he’s had since puppyhood. Doop loves his vinyl red spiked ring. In the morning, Doop finds random socks or flip flops and scoops them into his mouth. Then he jumps on the bed and pokes Amber and Jayson in the face until they get up and let him outside. “Both dogs sleep in our bed—either between us and under the blankets or on our pillows. Sometimes I even wake up to one or both curled up under my chin.” Amber and Jayson dress their boys warmly in the winter and spoil them with their favorite things. “So in a sense, they really are like our children.”
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DOG PARENT FAMILIES
Tom, Dorothy, and Jennifer Raftery with Their 5 Huskies Six years ago, when Tom and Dorothy’s daughter, Jennifer, was almost 18, her parents gave her a Husky puppy. But Harley needed a playmate, so Gibson joined the family. “He immediately fell in love with Harley,” says Dorothy, “and still is. He cannot be away from her.” When Gibson turned 3, he was diagnosed with epilepsy. Dorothy explains that they have him on a “successful-to-date regimen of medicine, vitamins, diet, and homeopathic therapies.” They set up a baby monitor at night, in case he has seizures. Harley and Gibson sleep in adjacent crates with fluffy beds, alongside their 3 year old siblings Wolf, Chloe, and Bandit. “Bandit loves to fill her crate with toys and goes to sleep curled up staring at them.” Both Dorothy and Jennifer work from home, so Dorothy says that the fur-kids get to “eat, sing, play, run, pose for photos, eat, sleep, kiss and snuggle with us, pose for some more photos, go for car rides (with a stop for vanilla ice cream!), go for walks, more playing, and then sleep.” The dogs are also Dorothy’s muses for www.FiveSibes.blogspot.com and a children’s book entitled What’s Wrong with Gibson (a percentage of profits benefits Canine Epilepsy Resources). Dorothy says, “Not a conversation goes by that we aren’t talking about them like the proud parents we are!”
Quinn Bennett with Bella Bella, a blue American Pit Bull Terrier, is an “only child” to Quinn Bennett. From the day she received Bella as a birthday gift in 2007, the two have been inseparable. She goes everywhere with Quinn to promote her breed. Quinn says she wants to show everyone that Pit Bulls are not monsters. She explains that you’d have a better chance of drowning from Bella’s kisses than getting bitten by her. Bella is currently helping to socialize a more timid rescue dog, and she loves meeting anyone. Recently, Bella turned 4 years old. “She had an awesome doggie birthday party to celebrate,” Quinn says. On a normal day when Quinn returns home from work, she takes Bella out for potty and playtime. Then they go back inside for dinner and then some indoor playing and tricks. “She loves jumping through the hula hoop for treats.” Bella’s favorite treats are some gourmet cookies from a doggie bakery or her Uncle Chris’s homemade ones. Her favorite toys include her pink dragon named “Pinkie,” which she has had since she was a puppy. “I don’t have any ‘real kids,’” Quinn says. “Bella is my child—she is my heart, and I will do anything for her.”
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Imelda Suriato and Nathan DiSanto with Rosco Rosco gets organic treats and fun toys, but he wasn’t always so lucky. The first time Nathan spotted Rosco, a man was punching and kicking the young, skinny Pit Bull, and Rosco just cowered and dragged behind his then-owner. When the man tied Rosco next to a corner store, Imelda says, “My husband was so mad that, without thinking twice, he got out of the car, went to the dog, untied him and told the dog, ‘Come on! Let’s go!’ The dog didn’t even blink and quickly ran with my husband back to the car.” Now, Rosco asks for dinner around 7:30 every evening by sitting in front of Imelda and Nathan and lifting his right paw. He has also gotten creative with association techniques. Imelda says, “When his water bowl is empty, he goes to our water pitcher on the coffee table and puts is nose on it.” At night, Rosco sleeps in a dog bed, but if he gets chilly, Imelda lets him sneak under the covers on her side of the bed. Rosco changed their lives and inspired Imelda to create the Facebook group "I’m Not a Monster," about Pit Bulls. “Rosco may not be a therapy dog or the best-mannered dog… but he’s our special dog.”
Shelley Davis with Kendra Kendra, a Samoyed, insists that Shelley, her person, accompanies her into the backyard for her “nightly ritual,” before heading upstairs to cuddle. “Kendra sleeps on the bed with me, but she also has several baby blankets on the floor that she can use,” Shelley says. On the weekends, Kendra loves to romp with her visiting doggy pals. Shelley has a beautiful, large, safely fenced yard with a kiddie pool, deck, patio, sunroom, and various toy boxes. Just a few years ago, it was actually a challenge to get Kendra to trust Shelley. A friend had sent Shelley a Petfinder photo of a dog in a high-kill Kentucky shelter. “[Kendra] was 25 pounds underweight, terrified, had heartworm, whipworm, lungworm, Giardia, and suffered from emotional and physical abuse.” Kendra is now much healthier and happier. “She’s a loving, friendly, wonderful dog and we have grown very close.” Shelley has trained dogs for 35 years; she volunteers as an Internet dog advice columnist; and she owns a local on-line group Hudson_Valley_Dog, which helps reunite dogs with their owners, posts events, and offers advice. “Dogs are my passion,” she says. “All my years of experience help me to be the best dog parent I can possibly be.”
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Sheley Rene Revis, MD, with Her Pack of 6 Sheley, a physician and “mommy” to a pack of six, spends most weekends training and hiking with dogs or helping out at a dog rescue. If dogs are allowed, she’ll have a few with her. “They’re basically my kids,” she says. She had rescued Delilah, a Schipperke-Pomeranian mix, 11 years ago to befriend her then-single Aussie, Navajo. “She locked eyes with me and rolled over slightly while lifting her paw with this ‘Help me! Help me!’ look, and I fell for it. She’s the top dog in the house.” The rest of the family is all Aussie! In fact, all her dogs are rescues. Enzo (5 years old), Sydney (6), Haiku (3), Kalua (7), and McGrady (4) all star in photos that decorate Sheley’s office. “Many of my patients are dog lovers, and the pictures of all my dogs in my exam rooms are also a perfect icebreaker as well.” To the most recent pack member, Sheley has devoted a Facebook page, “McGrady, the Fabulous Deaf Dog, and Friends.” Sheley says, “Because of McGrady’s wearing his ‘I’m Deaf ’ vest, we also met some folks from CapTel, who provide communication services for the deaf in North Carolina. They had never met a deaf dog before and loved to see what all McG can do!”
Iris Alvarez and Tom Matusiak with Rocky, Conan, Mishka, and Phoebe These lucky 4-legged children spend the day with Tom, who works from home. When Iris gets home, she goes straight to the backyard for doggy playtime. Iris rescued Rocky, a Husky/Lab mix, from an abusive owner 8 years ago. “All the Staffies came with my husband. He moved here from Poland.” On weekends, Mishka (4) and Phoebe (3) sunbathe on chairs by the pool, and 14 year old Conan follows Iris everywhere she goes. “If it hadn’t been for my elderbull, Conan, I would never have experienced the human-canine bond. It wasn’t until he came into my life that I discovered receiving the purest form of love.” She explains that though she loves Rocky, he’s always been independent and happy just knowing he gets food and walks every day. Their Staffordshire Bull Terriers have an indescribable bond with them. Unfortunately, Conan was targeted for breed discrimination, and the couple was asked to remove the “dangerous” dog. They fought and won the right to keep Conan, but they quickly moved away from the community. Since then, Iris has been a bully-breed advocate and helps run a local rescue (www.bigheartsbigdogs.com). She says that anyone who knows her will tell you her dogs are her life. “They don’t ask for much but love and respect back and a Frosty Paw every Sunday.”
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BEDTIME BOOKS All books reviewed by Nancy Allen
INSTANT DOG TRAINING: The Quick Response Program By Claire Arrowsmith
This book will give you the straightforward and helpful information you need for training your dog. It teaches you to recognize timing as an important aspect of rewarding dogs for good behavior. It goes over puppy training/socializing, training at playtime, home-alone training, and many other tips to help your dog become a well behaved member of the family.
MY DOG! A Kids’ Guide to Keeping a Happy & Healthy Pet By Michael J. Rosen
An excellent book that uses kid-friendly text and many helpful pictures to teach, tell, and show children how to understand their canine best friends. Kids and parents alike will learn how to choose the right pet, train in a kind and effective manner, keep their pet in shape, feed them nutritious meals, and much more. Your kid will be on the path to having a loving, well-adjusted pet.
ROAM: A Novel with Music By Alan Lazar
Roam is the survival story of Nelson, a Poodle/Beagle puppy. Nelson is a breeder’s “mistake” who goes from the loving home of the woman who purchased him to the cruel, dangerous world beyond his safe fence. This story is both heart-warming and heart-breaking as it shows not only the special bond shared between dogs and humans but also the atrocities placed upon dogs by humans. This is a book you will have a hard time putting down.
THE DOG DECODER— The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior By David Alderton
This very interesting book will explain pretty much any question you would have about dogs. Alderton goes over day-to-day routines such as when visitors come to call, when your dog steals food, and when you and your dog meet strangers. One section tells you about breeding behavior and the importance of training. Another section gives you understanding of such activities as making a mark. Read this book to uncover the many mysteries of dog behavior and to comprehend the relationship between us and our canine friends.
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BEDTIME BOOKS
ANIMALS and the Kids Who Love Them By Allen & Linda Anderson
There are stories that make you realize why we love animals as much as we do. Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, and even turtles all contribute to the “compassionate acts of love and healing” of children. This book gives you 24 real life stories of children whose lives were changed because of the unconditional love and devotion given to them by an animal. A book to read that will warm your heart over and over.
DOGS MAKE US HUMAN By Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Art Wolfe
You will fall in love with this book. The beautiful photographs of dogs are taken throughout the world—Tibet, Africa, and the United States, to name a few. They show how dogs are loved by “the vast diversity of human cultures.” As pointed out in the introduction, dogs just want to love us and have us love them in return. This is the best coffee table book you can get to reveal to everyone through exquisite art and wonderful text that humans’ love for dogs is something that globally connects us.
I PROMISE YOU: An Introduction to Living the Animal-Human Bond Written and illustrated by Edwin Fontanez
This makes a great gift to give to young people who have a pet so they may learn how to treat a pet correctly. Fontanez discusses how cats and dogs become homeless or abandoned and what we can do to help stop it. Readers will also learn how to keep pets healthy and how to be responsible pet caretakers. This book is a must-read for everyone!
SOPHIE: The Incredible True Story of the Castaway Dog By Emma Pearse
This is a compelling story of a dog who finds her way back home after being swept overboard into strong currents and shark-infested waters—an almost certain death! Sophie managed to survive for over 4 months by transforming into a feral dog. But after she reunited with her family, she once again became their loving dog, which is an amazing example of us how much dogs love us and remember us. Highly recommended!
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FEATURED AUTHOR
JIM GORANT aUthor oF: THE LOST DOGS Michael vick’s dogs and Their Tale of Rescue and Redemption
What made you decide to write a book about the Michael Vick dogs? It was a chance encounter. I came across a small article in the summer of 2008 that mentioned the dogs were being rehabilitated and put up for adoption. I wondered how you rehabilitated fighting dogs and would they be placed in home with other dogs and kids? Also, where had they been all this time (the initial raid took place in April 2007)? I started looking into it and the more I did, the more fascinating the whole thing became. I wrote an article for Sports Illustrated about it and the article turned into the book. How many of the Vick dogs did you meet and spend time with? I’ve met almost half of them, about 20 of the 47 that were saved from Bad Newz Kennels.
outside to relieve herself. She came an incredibly long way but still struggled to be a “normal dog,” and you could see that she wanted to be, that the instincts were there, but that she couldn’t quite make herself do it. Her difficulties and her inner struggle were so visceral that it was hard not to be moved by her. Did your perception of Pit Bulls change after meeting the dogs and writing the book? Absolutely. I went into this knowing nothing about pit bulls other than what you read in the headlines, but in the process of writing this book and spending time with the dogs I came to realize that you can’t really make those broad generalizations. One of the themes of The Lost Dogs is that every dog is an individual with the potential for good and bad and each must be approached as such. It’s an important thing to remember, not only when it comes to dogs.
Is there any one dog that stood out to you regarding the abuse they all suffered? More than any of the dogs, Sweet Jasmine (The Lost Dogs’ cover girl) had an impact on me. Like many of the dogs, her biggest problem was fear. She was so shut down around people that in the beginning she had to be carried
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course, things people can infer from that truth, among them the idea of judging individuals not groups, the power of everyday people to effect change, and the healing power of compassion. What is your personal opinion of Michael Vick?
One of the great things about the new paperback edition is that I got to write an afterword, which I used largely to address the Michael Vick question. It’s hard to boil all that down to a few sentences, but I think the relevant points are that he did some abhorrent things, but at the same time his undoing shined a huge light on what had been an unexamined topic and has helped raise awareness and increase prosecution. We have to grab onto those positives and move forward the best we can. photo courteSy oF Jim gorant
What do you hope that people will learn from reading your book? As a journalist and writer, I didn’t really set out to teach anything. I simply wanted to tell a true story, and I think my sort of neutrality made the book more powerful in the end. There are, of
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
For more information: Visit the website at: www.thelostdogsbook.com become a fan at: www.facebook.com/the-lost-Dogs
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
VIOLET
photos courtesy of Rebekah Piedad
A victim of dog fighting
and placed on death row... then rescued and living the good life! By Rebekah Piedad (Violet’s mama)
I stumbled onto Violet while she was awaiting death after a police confiscation. She was covered in scars and open wounds. I could see the outline of every bone in her body, and her teats were so huge and filled with milk that they were developing sores from being dragged on the ground. Violet was a victim of human cruelty. She had been forced to fight and to watch the dogs she beat finally lose their lives to a bullet in the head. Because she was such a survivor, they tied her to a horrible contraption called a rape stand in order to force her to breed. Eventually, her owners fled the police and abandoned Violet with no food or water and only her survival instincts to feed herself and her pups. Eventually, she found her way to the end of a dog-catcher’s pole, then to a cage in a kill shelter where she awaited her own death. From the moment I saw Violet, I knew she didn’t stand a chance in the county system, so I pooled together my rescue resources and succeeded in getting her pulled from the shelter with only hours to spare. Her love and trust in me was immediate. I spent the first week
treating her wounds, putting warm compresses on her teats to ease the pain and prevent infection from the sudden weaning (she left her 10 week old pups at the shelter, all of whom she was still nursing full time as the shelter staff didn’t see fit to feed the pups), improving her overall physical health, and otherwise developing a relationship with this beautiful girl. As time went on, it became clear that Violet suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her physical wounds healed, but the following year would present challenges as we dealt with fear aggression toward humans and fear aggression at the sound of gunshots— we live in an orchard in the country where guns are frequently fired by neighbors. She had an extremely high prey drive and red zone, fear aggression toward other dogs. But I just couldn’t give up on Violet. Every day she showed her gratitude and devotion to me with her snuggles, kisses, and her love of playtime. She even saved me from a 3 a.m. intruder one night! So I continued to help her work through her issues, and she has made huge strides. She has
become a lover of all humans and has integrated very nicely into our pack that includes 3 other dogs with whom she plays and snuggles daily. Though gunshots still frighten her, she can now control her reaction and remain calm. While, at first, every bird or squirrel seen on a walk resulted in my shoulder being yanked from its socket, she now contains herself and resists the urge to lunge. Dogs outside of our pack remain a big challenge, but we find joy in the small improvements (of which there have been many!) and consider each success a milestone. Violet remains a work in progress, but now she is happy, healthy, and improving psychologically every day. Most importantly, she is a loved and adored member of my family. At one point, I had thought to only foster Miss V, but it is quite clear to me that she will be at my side for the rest of her life.
Violet maintains her own blog, and this was her first post: www.viciouspibbles.org/2010/09/ day-i-became-violet.html
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HAPPILY EVER AFTER
OLIVE Survived a meth lab explosion, the shelter,
and found her forever family!
By Eve-Marie Kuntzman, Director of Fundraising, Angel City Pit Bulls
If there ever were a rags-to-riches tale involving the rescue of a dog, it would be about Olive. One day in the fall of 2010, Animal Control officers were called to respond to a house where there had been an explosion. When the officers arrived, they discovered what had been a methamphetamine lab, in the heart of an area notorious for criminal activity of this nature, and this lab had exploded. They weren’t the fire department or the Drug Enforcement Administration, they were Animal Control. Why, then, were they dispatched to this scene? They soon discovered the reason: A sweet little black Pit Bull, who somehow survived the explosion, emerged—she was scarred from head to toe and pregnant. Olive was immediately transported to the nearest animal shelter in Los Angeles, where she was treated for injuries and her health was assessed, with particular focus on the late stage of her pregnancy. Clearly a dog who had been used multiple times
for breeding, Olive gave birth to her litter in the shelter; her tender hearted talents as a mother won the affections of staff and volunteers alike. One by one, her adorable babies were adopted into good homes, and, day after day, visitors passed by her kennel, expressing no interest. With so many strikes stacked up against her—Pit Bull, black, covered in scars—folks who came to visit the shelter in search of their new furry friend didn’t stop to look at Olive twice. Her scars alone made folks wonder whether she might have been used as a bait dog in a fighting ring (even as hard as that would be to conceive, given her sweet, loving nature and her congeniality towards everyone she met). To complicate matters, Olive had a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her leg, an injury that would require surgery to repair. The volunteers and staff of the shelter refused to give up on her, however, and took it upon themselves to work very hard to find Olive a forever
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home of her own. Surely there was someone out there who could see past the scars and who understood the wisdom of not judging a book by its cover. For five months, Olive languished at the shelter. Those who are familiar with shelters in Los Angeles know that an animal residing there for this length of time is practically unheard of. This refusal to surrender the search for Olive’s new home is testament to the affection that was felt for Olive by the shelter staff and volunteers. Relentlessly, these devoted advocates continued to look for a solution. That’s when Angel City Pit Bulls stepped in, and Olive took her first steps towards her new life. Angel City Pit Bulls takes in dogs from different shelters all across Los Angeles. Despite their recognition that Olive’s rescue would entail an expensive surgery bill and diligent rehabilitation, Angel City knew she deserved a chance, and they would do everything to make
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
photos courtesy of Angel City Pit Bulls
sure she got that chance. Olive’s surgery was scheduled in San Clemente with an orthopedic specialist who uses an innovative procedure to repair torn ACLs. In fact, this doctor had performed a similar surgery on one of Angel City Pit Bull’s other rescue dogs not one year prior. There were some challenges, however, as there are with any surgery this delicate. One of those obstacles was finding a quiet and loving foster home where Olive’s sensitive medical requirements could be safeguarded. As luck would have it, a foster home was found with an adoring family who lived only a few miles away from the doctor’s office—an ideal scenario to handle the many follow-up visits that the surgical treatment would entail. Olive wasn’t out of the woods yet, but things were absolutely starting to look up. After Olive’s surgery and during her convalescence, in the company of her devoted foster family, Olive happened to stumble upon some neighbors of
theirs, Mary and Roger. Mary and Roger’s dog had passed away recently, and the thought process had just begun with them of adding a new furry member to their family. When they came upon Olive, the connection was immediate. On Olive’s first visit to their home, instead of any nervousness or unease (which is often typical with a new environment) Olive quickly acclimated, as evidenced by how she easily stretched herself out in their picturesque backyard to do a little sunbathing. It wasn’t long before the adoption was made official. Olive’s village had grown quite a bit, culminating in her finding a forever family with Mary and Roger. Olive now lives the good life. With her very own plush lounge bed in her backyard, in the beautiful seaside community of San Clemente, California, she spends her days sunbathing and looking out at the ocean, being adored by three generations of her
immediate family who dote over her incessantly. Her doctor, just a few miles down the road, watches over the progress from her surgery diligently. Olive goes on walks around town, visits her friends in the neighborhood, and even enjoys trips to the local library. And this past Halloween, Mary and Roger got Olive a costume of her very own! There is a sage adage that says dogs always live in the moment. One thing that we all, both within her village and beyond, can take great comfort in knowing is this: every single one of those moments for Olive from here on out will be filled with blissful, joyous happiness.
For more information or to make a donation: Visit: www.angelcitypits.org Email: info@angelcitypits.org Become a fan at: www.facebook.com/angelcitypitbulls
The American Dog Magazine | Winter 2011 113
EVERYDAY DOGGIE HEROES
photo courteSy oF peace loVe anD pit bullS
PEACE LOVE AND PIT BULLS
reScueS, trainS, anD placeS pit bullS—ONE AT A TIME! ThE AmERicAN DOg REPORTS
We featured Tino Sanchez and his Pittie crew 3 years ago in The American Dog Magazine Winter 2009 Issue. They were in our “Dog Parent Family” section. Back then, he had his Pittie 4-pack of Buster, Shorty, Boo-Boo, and Rocky. Fast forward to December 2011: He just rescued Buddy from the shelter, so there are 5 canine kids all wanting dad’s attention now! Tino started his nonprofit, Peace Love and Pit Bulls (PLP), in January of 2010 and says, “I have always wanted to do something to help Pit Bulls. After years of procrastinating I saw a video about a Pit Bull named Stanley and I thought, ‘I can do that. I can save one Pit Bull at a time.’ And that’s what the pack and I do. Because my dogs are so well behaved, I can bring pretty much any dog into my home and they fall in line very easily because the bar is set so high by the PLP Pack.”
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Tino has pulled and rescued four Pit Bulls from the kill shelter in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The first one was Bailey (hers is the first video on www.peaceloveandpitbulls.org), then came Daisy. Third rescue was Coco who was only with me for one day, and Buddy who has become a part of the Peace Love and Pit Bull family. He was a special case because he was very shy, very timid, and I wanted him to go to a very good home. But, after a year of living with him, I decided to make him a part of the pack,” Tino explains. But there have been many other Pit Bulls that Tino has helped place in their forever homes and he has provided training for many dogs who haven’t lived with him. “Peace Love and Pit Bulls is here to save one dog at a time by pulling a dog from a kill shelter and bringing him or her into my home to live with me and my pack. The rescue dog will
Winter 2011 | The American Dog Magazine
then get involved in the PLP boot camp, and after the course, I will be placing a well-socialized and well-behaved Pit Bull in a good home,” Tino says. Peace Love and Pit Bulls is excited to be teaming up with Heaven Can Wait Animal Society and plans on helping to spay and neuter 1000 Pit Bulls by the next national Pit Bull Awareness Day in 2012. “It’s all about training and saving more Pit Bulls, and our mission of PLP is to repair the reputation of this misunderstood dog and reduce the number of Pit Bulls in local shelters,” Tino says.
to contact or make a donation: Visit the website: www.peaceloveandpitbulls.org email tino Sanchez at: tino@peaceloveandpitbulls.org become a fan at: www.facebook.com/ peaceloveandpitbulls
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