S.B. Therapy Dog Survives Fighting Ring, but Blood Sport Remains Active

Thank you for posting a story illustrating that pit bulls are not the evil monsters that some would have the public believe! The evil monsters are the people that abuse them.

They're ALL God's creatures, every 1 of them! The evil behind an animal such as a pitbull lies behind the "human" being forcing that animal to go that direction.
If ANYBODY should be "destroyed" it is ANY individual that subjects a creature capable of unconditional love to the horrors those dogs were exposed to.
Ghandi once said something like the following: "You can tell a lot about a society based on the way they treat animals."
Abuse of these dogs in unconscienable! Michael Vick, et al, there is a place in hell waiting for you. You know what you did, welcome to hell :) henry

I often walk an American pit bull and he is the happiest, most harmless dog I've ever seen. He was found on the streets of LA and forced to fight.
I can't say enough about these dogs and the great companionship they are. I agree with Alison, it's the owners, not the dogs whom we should be scared of.

Yes thank you Cathy, for running this story. My husband and I initially intended to avoid the pit bull breeds when we were looking to adopt. However, we couldn't help ourselves when we first met our current pit-bull mix. Our dog has his own sad history and was scheduled to be euthanized before DAWG (Dog Adoption & Welfare Group) rescued him from a Santa Maria shelter. Truly, he is the most kind, loving, and sensitive dog we know. We've had him now for three years and recognize that with any big breed, there is inherently more responsibility (e.g. he gets plenty of exercise, he's always on a leash, and we do avoid dog parks - more due to misconceptions of other dog owners than anything else.) However, the propensity of pit mixes in shelters is evidence of the fact that these types of dogs are the most commonly abused, mistreated, and neglected…by humans. And that's where laws should be focused.

I have encountered quite a few Pit-bulls and Rottweilers in the DC metro area. Those that are vicious and hostile often belong to black 'Ghetto' families, White 'Red-Neck' families and Hostile, vilolent people in general. Many are breed to fight for sport, use as Guard Dogs to protect the Criminal owners or are abused by their vilolent owners who beat their pets for their own sick pleasure.
Of the animls who I have encountered, most are protective of their owners and take a defensive stance but haven't attacked. They bark, growl and show their teeth but unless you the stranger continue to approach, they haven't attacked outright, at least those NOT the ones who are loved.
The dogs raised by the 'Ghetto', 'Red-neck' or abusive owners have to be held back by large, heavy chains but that is what the owners want, animals that are one step away from being used as weapons and not family members.
We often punish the dogs for the owner actions or in-actions in how they raise their pets, that should be changed with legal repercussions and jail-time / fines to pay for the re-habilitation of their pets. As for the owners ability to purchase or own again? Just like a Felon and a Firearm, "OUT-LAWED" with the same reprecussions as firearm ownership by felons.
I see the actions of owners that use and abuse their pets as criminal, we as citizens have to hold Judges to the law and not allow them to free the abusive owners without feeling the sting of the Law.

dou4now

Cathy, I always LOVE your animal stories so much. Pitbulls are bar none, my favorite dogs of all the breeds. I love that they are so expressive (I call them "wiggle worms" because I think that they wiggle more than any other dog when they're happy) and are generally, genuinely unconditionally loving sweethearts who can be completely trusted around children and babies. I believe that they're the most passionate breed. They passionately love and when their hearts are broken, they're essentially trained to become passionately vicious.

The last I heard, Cesar Milan mostly keeps Pitbulls in at his dog compound and they're trained to socialize "bad" dogs and make them more agreeable to be around. He always says that he "rehabilitates dogs and trains owners". Most people reward bad behavior (many times by being too loving) and not setting clear boundaries. Dogs are then confused at who's really in charge, become insecure and act out. The same thing happens with children.

Oops - it's late. I meant to say that most people who have dog problems reward bad behavior (many times by being too loving) and lack in setting clear boundaries.

What a wonderful story. I'm so glad this dog was one of the lucky ones and ended up with such a great home and a happy, happy life.

The story highlights the sad but very real doggie prejudices that are out there.

When I take my dog to the dog park, I see very well mannered pit bulls putting up with small, barky, aggressive dogs whose owners often think their dog is exhibiting "cute" behavior. If a pit would so much as look at their dog wrong, they'd freak out.

Aggressive behavior is aggressive behavior, whether it is a terrier, lab or toy poodle.

And, a well socialized, happy and secure dog is a joy for everyone to be around.

Thanks for the great story. I have no doubt it will serve to help educate and dispel many myths.

It is rather frustrating, though, that people like Goldfarb from HSUS continue to make points such that everyone doesn't have the money to put into rehabilitating dogs from fight rings that went into the dogs from the Vick case. This is frustrating because it has been proven to HSUS for many years now that various dogs have come out of these situations that don't even need to be "rehabilitated" from the start. Just like many other dogs confiscated from fighting rings throughout the years, several of the Vick dogs just needed socializing and confidence and exposure to a world they had not known previously. They showed absolutely no aggression from the git-go. Many dogs that came out of pit fighting rings have proven to have wonderful temperaments.

Having said that, I agree with the general statement that all dogs cannot be rehabilitated, but that is not something that is specific to breed and not something that is specific exclusively to when the abuse and neglect comes from being part of a fighting ring. No one is asking for all dogs from fighting rings to be saved. We all just want them to receive a fair evaluation by behavior experts instead of automatically killing them.

After all, if you were the victim of a vicious attack and stabbing and had scars to prove it, would that mean that you were the aggressor and that you are a vicious person? Obviously, it would not.

The horrific exploitation and condemnation of these awesome canines resembles of the dark ages. Pitbulls truly deserve more attention to our general public, we need to pursue education on the breed, and thank you Cathy for shedding light to Daisy Mae's life story.
It is an inspiration. The only way to end the arbitrary and senseless discrimination is a campaign to educate, change people's minds and end corrupt city attorney's agenda to eradicate the breed. (welcome to Denver...)
Keep spreading the positive that these dogs can be and are to countless families, we are the voice for these dogs, and join a campaign to end BSL.
Check out: http://www.beyondthemythmovie.com/index....

http://network.bestfriends.org/News/Post...

What a great story, thank you Cathy!!

Great article
Good to see the positive stories.

The same old same old from Adam Goldfarb of HSUS is getting very tiresome to say the least.

[quote]Goldfarb is not convinced that a true fighting dog can be rehabilitated.[/quote]

HSUS once called the Vick dogs some of the most dangerous dogs in America and when that didn`t pan out and the Wilkes County puppies and dogs were slaughtered due to HSUS testimony,the Vick dogs suddenly were not really fighting dogs but just some dogs belonging to a wannabe dog Fighter by the name of Vick.

First of all I don`t think rehabilitate is a fitting word.
These dogs don`t need to be rehabilitated.
They`re NOT criminals like Vick.
He needs to be rehabilitated.
These dogs are simply victims of abuse.
They simply need to be exposed to the same things as any other dog.They`ve been deprived of normalcy.
And perhaps some can`t recover from that.

These dogs whether from actual Fight Busts or Abuse Busts need to be assessed individually by qualified people(Not HSUS) for sound temperament and when they pass as most probably will,they need to be given the same chance as any other dog.
If they end up being put down because there isn`t room for them in Rescue,at least people will know that they weren`t put down for being vicious or dangerous.

HSUS needs to change their message about these dogs.
They can`t claim to be rescuing them from abuse only to subject them to more abuse by killing them without proper evaluation.
Make up your mind HSUS.
Your Bank Account depends on a change in attitude.
People don`t want to donate to an Organization that kills dogs without proper individual evaluations by qualified people.

Thank you so much for this story. Shadow's Fund, a local rescue org, just rescued 10 pit bulls from a Los Angeles Shelter. All of them are young, healthy and have passed all of their temperament tests with flying colors. They had 3 days to find homes or they would have been euthanized. They are just wonderful dogs! We are currently looking for responible, loving and committed homes for 5 of the 10 pits. For more information on the dogs, please visit www.shadowsfund.org.

Great story! I've been a breeder/exhibitor of show dogs of another breed as well as a rescuer for over 35 years. I can testify to the massive amount of human error and home failure when it comes to these poor creatures. Pit/Lab crosses are everywhere, and it is heartbreaking.

The complete lack of rental housing available to pet owners doesn't help matters either. The only way to have any chance to rent with a pet is if it is one, and under 20 pounds. Somehow, landlords think little dogs don't bark, bite people, or crap on the carpets...

And getting a rental with a Pit Bull? Forget it!

There are also campgrounds where families can't take their pets along if they are Pits or Rotties. Not welcome. Period.

These are usually very bright, athletic animals who like all dogs need desperately to be with their humans, to participate in family activities, etc.

Our current economy is making life very much worse for pets in general, and the Pit type terrier breeds are really taking a hit and losing their homes in record numbers.

As for those idiots at the H$U$, I will never understand why the media runs to them and to the even bigger whack-o's at PETA for their advice on all things animal instead of to the local kennel club or an animal behaviorist.

Neither of these groups are friends to animals; they are friends to their own executives raking in fat paychecks, and their publicity-ho representatives. They are about money and publicity and severing the human/animal bond. Period.

H$U$ doesn't run any shelters and is NOT your local Humane Society. They are being investigated over their actions stemming from Hurricane Katrina...where is all the money? Notice how they are first on the scene with their hands out at every disaster, yet they do nothing, leaving the work to underfunded and overworked little local rescuers.

More info here: www.ActivistCash.com and www.HumaneWatch.org

H$U$ and PETA wanted ALL the Vick dogs KILLED. These people are in the business of killing animals. They do not believe that abused animals can be rehabilitated and feel that they must be "liberated" via euthanasia.

These dogs were saved by the dedicated efforts of groups like BadRap and other dedicated private rescuers...NOT H$U$ or PETA.

More info here: www.PetaKillsAnimals.com

Thank you for the great and heartwarming story, and may Daisy Mae have a long and prosperous life!

This dog will snap and fatally maul some old dude in a wheelchair. Just you wait.

Interesting angle on this story. But it appears that some readers have an axe to grind related to the position of HSUS. Too bad they have closed their minds to the reality that while some dogs can be saved, many others need to be removed from society before a human being, perhaps a child is mauled and perhaps killed.