Dog’s Safety in Films

I was looking forward to seeing the movie A Dogs Purpose. Seemed like a good uplifting positive message that I could certainly use right now. A movie about a dog’s purpose, life into reincarnation. Unfortunately, the word has been spreading that a GermanShepherd dog in the film, Hercules, was abused in a scene having to do with water. The poor dog was forced to go into the water, was traumatized and almost died from the stress.

The dog ‘trainer’ went far beyond the dog’s will and the AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION once again did NOTHING to help the dog. They were on set apparently and often oversee animals on set and are supposed to ensure the animals safety.  They have suspended, not fired, the person responsible on set. This is not acceptable. This person did NOT DO THEIR JOB OF ENSURING THE DOG’S SAFETY.

 

Here is a word from the producer of the film. He admits there were a few errors and that they were blown up by PETA. PETA of course could not care less about actually protecting the animals. They have their own agenda.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gavin-polone-a-dogs-purpose-outcry-what-happened-whos-blame-967160

 

The AHA in New Jersey were the ones who wanted to exploit Patrick the pit bull who almost starved to death. Instead due to our huge outcry, Patrick was adopted by the loving vets who saved his life.

 

The author of the book, the producer and others have come out against the actions and Universal initially canceled the premiere of the film.

 

PETA is calling for a boycott of the film. I do think that the people who performed and allowed the wrongdoing with this dog need to be held accountable. I would beware of any other ‘solutions’ PETA has in mind given their often destructive agenda.

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/a-dogs-purpose-premiere-cancelled-controversy-966354

 

 

no dog should be forced against their will into water or any situation where they fear for their lives

 

http://www.vox.com/culture/2017/1/19/14319976/a-dogs-purpose-abuse

 

The director of the film and some of the crew say the dog Hercules is fine.

 

https://moviepilot.com/p/a-dogs-purpose-animal-abuse/4191555

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love, Hope and Forgiveness

Heroes Come in Different Species

 

An Abused Pit Bull and Human Survivor Share Hope and Healing

Some people see a pit bull and go running for the hills fearing that they will be maimed due to the sensationalizing of (and often untrue) pit bull attack stories overreported by the media. Then there are dog lovers and advocates who see a dog just like any other dog. Donna Lawrence is one of the latter. Yes, even after she WAS attacked by a pit bull.

 

A recent survey of people who admitted to having negative opinions of pit bulls, 60 percent of the participants cited media reports as the basis of their negative opinions.

 

“One person and one animal can make a powerful difference in the world,” said Donna. She survived an attack and later adopted an abused pit bull puppy who was set on fire. Her courage and commitment to dogs inspires people around the world.

 

Donna and Susie’s story of Love, Hope, Courage and Forgiveness has been made into a movie called Susie’s Hope which recently aired on UPTV.

 

The DVD will be released this fall, but you can preorder through Best Buy now!

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/susies-hope-dvd/25346296.p?id=3251052&skuId=25346296&st=Susie%27s%20Hope&lp=1&cp=1

 

Movie trailer:

 

 

Donna thought Susie was dead when she found her in a park. “My heart melted the instant I saw her. I had so much compassion for her. I saw this six week old puppy with third degree burns all over her body and I couldn’t understand how someone could do this to her. I had never seen abuse like this before. She was so little and frail with scars all over her body. Her ears were burned off. She had broken bones. Susie needed a lot of love and protection,” Donna explained.

 

“As I held her, covered in bandages, she kissed my face.  She was so loving and just wanted me to hold her. I was captivated. We were kindred spirits. I could relate to her pain and suffering. She was wrongfully attacked. We both had a lot of physical and emotional scars and fears to conquer.”

A few weeks before she met Susie, Donna had been feeding her neighbor’s abandoned and abused pit bull who was chained up 24/7. One day the dog became aggressive and attacked Donna’s legs. She thought she was going to die.

It is important to note that the attack on Donna was not because the dog was a pit bull. The attack fit the profile cited in a recent report published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA)/  The report discusses dog bite prevention and cites factors involved in attacks. Breed is not a factor. The dog that attacked Donna was chained up (a resident dog not a pet), abused, neglected, not neutered and no able bodied person was there to intervene.

“I was working through some serious emotional turmoil, and one weekend when I had Susie in my care, I got the tragic news that I would never be able to have children—as a result of the attack. I cried all the way home from the doctor’s office.  When we got home, it was like God spoke to me,” Donna recalled. “You see that puppy, she has been abused, set on fire, and left for dead. Yet she is forgiving. She is not living in the past. She is happy and thankful to be alive.  She is moving on with her life and so can you. I want you to adopt her. I have big plans for you–bigger than you can imagine. And you will never fear dogs again.”  So, I listened to God. I let go of my hurt and anger and trusted in God that together we would bring healing to people and animals.”

Pit bulls and their bad reputation never bothered Donna. She considers pit bulls “loyal and affectionate dogs with loving hearts.”  Before the pit bull that attacked her and adopting Susie, Donna rescued another pit bull named Samson. “He was so sweet; I’d take him to the salon with me every day and he’d sit by the dryers while the gals got their hair done.  He’d look over their shoulders as if he was reading the magazines with them!”

Wanting justice (a punishment to fit the crime) for what happened to Susie, Donna was concerned that Susie’s abuser would go free. Animal cruelty laws were very lenient in North Carolina at the time and had not been changed in a very long time. The person who abused Susie was only given jail time because the court could charge him with destroying someone else’s property. Susie was treated as property rather than a living being. So, Donna helped to pass Susie’s Law with stiffer fines and jail time for animal abusers.

It  was a team effort. “In March 2010, we canvassed the state of North Carolina, sharing Susie’s story. We sent out emails, postcards and letters with our “request for change.”  We took Susie before the city council and county commissioners Votes were unanimous in the House and Senate (after taking one look at Susie).  The Bill was signed by Governor Perdue in June 2010, with Susie’s paw of approval. The law was put into effect in December 2010.”

“Remember, serial killers practice abusing animals first and then move on to innocent children and adults,” Donna declared.

Now, Donna has high hopes for the impact of the movie. “We hope that Susie’s Hope will start a nationwide movement, to bring national public and legislative awareness, to change laws in every state. Maybe even a national law to protect all animals. Some states have great animal cruelty laws, and then, some don’t. I hope the movie will motivate others to make a difference and change in their own state, or hometown, for the sake of the animals. I also hope the movie will motivate people to never give up on the things they are passionate about.”

Through Susie’s Hope™ the non-profit organization, Donna and Susie teach people how to treat animals properly.

 

“Susie and I are on a mission to do all we can to stand up for the rights of animals. It is time for a change in our society. We need to stop turning the other cheek to abuse and start reporting abuse whenever we see it. We need to crack down on puppy mills and backyard breeding. Fight for changes in your own state. Let’s get animals off of chains and make them a part of the family. We hope people will take care of their pets, and learn how to be safe around them, to love and respect them.”

When Susie and Donna visit schools, “I usually ask the children to offer Susie a treat. I teach kids in the schools how to approach animals,and to always ask permission. Not all animals enjoy kids running up to them and getting in their face, or riding them like a horse. Children need to learn at an early age to respect an animal’s space and how to gently approach them.

“People need to understand animals have feelings and emotions just like we do. They feel pain, loneliness and rejection, and they know when they are loved–and when they are not.”

Susie turned five years old in June (2014). “Susie loves chasing her brother and sister dogs around in the yard. She loves going to work with me at the salon.  (She gives the clients kisses and shows off with her favorite tricks–riding a skateboard, jumping through a hula hoop, playing dead, counting, reading, pointing to colors, and more). She loves to eat peanut butter. She loves riding in the car and traveling.  I think she likes being my friend. Susie does like other doggies, but it takes her a bit to warm up to them–she has to make sure she can trust them.

“Susie and I are on a mission to do all we can to stand up for the rights of animals. It is time for a change in our society. We need to stop turning the other cheek to abuse and start reporting abuse whenever we see it in our neighborhoods, communities or our workplace. We need to crack down on puppy mills and backyard breeding. We want to encourage everyone to fight for changes in your own state and communities. Let’s get animals off of chains and make them a part of the family. We hope people will continue to educate children as well as adults in their own communities how to take care of their pets, and how to be safe around them, to love them and respect them,” she concluded.

Susie is a nominee in the American Human Association Hero Dog Awards contest. As the 2014 AHA Therapy Dog, please consider voting for her.  (Visit www.susieshope.com orwww.susieshope-nc.org for more information).

Susie’s Hope on TV

This is an incredible week for pit bulls with Pit Bull Week at HuffPost Green and this movie, wow !!!

A pit bull attack survivor adopts an abused pit bull … this just makes me cry. The courage exhibited by Donna Lawrence is truly inspirational and healing. (Imagine if someone else who shall remain nameless went on this path instead of the path of hate and revenge, oh well, everyone chooses what they do).

The movie Susie’s Hope, the true story of Greensboro, NC’s Donna Lawrence (played by Emmanuelle Vaugier, “Two and A Half Men,” “CSY: NY”), a natural-born animal lover who barely survives a ferocious, life-threatening attack by an abused pit bull but learns to overcome her new fear of dogs and move forward in the most unexpected way – by adopting and caring for a brutally abused, abandoned pit bull-mix puppy named Susie.  Susie’s Hope premieres exclusively on UP on Sunday, August 3 at 8:00 p.m. EST / 7:00 p.m. PST.

“Susie’s Hope is an inspirational, hopeful movie about unexpected second chances and compassion,” said Sophia Kelley, senior vice president of programming, UP.  “After almost losing her life, Donna Lawrence finds the strength to face her newfound fear of dogs and motivate a state to pass legislation to help prevent cruelty to animals. Susie’s Hope is a truly touching film that’s guaranteed to uplift all who watch it.”

Susie’s Hope recounts the story of Donna Lawrence (Emmanuelle Vaugier), a long-time dog enthusiast and caretaker, who warily observes the neglect and deterioration of a nearby neighbor’s pit bull and volunteers to help.  When the owner moves and abandons the dog, Donna is left behind as the animal’s caretaker.  Every day, she places a bowl of food in the doghouse and walks away.  During a routine visit, the fearful dog attacks Donna without warning, pinning her to the ground, viciously clenching her at the throat.  Donna calls out to God and finds the strength to throw the dog off and roll away.  After being rushed to the emergency room by a neighbor, the doctors tell her that she is lucky to have all of her limbs as well as her life.  Donna receives 45 stitches in her leg and spends the next two months learning to walk again.

With the help of her husband Roy (Burgess Jenkins), Donna heals physically but the emotional scars of the traumatic attack leave her shaken and frightened until she meets Susie.  Donna’s close friend, Ramona (Andrea Powell) is who initially comes across Susie, a pit bull-mix puppy that had been beaten, set on fire, and left to die by her former owner. Both having experienced vicious attacks, Donna and Susie share mutual fears and learn to conquer them together.  Donna makes peace with her wrongful attack and Susie forgives humans for hers. Spearheading a group of like-minded individuals, the pair ultimately inspire and move an entire state to take a legislative stand against animal cruelty through the passage of “Susie’s Law,” which strengthened North Carolina’s penalties for animal abuse into a Class H felony.

About Donna Lawrence and Susie:

Donna and Susie have worked to overcome their mutual traumatic experiences to inspire and minister to others (human and canine).  Donna and Susie visit schools, nursing homes, churches, burn centers and organizations, and attend pet adoption fairs and fundraisers to motivate and educate people surrounding animal cruelty.  Captivating the hearts of those that learn of Susie’s story, Susie was recently recognized as the 2014 Therapy Dog winner for The American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards^TM. The commendable recognition has placed Susie in the national finals (as one of the eight finalist contenders) of the 2014 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™.  To vote for Susie, visit: http://www.herodogawards.org/vote?nominee=35549916.  Voting ends Monday, September 15, 2014 at 12 p.m. EST.

For more information about the Susie’s Law and the Susie’s Hope™ non-profit organization, which promotes education and awareness of the care and responsibility required in owning pets as well as animal safety around unfamiliar animals:

·        www.susieshope-nc.org/susieslaw.htm

·        www.susieshope.com/nonprofit

Pit Bull Week

Are you following Pit Bull week on HuffPost?  You should be…

HuffPost Green is launching a week-long, community-driven effort to bust the myths and raise awareness about pit bulls, a maligned “breed” that often bears the brunt of dated, discriminatory legislation that can make it near impossible for these dogs to find a forever home.

You can follow along with HuffPost Pit Bull Week here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/pit-bulls/

 or on Facebook and Twitter where we’ll be using the hashtag #‎PitBullWeek.

Adorable photos of pit bulls

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/28/my-pit-bull_n_5625605.html

Pit bulls have long been popular family pets, noted for their affection and loyalty, but you don’t hear much about gentle, loving pit bulls in the media because a well-behaved dog doesn’t make headlines.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-bershadker/what-puts-pit-bulls-in-pe_b_5626508.html

Pit bull heroes

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/29/pit-bulls-heroic-happy-and-good_n_5563496.html

And hopefully, we will have an interview with a very special guest this week, a pit bull named Susie and her mom, Donna. On Sunday August 3, this weekend, a movie about their very amazing life together will be on TV. The movie is called Susie’s Hope.

Stay tuned !!!

Fighting Over Dogs and Cats

Nowadays, many of us pet parents, consider our fur babies our children. There is nothing wrong with that, in my humble opinion. Except that the law considers them property not kids. Still, issues like divorce bring up similar considerations between spouses, what to do about the fur kids. Who gets to “keep” the fur kids? Will custody be shared? Can one party “keep” the fur baby and how often can the other party visit? Below an attorney, guest blogger, Charla Bradshaw, flushes out the issues more fully.

I don’t wanna get divorced…

http://www.buzzfeed.com/paws/sad-puppies-that-will-ruin-your-day#

more info:

http://www.womansdivorce.com/pet-custody.html

Consider making up a pre-pup arrangement (like a pre-nup) that spells out what happens to your pets if your marriage splits up.

True Love American Style

  “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”

                                -Immanuel Kant

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers conducted a poll of 1,500 members and nearly a quarter said they had noticed an increase in custody issues over pets. Courts have had to determine not only who gets the pet but whether one party has the right to see the pet after the marriage breaks up.  Identifying the best interests of the pet in a divorce case can safeguard that the pet is properly cared for after divorce.

Pets can provide unbelievable companionship and unconditional love for adults and children.  Animals such as dogs, cats and horses are considered personal property for divorce purposes and unfortunately can also be the subject of domestic violence.

In a divorce, pets must be awarded as part of the property division and therefore will usually go to one spouse or the other.  However, spouses can choose to co-own the pet going forward and create a visitation schedule for the pet.  We have done these orders and they actually work very well.  We also see pet schedules associated with a child’s visitation schedule where the pet goes with the child.  When spouses co-own a pet, going forward, we must provide provisions for the expenses related to the animal. This can be important when dealing with livestock, such as horses, or an animal that has health issues.

Since pets are considered personal property, there can be disputes over whether the pet is the separate property of one of the spouses or community property.  Separate property can be acquired by a gift, inheritance, or if the property was owned on the date of marriage.  Separate property cannot be divided by a court.  Spouses may argue over whether the pet was a “gift”, or whether the spouses bought the pet together, making the pet community property subject to being awarded to one spouse or the other.

Unfortunately, pets are often targets in family violence but Texas has come to the rescue.  Texas courts can now include pets in protective orders in domestic violence cases. Because pets have suffered abuse when family violence has occurred, in 2011 the Texas legislature amended the law to prohibit the removal of animals from the possession of a person named in the protective order.  In a protective order, the court may prohibit a party from removing a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal, as defined by Section 121.002 of the Human Resources Code, from the possession or actual or constructive care of a person named in the protective order.  The “actual or constructive care” verbiage was added in 2013.  In turn, in 2013, the Texas Penal Code was amended to specify what the possession of a pet, companion animal, or assistance animal by a person actually means.

So what do these protective order laws actually mean for pets?  They mean that a person subject to a protective order that violates a pet provision in the protective order can go to jail, plain and simple.  An abuser will often turn on a pet to cause pain and suffering not only to the pet, but to the perpetrator’s victim(s).  An abuser may also threaten a pet’s life in order to keep their victim(s) close.  As a result, a victim may stay in an abusive situation to keep the companionship of the pet, not realizing the court can make orders with regard to the pet.

One of the problems is that most facilities and shelters for those running from family violence are not equipped to take animals and therefore the animals are left behind. There is a growing need in this regard not only for the safety of the pet but because the unconditional love a pet can give may be lost at the time it is needed the most.

Divorce or abuse can actually take a toll on a pet.  The Humane Society of the United States sets forth the following signs of pet stress:

•    They become depressed

•    They sleep a lot

•    Their appetite lessens

•    They’re not interested in their walks or other daily activities

•    They start to cry or whimper

•    They groom, lick and/or bite themselves excessively

•    They have accidents in the home

The bottom line is that pets are often the subject of divorce and family violence and the laws are improving to protect them.  It is important for everyone to be aware of these laws especially so that abuse victims may realize the court can include a pet in a protective order.  Abuse is bad enough for the lives of those who suffer it, but losing or leaving behind a pet can only make the suffering worse.

Victims asking a court for a protective order should ask the court to make orders regarding their pet(s).  Additionally, spouses in a divorce should be aware that pet(s) are property.  Sadly, a pet may become the subject of a very expensive fight when the real issue is to cause pain to the other spouse.

Charla Bradshaw is an accomplished family law attorney and Denton Managing Shareholder known for successfully summarizing some of the most difficult cases. She was listed among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas (2014) and rated one of the Best Women Lawyers in North Texas by D Magazine. While she employs an aggressive approach to litigating family law cases, Charla Bradshaw is also a certified mediator and handles collaborative law cases.

This is a blog hop post… click on link here

The problem with Time Magazine

The problem with Time Magazine and Charlotte Alter

http://time.com/2891180/kfc-and-the-pit-bull-attack-of-a-little-girl/

l. if you know ANYTHING about dogs and specifically about the history of American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and the other dog BREEDS lumped together and called “pit bulls,” you know that these dogs were bred to be SUPER/EXTRA people friendly so that the handlers would be able to work with them. ALL people aggression was bred OUT of these dogs.  So the first paragraph in this article begins with a lie AKA a MYTH not a FACT.  Apparently, the writer of this article had NO TIME to do any REAL Research nor to interview REAL DOG experts such as James Crosby and Victoria Stilwell.

Pit Bulls are not an aggressive breed of dog.

*According to the American Temperament Testing Association, APBTs have an 85.3% passing rate, compared to a passing rate of 81.9% for all breeds on average.

http://canineaggression.blogspot.com/

This is FANTASTIC, point by point, she tells it like it IS…

http://www.swaylove.org/the-many-problems-with-charlotte-alters-time-article-about-pit-bulls

2. Then this article goes on to quote DISCREDITED time and time and time again pit bull haters and fantasy dwellers such as Colleen Lynn, Merritt Clifton and PETA.  Yes, scratch the surface of these three together and you get nonsensical stats based upon media overreporting of so-called pit bull attacks (if it looks like a dog, call it a pit bull and there you have a headline and ridiculous stats to use to ban pit bulls), fear/paranoia and a call to KILL all the dogs (disguised as more logical sounding breed discrimination aka breed specific euthanization)… of course, they leave OUT that in places like Denver, CO where BSL has been implemented, dog bites have GONE UP because the REAL PROBLEM has NOT been dealt with. Breed is NEVER the problem. Ignorance about Dogs IS the problem.

Oh by the way, PETA kills healthy adoptable dogs and cats and has for years. And their founder, Ingrid Newkirk, was killing animals at a shelter, a job she relished. PETA thinks killing companion animals is a gift to them.

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/proof

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?category_name=the-truth-about-peta

3. oh yes, and speaking about the Michael Vick dogs. 51 dogs who are doing JUST FINE. Eight became therapy dogs, and many are living in homes with children, cats, other dogs, in FAMILIES and shown NO signs of aggression. Not ONE.  These dogs were tortured, traumatized, terrified of humans, unsocialized, kept chained up 24/7 and made to fight tor their LIVES. Yet, once taken away from Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels and given tons of TLC and taught how to be dogs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, BADRAP, the Monterey SPCA and other places, they’ve thrived.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/michael-vick-dogs-vicktory_n_5119150.html

http://parade.condenast.com/48473/jimgorant/15-vicks-dogs/

4. Here is the REAL SCOOP on what causes DOG BITES and ATTACKS according to REAL DOG experts.

http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/opinion-everyone-in-the-community-is-concerned-about-agressive-dogs-and-stopping-dog-bites

Instead of blaming the dogs, how about holding PEOPLE accountable. People are the ones responsible for the abuse, torture, neglect and abandonment of dogs. Humans are the violent ones. Toxic macho masculinity culture teaches young men that they must be TOUGH and FIGHT, MAIM and KILL animals and other creatures. All of the serial killers have a history of hurting and killing animals then move on to human beings.

A few stats:

Every year, more than 2,000 children in the U.S. are killed by their parents or guardians either through abuse or neglect. A child is more than 800 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a Pit Bull.

From 2001 through 2012, 6,410 women were murdered in the United States by an intimate partner using a gun—more than the total number of U.S. troops killed in action during the entirety of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.

…Women in the United States are 11 times more likely to be murdered with a gun than are women in other high income countries… http://americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/report/2014/06/18/91998/women-under-the-gun/

Be the Change: Speak Out

Animals cannot speak so it is important for us to be their voice

If you see a hurt, abandoned, neglected, abused, dying animal, please stand UP and speak OUT for them and keep on speaking and standing until Justice is served.

A few recent examples below:

We are strategizing to change the policies of the Denver police department. Harley is a dog that was injured from being hit by a car, the Denver Police Department stood there for over 90 minutes without giving the dog any comfort or allowed any medical help at all as he lay there whimpering in pain. Their claim is that they needed to wait for Animal Control. Animal Control did not arrive for 90 minutes. PLUS, the police threatened to arrest a neighbor who was willing to take Harley to the hospital with the intimidation tactic that he would be interfering with an investigation. There was no investigation. The police didn’t allow this neighbor to help this dog or soothe him in any way, no blanket. Nothing. I am still unclear if Harley died before Animal Control arrived 90 minutes later or while he was being transported to wherever Animal Control was going to transport him. Either way, The Denver Police Department allowed this elderly dog of 14 years old to suffer for over 90 minutes without anyone helping him or showing him any love.

Harley’s Mom Speaks Out…https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1411224285810812&set=vb.1411179439148630&type=3&theater

In another case of cruelty towards an animal, because people spoke out the abuser is now in jail,

http://www.examiner.com/article/man-accused-of-burning-dog-is-behind-bars-and-facing-charges

The PIBBLE March on Washington DC is all about ending abuse and discrimination of pit bulls. ‪#‎realmenlovePIBBLES‬
standupforpits.us

Stand Up for Pibbles

Angels come in all forms. And many pibble (pit bull) owners would say that their canine is an angel come to earth to teach humans all about love, compassion and kindness.

One of these angel canines just happens to be named Angel. Her guardian, actress and comedian Rebecca Corry seeks to create safe and humane communities for humans and animals and to raise awareness about the abuse and discrimination against pit bull terriers and discuss solutions for this growing problem.

Some of Rebecca’s guest star appearances include: “The King of Queens,” “The Bernie Mac Show,” “Rules Of Engagement,” “Rizzoli and Isles,” as well as appearances on “The Wayne Brady Show,” NBC’s “Late Friday,” “Comics Unleashed,” E’s 101 series,” Vh1′s “Best Week Ever,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend” and her own 1/2 hour Comedy Central Presents 1/2 hour special.

On May 16th 2013 the HUFFINGTON POST announced Corry’s plan to march on Washington  DC http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/one-million-pibble-march_n_3280839.html?1368716232 and more recently she discussed her thoughts on President Barack Obama coming out against BSL and joining the fight for Pit Bulls http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/obama-breed-specific-legislation_n_3785911.html?utm_hp_ref=dc

Rebecca Corry’s pit bull terrier, Angel was found roaming the streets of Los Angeles as a victim of horrific abuse. Her body was riddled with scars and acid burns. She has damaged knees and her ears have been shorn, likely with scissors. It is believed that the dog was overbred and used as a bait dog during dog fights.

Through a live, nationwide comedy show with performers such as Bill Burr, Kaley Cuoco and Whitney Cummings, Rebecca’s Stand Up for Pits Foundation raises money to positively advocate and educate about the true nature of Pibbles (kind, loving, sweet, gentle).  

Angel and Rebecca are also hoping to speak to President Obama in Washington DC on May 3, 2014 at the One Million Pibble March she is organizing on the west lawn at the Capitol from 12:30 – 2:00 pm.

“My goal is to create safe and humane communities for humans and pets by advocating, educating and offering solutions,” said One Million PIBBLE March organizer Rebecca Corry.  “This is not just an animal issue; it is a social issue that affects us all. It is proven people who commit violent acts against animals will likely — and most often times do go on to — commit crimes against humanity.  The targeting of pit bull terriers is an obvious reflection of a broken society, but one that can be fixed.  The PIBBLE March provides us a national platform to be the voice of millions of voiceless victims, and we will be heard. Abuse and discrimination can no longer be tolerated.”

The event is attracting attendees from all over the United States as well as Canada, England and Germany. With more than 5,000 registered attendees to date and growing

Roo Yori, pet parent to Hector (a former dog of Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels) and Wallace, world champion disc dog, will be one of the guest speakers along with numerous celebrities, sports figures, and comedians.

“I think any time you have a large group of people standing up for dogs that need help, it’s a good thing. Dogs need people to be their voice when it comes to laws and policies, so I’m honored to be chosen as one of the speakers to try and make positive change. I hope I do them proud,” said Roo.

• Key-note speaker Jamie Buehrle, wife of Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, whose family has been personally affected by discrimination and forced to live apart due to BSL laws
•     Leah Brewer, owner of the first-ever hero Pibble, Elle the Hero Dog of 2013

While Angel and some of the speaker’s dogs will be in attendance, the event is focused on human voices for their dogs. Other dogs will not be allowed at the event. Here’s why:

“Dogs are not allowed at the march because, simply put, dogs cannot change laws, the U.S. Capitol is not a dog park and this is not an opportunity to make it one. This is an opportunity for humans to be their voice. Having dogs there provides no impact and offers no solutions to ending discrimination and abuse. In addition, putting any dog of any breed in a stressful situation while trying to advocate for them is reckless and quite honestly, stupid. This event is happening for two very specific reasons:  to end discrimination and abuse. The only way that can happen is if humans attend. I can understand wanting to bring your dog, but the United States Capitol West Lawn will be respected.”

“The hardest part about saving dogs is humans.” — Rebecca Corry

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-corry/no-dogs_b_4567976.html

You know that as far as I am concerned, our society is completely backwards in the way it treats victims of most crimes. Too many times the rapists, abusers and real criminals get off scot free and the victims are blamed. Blaming pit bulls is like blaming black people for slavery, the Jews for the Holocaust, and/or victims of abuse and rape for the depraved acts of their abusers and rapists. This HAS to change.

If dogs could talk,  I am 1,000% sure that if given the choice between fighting other dogs and living a desperate lonely terrifying life on chains, being overbred, being thrown into pit rings as bait dogs, and ultimately dying a horrific bloody death, that the dogs would choose instead to be someone’s beloved pet, safe inside the home, a family member, with a comfortable life. And they also LOVE staying at pet friendly hotels.

Which makes me think of my darling Cici. Yesterday i came out to the living room where her crate is. She usually rests in it. But instead, I found her lounging on the couch, all spread out, comfortable in her habitat. When I came near, she wagged her tail, rolled onto her back and showed me her belly for rubbing. Gee, what a life she has !  A truly pampered Polka Dot Princess.  And she deserves it just as all pets do.

Supporters of The Stand Up For Pits Foundation, include:

•     Kaley Cuoco (Actress, The Big Bang Theory)
•     Whitney Cummings (Actress, Whitney)
•     Courtney Cox (Actress, Friends)
•     David Arquette (Actor, Scream)
•     Bill Burr (Actor, Breaking Bad)
•     Cheri OTeri (Actress, Saturday Night Live)
•     Moby (Singer-Songwriter, Innocents)
•     Janeane Garafolo (Comedian, Saturday Night Live)
•     Torrey Smith (Baltimore Ravens Superbowl Champion)
•     Gerrard Shepperd (Baltimore Ravens Player)
•     John Rallo (MMA Fighter)

There are numerous ways for you to participate:

Attend the march (but please leave your pets home)

If you can’t make it to the march, organize marches in your cities, counties and states. Every year, every month, every week. Whatever it takes to end abuse and save lives.

visit:

(www.standupforpits.us)

purchase a hoodie

donate

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stand-Up-For-Pits-Foundation/162434730631884

LAST CHANCE TO BE A VOLUNTEER MARSHAL for the PIBBLE March! If you are interested in volunteering at the rally on the West Lawn May 3rd, please email baltimorebullycrew@gmail.com.

AND please take a moment to remind Mr. Obama we will be there and that he is more than welcome!!

On August 21st, 2013 President Obama joined the fight for Pit Bulls by making an official statement against Dog Breed Specific Legislation. Angel (the inspiration for the PIBBLE march) and PIBBLE march organizer, Rebecca Corry, were featured in the article

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/20/obama-breed-specific-legislation_n_3785911.html

 

Mr. Obama has been officially invited to the PIBBLE rally on May 3rd. HERE IS WHERE ALL OF YOU COME IN!!!

Marchers, Rally Attendees and Supporters —

WE are urging EVERYONE to email him with the message below AT LEAST once a week between now and the rally (32 days from now!). To make this as simple as possible, please follow these instructions:

Go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments and fill out the “Contact the White House” form.
In the “Who are you trying to contact?” field, select “The White House and President Obama.”
Enter your personal information.
In the “Subject” field, select “Civil Rights.”
In the “Comment” box, cut-and-paste the following message.

write to President Obama:

“Thank you for standing opposed to Breed Specific Legislation. On Saturday, May 3rd, I will be showing my support by attending the first ever One Million PIBBLE rally on the West Lawn of the US Capitol, from 12:30-2:00pm. We are participating in this peaceful demonstration in an effort to end discrimination (BSL) and abuse (dog fighting is bigger now than ever before). We hope the power of our collective voices, in this national forum, will help educate offenders and legislators alike. We would be deeply honored if you would come and address us with a few words of support and encouragement of your own, at this historic event. This is as much a social issue as it is an animal issue and it can be fixed. PLEASE join us in our effort to make communities safe and humane for humans and pets by being the preeminent voice of thousands of America’s voiceless victims! Thank you for your consideration.”

Please be CONCISE, RESPECTFUL. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD ON BEHALF OF MILLION OF VOICELESS VICTIMS NOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO STATE POLITICAL OPINIONS SO PLEASE BE THE VOICE THAT PIT BULL TERRIERS SO MUCH DESERVE. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

Thank you.

Dogcott the Olympics

people make all kinds of stupid, mean and unintentionally wrong remarks on Facebook and the Internet, about gay people, about dogs, about pit bulls in particular and more…

I am noticing that people use pit bull when they want to indicate a mean or scary or even a big dog. for instance, one author I read wrote about her friend being able to wrestle a 160 pound pit bull. this was in a book. i wrote to the person and told her that there ain’t no such thing. that pit bulls, aka American Pit Bull Terriers, Pit Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, are average between 40-80 pounds. And to say a 160 pound pit bull makes the dog sound really scary, right. Not good for the breed, thank you very much. She wrote back thanking me and told me that her friend had a chow pit bull mix. Well, a chow can be a big dog. And so can Aussie Shepherds, Labs, Goldens, Rotties and other dog breeds but not pit bull breeds. so if you want to talk about wrestling a DOG, say a dog, or a BIG breed of dog like those mentioned, capiche?

Someone else today wrote about a pit bull tearing apart toilet paper. What that visual was supposed to connote am not sure. But again, why not just a dog or cat tore apart the toilet paper? sounds scarier saying a pit bull and continues the big bad mean myth.

Meanwhile, numerous communities are repealing, overturning and doing away with their breed bans, yay. Mixed bag, right.

Now, what is happening in Russia is a big travesty and people are boycotting the Olympics due to the fact that stray dogs in Sochi are being killed to prepare for the Olympics. They were called disposable waste. Also, Russian treatment of gay people is abominable. And there are other problems going on there, too.

“In a phone interview with ABC News, Sorokin described the extermination as a public service. He described the animals as “ biological trash” and said that Sochi has “an epidemic of rabies”.

“I am for the right of people to walk the streets without fear of being attacked by packs of dogs,” he said.

“The practice of hunting stray dogs has become common in Russia, where they are widely visible throughout many city streets. Sterilisation is not common and many owners simply abandon their pets.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/sochi-killing-stray-dogs-in-preparation-for-the-winter-olympics-9105046.html

 

a resscue group is trying to save the dogs that are left.

 

“Hundreds of dogs have already been killed. Authorities have told the organization they have until today, before Friday’s opening ceremonies, and any dogs left will be shot.

“Rescued dogs are being taken to a shelter called PovoDog, outside of the city.  Organization workers say many pets were left behind by families displaced by the construction for the games. And, construction workers attracted the dogs to stick around by feeding them.

“Rescue workers began their efforts this past October. They report up to 300 dogs were being killed a month.

“The Volnoe Deloe rescue is backed by Russian billionaire Oleg V. Deripaska.

Thanks to the New York Times for covering the urgent efforts. Read the full story at NYTimes.com >>

Do NOT kill these dogs!

Please share, lend your voice and tell Santa Ana supervisors in Orange County, California not to destroy ANY dog fighting dogs. They are having a meeting in a few days, January 28, and want to just kill all the dogs that have been seized from dog fighting rings. Write them off as dangerous, vicious and be done with the dogs. THIS IS NOT OK.

All of the former Michael Vick dogs are living role models and testimony to the idea that ALL of these dogs deserve a Second Chance at LIFE. It is not the dogs fault that they have been forced to fight other dogs. Penalize the dog fighters not the dogs.

Eight of the former MV dogs are therapy dogs. Many are living in happy, loving homes with kids, other dogs and cats, too thanks to BadRap, Best Friends, Monterey SPCA and all the others that saved their lives and gave them a second chance.
Dog fighting is a CRIME. Punish the dog fighters not their victims…

 from Best Friends:

http://blogs.bestfriends.org/index.php/2014/01/21/a-matter-of-fairness-and-justice/

from BadRap: 

 

ACTION ALERT:

Dear Friends of Jonny Justice, Audie, Hector, Handsome Dan & Company. Remember when you helped us send hundreds of copies of ‘The Lost Dogs’ to the Obamas in 2011 to help educate our President about the plight of pit bulls? You can bet you helped seed the anti-BSL statement that came out of the White House during Obama’s second term, and we LOVE you for that. Creative, positive, political action WORKS.

Now we need you again. Do you have eight dollars to spare? The Orange County (CA) Board of Supervisors would like to destroy dogs that come from cruelty (dog fighting) cases in their county. We don’t know why. It could be that they aren’t aware that all dogs are individuals and survivors of terrible backgrounds defy the odds every single day. Please consider sending one or more of the board members a softcover copy of ‘Saving Audie’ – as a way to demonstrate what may be lost if they move forward with their no-mercy policy. If you order from Amazon today or tomorrow, they will get rec’v it in time for their meeting & vote on Jan 28. If you live in Orange County – please speak up. The dogs need you now! Thank you!

http://www.amazon.com/Saving-Audie-Puppy-Second-Chance/dp/080273457X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Hall of Administration

333 W. Santa Ana Blvd.

Santa Ana, CA 92701

Chairman Shawn Nelson (Fourth District)

Supervisor Janet Nguyen (First District)

Supervisor John Moorlach (Second District)

Supervisor Todd Spitzer (Third District)

Supervisor Pat Bates (Fifth District)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/meganm15/the-incredible-story-of-wallace-and-hector-pit-bull-brothers