dogs deserve so much better

Update: Sad news… not only has there been a lawsuit with allegations of a stolen dog, but now the organization’s leader, Tamira Thayne, is being accused of misappropriation of funds and other illegal actions. She has been living on the property. There were 150 rescue reps around the country, now there are 25. Shannon Allen, the national rescue coordinator just quit.  And now it seems that the Good Newz Rehab Center is a bust, going belly up.

http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-surry-dog-rescue-problems,0,2898847.story

 

Tamira from Dogs Deserve Better has rescued about 150 dogs off of chains…  Cici cannot imagine why humans would have dogs at all if they just put them outside on chains and never cuddle with them, play, and enjoy one another.

a happy tail from the road…

Skipper, formerly named “Spike” has been fostered at my house for over a year. Skipper was found on an outer road chained to a tree with another dog “Walker”. Skipper was very skiddish when he came off the chain, very jumpy, he did not like to be pet or have any affection, but in a year’s time he has come a long way and now loves to… snuggle!  Now the dog has been adopted by a grad college student, very responsible, named Hanna.  Congratulations !!!

The nonprofit organization has a network of people around the country who rescue dogs off of chains and dogs who are penned up.

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/reps.html

Changing laws

Heather Carpenter, an Orlando Florida Dogs Deserve Better rep, has compiled a basic ‘to-do’ list for changing laws… check it out… there are letters and step by step instructions.

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/laws.html

The good news is there are communities across the United States that DO have laws regarding chaining. Dogs Deserve Better favorites are Maumelle, Arkansas; Okaloosa, Florida; New Hanover, North Carolina; Lawton, Oklahoma; and Electra, Texas. where dogs are not allowed to be chained outside AT ALL! Other communities have laws which permit chaining, but only for a limited time.

Dogs Deserve Better is turning Bad Newz Kennels into GOOD NEWS.  On July 15 the property will be open for visitors, the public is welcome. DDB  needs A LOT of volunteers to get fencing up and a lot of work to be done in preparation and they need donations to make this all happen for the dogs…

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/volunteer.html

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/donations.html

In California, there are laws that a dog cannot be on a chain for longer than three hours.  This was news to me since my neighbors had their dog Lola on a chain 24/7… have not heard Lola in awhile and am wondering what happened to her. I hope that the people gave her away to someone who is giving her a good loving home.

Tamira suggests if you see a dog being abused or on a chain, to take photos and videos for evidence as many as you can.  Then contact Animal Control (local), SPCA, the police, the proper authorities. including rescue groups in your area. If they take care of the problem, great. If not, make a big fuss. Be vocal and visible. Start a Facebook page. Contact the media. Get a group together yourself. Be a Light. Be a Presence. Make phone calls, write letters, start petitions. Do all that you need to do to Get the Dog to Safety, a new Loving Forever Home, if necessary.

More info/tips:

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/infotips.html

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/inthenews.html

Happy Dog… may they ALL be…

Patrick, the beloved dog

Note:  Patrick has gained five pounds, yay…. and giving the staff kisses…he is also receiving healing energy treatments.

http://www.ahscares.org/showarchive.asp?id=795

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/NJ-woman-pleads-not-guilty-to-pit-bull-abuse-1314103.php

Curtis pleaded not guilty but said she left Patrick tied up outside her apt for more than a week while she went out of town and hoped someone would come along and take care of him, what a pathetic excuse

please write, call the media, prosecutors, sign the petition, speak up, change the laws, go to the Patrick movement pages…

sign the petition

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/patrick-starved-dog-thrown-down-garbage-chute/

Charges Against Curtis, Upgraded to Torture and Torment

from the New Jersey SPCA

from Col. Frank Rizzo of the NJ SPCA: “Please let this serve as an update on the Patrick the Pitbull case against Kisha Curtis. After careful consideration, we have decided to upgrade the charges against Ms. Curtis from disorderly persons offenses to indictable offense 4:22-17 (b)1 – torment & torture. The public must know that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior against animals in New Jersey.”

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Calling-for-strict-legal-action-against-Kisha-Curtis/200668173287188

http://www.seattledogspot.com/2011/03/29/charges-against-woman-who-allegedly-starved-puppy-upgraded-to-torture/

Just called the Newark NJ prosecutors office & told them I’d like Kishia Curtis charged with a felony. She’s being held in jail on an unrelated warrant. Talked to a woman who was very nice. So if you write please be kind/polite.

Now unless you have been asleep underneath a rock the last few days, you have probably heard about Patrick, the dog who was starved to skeleton bone thin and thrown down a garbage chute in a plastic bag, left to die by his owner Keshia Curtis in New Jersey. He had been living tied up to the staircase in an apartment complex for months. Apparently, NO ONE not one neighbor cared about Patrick enough to do anything for God only knows how long.

By a miracle, a maintenance worker found Patrick (named for St Patty’s day) still barely alive and moving one day before St. Patrick’s Day. The emaciated red pit bull mix weighed about 20 pounds instead of 50. He was discovered in a trash bag at the bottom of a Newark apartment building garbage chute.  Patrick was brought to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and American Humane Society brought him to Garden State Veterinary Specialists where he is currently in the ICU given 24/7 care.

Patrick has an obstruction in his belly but is eating, given fluids and is thriving in their loving care. He even is beginning to wag his tail.

Updates about Patrick are posted here:

http://www.ahscares.org/archives.asp?catid=27

https://www.facebook.com/pages/GSVS-Pet-Hospital/202264929797935

Foreign Body/Ultrasound Results
We do not know what the shadow in his stomach really is at this time. A repeat ultrasound yesterday did not show a significant change. This is both good news and bad news. The good news is that he continues to thrive so it is not bothering him. The bad news is that if it does not resolve itself or pass, it will eventually have to come out. We cannot say when, he is still not strong enough for anesthesia. The next step would be to use an endoscope to determine the nature of the foreign body. Only after this procedure could it be decided if surgery were necessary.

Every step he takes toward recovery is being watched by thousands of people. Feeding, playing with his many gifts of toys, wearing a cone to stop from scratching his healing sores, wagging his tail and more are being monitored at the Patrick Miracle Facebook page.

Supposedly, the hooker/porn star Curtis could not afford to feed Patrick but could afford to buy herself make-up and jewelry and clothing.

Outraged, 100,000+ people have voiced their concerns for Patrick and 100 facebook pages were created to rally together for Patrick and to speak out and ask for harsher sentencing in animal abuse cases like Patrick’s. A movement toward stronger animal abuse legislation nationwide is brewing.

A California woman has launched a website called patrickslaw.com.  Please read our update about this, https://celiasue.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/patricks-lawmovement-who/

This story has touched millions of people around the world, even an Iraqi solder who has written letters.

http://www.seattledogspot.com/2011/03/28/washington-soldier-in-iraq-moved-by-cruelty-inflicted-on-patrick/

Another group has committed to getting Patrick more media coverage, an event, asking for people to email CNN.

https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102738976476362&index=1

There even is a Patrick badge for your Facebook page, http://www.picbadges.com/the-patrick-miracle/1424444/

For everyone who wants to adopt Patrick – go to your local animal shelter and check out all the dogs there. So many pit bulls are euthanized every day, every week, every month, healthy sweet goofy dogs that need love and care.

Pitbulls are being saved “in Patricks honor” and being called patrickbulls… and someone also created a Patricks Pals page for people to advocate for and help other animals like Patrick…

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricks-Pals/156162051111907

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patricks-Buddy/214452011903590?sk=wall

Please pray for Patrick’s full and speedy recovery… and fax or snail mail the NJ Prosecutor’s office, send fax, 1-973-242-4901, To: Carolyn Murray, mention that you would like the the strictest sentencing that the law allows against Kisha Curtis for abandoning and starving Patrick. You can send a fax via email from myfax.com and other sites.