animal cruelty

[katrina cannon]

I have a 4 month old bulldog that was kicked by a neighbor, in the face, three days ago. The police came out and even though he admitted to kicking her, the police said they could not do anything. She went to the vet yesterday because she now has cherry eye in the eye she was kicked. The vet said that this normally happens when there is trauma from something or someone. I can't believe we can not do anything to this neighbor.

[Wendy]

LOL... you sound like me! Wendy : )

[BANDIT AND FRIENDS]

POSTED 8:17 pm Sun January 13, 2008 - Little Rock
Little Rock could be the next city to place restrictions on so-called dangerous dogs. Discussion of an ordinance that would ban quote-unquote "Pitbull like breeds" unless owners comply with specific regulations is on Tuesday's city board agenda.

Some of those regulations is on Tuesday's city board agenda. Some of those regulations would include a display warning people that a potentially dangerous dog lives on the property, as well as a 100 thousand dollar insurance policy for owners, and a requirement that the dog be registered with the city

[BANDIT AND FRIENDS]

My thoughts on my last reply is this
WE WOULD'NT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS IS THE SYSTEM FELT ABOUT ANIMALS THE WAY THEY DO PEOPLE . YOU SEE HOW THEY HANDLED MURDERERS AND CHILD MOLESTERS WITH THE DEATH PENALTY AND JESSICA'S LAW FOR PEDOPHILES. WELL WHAT ABOUT LASSIE'S LAW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT . NOTTO BE FUNNY BUT I'M SERIOUS , THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO PROTECT THE ANIMAL KINGDOM BUT THE SYSTEM JUST DOES'NT FEEL IT TO BE BIG PRIORITY WHEN AN ANIMAL IS TAKEN AND BRUTALIZED BY AN COLD HEARTED HUMAN WHO NEEDS HIS/HER HEAD BASHED IN LIKE THEY DID THE ANIMAL

[Archie's mom]

Another pitbull ban? I am so sick of people banning a breed based on those who cannot or have mistreated a pitbull. Its the not the breed that should be banned...but the people who own them. Any dog can be potentially dangerous depending on how they are raised. So if your going to ban one breed, ban them all. Its only fair. Then I think people would think twice before banning any breed of dog.

[BANDIT AND FRIENDS]

I agree
There was time right after I got TRIGGER , My wife and I were thinking about getting a APT. here in the county that we live but would you believe just because TRIGGER is PIT/CHOW they were against us having an APT. and I mean in any complex

[CJ]

An Idaho city was recently trying to ban dangerous dogs such as mixed dangerous dogs. Their words, not necessarily mine. They cited many breeds, pitbulls being the first on the list. The list included about 1/2 dozend canines considered "at risk to bite, maul or kill."

In addition, they were going to include "mixed with" "at risk" dogs as well. "When will it stop?" asked the community! Help us to stop it now! And apparently the people "in the know (city authorities) realized they would have to rethink how they would reword their paperwork.

Our city of Spokane, WA also has dangerous dogs listed, but dogs are not listed as potentially dangerous until they bite someone. After a second bite, even if someone is trespassing or teasing the dog, the dog is listed as dangerous. At that point, dogs are usually killed unless the case is appealed. And even with the animal control officer testifying on the dog's behalf, they usually always lose the battle.

It's heartbreaking when you know the animal is innocent, but are listed as "biters" because of the breed (in this case he was a rotweiller (sp?). The animal control workers gave Schwartz his epilepsy medicine only 1 days worth, and he had so many seizures before the 10-day confinement (until the hearing), he no longer recognized his owners and his health had deteriorated a great deal. Long and extremely sad to watch my neighbor friends have to go through the anguish...and still nothing changes.

The dog is punished for being a dog and protecting his property...and the owner had a sign up that said "Beware of Dog" up, which "meant they knew he was dangerous.

My answer is to this is should I have to put a sign that says "Beware of Old Lady with Gun!" sign up?

Sorry this email is such a downer...

CJ
[e-mail]

[Wendy]

Wow.... what a lot to wrap a mind around! Can certainly relate to the 'Beward of' sign. I got a wooden 'gag' sign that has a half-cut out of a .45 shape, says 'WE DON'T DIAL 911'. It is fastened to the front fence gate not too far down from our 'BEWARE OF DOG' sign, and our sign that is on the vehicle gate with a silouhette of a German Shepherd that says 'I CAN MAKE IT TO THE GATE IN 9 SECONDS, CAN YOU?'.
Our county just started the BAN THE PIT BULL campaign a couple of years ago. They made it a law where when they pick up any pit bulldog or even looks like it is mixed with pit bulldog, it is held for 4 days, then if not claimed, is euthanized. Before I knew it, I had taken one of the strays that had been dropped off here, down there, and they told me if I turned it into them it would be put to sleep, no chance for adoption. They do have breed rescues and the public allowed to come and get/adopt animals. Even if the bulldog is claimed by an owner, you had best hope you have kept up on it's rabies vaccination that is required to be vet-administered only (no more feed-store do-it-yourself, even if you can somehow prove it). The owner has to pay a fee for the boarding, if not spayed/neutered (any animal from there), has to be taken to the veteranarian's office then and there and also if no rabies, fined and have to pay for that and all vet fees associated with the p/u of your animal. That can get expensive, and many pit bull owner's around this area are usually not going to pay all of that to get their dog back... they can get another cheaper. Unfortunately, these owners do not care that 'their' dog will be euthanized, and just say no. I think if they have claimed the dog, they ought to at least be fined if they will not claim the dog, to the tune of whatever they would have paid to get the dog out of county confinement.
Anywho, I did take the stray home, got him his shots etc, and found him a good home with a bunch of kids to play with.
As far as the rottweiler... what the heck is wrong with people??!! The shelter techs/animal control workers had him on quarantine in their care and did not give vet prescribed medication to the dog, it had a bunch of seizures in their care. It was so bad the dog did not recognize it's owner?? Why?? I would say exactly what I think about them, but I think people who read this are probably thinking the same thing.
Where was the owner?? Why didn't they go everyday and make sure their fur baby got his medication. I would have to take the responsibility to somehow make sure that I was there to give him his medicine, if not bug the hell out of the worker to give it to them and make them sign some kind of documentation, every time, that he swore he gave it to him. I would not leave it up to an animal control shelter to make sure my dog got the medication I know he needed in order to stay in good health??
Barring that responsibility, the owner now needs to find someone to help them find out who was on duty when the medication was delivered for the dog (I asumme the owner brought the medication and left it with instructions of how and when it was to be administered), the worker(s) responsible for giving the dog medication (all of them on duty if need be). Talk to the person at the county in charge of animal control. Talk to anyone and everyone they can, and then make the county responsible for the care of their property. Yes the law may say a dog that has bitten twice has to be quarantined and a hearing held, but NO, they may not withhold medication for any reason when they are on notice that it needs the medicine to be humanely cared for, as much as they are charged with feeding, watering and cleaning up to humanely care for the dog. It is outrageous that anyone with a living being in their care not care for them properly, especially someone in the public employment whose paycheck is paid for by the taxpayers!
That is all I have to say right now... I could go on and on... but please, there needs to be a public outcry against atrocities such as this. They cannot be allowed to mistreat something that is taken away from a person against their will and confined in their care!!

Wendy : (

[CJ]

Hi Wendy,

I tried responding (but my computer totally crashed) to your question about the medicines not given to Schwartz, our friends Rotweiller. who was in the Spokanimal Shelter listed as a dangerous dog.

My friends were not allowed to even see Schwartz except from a distance, where they could barely see him, because "He might bite."

They did not think to get a lawyer, although they are true fighters for their pets...and still the SpokanimalCares shelter put Schwartz down. This happened a few years ago as well, so there's not a lot we can do except to use this as an example of how innocent lives of supposedly dangerous or viscious dogs.

BTW, I used to be terrified of Rotweillers, mainly because they were so big and scary acting. Meeting and getting to know Schwartz totally changed my viewpoint on "mean and scary" dogs.

Thanks for your advice.

CJ Jones
[e-mail]

[BANDIT AND FRIENDS]

Wednesday 01/09/08 12:23am
An Australian teenager blamed the influence of marijuana for his decision to steal two crocodiles and a monkey, local media reported Wednesday. Benjamin Glen Watts, 19, pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to twice breaking into a wildlife park on the outskirts of the tropical city of Darwin last July, Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio reported on its Web site. Watts said he planned to sell the stolen baby crocodiles and the marmoset but had been unable to find buyers, ABC reported.

Crocodylus Park spokesman Grahame Webb said Wednesday the animals were returned unharmed.
Watts' lawyer told the court his client admitted it was a "dumb stoner" thing to do and had written to Crocodylus Park to apologize.

Magistrate Greg Cavanagh sentenced Watts to a three-month suspended jail sentence. Watts has been counseled for his marijuana use since the thefts.

A court official was not immediately available for comment.

[Dianna Doughton]

I think it's time these teenagers be held accountable for their crimes. They made the decision to use the drugs. They also made the decision to do the crime. They need to be punished. 19 is considered an adult, not a kid so he should be treated as such. This is his second offense. He should have learned the first time. I have absolutely no sympathy for him. This guy needs to pay for the crime that he committed and he's lucky those animals weren't hurt.

[BANDIT AND FRIENDS]

Animal advocates around the nation hope that public outrage over dogfighting and puppy mill scandals in Virginia will force state and federal lawmakers to pass tougher animal abuse laws. Some sportsmen, however, warn that the emotionally charged debate could result in laws affecting legitimate owners, especially of hunting dogs, along with the intended targets. The legislative moves stem from the arrest of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and friends on charges they were operating a dogfighting ring at his 15-acre country estate in southeastern Virginia. The Humane Society of the United States expects legislators in about 25 states will consider strengthening dogfighting laws in 2008, said Michael Markarian, the organization's executive vice president. It and other animal advocacy groups also hope to see changes in federal laws to make it easier to prosecute dogfighters. In Virginia, for example, legislation has been filed that would add dogfighting as a qualifying offense under the state's racketeering law, which means dogfighters could receive longer sentences and their assets could be seized.

But it's not just harsher penalties that are needed, said Randall Lockwood, senior vice president for animal cruelty initiatives for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"Those are the sort of sounds-good-and-feels-good laws. What's harder to push for is the nuts and bolts that deal with the economics of actually enforcing animal cruelty laws," Lockwood said. "Frankly if law enforcement has no place to put the dogs they might seize in a dogfighting raid, that raid is not going to take place."

In Vick's case, a federal judge ordered him to pay more than $920,000 to provide long-term care for the nearly 50 pit bulls that survived his operation.

Dogfighting is a felony in every state except Wyoming and Idaho, but legislators there have promised to resurrect bills to end the distinction. Markarian said the Humane Society would work to strengthen those laws and others that allow people who attend fights and own the dogs to go virtually unpunished.

Attending a dogfight is a misdemeanor in 26 states, and legal in Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho and Montana.

"Those are really the elements that help this underground criminal industry thrive," Markarian said. "People don't walk into a bar on Main Street and stumble across a dogfight accidentally. They have to know where to go."

Laws attacking puppy mills are in the works in several states. Advocates of the regulations argue the mass-breeding kennels often produce unhealthy pets that end up either dying soon after purchase or placed in shelters because of skittish, antisocial behavior. Federal law requires breeders who sell puppies wholesale or for research to obtain a federal license, but the Humane Society study found many ignore the requirement. Only about half of states require licensing or regulation of dog-breeding operations.

The Humane Society hopes to get a bill introduced in Virginia that would limit the number of puppies bred and sold by breeders each year.

"It wouldn't stop people from breeding dogs or selling puppies," Markarian said. "But there would be some cap that would say you just can't turn this into a factory farm."

However, that is the sort of legislation that worries Bob Kane, president of the Virginia Hunting Dog Owners' Association.

Many houndsmen have numerous dogs, and Kane said he fears they will be swept up in the rush to pass laws aimed at unscrupulous puppy millers.

"I don't think there's much question there's going to be a lot of pressure," he said.

His biggest concern is that Virginia and other states will pass legislation mirrored after a provision thrown out of a federal farm bill that would have allowed inspectors from nonprofit organizations such as the Humane Society to go onto private property to evaluate the conditions in which animals are kept.

"If they're not taking care of their dogs, regardless of how many there are whether it's a couple or 22, if they're neglecting their dogs then I've got no use for them," Kane said. "I don't think private citizens ought to be the ones deciding this kind of thing."

The heightened awareness of the issue and momentum do not mean legislation is a certainty, and Markarian is only cautiously optimistic about Virginia's prospects.

"It's a short legislative session and lawmakers have to deal with a lot of important subjects, and unfortunately they often consider animal welfare not to be at the top of their radar screen," he said.

[Danville Va Group / Lona Kokinda]

Great article I found, very interesting. LONA KOKINDA DANVILLE ASPCA ONLINE GROUP

Commentary by Stephanie Lacy

It breaks my heart when I hear of those who want a pet, as opposed to a show
dog, buying dogs from breeders or pet shops, who are usually selling
puppy-mill dogs at show dog prices. Many of these folks pay hundreds or
thousands of dollars for their dogs, and then seek to recoup their
investment by breeding.
Then we have those well-meaning folks who want their children
to experience the "miracle of birth" by allowing their cat or dog to have "just
one litter." Some folks still believe the myth that allowing the pet to
have that one litter will make for a better pet. Others believe that their pet
is SOOO!!!!! special that her pups will be just as special in the same way; also, not
necessarily so. I have even heard people say, "We always find homes for the
puppies. If not, we just hang out by the local grocery store and give them
away."
Let us reason together.
Let's say Fido has 8 puppies. Are you willing to go to the local pound and
choose 8 puppies to die to make room for homes for your 8? How about for
the offspring of your un-neutered pups? Are you willing to take any or all of
them back at any time if the adoptive family ever decides to give them up?
What is your experience in breeding? What do you know about genetics? Are
you breeding dogs you have shown that are champions to other champions?
What are you doing to improve the breed? Do you operate or participate in the
operation of a breed rescue of your breed?
Let's say you are in front of the grocery store with your basket of 8 pups.
In Los Angeles, this is what you can expect to happen.
1. At least one of the pups will be thrown from a speeding car within
minutes of receiving it from you.
2. One will be released in its neighborhood because the parent or spouse of
the person will object. Then it will be hit by a car.
3. Another will be dumped in the foothills, where it will (a) starve
(b) be hit by a car or (c) be eaten by a coyote.
4. One will be turned into the pound, where it will be euthanaized along
with 5000 others who didn't find homes this week.
5. One will be taken home, put into the back yard, perhaps chained to a
tree, and if lucky, fed on a regular basis.
6. One will be used as bait for a dog fighting ring.
7. Another will be used as a moving target for future gunslingers.
8. And the guy who comes up and offers to take all the rest of them off of
your hands for life on his ranch is actually a butcher who will sell them
for animal research.

If you think I am making this up, please feel free to contact any of the
many rescue organizations in this area. You will find that these are some of the
milder scenarios.

Please, DON'T LITTER. Spay and neuter your pets. And make your next pet a
recycled one. If your heart is set on a purebred, you should know that at
least 25% of the shelter animals here in Los Angeles are purebreds. In
addition, there are breed rescues for every breed. These rescues are also
wonderful sources of information about breeds as well as about individual
dogs for adoption.







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