tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68723148762208771602024-03-14T04:38:40.765-04:00HELP FIDOA voice for dogs in central OhioHELP FIDOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02491817714167785745noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-44548749499442220672011-02-07T11:21:00.004-05:002011-02-07T11:38:17.014-05:00Ohio House Bill 14<span class="Apple-style-span" >As we mentioned previously when it was <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2010/04/end-discrimination-ohio-house-bill-79.html">Ohio House Bill 79</a>, in the new session of the Ohio House it is Bill 14. But the content remains the same: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">it </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">would amend § 955.11 of the <a href="http://www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com/ohio_revised_code.htm" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 153); ">Ohio Revised Code</a> to remove “pit bulls” from the definition of “vicious dog”. Ohio is the only state in the country that singles out dogs based on breed or way they look like without regard to behavior. We believe all dogs should be judged based on their behavior only. National organizations such as Best Friends <a href="http://network.bestfriends.org/campaigns/pitbulls/16626/news.aspx">strongly support</a> this change in the law as do local Ohio organizations such as the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, join them on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Coalition-of-Dog-Advocates/95316100681">here</a>. Proponent testimony for HB 14 is scheduled for this Wednesday, February 9th at 9 AM in Room 114 of the <a href="http://www.ohiostatehouse.org/Information/ContactInformation/Index.aspx">Ohio Statehouse</a>. There was a great group of supporters last year in support of this bill and we need to do the same now. If you have questions or would like more information, please email <a href="mailto:helpfido@gmail.com">helpfido@gmail.com</a>. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-weight: normal; "> </h3></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div>Brian Cluxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832970609097265993noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-82932243953595495082010-07-02T15:03:00.001-04:002010-07-02T15:03:44.004-04:004th of July Safety ReminderA 4th of July reminder to dog owners. This weekend will be the busiest weekend of the year for animal shelters. Thousands of dogs are lost when they panic from the fireworks. Please bring your dogs inside, or put them in the garage. A backyard is not the place for them when the fireworks are going off. If you chain your dog, please bring it in. Many dogs will end up strangling/hanging themselves in a panic.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-35490886998834450892010-06-03T14:14:00.002-04:002010-06-03T14:18:02.906-04:00I buried your dog today<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/TAfxmd6A4iI/AAAAAAAAABc/1Pm5NQjVycw/s1600/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/TAfxmd6A4iI/AAAAAAAAABc/1Pm5NQjVycw/s320/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478613114884776482" /></a><br /><br /><br />Today I buried your dog. I don’t know what your story is or why you wouldn’t try to find your dog. He was a great dog. That cold December day when I found him wandering the streets, cold and emaciated, I thought for certain someone had to be looking for this kind, old soul. When I called animal control to come and pick him up, I did it with full certainty, knowing I was making the call that would reunite this happy, old boy with his family. When I found out three days later that he was never claimed, I drove to the shelter to pick him up and bring him home, certain I would see Lost Dog signs somewhere. We never did see those signs, our found dog ads were never answered. Trying to keep some faith in humanity, I imagined that perhaps he had an elderly owner who had died and the remaining family didn’t know to look for him. Once upon a time he had a family who must have loved him. He was housebroken, loved to lay in doorways and was elated to go on car rides. Somewhere, he had to have a family that had loved him for the past 14 years. But that family never appeared.<br /><br />So in December, we argued with the local shelter in order to get the old guy released to us. With his being emaciated, eye infections, ear infections, horrible teeth, deaf, mostly blind and covered in lumps and tumors, he was deemed by the shelter to not be a candidate for adoption – “not even to a rescue” With some persistence, we were finally able to get him released from the shelter and headed towards our home. That’s when “Tucker” or “Old Man” moved in. <br /><br />From the start, it was his house. He walked right in, met all of our resident pitties and settled right in. He quickly became one of the gang and a best friend to Charlotte and Izzy, a patient chew toy for the foster pups, and the bane of Rags’ existence. He was an attention hound who loved having the little spot right above his tail scratched and would turn and head butt you if you dared to stop. He would take turns lying in doorways blocking all entries, only raising his head every now and then as both humans and dogs stepped over him. He would get so excited and bark his hoarse bark, urging you to hurry and get him his food, and “whoooof, whooof, whooof” again if he wasn’t happy with what he found in his bowl. Over the course of the next month, Tucker put on weight, going from 44 pounds up to his goal weight of 71 pounds. His ear infections were cleared up as were the eye infections. He got to experience the fun of being groomed and thought the high powered blowers were pretty nice. <br /><br />He had the most perfect winter. He loved the snow and would spend hours rolling around like a horse, making his own little snow angels. His face was almost always blanketed in the cold white powder. When he wasn’t out in the snow he could be found lying next to my Grandson’s bean bag chair or Hoovering through the house looking for stray pieces of kibble. When spring arrived and the snow melted, Tucker’s new love became rolling in mud puddles. There were many days he would walk back into the house completely covered in a thick, sludgy layer of mud, the only red fur showing would be a strip running down the center of his back which would leave us scrambling to find enough blankets to cover the carpeting before he could plop down and take one of his famous eight hour cat naps. <br /><br />We thought that summer would bring new joys for Tucker, days being spent out under the shade trees or splashing in a baby pool. Unfortunately we were wrong. Tucker had a couple of strokes which he bounced back from but they worsened his Laryngeal Paralysis. The warm summer weather would only exacerbate the condition and make it nearly impossible for the poor guy to breath. Today as Tucker lay next to me, looking up at me with those soft brown eyes, gasping for breath, it became clear that it was time for Tucker to move on to his next destination.<br /><br />So today, I buried your dog. I no longer care what the reason is for your not looking for him. I only wish you would have lost him a little earlier so that we could have had more time with him. So whether you care or not, please know that in his last months he brought so much love and joy into our home and left an impression that will never be forgotten. He was loved, so thank you.<br /><br />Tucker came into our home December 11, he took over our house but more importantly he took over our hearts. Tucker will be greatly missed.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-90503820366960830842010-05-02T11:36:00.005-04:002010-05-03T20:18:21.100-04:00HumaneWatch.org - Telling the truth about HSUSWe've addressed this topic in the <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-hsus-is-horrible.html">past</a> as part of the Michael Vick case and HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) has been a target of other humane organizations and animal welfare groups for a long time. But recently, HSUS has come under even more attack and for good reason. <a href="http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/2010/04/local-humane-societies-changing-names-hsus-now-on-the-defensive.html">KC Dog Blog</a> does an excellent job outlining many of the reasons. In the past couple months, a new website - <a href="http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/post/why_humanewatch/">HumaneWatch.org</a> has launched which is a collaborated effort by many people to be a "watchdog" for HSUS.<div><br /></div><div>HSUS is VERY slick in their marketing efforts. It wasn't until 4 or 5 years ago that I found out the <a href="http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/post/new_york_times_ad_shouldnt_the_humane_society_do_better/">truth</a> about them and their director, Wayne Pacelle. I'm now embarrassed to admit I gave money to HSUS in the past. Although Anna and I have cared about animals and dogs for a long time, it wasn't until the past 5 years where we began to get more involved in dog issues after adopting one and then two rescued pit bulls and migrating through the many problems with Breed Specific Legistlation. As I read more and talked to more people, I quickly realized that there is HUGE difference between our (and likely yours as well) local Humane Societies and HSUS. The Capital Area Humane Society in Columbus, for example, has absolutely nothing to do with the HSUS. They receive zero dollars from HSUS and are completely independent from them. The ONLY thing they share is part of a name. We quickly stopped giving money to HSUS and now only give money to local Humane organizations where we know exactly where the dollars are going. HSUS is not at all what they seem or what many donors think they are. I encourage everyone to check out<a href="http://humanewatch.org/"> HumaneWatch.org</a> and think carefully about where your donations go. If you'd like to join our email list, please send an email to <a href="mailto:helpfido@gmail.com">helpfido@gmail.com</a>.</div>HELP FIDOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02491817714167785745noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-9657489208025483102010-04-26T12:03:00.009-04:002010-04-26T18:44:17.848-04:00Huge Changes in Toledo!Some more good news has come out of Toledo in the past month. After a 22 year reign of terror and incompetency, Tom Skeldon <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009/11/lucas-county-dog-warden-tom-skeldon.html">"retired"</a> back in November. Since that time, Lucas County (of which Toledo is a big part) has been making a number of significant changes to improve the lives of dogs and dog owners, while also working to increase safety in their community. <div><br /></div><div>One huge change is a new dog warden - Julie Lyle' who clearly feels <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100414/NEWS16/100419890">MUCH differently</a> about how to do things than her predecessor, Tom Skeldon. Our friends at <a href="http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/2010/04/new-school-fights-to-drown-out-old-outdated-way-of-thinking-in-toledo-and-in-the-entire-state-of-ohi.html">KC Dog Blog</a> have a great post with many more details about the new warden.</div><div><br /></div><div>A second huge change is the Toledo Humane Society's reversal on their long-standing position to prohibit adoption of "pit bulls". As the <a href="http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100422/NEWS16/4220372">Toledo Blade</a> explains, the Humane Society plans to adopt out "some" members of the pit bull population that previously were killed pretty much immediately. Now this brings up a whole set of other issues such as: 1) what exactly is a pit bull? Breed identification is <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2008/08/dna-testingarent-we-all-just-mutts.html">risky business</a>; 2) many dogs fail the temperament testing by Humane Societies, regardless of breed. But some dogs are given the benefit of the doubt on testing while "pit bulls" often are not. Nevertheless, this is a positive step in the right direction. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are hopeful things will continue to move forward in a positive direction. And special thanks to our friends at <a href="http://www.ohiocoalitionofdogadvocates.com/">Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates</a> for their hard work in Lucas County.</div>Brian Cluxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832970609097265993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-67492461777536204492010-04-15T19:26:00.017-04:002010-04-21T22:10:19.508-04:00End Discrimination! Ohio House Bill 79<div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xiOpaAY3HSs/S8-lpeZsKSI/AAAAAAAAAAw/Gc13ce8dIRo/s1600/adonica+and+boys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 162px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462767004977735970" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xiOpaAY3HSs/S8-lpeZsKSI/AAAAAAAAAAw/Gc13ce8dIRo/s320/adonica+and+boys.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Happy Spring to all. Sorry for the lack of posts; our "work" lives have been crazy busy and we have not been able to update this blog as much as we would all like but we've been working diligently behind the scenes on a number of activities. </span></span><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One very important news item for ALL dog owners in Ohio is the progress of Ohio House Bill 79. We previously </span></span><a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009/03/ohio-house-bill-79-please-support.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">posted</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> about the details of this bill, which have not changed. It's relatively simple: </span></span><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">would amend § 955.11 of the <a href="http://www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com/ohio_revised_code.htm">Ohio Revised Code</a> to remove “pit bulls” from the definition of “vicious dog”.</span></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">HELP FIDO was present last Wednesday when HB 79 went before the Ohio House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, over a year after it was initially introduced by Rep. Barbara Sears. There were many supporters in attendance, some even occupying the adjacent “overflow room”. Roughly 10 people spoke, with only a couple expressing opposition to HB 79. Among the supporters were Jean Keating, co-founder of <a href="http://www.ohiocoalitionofdogadvocates.com/">Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates</a>, Shana Klein, founder of <a href="http://fortheloveofpits.org/">Cleveland-based bully rescue For the Love of Pits</a>, and <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html">Lucas County Commissioner Ben Konop.<br /></a><br />There was a wide range of topics discussed by the speakers who support the bill, ranging from the cost for a community to enforce breed specific legislation, to the fact that it punishes law abiding citizens and good dogs and may even be considered unconstitutional. Commissioner Konop, who attempted to have <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009/01/toledo-ohio-another-example-of-why-bsl.html">former dog warden Tom Skeldon</a> removed from his position before Skeldon retired in November, stressed that no breed is inherently vicious, just as babies aren’t born evil. He spoke about the Toledo pound’s recent moratorium on killing pit bulls since Tom Skeldon is no longer the dog warden. Skeldon actually spoke briefly, but didn’t have much to say, other than giving his opinion that passing the bill would be a mistake. “The job of dog warden is to protect the public from dogs,” he said. Well, Skeldon, as <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html">we’ve said before</a>, you’re missing the other half of the job description, and that’s why you’re no longer the dog warden. The committee members didn’t bother to ask any questions after his speech.<br /><br />Some testimonies focused on the definition (or lack thereof) of the term “pit bull” and how this presents such a huge problem in identifying dogs where the law is concerned. There was a lot of talk about media sensationalism and how statistics condemning pit bulls are often skewed and inaccurate depending on the source. In regards to these statistics, it was importantly noted that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has not collected dog bite data based on breed in 12 years. They've stopped doing it. Speakers asserted that breed specific legislation, like that of <a href="http://www.darkecountyanimalshelter.com/ohio_revised_code.htm">Ohio Revised Code Section 955.11 and 955.22</a>, creates a false sense of security and ignores the root of the problem, endangering the public more. Supporters stated that instead of breed discriminatory legislation, communities should crack down on irresponsible owners and those involved in criminal activity, enforce existing leash/containment laws, focus on educating the public, including children on bite prevention, and promote responsible ownership through lower-cost training and handling classes, as well as spay/neuter programs.<br /><br />Speakers for the bill effectively presented rebuttals for the opposition in regards to multiple topics. While the speakers supporting HB 79 were extremely well-prepared, offering handouts and informational packets and promising follow-up data for any of the committee members who requested additional information, the speaker from an environmental division within the Franklin County Court could not give any additional information when he was asked by the committee to back up the statistics he presented about the danger of pit bulls. After a speech in opposition to the bill, one committee member commented “These dogs are just nasty, and I don’t see why anyone would want to have one.“ GASP!! HISS!! Well, on the subject of these "nasty" dogs' temperament, findings of the <a href="http://www.atts.org/">American Temperament Test Society (ATTS)</a> were cited: the average score of the four breeds most often referred to or classified as a “pit bull” type dog, and who are defined as such in the Ohio Revised Code, is an 85.7%, higher than the Golden Retriever. The American Pit Bull Terrier alone received a score of 85.3. Other individual scores can be viewed <a href="http://www.atts.org/stats1.html">here at the ATTS website</a>. The reality of dog attacks was also discussed. Supporting speakers noted that often times attacks are the result of environmental factors, such as (abuse, neglect, starvation, and confinement) that would cause ANY animal, not a specific breed or type of dog, to attack, reinforcing Commissioner Konop’s “nature vs. nurture” statement. Other factors that contribute to bites include unaltered dogs and lack of socialization, which are also completely preventable issues.<br /><br />Several speakers indicated that nearly all the credible animal welfare, veterinary medical, and human health organizations OPPOSE breed specific legislation, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/"> </a>American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Canine Foundation, the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA), the American Dog Owners Association (ADOA), the National Animal Control Association (NACA), the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT), and the American Kennel Club (AKC), among others; one speaker even pointed out that Ohio BSL actually asks local Animal Control Officers to go AGAINST the opinion of their own national organization.<br /><br />Shana Klein, founder of Cleveland’s <a href="http://fortheloveofpits.org/">For the Love of Pits bully rescue</a> gave testimony, as did her mother, who delivered a heartfelt speech in favor of pit bulls and HB 79. The Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocate’s Jean Keating had an especially thorough and well-delivered testimonial that included many of the aforementioned points, garnering a healthy round of applause from all the supporters in attendance. Toward the end of the hearing, after all scheduled witnesses had spoken, anyone who wanted to say something was given the floor. HELP FIDO’s Lisa had an opportunity to make a point about the insurance coverage that is required for pit bull owners in Ohio, and how many companies discriminate against homeowners based on Ohio’s current law.<br /><br />We strongly support this bill as the scientific evidence from places such as the </span></span><a href="http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/ncrc-research/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">National Canine Research Council</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and detailed in numerous outlets such as </span></span><a href="http://www.btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">KC Dog Blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and </span></span><a href="http://stopbsl.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stop BSL</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> have shown, indisputably, that Breed Specific Legislation does not work! It is impossible to enforce as there is no accurate indicator of breed (aside from early DNA testing), extremely expensive to enforce and most important of all - does NOT make our communities safer. To read more, please click on the BSL link at the bottom right of this blog. What does work is judging each dog individually, based upon its behavior and actions. </span></span></span></div></div><br />As of right now there is no committee vote scheduled for the bill, so we’ll have to keep our ears open and our fingers and toes crossed in the meantime! Want to help HB 79? <a href="http://www.ohiocoalitionofdogadvocates.com/index.php?p=1_3_House-Bill-79">Visit the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates website</a>.<br /><br /></div><div>Huge thanks for Lacy Marshall for contributing the majority of this post.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Brian Cluxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832970609097265993noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-1744686871884530832010-03-14T20:31:00.004-04:002010-03-14T20:56:25.195-04:00Poisonous Chewing Gum...Review!This post won't be new information for the blog but may be new information for some, so I'm reposting an entry Dr. Mandi wrote last year. I have a friend whose dog recently got into a shopping bag and ate a pack of chewing gum, and she wasn't aware of how dangerous the artificial sweetener xylitol is for dogs. She took him to the vet immediately as soon as I told her it could be poisonous to him, and he's fine thankfully. He cost her and her husband a pretty penny with that scare, but better safe than sorry! I think it's an important reminder, so here it is! :o)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Chewing gum...Poisonous???</strong><br /></span><br />Hello all! Recently I have treated several dogs that have gotten themselves into a "sticky situation" by eating various kinds of chewing gum. But all joking aside, if your pet gets into your purse or gets to that gum on the kitchen counter or your bedroom dresser they can be in some pretty serious trouble. The primary offender is an ingredient called XYLITOL. It is a sweetener or sugar substitute that many gum manufacturers are now using in their products. There has been some good information passed around recently on the internet, but here are a few more facts to increase your knowledge base about this sticky sweet "poison".<br /><br />According to the most recent data from the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC), a relatively small dose of xylitol can cause serious hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that can be fatal if left untreated. (Something you would certainly NOT expect something sweet to do!!) For a small dog (5-10 pounds) the toxic dose could be as small as LESS THAN ONE STICK OF GUM!<br /><br />Xylitol ingestion can also be associated with severe liver failure, which, even if treated aggressively, can result in death. Not all dogs that ingest toxic doses of xylitol develop hypoglycemia or liver failure, but because it is impossible to predict which dogs will develop these serious symptoms, it is recommended that all dogs that ingest potentially toxic doses be treated aggressively. Also, if your dog (or cat) consumes ANY chewing gum at all, you should contact your veterinarian, the local emergency service or the NAPCC immediately for consultation and treatment.<br /><br />Treatment usually involves a veterinarian inducing vomiting, taking blood tests to monitor liver function, hospitalization for intravenous fluids (containing dextrose - sugar supplementation), blood sugar monitoring and other supportive care as needed. Dogs that have ingested large amounts may require long term care and follow up blood tests, may have permanent liver problems and may not survive treatment.<br /><br />A simple solution is to only purchase xylitol free chewing gum. But remember to call your veterinarian if you even FOR ONE SECOND think your pet may have ingested gum. You can also call the National Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for advice. They charge a $60 consultation fee which can be well worth it in this situation!!! The NAPCC can also answer questions about many toxic substances. Better safe than sorry!!!<br /><br />Written by Dr. Mandi (April 7, 2009)Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-69372347446250372952010-02-06T19:21:00.005-05:002010-02-07T19:04:13.741-05:00Hope for Bullys on Marine BaseI recently received my Winter 2010 copy of "ASPCA Action" and read an article that really made me smile. The article titled "ASPCA Animal Behavior Experts Work with Marines to Evaluate Dogs and Keep Them on Base", gave me hope that more people are working to prevent breed bans and are fighting to give Bully breed dogs the chance they deserve.<br /><br />This article is reprinted with the expressed permission of the ASPCA.<br /><br /><em>In early October, six ASPCA animal behavior experts traveled to assess the behavior of 85 dogs living in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tri</span></span>-Command housing units of the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot. The dogs, mostly Pit Bulls and Rottweilers, were potentially subject to a new military housing breed ban, and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Tri</span></span>-Command tapped the ASPCA to assess the dogs to ensure that they did not pose a threat to base personnel and their families. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The assessment, known as SAFER (Safety Assessment For Evaluation <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Rehoming</span></span>), is an evaluation tool that helps identify the likelihood of aggression in individual dogs. SAFER identifies a dog's comfort level with certain interactions, like restraint, touch, reaction to new experiences, objects and sounds, bite inhibition, behavior around food and toys, and attitude towards other dogs. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>"Our goal was to make sure safe dogs and their families were able to stay together," says Dr. Emily Weiss, ASPCA Senior Director of Shelter Research and Development. "We were seeking to identify behavior such as aggression, which often can be modified or managed." Dr. Weiss developed the SAFER assessment program, as well as the popular ASPCA Meet Your Match program. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>Talk of instituting a breed ban on the base began after several incidents that involved dogs attacks. The Marine Corps had previously conducted tests that evaluated a dog's obedience and manners, but not aggression. </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>The ASPCA is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">opposed</span> to laws that ban specific breeds of dogs or discriminate against responsible dog guardians based solely on their choice of breed. Dr. Weiss says, " We evaluated 85 dogs using the SAFER assessment. Of those, 83 showed no significant aggression issues that would cause them to be torn from their loving families." She adds, "Two dogs demonstrated significant aggression - that's just 2.4 percent of the dogs assessed, which is a powerful statistic when the alternative is an all-out ban on a breed."</em><br /><br />(Copyright 2010. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). All rights reserved.)<br /><br />Also in this recent issue were stories chronicling some of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ASPCA's</span> recent work such as the evaluation of some of the dogs seized in the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history (including a "pit-bull" that gave birth to puppies after she was rescued), their rescue of 250 dogs and cats in October raids on puppy-mills in Mississippi and Tennessee, and the passing of the Human Euthanasia Bill by the New York State Legislature that prohibits gassing as an accepted form of euthanasia for stray, homeless, abandoned or improperly cared for animals, requires euthanasia by injection to be done only by a certified euthanasia technician, licensed veterinary technician or licensed veterinarian, and prohibits <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">intra-cardiac</span> euthanasia on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">unsedated</span> animals who are under the care of a shelter.<br /><em></em><br />The ASPCA is a wonderful organization whose members and experts work tirelessly to save so many animals. But, what impresses me most, is their continued work to show the world that breed-bans are unfounded and that Bully breed dogs are worth saving too. Every day they work to give these dogs not only the care and medical attention they need, but to place them in the loving homes they deserve. THANK YOU ASPCA!!Dr. Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753970434871963725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-89066805942816532692009-12-02T17:41:00.002-05:002009-12-02T17:51:03.314-05:00Gift-wrap that sweater, not a puppyThe holiday season is upon us yet again, and everyone is shopping for the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Many times, people make the mistake of giving a dog (or other pet) as a surprise gift, thinking how cute it will be to have the puppy in a box, wrapped up in a bow like that scene from Lady & the Tramp. But this is not a good idea. If the person receiving your furry present is not ready for a dog, financially or otherwise, or if the particular breed you chose for them is not a good match, it can spell disaster. <b>Adopting a dog is a big decision,</b> and the person who will be responsible for caring for the animal should be involved in every way. If the dog will be a gift for your own children, it should be a family event to make sure the dog is a good fit for everyone, including existing pets! Too many times when parents give a puppy as a gift to their kids, the excitement wears off, puppyhood becomes a reality, and there’s a dog that no one wants to take care of, no one wants to train. Before you know it, your sweet little puppy-in-a-box is in a shelter by St. Patrick’s Day.<br /><br />Since individual breeds are so different, it’s <b>important that the potential owner researches breeds</b> before deciding on one; everything from size and temperament, to energy levels and health issues needs to be considered to ensure the dog matches its owner’s lifestyle. Instead of actually presenting the dog as the gift, you may want to purchase dog supplies or some dog books to give to the person on the big day. Then your loved one can find the dog best for them, or you can go together to adopt.<br /><br />A word about puppy mills...<br /><br />In addition to not giving a dog as a surprise holiday gift, <b>PLEASE do not buy a puppy from a newspaper ad, on the Internet, or from a pet store!!</b> The newspaper/Internet ads are almost always puppy mills advertising to sell animals directly to the public, and pet stores usually obtain their puppies from puppy mills as well. Pet stores will try to assure you that they only get the puppies from responsible breeders, but <b>don’t be fooled. NO reputable or responsible breeder would sell to a pet store.</b><br /><br />As you may know, <b>puppy mills are commercial dog breeding operations that focus primarily on profit rather than the welfare of the animals</b> in their facilities. Dogs in puppy mills live in unsanitary conditions, have inadequate food, water, shelter, and veterinary care, suffer overcrowding, and receive virtually no human companionship. In puppy mills, females are bred as frequently as possible and will likely never live life outside of a puppy mill. Many times, the puppies aren’t even purebred, and if they are, the quality is poor. Genetic testing for temperament and health issues is rare, and many of these puppies not only end up with kennel cough and chronic ear and eye infections, but also <b>have serious genetic health problems</b> that don’t show up until later. Despite the owners spending thousands of dollars on vet bills, these dogs often die an early death.<br /><br />Don’t fall into the guilt trip of “Oh, I need to SAVE that puppy in the window!” Pet stores and <b>puppy mills can only stay in business if you give them your money.</b> Be part of the solution, not the problem.<br /><br />If you are looking for a purebred dog, try your local shelter. <b>1/3 of the dogs in shelters are purebred, and many are young,</b> contrary to popular belief. You could also <b>find a breed-specific rescue group.</b> Remember that while puppies are adorable and fun, they also take a TON of work and time. An older dog is often already housebroken and trained, and is just waiting for a loving home to share! Adopting a dog through <b>rescue is also much less expensive</b> than the hundreds or even thousands of dollars you would pay a breeder. Usually spay/neuter is even built into the relatively low adoption fee. If you MUST buy a puppy and haven’t found one through rescue, please make sure you choose a responsible, reputable breeder, and <b>NEVER buy from a pet store.</b><br /><br />Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-74890640490066880592009-11-21T00:33:00.009-05:002009-11-24T16:13:12.923-05:00Lucas County Dog Warden Tom Skeldon Retires After 22-year Reign of DeathThis month, dogs and dog lovers all over the land are singing the Munchkins’ happy tune….”Ding Dong…!” First, Dorothy’s house landed smack dab on top of the Wicked Witch of the East with Jackie Thompson’s recall from Whitehall City Council earlier this month. Now, the Wicked Witch of the West (er, well…Northwest-ish) has all but completely melted, as <b>Lucas County dog warden Tom Skeldon</b> submitted a letter of resignation on November 19! His <b>official retirement date will be January 31, 2010,</b> however he plans to use leftover vacation time for the remainder of his employment, making the <b>end of December his last day at the pound.</b><br /><br />Now to give you some background on this beast. The departure of Skeldon from his 22-year position as Lucas County’s Chief Dog Warden has been over a year in the making. Last October, a petition with the signatures of over 3000 concerned Toledo-area residents was submitted, calling for his removal as the county’s head of animal control. Since then, Skeldon has been blamed for the <b>wrongful deaths of 2 family pets</b>. In February 2009, a <b>10-pound Pomeranian</b> that was outside on its front porch waiting to go back inside, was <b>shot by a deputy dog warden’s tranquilizer gun and later died.</b> Then in August, a <b>Chow named Bear got loose from his house</b> on a Sunday evening, was hit by a car, and ran off. Though his family searched the area for him and looked at the pound, they couldn’t find him; however, they were told they had 3 days before he would be put down, should he come into the pound. The dog was found by police Tuesday night, and the dog warden called the family Wednesday morning to notify them that <b>Bear had been put to sleep.</b> The dog warden alleges that this action was taken because the emergency vet recommended it was the humane thing to do, due to the dog’s injuries. Bear’s injuries consisted of a <b>broken leg.</b> The owners had no opportunity to make a decision or to see their family member again.<br /><br />Of course, Tom Skeldon has been most often criticized for his procedures of operation within the dog shelter. He has come under heavy fire from many <b>animal advocacy groups, including HELP FIDO,</b> but <b>one of his biggest critics is County Commissioner Ben Konop</b>. Konop, like many of us, finds the warden’s policies and actions completely unacceptable. From his statements, he seems to be both outraged and embarrassed by the pound’s astronomical <b>euthanization rate (77%) and low adoption rate (13%)</b>, especially since Wood County has an adoption rate of 80%. Only 160 dogs have been adopted out in the last two years. <b>Last year’s death toll was a staggering 2,483 dogs.</b> So far this year, Skeldon’s office has killed 1,848.<br /><br />In addition to this general lack of effort to place adoptable animals in homes, Tom Skeldon is known for his particularly <b>ruthless bias against bully breeds</b>, promoting discrimination against them and seemingly carrying out some sort of personal vendetta. He refused to adopt out any pit bulls or surrender them to rescue groups, instead euthanizing any that came through his doors. Since 2007, 400 puppies (all breeds) have been euthanized, 183 of which were apparently healthy (another fact that his critics took issue with). Half of the 400 puppies were pit bulls (or what Tom Skeldon considers a pit bull). This year alone, <b>the dog warden's office has killed at least 932 pit bulls or pit bull mixes,</b> including 46 pit bull puppies, regardless of age. Obviously the puppy-killing in general is ludicrous, since everyone knows puppies are so easily adopted. And Skeldon’s pit bull policy is ridiculous. Not only is it disheartening that he was judging solely on breed/type and not history, health, behavior, or temperament, but there's a good chance he was also incorrectly identifying many non-pit bull dogs as pit bulls. <br /><br />If this weren’t bad enough, pit bulls aren’t the only breed Skeldon discriminates against. He has said “We’ll adopt out a good Rottweiler”, but he refused to place Rotties in the adoption area for the general public because they supposedly get “gangbangers” who come through kicking the cages, looking for a mean dog. While this may be a valid concern, not only did Skeldon’s description and choice of words land him in a different pot of hot water, but it may explain why <b>Rottweilers</b> are the 6th highest breed on the pound’s kill list this year. As of October, the Rottie death toll was 60. To top it all off, Skeldon has also been accused of <b>not vaccinating dogs</b> that come into the shelter, with no regard for the prevention of the <b>spread of disease,</b> and he <b>refused to work with all-breed rescues.</b> The only group Skeldon would work with is the <b>Toledo Area Humane Society (TAHS)</b>. Even so, <b>TAHS couldn’t get Skeldon to give them enough dogs,</b> and they have room for more, so they had to pull from surrounding counties such as Hardin, Carroll, Franklin, and Montgomery. WHAT??!<br /><br />Last week <b>Commissioner Konop proposed that Skeldon be removed</b> from office, but he was out-voted by fellow Commissioners Pete Gerken and Tina Skeldon Wozniak (Tom Skeldon’s first cousin). Konop says that Skeldon is doing the right thing by resigning; however, this has not softened his views on the dog warden. Konop wants him to step down immediately and says <b>“I am not comfortable with him as our dog warden for even another day.”</b> He plans to introduce a motion to have Skeldon dismissed immediately, and if that fails, he will attempt to have Skeldon suspended until his official date of retirement. Go Commissioner Konop!<br /><br />Bonnie Mitchell, the current Dog Pound Manager, will act as the interim dog warden as Skeldon moves into retirement and until a permanent replacement is found. While this is a concern, since she must have been an integral part of Skeldon’s methods of operation at the pound (read: part of the problem), Commissioner Konop is not a fan of her stepping in as interim dog warden, and he hopefully, possibly, can find a better solution.<br /><br />All in all, this is why <b>HELP FIDO is JUMPING FOR JOY</b> at the news of Tom Skeldon’s resignation! Judging from his decisions and practices while dog warden, one might conclude that <b>Tom Skeldon finds some sort of sick pleasure or satisfaction in killing the hundreds of dogs that have had the misfortune of crossing his path.</b> Mr. Skeldon has said that his first priority as dog warden was to protect the public from dogs. While this is of course an important and necessary part of being a dog warden, Skeldon seems to have forgotten that <b>dogs often need</b> protection from some people in society, as well as <b>compassionate individuals to advocate for their well-being.</b> Most citizens expect even a low level of these attributes from their county dog warden. Someone who does not understand or like dogs, who does not genuinely care about the welfare of animals, and who cannot or refuses to find a balance between protecting the public and looking out for the furry creatures that share our streets and homes, does not deserve or belong in a position of animal control.Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-14334981552534820662009-11-17T11:58:00.005-05:002009-11-17T12:08:39.535-05:00Stolen Dogs - Columbus<div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SwLXj_FwZ2I/AAAAAAAAABM/YLjmteYGmls/s1600/image_marley280.jpg"></a><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SwLW_YFf8PI/AAAAAAAAABE/Un6byW3xRzU/s1600/chrissy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405118887083634930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SwLW_YFf8PI/AAAAAAAAABE/Un6byW3xRzU/s320/chrissy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div>In the past few days I have heard of multiple cases of dogs being stolen from backyards in Columbus or in two instances, stolen from a shelter. Please be on the lookout for these pups.</div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Chrissy, an 8-10 week old white pit mix pup, disappeared from the shelter Sunday night (Nov. 15th). She may have been stolen, since coincidentally another pit disappeared from another shelter on the same night. If anyone was at PWP and saw ANYTHING that might lead to her recovery, or if you think you may have seen her or know of her whereabouts, please call the shelter ASAP at 267-PAWS or email us at <a href="mailto:%20pets@petswithoutparents.net">mailto:%20pets@petswithoutparents.net</a>.</div><p>***************************************************************</p><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SwLX0dDTvyI/AAAAAAAAABU/uzFIu19xftE/s1600/image_marley280.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405119798949691170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SwLX0dDTvyI/AAAAAAAAABU/uzFIu19xftE/s320/image_marley280.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p>Someone posed as a CHA volunteer and stole Marley, a 1-year-old Akita/Boxer mix.<br />"They can come to the shelter anytime, ring the doorbell, knock on the door, bring the dog back, no questions asked at all," said CHA's Development Director Terri Montigny.<br />Montigny said the fake volunteer took the dog out for a walk in the play area.<br />Columbus police are investigating.<br />Marley was wearing a blue collar and a CHA tag.<br />Anyone with information is asked to call police or the CHA shelter at 614-891-5280</p><p> </p><p>Also missing: Young, female, unspayed, white, tan and red female pit bull. She is not wearing a collar. It was removed from her and left laying in the yard</p><p>Please, if at all possible, do not let your dogs out unsupervised</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-72325749682209025862009-11-06T19:54:00.005-05:002009-11-08T19:14:28.828-05:00Whitehall Election Results- GO BULLY!!The people of Whitehall have spoken!!!!<br /><br />On Tuesday November 3, 2009, the fine people of the city of Whitehall came out in full force to make it known that no one will bully them, intimidate them, or embarrass their city. They voted 74.8% to 25.2% to recall city councilwoman Jackie Thompson in Whitehall's first ever recall election, and the first recall in Columbus since 1998. Ms. Thompson, as many of you may know, sponsored two proposed pit bull bans for the city over the last year, both of which failed.<br /><br />Ms. Thompson was immediately relieved of her position the night of November 3rd once the election results were certified. When questioned about her recall, she responded, "If they think this is going to put an end to it, no, it's not. I intend to run for mayor." Although, many of her opponents do not think that she has the public support to pull it off, especially in light of the recent election results. One other interesting note, the current Whitehall Mayor, John Wolfe, gave $500 left over from his campaign funds to the efforts to recall Ms. Thompson, stating, "I felt it was a just cause." The city council has 30 days to appoint Ms. Thompson's replacement.<br /><br />In other election news, Robert Bailey was elected to a four year term in his current appointed position on the Whitehall city council. Mr. Bailey sponsored recent positive changes in Whitehall vicious and dangerous dog laws and is opposed to breed specific legislation.<br /><br />Also, Leslie Lacorte lost her bid for re-election to the Whitehall city council 58.4% to 41.6% to her opponent (former high school teacher and basketball coach VanGregg). Although Ms. Lacorte has been very passionate about her role as Parks and Recreation director and has made some good progress in this position, many think her close association with Jackie Thompson was her ultimate downfall. (Especially in light of Ms. Thompson's recent objections to Mr. VanGregg running against Ms. Lacorte.) Ms. Lacorte was the only other council member along with Ms. Thompson to support the pit bull ban in Whitehall and voted yes to the proposed ban legislation both times it was introduced.<br /><br />Now a little personal editorial concerning the recent election and Ms. Thompson's assault on the people who live and work in Whitehall, in particular her assault on me. Over the past few months leading up to the recall, Ms. Thompson has been putting forth information on the Internet and distributing fliers in print that contain quotes attributed to me. These quotes are not only taken out of context to benefit her position, but they are SIGNIFICANTLY altered from their original form. She also has consistently referred to me following the quotes as "Whitehall Pit Bull Vet.". Although I have had much experience with bully breeds, they are not, by any means, my only patients. I treat all breeds of dogs from Chihuahuas, to Golden Retrievers, to Great Danes, as well as cats and the occasional rabbit, ferret or bird. I have also had experience with exotic/zoo animals and farm/large animals. She wants the people of Whitehall to think that I solely treat bully breeds and puts that information forward in a negative light. Ms. Thompson refuses to acknowledge my proper credentials in her public rants. I am a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or DVM, and my years of training, schooling and experience should afford me the respect of being addressed as such, even when being misquoted. However, Ms. Thompson is not concerned with the issue of respect unless it pertains directly to her. Further, I would like to thank C.J. Thompson, Citizen Journalist, for helping to put forth election materials that show the public how Ms. Thompson has continued to harass many individuals over the course of her time on city council.<br /><br />All in all, a good day at the office for bully lovers!!! Just goes to show how important it is to get out there and VOTE!!Dr. Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753970434871963725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-76598069182475812212009-10-24T20:25:00.006-04:002009-10-26T17:09:40.503-04:00National Pit Bull Awareness Day 2009!It’s <strong>National Pit Bull Awareness Day</strong> today!! So, I figured I’d do a little posting on this misunderstood “breed” that is so close to my heart.<br /><br />First off, a little explanation. I use the word “breed” in quotes above, because “pit bull” is actually not a specific breed of dog. It is actually a very vague, umbrella-type term used to describe several different breeds, types, and/or mixes of breeds. Most commonly accepted under the “pit bull” term are the<strong> American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT),</strong> <strong>American Staffordshire Terrier (Am Staff),</strong> and <strong>Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie)</strong>, but in some cases, pit bull is used to describe <strong>American Bulldogs</strong> (as noted in the Ohio Revised Code) and even <strong>Bull Terriers</strong> (like Spuds MacKenzie), as well as mixes of all the aforementioned. Often times, the term “pit bull” is carelessly misused by the media and uneducated individuals to describe any dog that is vicious, has attacked, or simply has a similar appearance to the breeds listed above (boxy face, brindle markings, cropped ears, and/or short, muscular body) thus furthering the confusion and perpetuating the untrue stereotype that these particular dogs are always dangerous. Some enthusiasts of the American Pit Bull Terrier, a breed not recognized by the AKC, but by the UKC and other kennel clubs, feel that its name was in fact, stolen, and therefore they only consider the APBT to be a true “pit bull”. Some feel that only APBTs and Am Staffs are “pit bulls”. It all can be quite confusing, but it comes down to the fact that they are essentially the same dogs but have been bred for a different purpose and/or size standard since the mid 1930's. We can really only attempt to guess the breed by looking at differentiating subtlties. For all these reasons, the pit bull community, rescue organizations, and those of us who own this type of dog often use the even more general term “bully”. For the purposes of this blog, you may see both the terms “pit bull” and “bully”, as well as “pittie” or “pibble”.<br /><br />A little history lesson…Pit bulls are descended from bulldogs, mastiffs, and terriers. Hundreds of years ago in England, they were bred to fight in rings or “pits”, in a “sport” called bull baiting. When bull baiting was banned, the breeders crossed these breeds to develop a strong, athletic dog and fought the dogs against each other. As most of us know, this brutal, cruel, and illegal practice unfortunately still exists today in rural areas and urban neighborhoods all over our nation. Though dog fighting is an obvious part of the pit bull’s history and original purpose, and care should be taken to properly handle and socialize them, this does not automatically mean that all pit bulls are dog aggressive and won’t get along with other animals. Many other breeds were also originally bred to chase, fight, and kill other animals, such as many of the hounds and terriers, but these breeds do not have the stigma attached to them that the pit bull does. Most important of all, pit bulls were NEVER bred to have any human aggression, and historically those that showed signs were destroyed. Pit bulls that are aggressive towards people are NOT the norm, and most likely are the result of poor genetics/irresponsible breeding, cruelty, and/or neglect. Although, even in these cases, it may be possible for these resilient dogs to be rehabilitated, as with the Vick dogs.<br /><br />Pit bulls were once heralded as the most respected dog in the U.S., and even before that, they were known as “nanny dogs” because of their wonderful temperament and affection towards children. This image has sadly fallen by the wayside, and now pit bulls are feared, hated, and the target of unfair and ineffective breed specific legislation (BSL) in our states and in other countries around the world. They are also probably the most abused “breed”, as they of course are the first choice for dogfighting, and shelters are filled with them as a result of enforced BSL, neglect, and “backyard”/accidental breeding.<br /><br />Despite these bleak circumstances, the true character of the pit bull continues to shine through when and where it can. Pit Bulls are one of the most stable people-friendly dogs in existence. The <strong>National Canine Temperament Testing Association</strong> tested 122 breeds, and <strong>Pit Bulls placed the 4th highest with a 95% passing rate!</strong> Pibbles are lovers, loyal and protective, energetic and lazy all at the same time. They are the best snugglers, the best kissers, and absolutely hilarious. Personally, I have always loved dogs and my family has always had them as pets. But I have never fallen so deeply and madly in love with a type/breed of dog as I have with the bullies I’ve encountered. Please realize that when it comes to the threat of dog bites or attacks, ANY dog is capable, regardless of breed. Be a fighter FOR the bullies, and rise against BSL, dog fighting, cruelty, neglect and irresponsible behaviors!! Spay and neuter your pets, ESPECIALLY pit bulls, and punish the deed, not the breed!<br /><br />To report someone you know who is involved with dog fighting, please call the <strong>Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Special Investigations Unit</strong>. You can remain anonymous.<br /><strong>614-462-3318</strong><br /><br />Or, call the<strong> Ohio Attorney General's Tip Line</strong>. If your information leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dog fighting or cock fighting, the <strong>Humane Society of the United States offers a reward of up to $5,000. 1-877-244-6446</strong><br /><br /><br /><strong>How to be a RESPONSIBLE pit bull owner:</strong><br /><br />-Educate yourself on the breed thoroughly before choosing the pit bull as your pet. Make sure you have the proper lifestyle to provide a good forever home.<br /><br />-Consider adoption from a shelter or rescue group rather than a breeder.<br /><br />-Comply with your city or state’s guidelines for owning a pit bull.<br /><br />-Keep your pet up to date on Rabies and other vaccinations.<br /><br />-Spend time playing with and exercising your dog daily. Pit bulls have a lot of energy and pent-up energy can result in aggression and other unwanted behaviors.<br /><br />-Whether you have an older dog or a puppy, you should avoid playing rough with your dog. Rough housing with dogs teaches them it's ok to be rough or aggressive with people.<br /><br />-Don’t hit, mistreat, or tease your dog, always treat them with respect.<br /><br />-Never leave pit bulls unsupervised with children or other animals. When no one is around to keep an eye on them, the dogs should be safely crated or in separate rooms, even if the dogs are best friends. You never know what might trigger a fight in your absence.<br /><br />-Always leash your pit bull when outside on a walk.<br /><br />-Make sure your dog always has fresh water available.<br /><br />-Don’t chain your dog outside for long periods of time. This can result in frustration and aggression.<br /><br />-Don’t leave your dog outside in the cold or hot weather. Like people, they can get sick being left out in the cold or heat.<br /><br />-Don’t leave your dog outside if you do not have a safe, secure kennel for him or her to stay in. Without adequate security your dog could be stolen, or it could run away.<br /><br />-Avoid taking your pit bull to off-leash dog parks or other areas where it may come into contact with other dogs running loose. Even if your dog is not dog-aggressive, if another dog starts a fight, it will automatically be your dog’s fault in the eyes of many people.<br /><br />- If someone is being too rough with your dog, or patting it in a way that you know your dog does not like, you can politely say, “Please don’t pat my dog like that, he/she prefers this”, and show the person how you would like them to interact with your dog.<br /><br />-SPAY/NEUTER your pit bull!!! There are just too many without homes to create more, whether accidentally or on purpose. Spaying/neutering also reduces aggression and the urge to wander, as well as preventing health issues such as cancer. If you're tight on cash, check into local resources and low-cost spay/neuter clinics, like those mentioned in "Tough Times" a few posts down.<br /><br />-MICROCHIP your pit bull!! You never know when your pet might become accidentally separated from you. Microchipping is quick, relatively painless, and inexpensive. Pit bulls only have about 72 hours in most shelters before they are euthanized, and microchipping will ensure that your family member is returned to you in case you lose one another.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Here are some famous people that own/have owned pit bulls:<br /></strong><br />- Jessica Biel<br />- Rachael Ray<br />- Helen Keller<br />- Jon Stewart<br />- Alicia Silverstone<br />- Rachel Bilson<br />- Michael J. Fox<br />- Jessica Alba<br />- Jamie Foxx<br />- Kevin Federline<br />- Madonna<br />- Brad Pitt<br />- P!nk<br />- Sinbad<br />- Eliza Dushku<br />- Redman (he formerly owned pit bull Daddy who is now featured prominently as a resident at Cesar Millan “The Dog Whisperer”’s Dog Psychology Center)<br />- Jesse James (West Coast Choppers)<br />- President Theodore Roosevelt<br />- President Woodrow Wilson<br />- General George Patton<br />- Linda Blair<br />- Humphrey Bogart<br />- Fred Astaire<br />- Thomas Edison<br />- Mel Brooks<br />- Bernadette Peters<br />- Judd Nelson<br />- Rosie Perez<br />- And a pittie with celeb status of his own, Petey, from The Little Rascals!<br /><br />The pit bull is the only dog to have graced the cover of Life magazine three times.<br /><br /><strong>Pit Bulls are heroes!...</strong><br /><br />- America's first war dog was a pit bull named Stubby. He earned several medals during World War I and was honored at the White House.<br /><br />- The Ken-L-Ration dog hero of 1993 was a pit bull named Weela. She saved 30 people, 29 dogs, 13 horses and a cat during a flood in Southern California.<br /><br />- A Pit Bull named Bogart saved a four-year-old child from drowning in a swimming pool in Florida.<br /><br />- Dixie, the Pit Bull, was inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame after she saved some children from a Cottonmouth snake.<br /><br />-Pit bull Norton saved his human mom’s life after she had gone into anaphylactic shock from a spider bite. Norton, who was rescued from a fight ring, went to the master bedroom and kept pushing his owner’s husband until he awoke and could rescue his wife.<br /><br />-Popsicle the pit bull is the #1 U.S. Customs dog. He got his name when he was found in a freezer during a drug bust. He had been left to die after being used as a bait dog for dogfighters.<br /><br />-Pit bull Weezie came to the rescue when 2 armed men broke into his family’s home! With a gun pointed at Melissa Willis and her son, Weezie placed himself between his family and danger, and with every advance by the men, he pushed his family backwards until they were to the exit. He kept the armed robbers focused on him so his family would be safe.<br /><br />-Top-rated search and rescue dog Dakota the pit bull was requested by NASA to assist in the recovery of the astronauts after the tragic 2003 shuttle disaster. Dakota was also involved in the Laci Peterson investigation, as well as many other national cases, and is a certified hospital therapy dog, along with owner Kris Crawford's other bullies Cheyenne and Tahoe.<br /><br /><br /><p><strong>Look for pit bulls on…</strong></p><p align="left">-Rescue Ink Unleashed (NatGeo)<br />-The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan (NatGeo)<br />-It’s Me or the Dog with Victoria Stilwell (Animal Planet)<br />-Pit Bulls & Parolees (Animal Planet)<br />-Veronica Mars (canceled, formerly on UPN/CW)</p><p></p><div align="left"><br />For more information on pit bulls, pibbles, pitties, or bullies, check out these sites (thanks to many of them for the info in this blog!):<br /><a href="http://www.pbrc.net/">http://www.pbrc.net/</a><br /><a href="http://www.realpitbull.com/">http://www.realpitbull.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.badrap.org/">http://www.badrap.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.measlesanimalhaven.org/">http://www.measlesanimalhaven.org/</a><br /><a href="http://www.pittiesplace.com/">http://www.pittiesplace.com/</a><br /><br /><strong>Thanks for reading and for loving pit bulls! <3</strong><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TtGT2apOlKw&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TtGT2apOlKw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-15807503755289195782009-10-20T16:22:00.005-04:002009-10-20T17:06:07.046-04:00Puppy-Mill Bill UpdateHello all. I just <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">received</span> an update from the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">OVMA</span>) Veterinary Political Action Committee (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">VPAC</span>) concerning Ohio's "Puppy Mill"/Commercial Dog Breeding legislation and wanted to share it with you. This bill has been redrafted a countless number of times, it has morphed more often than a Mighty <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Morphin</span> Power Ranger. The most recent changes have, in my opinion, added stipulations that have me extremely concerned about the welfare of the animals involved.<br /><br />The latest version of the bill includes language that would specifically allow breeders to tail dock (amputate or "cut off" tails) and remove <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">dewclaws</span> on their premises. It would, in essence, legalize the practice of a any layperson to perform surgical procedures on puppies. Granting permission to perform such procedures can open the floodgates to individuals requesting permission to perform various other such procedures and seriously compromise the proper care and well being of animals in Ohio.<br /><br />I for one do not like to perform these "elective" procedures, however, I routinely do so to prevent these surgeries from being done incorrectly and causing pain, disfigurement and potentially death to many animals.<br /><br />Tail docking involves amputation of the tail. It must be done at an appropriate length in order for it to be acceptable in the case of pure bred, show dog standards. If made too short, it can cause problems and disfigurement to the anus and prevent these puppies from defecating normally and can cause fecal <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">incontinence</span>. The incision must be made between 2 vertebrae of the tail to prevent the unnecessary pain of cutting through bone. This requires skill and precision to perform. In <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">addition</span>, there are several major blood vessels involved in the procedure and failure to control bleeding can result in anemia, weakness and even death in rare instances. Suturing/stitching of the incision is also necessary. Infection can be a big problem if sterile instruments are not used and proper surgical procedure is not followed. (Note: Clean does NOT equal sterile. Instruments can only be properly sterilized in an apparatus made to do just that, such as an autoclave.) Since the procedure is routinely done when puppies are between 1-5 days old, they are very small and can succumb to the effects of blood loss and infection very easily.<br /><br />Dewclaw removal is also a surgery that requires amputation of an accessory toe on the rear and sometimes front paws. It also requires skill and sterile equipment/procedure to perform, as well as proper treatment for blood loss. Improperly performing the surgery can result in disfigurement and significant scarring.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Veterinarians</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">receive</span> 8+ years of training for a reason (4 years of undergraduate college and 4+ years of veterinary medical school/internship/residency). The specialized training and education we <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">receive</span> prepares us to perform medical and surgical procedures appropriately and safely for our furry patients. I, for one, would not want an unqualified individual <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">performing</span> surgery on me or my family member on a kitchen table, barn floor or in a dirty garage, and I certainly would not expect the same to be done to any living creature. But, that is exactly what can and likely WILL happen if the current version of the legislation passes.<br /><br />I very strongly feel that there is a dire need for legislation to prevent the horror that "puppy mills" perpetuate. However, there are MANY things wrong with the current version of the bill. Please do your research and make yourself aware of the wording of the bill and its frequent changes and contact your local legislator to voice your opinions. Help the lawmakers to know that we are listening and we want what is best for the animals involved.<br /><br />POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!<br /><br />Dr. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Mandi</span>....OUT!Dr. Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753970434871963725noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-10240960622669856082009-10-04T19:00:00.005-04:002009-10-04T19:08:56.247-04:00HELP! I’m in a kennel and can’t get out!<p align="left"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/Sskp0v04rpI/AAAAAAAAAA8/BQFTPTUDOk0/s1600-h/DSC_0911.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388884415293730450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/Sskp0v04rpI/AAAAAAAAAA8/BQFTPTUDOk0/s400/DSC_0911.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><div align="center">Daisy: rescued, fostered, adopted!<br /></div><br /><br /><div><br />Let’s say you love animals. Let’s also say you would like to help some animals in need. Well, you’re in luck. Every shelter and rescue organization is looking praying for you. And the animals are sure you’ll show up to help them—faces pressed up against the kennel bars, peering around the corner, waiting for the sound of your foot steps. Your fellow volunteers will welcome you with open arms. The animals need you to take them out for walks so they can stretch their legs, take them to adoption events so they can flirt their way home, bring them special treats to make them smile, sit in their kennels so they don’t get too lonely, bathe them so they smell nice, donate old towels and blankets so they can curl up on something warm, and most importantly perhaps, make room for them in your home whether permanently or temporarily. A little effort by you can make a world of difference for your community’s homeless animals. These times are tough for us all and even tougher still on others, but what a great opportunity to share what you have to give. Here in Cowtown we have many organizations that tirelessly take in, clean up and adopt out animals that have come upon hard times.<br /><br />Here’s a very short list:<br /><br />Franklin County Dog Shelter (<a href="http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/commissioners/ancl/">http://www.franklincountyohio.gov/commissioners/ancl/</a>)<br />Citizens for Humane Action (<a href="http://www.chaanimalshelter.org/">http://www.chaanimalshelter.org/</a>)<br />Capital Area Humane Society (<a href="http://www.cahs-pets.org/">http://www.cahs-pets.org/</a>)<br />Columbus Dog Connection (<a href="http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/">http://www.columbusdogconnection.com/</a>)<br />Measle’s Animal Haven (<a href="http://www.measlesanimalhaven.org/">http://www.measlesanimalhaven.org/</a>)<br /><br />Pretty sure the org’s listed above are open to new help…<br /><br />Now, for you folks who have a hard time stomaching all the desperate, furry faces begging to come home with you, don’t lose hope! You don’t have to step foot in a shelter to greatly impact countless numbers of homeless animals. Foster homes are the life-blood of many animal rescue organizations. Fostering an animal can instantly save that animal’s life, while opening up precious kennel space for more animals to pass through on their way to a new beginning. For instance, let’s take a local rescue group, Measle’s Animal Haven. Measle’s focuses on taking in homeless pit bulls in central Ohio. They rely solely on foster homes to care for their dogs until a suitable home is found. So when the call comes in from ABC County Shelter to please take a deserving dog, Measle’s can only take on as many dogs as there are spots in foster care. Enter you! The rescue takes care of vet bills and you provide an extremely grateful dog love and leadership. Need a crate? Not sure about housebreaking? Not sure about how to manage a household of resident animals and a foster? There are plenty of resources within each organization to make sure your experience is a rewarding one and one that you’ll repeat. And no one will make fun of you if your foster turns into a permanent family member—we’ve all been there!<br /><br />HELP FIDO looks forward to helping plug you into the many ways to make a difference in your community!<br /><br />(This post is dedicated in memory of Lyle and Lilly. We’re working on making this world a better place for dogs like you.) </div><div> </div><div>(written by and uploaded for Amanda)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-68786303932783128712009-09-29T21:11:00.006-04:002009-09-29T21:52:42.125-04:00Tough TimesThese days everyone if having financial difficulties. Times are tough. The economic downturn is affecting so many and, naturally, the hardship has been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">trickling</span> down to our furry friends. Veterinary bills for routine vaccinations and preventive care are hard enough to keep up with, but when our pets suffer from an unexpected illness or have an emergency situation things can really get rough financially. However, there are some organizations and programs that can offer assistance as well as some ways in which pet owners can plan ahead for emergencies.<br /><br />Many organizations are non-profit and volunteer based. Some are smaller scale and specifically breed oriented and others are larger and nationwide such as American Animal Hospital Association (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">AAHA</span>) or the Humane Society of the United States (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">HSUS</span>). Almost all of these organizations are reporting a sharp increase in the number of requests for monetary assistance they have <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">received</span> in the last year, and as such, they do need unfortunately to turn some people away. But <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">persistence</span> pays off and contacting multiple organizations for help is always a good idea. Even if they can only offer a small amount, its good to know that help IS out there.<br /><br />One way that pet owners can plan ahead for emergencies is to purchase veterinary pet insurance. There are many to choose from and I have written an earlier post that can help to decide how to go about the process. Paying the small monthly premiums can save a lot of money later on if disaster strikes. Another option is to keep a credit card on hand for pet emergencies or pet care expenses only.<br /><br />Many veterinary offices and specialty/emergency practices offer Care Credit. It's a company that extends credit based on an individual application for veterinary care expenses. You can apply in person at the veterinary office or online at <a href="http://www.carecredit.com/">http://www.carecredit.com/</a>. The company will let you know what type of credit amount you qualify for on the spot. Details can be explored on the website. This is a great option for emergency situations.<br /><br />Many local humane societies, animal shelters or state/local veterinary societies also offer assistance programs and it's certainly worth the phone call to get the information. I suggest calling and obtaining the information before your pet is in a dire situation so that you know what your options are if an emergency should arise. Some of these organizations also offer low cost spay-neuter and vaccine <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">clinics</span> or other routine preventive medicine. In Central Ohio the Rascal Unit offers low cost spay/neuter services.<br /><br />Please do not forget that many breed specific organizations are out there that may be able to offer financial assistance. Use your home computer or local library to locate and contact these resources for help if your dog is a specific breed or breed mix.<br /><br />LAST BUT NOT LEAST- Always explore the option of asking your personal veterinarian for help. We are there to keep your pet healthy and more often than not your veterinarian will be willing to work with you. Ask if there is a way to set up a payment plan to break up larger bills into more <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">manageable</span> amounts. Also, most veterinary clinics/hospitals have a "Good Samaritan" fund or a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">similar</span> fund set up for pets whose owners need financial assistance for emergency situations. Please also keep these funds in mind if you are financially stable and have a couple of extra pennies to donate. Your donation may help another pet who needs it...you never know when you may be on the other side of the coin someday!<br /><br />Here is a list of some sources of assistance veterinary bills and other animal/pet care:<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">AAHA</span> Helping Pets Fund - <a href="http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/">http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/</a> and <a href="http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/navta.html">www.aahahelpingpets.org/navta.html</a><br />Spay USA - <a href="http://www.spayusa/org/veterinarians/index.asp">www.spayusa/org/veterinarians/index.asp</a><br />United Animal Nations - <a href="http://www.uan.org/lifeline/resources.html">www.uan.org/lifeline/resources.html</a><br />ASPCA - <a href="http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq">www.aspca.org/about-us/faq</a> (look under "Financial help with my vet bills" under "Pet Care"<br />Humane Society of the US - <a href="http://www.hsus.org/pets/petcare">www.hsus.org/pets/petcare</a><br />Help a Pet - <a href="http://www.help-a-pet.org/">http://www.help-a-pet.org/</a><br />Labrador Lifeline - <a href="http://www.labradorlifeline.org/">www.labradorlifeline.org</a><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">IMOM</span> (In Memory of Magic) - <a href="http://www.imom.org/">http://www.imom.org/</a><br />Care Credit - <a href="http://www.carecredit.com/">http://www.carecredit.com/</a><br />The Rascal Unit - <a href="http://www.rascalunit.org/">www.rascalunit.org</a><br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">That's</span> all for now!! Good Luck to ALL!! Dr. Mandi....OUT!!Dr. Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753970434871963725noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-33957997889127718842009-09-29T14:15:00.007-04:002009-09-29T15:10:14.338-04:00Damp Ohio Weather No Match For Loving & Responsible Dog-Owners!Thanks to everyone who braved the rain on Saturday to come out and microchip your canine family members at HELP FIDO's low-cost clinic in Whitehall! We chipped over 40 dogs, from tiny chihuahuas and dainty terriers, to beefy bullies and labs. The microchipping was quick and relatively painless in Dr. Mandi's capable hands; a few yelps from the little guys, but not a peep from the pitties (naturally). The good news is, you only need one chip, and you're set for life!<br /><br />It was a very soggy day, but your dogs will surely thank you for your proactive measures, in the event that they are ever separated from you. Additionally, HELP FIDO greatly appreciates your support, as the proceeds from the clinic go to benefit spay/neuter and rescue efforts of the Dublin-based Measle's Animal Haven.<br /><br />Thank you again and stay tuned for more HELP FIDO-sponsored events in the future!Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-28920184146568012982009-09-15T10:15:00.004-04:002009-09-15T10:27:47.584-04:00$15 Microchip Clinic<strong>HELP FIDO</strong> will once again be holding a <strong>$15 microchip clinic</strong> for dog owners. The clinic will be held in Whitehall on <strong>Saturday, September 26th</strong> from <strong>10am-1pm</strong>. A microchip will greatly improve the odds of your dog getting back home safely should he get loose. Please contact us at 614-853-3494 if you are interested in having your dog microchipped.<br /><br /><strong>What is a microchip?</strong> A microchip is a tiny transponder the size of a grain of uncooked rice. This is a permanent radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip implanted under the dog's skin and read by a chip scanner or wand.<br /><br /><strong>Does my dog need surgery to get the microchip?</strong> Implantation is done with an injector that places the chip under the loose skin over the dog's shoulder. The process is quick and no more painful than a vaccination, the chip can't get lost, the number is unique, the dog doesn't have to be wrestled to the ground and shaved to see if it's there, and the owners name and address are available on regional or national data bases so a dog can be returned quickly and safely.<br /><br /><strong>How does it work?</strong> The chip identification number is stored in a tiny transponder that can be read through the dog's skin by a scanner emitting low-frequency radio waves. The frequency is picked up by a tiny antenna in the transponder, and the number is retrieved, decoded, and displayed in the scanner readout window. The radio waves use a frequency much lower than AM broadcast stations use, and they must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission before they can be marketed.<br /><br />The chip, antenna, and capacitor are encased in a tiny glass tube. The tube is composed of soda lime glass, which is known for compatibility with living tissue. The glass is hermetically sealed to keep moisture out.<br /><br />Dogs can be scanned when picked up by an animal control officer or brought to the shelter. If a chip is present, the scanner will read the number and the shelter staff member can call the appropriate registry for the identity of the owner.<br /><br />Veterinarians who install the chips have scanners. Thus a found pet can be taken to a veterinary clinic for scanning and may never make the trip to a shelter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-85624042790285472142009-08-18T18:08:00.007-04:002009-08-19T09:54:21.074-04:00HELP FIDO at Woofstock '09!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FgYPSCoB-C8/SowDkIXi0OI/AAAAAAAAADk/slTdRedqEYc/s1600-h/willlow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 95px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_FgYPSCoB-C8/SowDkIXi0OI/AAAAAAAAADk/slTdRedqEYc/s200/willlow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371672374802567394" /></a>Hey Everyone!<div>I am very excited, as this is my first blog post for HELP FIDO as a new board member! You'll probably be reading more from me in the near future, too.</div><br /><div>This past Saturday I had the opportunity to join HELP FIDO as we hung out at Woofstock at Camp Mary Orton in Worthington for a very toasty day of food, music, and dogs! We had our tent set up to distribute our usual literature about dog safety, bite prevention, spay/neuter, rescue, health/veterinary info and BSL, as well as sign up more dogs for our upcoming Microchip Clinic.</div><br /><div>Of course, the highlight of my day was getting to love on 2 darling little 9 week old pit bull mix puppies that Lisa had brought with her from the Pitties Place/Measles Animal Haven rescues! These two adorable girls are looking for their forever homes. When Willow and Buffy weren't busy playing, catching some zzz's in the grass, or flirting with passerby, they were stealing my heart with lots of puppy breath-scented kisses!</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FgYPSCoB-C8/SowDrgYm-CI/AAAAAAAAADs/nFQ2YQlYHBU/s200/buffy.bmp" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371672501508569122" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't get the chance to see it myself, but I heard that many dogs were enjoying cooling off on the ice pile that was set up in the camp. I did my best to cool off with a delicious Lemon Shake-Up, although I don't think it had quite the same effect as rolling around in a mountain of ice. </div><div>Thanks to everyone that braved the blazing sun and heat to come out with their kids and furry family members to Woofstock in support of Columbus Dog Connection and other rescue/advocacy efforts!</div>Lacy Marshallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883492929849095014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-76262864816712429772009-08-11T10:07:00.003-04:002009-08-11T10:15:07.601-04:00HELP FIDO at Woofstock<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SoF80vls0sI/AAAAAAAAAA0/3MyGveuo9L0/s1600-h/CrowdWF08Laura.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368709476371976898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SoF80vls0sI/AAAAAAAAAA0/3MyGveuo9L0/s400/CrowdWF08Laura.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We had a great time last year! Come out and join us this year for a day of fun, food, music and dogs. There will be hiking, swimming, sand art, face painting, lots of free stuff, a giant slide, a blow up obstacle course and more!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>August 15, 2009</div><br /><div>12-6 pm doors open at 11:30</div><br /><div>Camp Mary Orton</div><br /><div>rain or shine</div><br /><div>Beautiful, woodsy Camp Mary Orton is just north of 270 on High St in Worthington, </div><br /><div>6755 N High St </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Tickets: $15 - 12 & under free </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-57758174184184714032009-08-05T08:21:00.004-04:002009-08-11T10:06:09.548-04:00HELP FIDO at Whitehall National Night Out<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/Snl8DnCDlsI/AAAAAAAAAAs/TBlTtLrtgZo/s1600-h/102_5067b.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366456832447715010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 297px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/Snl8DnCDlsI/AAAAAAAAAAs/TBlTtLrtgZo/s400/102_5067b.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last Night HELP FIDO had a booth at the National Night Out event held in Whitehall. It was a huge success. We distributed nearly 2000 pounds of dog food to pet owners in need. We signed up 40 people for low cost microchipping, plus an additional 42 people in dire need of pet food. We distributed much needed information regarding low cost vaccines, dog licensing and low cost spay neuter.</div><div></div><div>I do have to say, it was so nice to hear all of the positive comments from the people of Whitehall and we really appreciate all of you who stopped by to simply say "thank you." That makes it all worthwhile!</div><div> </div><div>EDIT: We distributed more dog and cat food in Whitehall this past Friday. This brings us up to a little over 3000 pounds. We also had confirmation that 12 dogs have signed up to be spayed/neutered within the next month. We will continue distributing food and supplies as they become available. To all of you who signed up for assistance, we will be contacting you before the next distribution date.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-5910813908544041202009-07-30T10:55:00.000-04:002009-07-30T11:00:05.580-04:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SnG1RKa6N1I/AAAAAAAAAAk/02W5ilgcx8M/s1600-h/HFad+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364267937634596690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 237px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qrDV7TcXCeQ/SnG1RKa6N1I/AAAAAAAAAAk/02W5ilgcx8M/s400/HFad+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-55619745692176557102009-07-22T07:52:00.004-04:002009-07-22T21:24:25.986-04:00Whitehall Pit Bull ban fails for second time.Good news for dogs and responsible dog owners in Whitehall, OH as Whitehall City Council AGAIN votes down Jacquelyn Thompson's discriminatory and completely ineffective pit bull ban. We'll post more news stories as they become available but here are a few so far:<div><br /><div><a href="http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/vote_to_ban_vicious_dogs_takes_unexpected_turn/19651/">NBC4 story</a></div><div><a href="http://citizenjournalistcjt.blogspot.com/2009/07/council-meeting-july-21-2009.html">Citizen Journalist blog</a></div><div>Updated: 7/22/09 9:06 PM</div><div><a href="http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/07/22/whitehall_news/news/whpitbulls_20090722_1145am_3.txt">Whitehall News</a></div><div><a href="http://www.snponline.com/articles/2009/07/22/whitehall_news/news/whpitbulls_20090722_1247pm_3.txt">2nd article in Whitehall News</a> about Jacquelyn Thompson which references HELP FIDO. </div><div><br /></div><div>A special thank you, by the way, to Ms. Thompson and her cohorts for continually mentioning us (although all lies) in Whitehall City Council meetings and to the local media. Every time that happens, hits to our blog and website increase substantially and we are able to reach many more responsible dog owners of all breeds. Yes, we care about the horribly abused pit bull population; but fighting breed specific legislation is merely one part of what we do. Yes, we are concerned about what happens in Whitehall; but our concern stretches far beyond the reach of Ms. Thompson. And yes, we have been critical of Ms. Thompson in the past, but it has always been on the issues at hand and constitutionally protected free speech. </div><div><br /></div><div>HELP FIDO is about helping all dogs and dog owners. Below is the full description of our goals. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 14px; font-family:tahoma;font-size:11px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">HELP FIDO</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is a non-profit organization based in Central Ohio which seeks to promote a healthy relationship between dogs and citizens, especially those dogs often targeted for breed discrimination.<br /></span></span> </span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our goals include improving public safety, decreasing dog bites, decreasing euthanasia rates, eliminating animal abuse, and decreasing overpopulation. Additionally, we work to change the public perception of bully breeds, end dog fighting, increase the numbers of bully ambassadors, and end breed specific legislation.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 16px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We do this through a 360-degree approach to the humane and human community, including dog owners, media, legislators and general public. We work with and coordinate existing community resources, as well as identify gaps and implement new programs where necessary. These efforts include voluntary spay/neuter and microchip programs, supporting rescue and adoption, obedience classes, responsible ownership, and dog bite prevention classes.</span></span></span></span></p></span></div></div>Brian Cluxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832970609097265993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-32964446751899393892009-07-08T08:05:00.002-04:002009-07-08T08:15:29.791-04:00It's like deja vu all over again.HELP FIDO was in attendance at last evening's City Council meeting in Whitehall, OH. Everyone's favorite council person, Jacquelyn Thompson, was in her typical form spotting lies about anyone that opposes her desire to ban "pit bulls" from the city and making up "facts" or retellings myths on the fly to support for nonsensical rants. This is Ms. Thompson's second attempt to pass a "pit bull" ban and nothing has changed from last year, when it failed on a 6-2 vote. Breed specific legislation does not work and is opposed by every reputable dog organization out there. Rather than waste everyone's time rehashing this debate in Whitehall, please take a look at our <a href="http://helpfido.blogspot.com/search/label/BSL">blog posts</a> about it from last year. <div><br /><div>To show just how looney-tunes Ms. Thompson is, take a look at this fine blog from the good folks over at <a href="http://citizenjournalistcjt.blogspot.com/">Citizen Journalist CJT</a>.</div></div>Brian Cluxtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06832970609097265993noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872314876220877160.post-75780250824356519912009-06-23T18:10:00.003-04:002009-06-23T18:15:46.937-04:00HELP FIDO needs your help<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;font-size:13px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Greetings to "The Pack" & anyone else interested in dog welfare in Central Ohio: </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br /></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Interested in joining others who've discovered the satisfactions of important volunteer work?</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Wondering how you might get more involved with helping dogs in Central Ohio? </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>HELP FIDO</span><span> is too. </span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>HELP FIDO is now considering candidates to serve on our Board of Directors and we’re looking for assistance with our various committees (listed below).<span> </span>Also, we are always in need of volunteers to assist with various events around Central Ohio – there are a number of events coming up this summer including Alum Creek Dog Wash, Woofstock, Microchip clinics and more.<span> </span>Any amount of help you can provide is welcome and appreciated!</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>Committees</span></p><ul type="disc" style="margin-top: 0in; "><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Education & Community Safety</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Animal Welfare</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Legislative</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Bully Specific</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Development, Funding & Volunteer Coordination</span></li><li style="margin-left: 15px; "><span>Communications & Public Relations</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span>For more information about what's involved or to propose how you might help, please send us your contact information and some detail on how you would like to get more involved to <a href="mailto:helpfido@gmail.com">helpfido@gmail.com</a>.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Thank you!</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Brian Cluxton</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Chair, HELP FIDO</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a name="1220f2abd0a64c8b__MailAutoSig" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">A voice for dogs in Central Ohio</span><br /></span></a>"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Gandhi</p></span></div></span>HELP FIDOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02491817714167785745noreply@blogger.com0