Animal Witness - The Michael Vick Case

How many of you watched the airing of Animal Witness - The Michael Vick Case on Animal Planet last night?

What were your thoughts on the report? Do you think it helped shed some light on the desperate plight of pit bulls in this country and the way the media has helped contribute to their horrible reputation? After seeing the outcome for the Vick dogs, do you have a renewed understanding that not all Pit Bulls are bad and that even these dogs deserve a chance? How many of you enjoyed watching Leo at work as a therapy dog?

Please feel free to leave comments! This is open for discussion. :-)

I won't say that I enjoyed watching the clips of the fights and such, but I do appreciate their being a big part of what the show was about. I think the public needs to see the horrid conditions these dogs are kept in, and the barbaric act of the "sport" coupled with seeing how the dog men are right there in the pit with the dogs the entire time and not one person is bitten. I truly love what Donna, with BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls), said to drive home how eager these dogs are to please their people, and how the dogs will fight harder as they hear their handler/master encouraging them to go for it with that "atta-boy!" and "good dog!". It goes to show their desire to excel at whatever task is given to them! (NHPBR does not condone the cruel "sport" of dog fighting.)

I genuinely love the way this program was put together, from seeing the way these dogs were kept... then hearing and seeing what they must have gone through while in the "care" ( I use that term very loosely.) of Vick and his partners.. to being rescued and rehabilitated and adopted into loving family homes. It brought tears to my eyes as I sat on my couch beaming with pride for those dogs!

I'd love to see more people become inspired and educated about the breed after watching the show, and I'd love to see more people want to adopt. I'd love to see more people think twice before voting for breed bans or restrictions, and I'd love to see more insurance agents wake up to the real problem of irresponsible owners. I pray that as they watched Leo at work as a therapy dog, they compared him to countless other breeds (large and small) out there who are irresponsibly owned and out of control and that aren't on the lists of restricted or banned dogs. And I sincerely hope that this case and show will be a big help in bringing about policy changes so fewer dogs lose their homes due to discrimination.

Kudos to Donna and Tim and all of the BAD RAP volunteers who spent countless hours working with these dogs. Thank you to Best Friends Sanctuary — who has 22 of the Vicktory Dogs, and to Our Pack, all of the investigators, reporters and animal welfare agents who helped these dogs and put them in one HECK of a positive light! Yeah it irks me that PETA got so much credit for the outcome (because they are a group that's been storming to have these dogs banned), but honestly... one battle at a time right folks? So many people still do see PETA as a group that does so much (dare I say it?) good... I think that if by their being involved with this show changed even one persons mind who might not otherwise give a Pit Bull a chance... I can live with them being given kudos too.

Learn More About Pit Bulls and the Michael Vick Case and see when the show is scheduled to air again if you missed it!

A Rescue Dog's Baggage

- Unknown Author

Now that I’m home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed.

I’d like to open my baggage lest I forget,
There is so much to carry - So much to regret.


Hmm . . . Yes there it is, right on the top.


Let’s unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss;
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.


As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave -
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.


I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn’t good enough - for they didn’t want me.


Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?

Or will you just look at my things
And take me right back?
Do you have the time to help me unpack?

To put away my baggage, to never repack?
I pray that you do - I’m so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

Golda Needs A Foster

Golda was found on the side of the road. Her lips were gone, feet so swollen that she couldn't walk and skin missing on her back side. She was in the process of dying. A good Samaritan took her to a vet and she is now healing nicely. Golda is spayed and fully vaccinated. She will need long term foster care so that we can be sure she has all of the training and medical attention necessary to get her healthy again before being placed for adoption.

We desperately want to help Golda find the love and happiness she deserves. In order to do that we need a foster home to place her in, someone who is familiar with the American Pit Bull Terrier breed and is willing to see past her scars and work with a dog in her condition. All vet care will be paid for by our rescue, all her foster home needs to provide is good food (we can help with that too), water, an indoor home with a family and lots of love.

Helping dogs like Golda is such a rewarding experience! The feeling of joy you get when you see that dog go to its new forever home, knowing that you helped that dog get to a better place and that the dog will be loved and treated well for the rest of its days. It's an overwhelming feeling of joy and sense of pride that nothing can match. Please help Golda by opening your heart and home to her until she's healed and we find her the perfect forever home. Please contact New Hope Pit Bull Rescue at volunteer@nhpbr.org if you have any questions about our foster program. We will provide references upon request.

Fun In Fostering

You know what another one of the fun things about fostering is? Finding a dog's personal quirks.

Mia and I just had a really fun play session. I have a huge tug rope toy and we play tug when time and my energy permit lol. Today while playing, she'd roll over on her back and let me pull her across the carpet. She's let me do this before, but today, she found it especially fun! I couldn't help to crack up with laughter as we did circles in my living room with me just dragging her around on her back. She was grinning and rolling into the turns and just having a BLAST!

My two personal dogs don't even get into tug that much. It's personally fulfilling for me to find something the dog loves to do and provide it to them, no matter how silly it can be.

And, sorry for no videos of the play session. I've tried to capture it before and she loses interest. I didn't want to compromise her play time :)

Videos :)

**Warning: This video contains images that may be disturbing to some viewers.**



We should have another one coming soon. As long as life doesn't get in the way :)

"Rescuers Need Rescue Too"

By Chandra Moira Beal

Animal rescue is deeply rewarding yet extremely difficult work. To survive in this realm, one must find healthy ways to cope with the emotional challenges. Here are 10 points to ponder.

You can't save them all. Even if you spent every hour of every day working to save animals, you still wouldn't be able to save them all. Take comfort in knowing that you are not alone in your efforts.

Work smarter, not harder. Manage your rescue efforts like a business. Organize tasks to make the best use of time. For example, time spent recruiting more volunteers may make more sense in the long run than trying to do more yourself. If you find yourself pulled in many directions, you might be more effective if you focus on one rescue facility, one geographic locale, or one species or breed.

Just say no. Many people feel guilty when they can't take care of everything that comes up. Be realistic about how much you can handle! If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's okay to say, "I can't right now." Delegate to others when possible, and ask for help when you need it.

You are making a difference. Whenever you question whether you're helping very much, remember the old parable about the man walking on the beach, picking up starfish who have washed ashore and tossing them gently, one by one, back into the ocean. Another man approaches, notices that there are starfish on the beach for as far as the eye can see, and asks, "What difference can you possibly make when there are so many?" Looking at the creature in his hand, the first man replies, "I can make all the difference in the world to THIS starfish."

Celebrate victories. There are happy endings to many rescue stories. Rejoice in what is working. Of course, seeing an animal go home with a loving family is the greatest reward of all.

Small kindnesses do count. It's common to think that small efforts don't mean as much as large victories, but stopping to pet an animal, even for just one minute is worth doing. Your touch may be the only friendly attention he or she receives that day. Grooming, holding and comforting, or intoning softly that you care, are activities that many shelters don't have time for.

Find outlets for emotional release. Rescue work can be physically exhausting, emotionally draining and spiritually challenging. Don't dismiss your feelings or think you're a wimp for being affected by it all. Talk to someone you trust about what you're experiencing. Cry when you need to. Write your feelings in a journal.

Channel your emotions into action by writing to the editor of your newspaper or your local representatives about the need for animal protection legislation.

Take care of yourself. Make time to do whatever makes you feel good. Take a relaxing bath, or go out to dinner and let someone else do the cooking. You need to recharge your batteries in order to maintain mental and physical health.

Don't downplay your compassion. When people ask me why I rescue animals, often I'm tempted to say, "Oh, it's not big deal" or "Somebody's got to do it," when in reality I rescue animals because I care so deeply about them. Compassion is healthy, normal and necessary for this work. Let people know how important this cause is to you. You just might inspire others to become involved.

Never give up. When you get discouraged, it is tempting to throw in the towel. Take a break, and come back fighting. And remember the man and the starfish.

Friendly Advice About Checking Rescue References

This info actually came from a yahoo group (Pit-Bull-Crusaders) that we are a member of, but we thought it was great info to share with with anyone looking to place a dog with a rescue, looking to adopt from a rescue or even those people interested in volunteering a the rescue.

If the rescue hesitates to provide references, ask yourself, "Why?"

What to Ask For?:

1) Vet Reference(s)-----> Is this a new vet for them? If so, ask for the name of the one they used before. Some people move because of bad rescue practices which could indicate substandard veterinarian care for their animals.
2) Have they filed paperwork with their local government to be recognized as a non-profit organization? Verify it.
3) Local Shelter reference and number
4) Local Animal Control and number
5) At least (2) adoptive homes that the rescue has adopted to
6) Local rescue group(s) that they have worked with on any level

There are many more things you can ask about beyond this list. What is important to you? Who might have that answer? How well does the rescue know their chosen breed? Are the animals handled and placed appropriately? We've heard some pretty disheartening stories regarding the outcome of animals who were not managed appropriately and were set up to fail.

Keep in mind too that sometimes a rescue's references may not tell the whole story about who they are as a group. We've heard stories about people who are engaging in unethical treatment of their animals, but they are good friends with Animal Control who overlooks it. We've also heard of another rescue that is notorious for abandoning animals in their foster home. I don't know WHY any rescue would want to treat a foster home that way, but it happens!

You can call a vet to see if they see their animals, but do you have proof that ALL of their animals are being seen there? (I'm of the personal opinion that a dog should at least be seen by the primary vet for a health checkup, even if all the procedures were done at a separate location). I've heard stories from people about adopting a dog only to realize it had NEVER seen a vet while in the rescue's care. That's absolutely frightening! Get those vet records BEFORE you adopt!

The point to all of this is to not settle for one good answer. Get as many answers and opinions as possible!

And yes, we are inviting any of you to check us out :) You can email us at info@nhpbr.org. If you have thing else you think is pertinent to this blog post, let us know that too!

Thank you everyone!