I Pittie The Fool

Saving the Sebring Dogs

2012-01-14T19:23:00.002-05:00

In mid December there was a dog fighting bust a few hours from us in Sebring, Florida. The dogs had been kept in horrendous conditions, chained to trees and dog houses with only dark, disgusting, algae filled water available. You can read the articles about it written by local papers here, here, here, and here.

Thanks to SB722 the dogs were all going to be given a chance at life and allowed to be individually evaluated and released to qualified rescue organizations. Prior to SB722 being passed, dogs seized from fight busts were automatically deemed dangerous and euthanized without any sort of evaluation. Thankfully for these dogs, the state asked Dolly’s Foundation for help with evaluations and placement.

A few days after Christmas, they were allowed to go start evaluating the dogs. They teamed up with Joe and Kim of Tampa Bay Bullies and Connie of Best Friends Animal Society and headed out to perform evaluations. They’ve also been working with rescue organizations across the country to responsibly find placement for everyone.

The state has won custody of the first 16 dogs and they’re ready to get them to their respective rescues! Thanks to the Humane Society of Highlands County and the fundraising efforts of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Department, all 16 will be getting spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped before our long, cross country journey to place everyone and help get them started with their new lives.

If you’re interested in helping, here are some things that they need:

About 25 of these blankets. They want brand new blankets because of their already compomised immune systems – they don’t want them to catch anything. Ship to: Louise’s Pet Connection- 3005 West Lake Mary Blvd. Suit #116 Lake Mary, FL 32746

Help with their van, gas and hotel rental.

Sponser a dog for less than $35! Call Louise’s Pet Connection (407-688-1026) to make a payment over the phone. By sponsering a dog, each dog will receive a leash, collar, food bowl, and bone for the road trip.

One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back

2012-01-06T23:24:00.001-05:00

This morning Mom, Dad, Brady, Paisley and I were going for a walk, and THREE people stopped to say hello to us and tell us how beautiful and well behaved we were! Mom and Dad were ecstatic. Usually people cross the street to avoid us. Once in a while we get nice comments, but never three in the same day, let alone three in the same WALK! Mom was so excited to tell them that we were all rescue dogs. I think we inspired them to look at shelters and rescues for their next dogs! Yippee!!

When we got home from our walk, Mom was in such a great mood. She got on facebook to tell everyone what happened. Before she got the chance, she noticed an article posted by the Orlando Sentinel on their facebook page. They posted an article, quoting a completely bogus anti Pit Bull website, and advocating for breed specific legislation and saying how aggressive all Pit Bulls are. Mom's friends had already made excellent, polite, respectful, non fanatical, well informed comments pointing out the truth. Erica, the founder of Dolly's Foundation offered to do a Q&A session to help the Orlando Sentinel understand the truth about Pit Bulls.

Every single comment that mom's friends posted, including Erica's offer, was then deleted and they were blocked from commenting again. Every comment that was vulgar and anti Pit Bull was not deleted. Mom posted asking why their comments were deleted, and they replied with this: "Our page is open to the public, which means minors can view it. So, yes, if you leave angry, harassing messages then we will delete them and we will ban you from our page so you can't keep leaving more hateful messages." A few minutes later, mom was blocked from commenting again and the whole thread was deleted.

Usually my mom is strong, but today it got to her. She broke down and cried, but me, Brady and Paisley were right there to snuggle her and make her feel better.

It feels like we take one step forward in the fight against discrimination, and then news stations do things like this and we take ten steps backwards. It is so disheartening. How do you get through these rough patches? How do you keep pushing on, and heading towards the light at the end of the tunnel? Is there ever going to be an end to this discrimination?

Oh my goodness!

2012-01-06T03:06:00.001-05:00

How cow it's been a LOOOOOOONG time since I've updated my blog! I got on facebook and forgot all about it! My Grandma called mom and complained that she hadn't seen any blog entries in a while, so Grandma, this is for you! I'm going to try to keep up with my blog as well as facebook, cause I know Grandma refuses to get a facebook account but still wants to keep up with our furfamily but lives a gazillion miles away. :P

A LOT has changed since my last entry. We have a new permanent family member, Paisley! She was heartworm positive, emaciated, terrified of fast movements like picking up a ball to throw it, had clearly been bred repeatedly and had splayed out feet like she had been living in a wire kennel all her life. With a few months of heartworm treatment, down time, and LOTS of love, Paisley blossomed into a healthy, heartworm free, happy, confident dog.

Paisley is super active and needs LOTS of exercise. She is also incredibly outgoing and loves everyone she meets. Her and mom have started both weight pull and rally training, and will also start agility in a couple months.

Mom's first rally class was quite interesting. When she first got there, her and Paisley were sitting quietly, waiting for class to start. Someone else was walking in with their dog and was about to walk past mom and Paisley. When the woman and her dog got near, someone else (not the trainer) SCREAMED at the top of her lungs, "DON'T GO NEAR THAT STAFF!" By 'Staff' she meant AmStaff, which is a shortened term for American Staffordshire Terrier. Sure, Paisley could be an American Staffordshire Terrier, but she is a shelter dog so we don't really know for sure what she is. Anyway...

Mom is used to the negative stereotypes and let it roll off her back, vowing to prove how amazing Paisley is to everyone through actions, not words. They would soon see the truth.

Shortly after screaming at the woman, the screamer walked over to mom and Paisley and started petting Paisley without mom's permission. Of course Paisley loved the attention and sat perfectly and politely the whole time. The lady asked mom if she could give Paisley a treat, and mom said no. Mom is extremely picky about what we eat, and most people feed treats equivalent to McDonalds. Yuck. The lady must have been offended when mom said she could not give Paisley treats, because she got a very disgusted look on her face and said, "Her nails are WAY too long. You need to trim them." Mom replied with, "They were trimmed today." The lady said, "Well they're too long. You need to trim them shorter." Mom replied with, "They're at the quick, and cannot go any shorter. They are not touching the floor or interfering with her gait whatsoever. I was a groomer for six years, I know how to take care of dog nails. Thank you." The lady huffed and walked away without a word.

The lady then commented to another person in the class with a beautiful (adult) boxer, "You should crop her ears - it would make it easier to read her emotions." It took all mom had to not burst out into laughter. The boxer's mom replied, "I can read my dog just fine, thank you."

The lady talked and talked and talked about all kinds of nonsense throughout the entire class. It was hard to hear the trainer over this lady, and even when the trainer was talking to her and trying to give her guidance, (because that is after all why they were all there!) the lady would make excuses and say, "Oh, I know, but WE do it this way."

It was interesting to say the least. Mom and Paisley are switching to the daytime class instead because the crazy lady won't be there.

I think that's enough for one post. :) I promise to be better at updating my blog!

I'm on FACEBOOK!

2011-07-29T22:52:00.003-04:00

I finally have a facebook! Check me out!! :D

Chino Update

2011-07-08T23:35:00.001-04:00

Well we were surprised to learn that there is no heartworm treatment for cats. The good news is that Chino is a low positive, so the vet said to put him on prevention and hope he outlives the adult worms. He is not showing any clinical signs of heartworm, so we are very hopeful that he will be just fine.

You'll never guess what Mom and Dad brought home...

2011-06-02T22:00:00.001-04:00

Meet Chino and Chloe. Mom and Dad adopted them from our local high kill shelter. I love them both already! They are both super cool and don't mind us dogs at all! Did you know that June is Adopt a Shelter Cat month?

When Mom and Dad went to pick up Chino from the shelter, they told them that he is hearworm positive. It's pretty rare in cats. :( He has and appointment with the vet to determine the best plan. I'll keep everyone updated.

Brady's photo shoot

2011-05-01T17:36:00.001-04:00

Mom and Dad took Brady to the park for a photo shoot.

Earth Day!

2011-04-30T15:37:00.001-04:00

There was an event in a town near us called Earth Day, and we were invited to come hang out with some of our adoptables. Isn't this girl gorgeous? She had all but given up on life before Rugaz Rescue swooped in and saved her from certain death at the shelter. Poor mama has just weaned her babies and will be ready for adoption once she is spayed next week.

HOP

2011-04-23T18:55:00.004-04:00

Our local city shelter had a big adoption event called Help Our Pets! It was a huge success and we had several adoptions!

Check this out!

2011-04-11T21:35:00.001-04:00

The rescue that we volunteer and foster for has a new blog! Can you please help them out by following them? They are working really hard on this blog and I think it's a great way to promote the dogs! Here is their blog: Rugaz Rescue. Don't forget to tell them I sent you! :D

Brady

2011-04-04T17:36:00.001-04:00

My brother Brady insisted that since I'm always posting photos of myself and all our foster brothers and sisters that I had to post this photo of him.

Lenny

2011-04-03T17:58:00.000-04:00

My mom came home last night with this funny looking dude, Lenny. He's my new foster brother! Now I have a foster sister and a foster brother. :)

Blog Hop/Sapphire Video

2011-04-02T09:31:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another installment of the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop! You’ve found the right place to connect with other pet lovers. Whether you are a seasoned blogger, one who loves reading pet blogs, or if you’re just thinking about starting your own blog – there is definitely something here for you. Acquaint yourself and enjoy – this is your resource, so use it as you see fit! Of course, you have to follow the rules, so let’s get to that. Get those links in and have fun.

Link up your pet blog name and URL using the Linky Tool below. You only need to add your link once to be seen on all the Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop Linky Tools for that week. Note that if your blog is not pet related your link will be removed.
Grab the “Saturday Pet Blogger Blog Hop” button on the right hand side of this site and include it in your Saturday Blog hop post so that your readers will know what is going on. *Note – posting is optional. Feel free to just link and follow.
Follow your co-hosts listed in the first 3 slots of the Linky Tool.
Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from the blog hop.
Follow back when you get a new follower through the Saturday Pet Blogger Hop.
Make friends and grow. ♥

Sapphire Photo Shoot

2011-03-31T22:33:00.000-04:00

Molly Mutt and new tricks!

2011-03-29T10:11:00.004-04:00

I absolutely love my Molly Mutt bed. I just learned that if you buy a Molly Mutt bed (well it's more of a duvet than a bed, but you get the idea) between now and Friday, Molly Mutt will donate 10% of the proceeds to StubbyDog and BadRap! Those are two of my favorite organizations!

In other news, I learned a couple new tricks! Check them out!

Sapphire

2011-03-27T18:39:00.000-04:00

Mommy told me she was dropping off Shadow to her forever family, but she didn't tell me she was coming back with another foster sister for me! Meet Sapphire!

Yay Shadow!

2011-03-26T22:29:00.000-04:00

Shadow has been adopted! Mom and Dad are meeting up with her new Dad tomorrow morning and Shadow will be going home with him. He is finishing up his last year of vet school! How cool is that?

Buildasign.com rocks!

2011-03-17T18:38:00.003-04:00

Thank you so much everyone for helping me decide which photo of myself to have printed! Mom and Dad both love the last one, but neither of them are good at photoshop. We decided to have the first one printed. I am SO excited!

The people over at BuildASign.com donated these bumper stickers for the rescue that we volunteer and foster for! How amazing is that?!

They came out so so good! Seriously, if you need any sort of sign or bumper sticker, this place rocks! And they are super rescue and Pittie friendly, so they get four paws up from me!

Help me choose!

2011-03-16T20:22:00.004-04:00

The awesome folks over at Easy Canvas Prints are giving me a canvas print! I am so so excited! I have no idea which photo I should use. Can you help me choose? Just leave a comment and tell me which one you like best?

Do you think my eyes are beautiful?

2011-03-16T13:23:00.001-04:00

If so, can you pretty please with sloppy kisses vote for me? All you have to do is click here and then click 5 stars. You can vote up to once per hour!

Giveaways are awesome!

2011-03-08T21:13:00.001-05:00

My momma is doing another giveaway! If you know my mom at all, you know that she loooooves to support rescue in any way she can. Well this time, she is giving away a new Lupine collar and lead to one lucky winner, and donating a second Lupine collar and lead to their favorite rescue group! These collars and leads are guaranteed for LIFE even if you decide that your leash is better than a tug toy and bust it all up! How cool is that?

Here is Shadow modeling her Lupine collar. She loves it!

All you have to do is "like" my mommy's facebook page! Once she reaches 300 "likers" she will pick a random winner!

Shadow's Photo Shoot

2011-02-20T14:34:00.005-05:00

Momma took Shadow to get vaccinated today. Yuck! She was also able to get some more information on Shadow from her rescue lady friends.

Shadow has been in Miami being hidden in a kennel in someone's back yard for the past 3 weeks. Someone that the person knew was going to dump her off at the shelter where she would have most definitely been euthanized, so she hid her until she could get her out of Miami.

For those that don't know, Miami has some severe BSL. Florida currently has a law preventing new BSL from being enacted, but Miami was grandfathered in when this bill was passed. (Although the bill preventing new BSL has been challenged quite a few times.)

This is what it says on the shelters website:

"It is illegal in Miami-Dade County to own or keep American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or any other dog that substantially conforms to any of these breeds' characteristics. There is a $500 fine for acquiring or keeping a pit bull dog and court action to force the removal of the animal from Miami-Dade County."

The rescue was finally able to arrange transport and she got here last night.

She is young, probably around a year old and has definitely already had a litter of puppies. :(

She is absolutely amazing in every way. She's already potty trained and crate trained, is super mellow, doesn't jump or bark and gets along with everyone. Someone is going to be very lucky to have her in their life!

Surprise!

2011-02-19T20:31:00.000-05:00

My Mommy came home with a surprise tonight! A new foster sister! Her name is Shadow and she is beeeaaauuuutifull!

Saturday Blog Hop

2011-02-19T01:46:00.000-05:00

I love Saturdays... new blogs to check out! Yippee!

StubbyDog is here!

2011-02-04T13:18:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! My friends over at StubbyDog have finally gotten their website up and running and boy is it great! Check out that handsome dog in their main header! Does that photo look familiar?

It's ME! Their website is so great, but man that photo totally makes it SO much better! I'm on EVERY page! Woohoo!