Honk if You're Ready to Change the Channel

The media is especially excited about having a reason to show dog fight footage this week. It's everywhere. If you've never seen a staged dog fight, your local station is probably very happy to offer you a front row seat.

Pit bull people can't decide if the constant barrage of fight imagery is a gift from the gods, or pure poison. Some believe the footage will inspire people to care, and others theorize that seeing dogs in battle will make them want to condemn the breed. I think we're seeing reactions from both sides of fence right now.

Speaking of battles, our impish game girl is leaving the shelter for a new home this week. Lil'Bit came to us after living with someone who let her breed and fight. Not good. She was unsocialized to dogs at first and needed slow exposure and clear direction to make sure she would make the right decisions around our personal dogs (Much of the dog-dog socializing happens in our homes with our ever-so-understanding pets). We love projects like this because, right from the start, Lil'Bit showed us that pleasing people meant more to her than any bad habits. Gooood girl.

We considered inviting news crews in to meet her before she leaves for her home. After all, this 40 pounder is the same style of dog that was found in the Vick home, and this is about as happy a story as you can get. But we thought better of it. Not this week.

Here are a couple of quick videos of Lil'Bit and her buddy Dango. Admittedly, the footage isn't very exciting, but that's just how we like it...Good and boring. Enjoy.

Lazy with Dango
Will Work for Cookies

Speaking of the 6 o'clock, Scoop Nisker once said, 'If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own.' So true!

And this weekend, a new group of pit bull owners will be doing just that by putting their dogs through the AKC CGC (Canine Good Citizen) test. Our CGC Diva Linda Chwistek gives up every Saturday to help pit bull owners reach their goals. See some of her handiwork .

The class has been working hard to get their rescued street strays in perfect form, and we expect a lot of high fives as result. Wish them the best of bulldog luck!

I Am Not A Machine

To be honest, we held our collective breath when news of Vick's indictment first came out. Dog fighting is so often spun as the ultimate blame the victim crime, and it's typical to see fight bust headlines followed by tabloid text describing pit bulls as out of control monsters. Yee-owch. Talk about adding insult to injury.

But so far, not so bad!... Geraldo Rivera and a few others excluded, the public outpouring of empathy for the tortured dogs from the Vick home has been a most unexpected surprise. Maybe we've gotten so used to warding off myths that we started to lose faith. But we nearly cried when the country screamed in shock at the indictment details, and - who would've guessed? - when Senator Byrd made history by pounding his fists on the Senate floor in defense of the victims. In defense of the pit bull victims.

Thank you, thank you, America.

Before the spell is broken, let's bring this one home: In case you run into someone who wants to tell you how vicious these dogs are, how they're only bred for uncontrolled violence, or how they're turned into 'fighting machines,' please point them to this girl.

Amy came from an Oakland dog fighter's yard, and she's seen it all.

Far from a machine ... She's a sentient being with a sensitive nature and a weakness for belly rubs. Like all dogs, she feels pain, and she prefers the creature comforts that all companion animals deserve. She has admirable leash manners and has even decided to have a few dogs friends. She happily co-exists with a cat in her adopted home, and, she loves burrowing herself in fluffy blankets. Imagine that.

Not all of the dogs from her yard made out so well...Some were too damaged from their ordeals to start news lives, and those that stayed steady had no where to go after the shelter hold was up. But we're happy that Amy was able to get a fresh start and tell their story.

Hardly a Machine.

Presumed Guilty

What a disturbing coincidence.

Exactly 20 years ago this month, the editors at Sports Illustrated lost their minds and branded a new Media Monster with this infamous cover. This, back when the doberman fad was big and most people had no idea what a pit bull was, much less the wanna-be thugs. Many will point to this issue's arrival as the pivotal moment when the bad guys of the world decided they had to get their hands on these bad ass, scary looking dogs that everyone seemed to fear. Talk about a status symbol!

Michael Vick was an eight year old kid when this issue came out. There's no way that this cover didn't make a lasting impression on him, or any young guy that looks up to SI as the final word in what's fast, cool and worth getting excited about.

The sports world has not been kind to pit bulls, starting with this 1987 character assassination. Numerous sports figures have since been linked to dog fighting, and even the tennis shoe moguls (Nike) found a way to exploit the dogs and make a buck off of graphic fight imagery. Why treat them kindly when they're really werewolves? ....And, here we are today, reading about the unspeakable torture of mans' best friend.

We don't need to detail how horrific the crime of dogfighting is. There's enough gore spinning around the Net to cover that angle.

But, we do need to remember -- the dogs. Where are the dogs in all of this?

We started wondering when the HSUS put out a public plea for funds "to care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case." We're not sure how the word 'care' is being defined ... toys and treats? kuranda beds? staff help for yard exercise? (doubtful)... although it's certain the dogs will be destroyed in due time. The HSUS has been staunchly opposed to re-homing abused pit bulls and will dutifully insist that each and every fight bust dog is damaged and dangerous. EDIT: The HSUS fundraising campaign "to for care the dogs" was a scam. Sources on the inside tell us that federal government officials, angered that their case was being endangered by a brazen call for funds, delivered a cease and desist letter to pull the solicitations. More info on the campaign and screen capture.

We know the judgements levied against dogs from fight busts are not altogether true.
We have dogs like Amy, Hiro, BB, Sadie, Lil'Bit, Pearl, Doe Koo, and even Little Man (right) - all from fight backgrounds - to remind us that the soundest of dogs really can and do rise above the harshest of beginnings. Even more astounding, many somehow survive the torture and starvation with their adoration for humans still intact. Talk about optimists. I can't fathom how this breed can possibly trust despite having seen the worst side of humanity, but they just keep surprising us.

Pity the Vick dogs. Had they somehow washed up out of their pens in the storms of Katrina, they would've been made into media darlings. Volunteers would've rushed to bathe and comfort them (many quite wonderful Katrina pit bulls came with fight scars from pre-storm misadventures). Some might've ended up in shelters willing and able to temperament test and offer the best for adoption. But no such luck -- they were doubly cursed when they were sold into that VA hellhole.

As far as we know, the dogs are not destined to receive a fair trial. For the sake of those dogs who may still be sane and hopeful and willing to trust, that really sucks.

Donna

Summer!

One special dog, one lazy summer day, one big reminder why rescue dogs say 'Thank you' better than anyone.

Viva Lil'Bit!

Welcome Back

After over a week's break from shelter biz, we're back. Shutting down Pit Bull Hall and sending the dogs home with volunteers for a slice of summer has become an annual tradition.

It's a great way to give the team, the dogs, our trainer Sara and um, me, a break from the kennels. Not that kennels are bad -- we love the kennels because they help us save lives. But still. It's so nice not to wake up in the middle of the night and wonder, "Ack! - Did I remember to change Dango's bedding today? Is Peter getting stressed? And who's going to work the Thursday pm shift this week!"

So, we took a break...Lucky us. Think of all the shelters out there that can never take a break. Ever.


The ten days whizzed by. It just didn't seem long enough. But then the team posted notes on our message board saying, "I can't wait to get back" and "I'm having withdrawal symptoms." Lucky us, once again.

So, Lil'Bit, Dango, Wags and Ru filed into their little kennels today, wagging their tails and ready to make big goo-goo eyes at anyone who dared stepped inside to check out the BIG SCARY PIT BULLS.

Heh. Lucky them.

Rested and Ready,
Donna & the Crew

HELP. I'm being held captive. Send Kongs!

Little Man is starting Week Two of his heartworm treatment. Six weeks to go. That means, no jumping, no cavorting, no prancing, no playing or otherwise expressing the 'Joy of being Little Man.'

The highlights of his day are measured in minutes now that he's in confinement: Belly rubs, short walks, de-stuffing a toy or two, dinner time and a bone to chew on give some relief. But the word of the week is definitely: Boooring.

Hang in there, Little Man. Good things are waiting for you once you kick those worms.



Speaking of keeping confined dogs happy, we were thrilled to get good news from Tampa's Hillsborough County Animal Services, where a key challenge has been a depressing building crowded full of custody dogs. The dogs are held for various owner-created infractions; some are in lock down for months on end while legal proceedings drag on. Most go INSANE and spin the day away to channel excess energy. It's an awful way to live - or - not live.

But motivated shelter workers are making changes thanks to a meeting with Corinne Dowling during their April visit to Pit Ed Camp. Corinne's Give a Dog a Bone program provides a model for keeping forgotten custody dogs from going stir crazy. She's had a lot of practice: In San Franciso, the BSL mandatory neutering law that targets pit bulls keeps SFACC's basement kennels full. Nice dogs, most of them, but uh, caught in the act of being intact. Corinne and her volunteers use a truckload of inventive techniques to keep these unlucky canines from stressing out during their hold. She's a force to be reckoned with and works tirelessly to give them a reason to wag.

(Pssst. Speaking of San Francisco's BSL, did we ever mention how many dogs are getting fixed voluntarily under the Pit Fix Program in the east bay? Or those nifty fix-it tickets in Los Angeles? Ahh...a subject for another day...)

So. Tampa is now designing ways to give their own custody dogs some kindness. This is BIG news for this overworked shelter. Helping the dogs is far from easy: Budget cuts, long work days and hundreds and hundreds of shelter animals to care for make the work exceedingly difficult, not to mention depressing. Some of the custody dogs are unsafe and most are just plain unlucky. Many will end up euthanized. That doesn't stop these guys from acting on their compassion.

They've been begging up toys, treats and dog beds to provide some comfort. One person's job is to touch the deprived dogs. Imagine how much they miss that? An extra special addition - and I'm SOOO proud of these guys for this - custody dogs are getting a play yard so they can get out of their runs to stretch their legs and feel the grass.

You want to meet someone with REAL balls? ....

Meet Corinne Dowling or the crew tackling this heart breaking work in Hillsborough County Animal Services. Even better, send them a donation to help the dogs in their care.

Hillsborough County Animal Services
Attn: Kelly Bigsby
440 N. Falkenburg Road
Tampa, Florida 33619

Corinne Dowling - Give a Dog a Bone
1200 15th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

(the Give a Dog a Bone BLOG is worth bookmarking!)

Donna

Why Bother?

It's the third of July. I'm supposed to be getting ready for a bbq and looking forward to visiting friends and fun, but instead, I'M GRUMPY. After reviewing the third set of amendments, it's clear that the authors of AB1634 have lost their focus, and with it, the bill's original intent. Working stock dogs are still unsafe under the bill. The final straw was new language that allows pet owners to produce "just one litter" from their dog or cat.

....Wha?

This has become the 'Why Bother' bill and it's a heartbreaker. We've changed our original position of support and have submitted our official letter of opposition to legislators. Our reasons outlined here: BADRAP Opposes

Bleh! So much for hoping for intelligent all-breed spay/neuter legislation.

Heartfelt sympathies to all those people who'll be showing up to work on Thursday morning with a long list of cats and dogs that need to be euthanized. You and these animals deserve so much better than this.



For now? We plan to make our margaritas extra strong tonight.

Donna & the Crew

Pride, not prejudice!

This past Saturday, a motivated group of Bad Rap volunteers lined up with the dogs in silly costumes and marched in San Francisco's annual Gay Pride parade.

The crowd was awesome this year, with lots of people cheering loudly for us and petting the dogs. We handed out 1000 informational postcards to folks asking for them, we got to take a nice walk with the dogs, and word has it we made television coverage this year. Yay!

My own personal highlight was a flamboyant television host of an undetermined station stopping me in the middle of the parade and asking me if Gunther would sniff his butt.

Of course, who could blame him? Gunther was indeed looking mighty fine in his leatherdaddy duds (and didn't even mind the Doggles squishing his eye too much)...

This parade is such a great opportunity to get out there in the sun, have some fun with the dogs, and show our support for a community that's all-too-familiar with having to face social stigmas, misunderstandings, unfair legislation and - unfortunately - hatred, fear and bigotry.

It's a time to march and hope for a more tolerant world - one not so prone to knee-jerk judgements based on prejudice and anger - and the dogs are more than happy to participate.

So down Market Street we marched, with about 15 dogs and 20 people, one vintage pickup truck, 20 balloons and 1000 postcards.

This year was a particularly lovely and not-too-hot day, and the highlight of the parade was actually the after-party that happened on the patio of a local bar after the Giants game got out, at which point there was an influx of fans who suddenly got to hang out with real live pit bulls.

Foster dog Peter was the star of this encore show, and charmed the heck out of a local family with three kids who couldn't pull themselves away from him.

All in all, everyone had a lot of fun, and the dogs did their work but just being out in public and letting a lot of people see real live pit bulls in real live situations (and silly costumes).

Thanks to all the volunteers that worked so hard to pull this off yet again!

Book Smart

We sent Pit Bull Hall dog Holly to her new home this weekend, and filled her people up with training protocol, lists of quality kibble to look into, and guidelines for keeping the peace between dog and cat.

One of the most important things we can offer them though, is advice for talking with the family and co-workers who are set to panic when they learn that Holly's a pit bull.

It's just awful that we have to arm our adopters with ways to counter the negative crap they're going to hear from perfectly intelligent people, but such are the times.

This book is one of the best new bits of sanity to hit the shelves:
'The Pit Bull Placebo:
The Media, Myths and Politics
of Canine Aggression'

Karen Delise's science is impeccable and her writing style is no-nonsense. Get this book!

Delise's project: The National Canine Research Council.

By the way, we're happy to report that Miss Holly - who has no need for books or arguments - is settling quite well in her new home.

Heavy Metal to the Rescue!

We were so bummed: Our golf tournament fundraiser - the event that was supposed to kick off our Nemo Fund for emergency medical costs - was cancelled when too few people signed up to play. Boo hoo!

It's hard to know if golfers aren't big on pit bulls, or maybe pit bull people just don't do golf? Or maybe we're just really bad at advertising?

No worries, because Heavy Metal came to the rescue last night. Five bands played their hearts out for the pit bulls at Gilman Street and donated all costs to the cause. By the time security kicked in their fees and show goers emptied their pockets, the Nemo Fund was alive and well. Woot!

Worhorse came up from Los Angeles to do their good deed. They were in the line up with Attack Disarm Takeover, Arise, Wendol and Chromium Six. Our deaf dog Honky Tonk had no complaints about the loud music - He loved it!



Big thanks to Laura, Bryon, Jay, Rusty, and the Boys with the Noise for your big hearts

...and we can't forget BR alum Gypsy, who decided not to be car-sick so she could get up to Berkeley and make sure everyone was having a good time last night.

Lesson learned: Golf is great, but Heavy Metal hits harder faster when pit bulls need quick help.

Woof!
Donna

The Paper Trail: A Rant

Those of us involved in rescue know all-too-well the kinds of breeders that refuse to acknowledge that any worthwhile dog (read: papered) could possibly end up homeless.

Of course, such a notion is ridiculous. Papers are frighteningly easy to get in any registry, and as registries and breed clubs don't have ethics committees or any limits on the number of puppies any one breeder can register (at all or per stud/dam), you end up with unbearably prolific breeders selling and studding dogs, and winning the occasional ribbon (not hard, given the numbers of dogs produced) and blaming all the breed's problems on "the backyard breeders," as though these breeders have conjured up foundation stock out of thin air.

For whatever reason, many members of the show community most irresponsible about their lines are the first to deny the trickle-down effect.

Well, hear it now: papered dogs are in fact contributing to the overpopulation crisis we're having.

How so? A few ways...

Here's an e-mail I received today, forwarded from someone because their friend is giving up his dog:

Name: Respek
Born: April 28, 2004
Blood: Half Blue Nose, Half Red Nose
-The mother was papered but I'm not into that.
Coat: Blue-grey with an orange sheen
Tricks: Sit, Stay, Shake (both hands), Speak, Come, Get Your Toy, House Broken
Neutered: Yes
Cost: Free to a good home.

Here's the thing: when breeders sell off intact puppies to people after charging a lot of money for them, a lot of these people are going to breed that dog and sell off more puppies to recoup their costs, or because they think it's the thing to do, or because puppies are cute and their cousin wants one. Papers aren't really important unless they help jack the sale price (or have a picture of Ben Franklin on them).

And yet, I've spoken with more than one "good" (read: papers their dogs and shows some of them) breeders in this exact situation - i.e. one where a dog they sold off has been bred and now one of the pups is in the shelter or about to be - and not a single one of them has taken responsibility for the dog, claiming that it's not their problem, that they didn't breed the dog, that oh dear oh well so sorry, but that's not their dog, too bad.

One classy gal – who does indeed actively show in the UKC - told me that "I tell my buyers I can't take dogs back, I don't have the room and I don't know what they did to the dog. What if that dog is aggressive? I don't want it back."

When I told her the homeless dog was spayed, she was horrified and said, "I don’t understand why anyone would neuter a show dog. It’s just ridiculous." I pointed out that these dogs weren't being shown whatsoever (this one wasn’t even papered), but that didn't sway her opinion. Of course, it wasn’t her fault that this litter was sired from an unpapered dog – she just sold the dam.

I then pointed out that neutering her pet-quality animals before she sold them would cut down on people carrying on her lines so sloppily. Her reaction to this was volatile and less-than-accepting.

So, apparently an unpapered dog with a paper trail is a "show dog" who deserves to be intact and bred as long as that dog isn't in a shelter, at which point it's backyard bred, isn't worth anything and isn't the responsibility of the person who started the breeding chain. Hmm...

The bottom line is that without show breeders being more responsible about educating their buyers, being proactive about spay/neuter programs and education, and being more responsible about who buys their dogs and how many they make, this breed is going to continue in the downward spiral of overpopulation that is threatening to get it banned for good.

In the same vein of passing the buck and ignoring what anyone with two good eyes can see at the local shelter or in AKC/UKC/ADBA registration numbers, registries and breed clubs are very quick to jump to action to defeat any bill that's going to try to curb rampant overbreeding, but not so quick to be proactive about instilling the most basic of controls from within.

Why don't registries limit the number of puppies that any one breeder can register? Why don't breed clubs have ethics committees? Why don't these groups institute spay/neuter programs and education? The AKC lists 112 million dollars in assets for 2006, with 86 million in Net Assets - surely they can find room in their budget to get spay/neuter vans out there in low-income areas all over the country.

So why don't they do this?

The answer: it's someone else's problem, of course. Let the rescuers and shelters deal with social change; the registries are busy having beauty contests and defeating ear-cropping bills and hiring expensive lobbyists to ensure that their business model - which is entirely dependent upon making more and more puppies - remains protected.

These kinds of programs might also be seen as an admission that we're actually having an overpopulation crisis of epidemic proportions (which we are), and as the registries continue to deny that there's too many adoptable animals out there dying, I don't suppose that spay/neuter programs fit into their mission statement, PR messaging or marketing segmentation.

It really is unfortunate when animal organizations/companies and fanciers turn their backs on the neediest of animals - in this case, the adoptable millions dying in the shelter system every year. If real change is to happen for the homeless animals out there, the folks at the top of the food chain need to step up and lead by example.

And that example needs to be set yesterday.

Real World Camp

We just finished another Pit Ed Camp last week. What could be better than spending 6 days with a small group of committed dog nerds; talking about pit bulls, brainstorming around pit bulls and playing with pit bulls for days on end? Well, maybe if we added a day to canoe and toast marshmallows.

The people that sign up for these camps always impress me. They're all animal care professionals with very busy lives, and they travel from as far away as Delaware with one thing in common: There are too many pit bulls in their shelters and not enough ways to help them right now. They trek across the country because they want to learn how they can make a difference.

I learned how dedicated they really are when three of the Campers showed up an hour late for our morning session. They weren't sleeping off their jet lag, they were at the side of the freeway, stopping traffic and flagging down help for a pit bull that had been dumped like yesterday's trash. I had to laugh... There they were on 880, divising a plan to capture the overwhelmed dog, all of them wearing pro-pit bull t-shirts. What a sight for the rush hour commuters!

Later in the week, we met a little female who came into the shelter with bite wounds. Lucky for her, one of the Campers was trained in collecting dog fight evidence, so we puzzled together over how her history. (By the way, watch for this dog's arrival in our Coming Soon section. )




We were so fortunate to be able to get Michelle's perspective on the dog's history and condition. Even better was watching her tender manner with the sweet beast. The devotion we see in these shelter workers gives us hope.

Maybe, with enough people willing to make a difference, this breed can finally find the help it deserves.

Many thanks to Holly, Jaime, Michelle, Mike and Rhonda for being one of the good guys.

Donna

Damned if we do, Damned if we don't

This blog was written by Christine Allen, our ever-diligent Legislative Affairs Director. Christine has been too busy lobbying on behalf of shelter animals to get signed up as a registered BR Blogger. We'll forgive her. We don't envy her job.
____________________________________________________

Late last night, California's proposed mandatory spay/neuter bill barely passed out of the assembly by getting the minimum required number of votes. Since the introduction of this bill, we've been excited and hopeful about the bill's intent and goals to reduce overpopulation by mandating spay and neuter of all cats and dogs with exceptions for responsible owners. CA Healthy Pets Act AB1634

Sure, the bill wasn't written perfectly and had some snags, but most bills go through amendment after amendment before getting it right and officially making it into the books. By the time the bill reached the senate, the kinks would be worked out.

Sigh. Still holding my breath.

For weeks now, we've been lobbying for better and cleaner language in the bill – both substantively and facially. And, while there have been several versions of the bill that have gone through the entire assembly process, it continues to have some serious issues that haven't been addressed. Or, even worse, have been addressed but miss the point.

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. What started out as a potentially great law that could make a real impact is turning into a hodge-podge of words and sentences that look like English but don't make much sense.

So, now what do we do? Oppose the bill because it's still poorly drafted, even though the initial proposition was sound? Abandon the best opportunity we've seen at reducing the euthanasia rates of "adoptables" and "undesirables"? Or continue to support the bill because the initial proposition was sound, even though it's still poorly drafted? Hope for the best?

I still have a glimmer of hope that the authors are open to listening to reason, willing to fix the language, and are going to get it right before too much longer, but I'll admit that my optimism is wearing thin.

Christine Allen
Legislative Affairs Director BAD RAP

Somebody -- Give that man a LEASH!

Four times a year, we have the wonderful opportunity to meet pet owners from some of our most challenged neighborhoods in Oakland. This happens at the Free Shots Fairs, which are sponsored by the East Bay SPCA.

We love doing this event. It's exciting, tiring, fun, depressing and gratifying all at the same time.

One of the first things we do when we see people walking their dogs in on chains or ropes is to offer them a proper leash. Then, we show them how to use it so their dog can be under good control. Like magic, 300+ dogs can stand in line peacefully even though most have never been outside of their yard. Pet owners smile, dogs wag. It's a good day for everyone.

So...What's my point? We need leashes! With the Shots Fair only one week away (Sunday, June 10) we're frightfully low on our supplies and only have half of what we need.

We would love to make sure that every dog walks home on proper equipment. If you can donate a leash and/or collar, we can guarantee it will make a huge difference. We especially need strong leashes and medium sized collars - 18'-22' - for our pit bull friends. Prong collars are great too for the bigger, rowdier canines.

If you can help, please deliver them to the East Bay SPCA: 8323 Baldwin Street Oakland, Ca 94621 - or - to the Oakland Animal Shelter 1101 29th Ave. Oakland, CA 94601

Thank you Thank you!

Bittersweet Good Byes

Today was a good day because we sent Twizz to her pending home. That's always a reason to celebrate around here.

There to see her off was her long-time friend, Edgar. Ed is one of the background heroes of Pit Bull Hall. He gets a very (very!) modest salary to feed and clean the dozens of dogs at the East Bay SPCA, including our pit bulls. It's a loud and smelly job. Just the day-in-day-out routine can cause anyone to hurry on through in order to get all those hungry barking dogs to quiet down again.

But Ed's take-it-slow brand of dog care has earned him quite a few pit bull friends -- especially, Twizz. She adores him and they've hit it off in the sweetest of ways.

Talk about a stereotype-buster...You'd figure a young guy would be attracted to a big headed boy like Peter or a fancier pit bull with trophy-sized muscles. Nope - turns out the slightly plump, somewhat funny looking Twizz was his favorite. It was a surprise to me, and it made a world of difference to her. You see, Twizz has been in shelters for most of the last nine months... a LONG time. With her kennel situated just across from the 'Get Acquainted Room,' she's had a front row seat to dozens and dozens of lucky non-pit adoptions. Waiting to go home can be hard on these guys (we see signs of kennel stress start after about 4 months), but having a consistent, committed friend can be a lifesaver. Ed slowed down long enough every day to remind Twizz that she was special. He'd nuzzle her ears and climb inside her kennel to let her fall asleep on his lap. I'm sure their friendship made a huge difference in her being able to wait so long and stay so stoic.

So... finally, she went home. Ed hung back and watched the whole procedure as the excited new adopter chatted, read instructions and signed papers for her new girl. And no surprise, Twizz stared back at him during most of the meeting.

I'm glad I remembered my camera today. Two buddies saying good-bye.

Everyone at BAD RAP would like to thank Ed for being Twizz' buddy during these long months of waiting. You made her feel so wanted!

Speaking of under-appreciated shelter workers....

Pit bulls everywhere raise a Two Paw Salute to Nann Dawn (far right), who just said good-bye to shelter life to start a new career as an adoption counselor - this time, for kids instead of pets.

Pit bulls always know a friend when they see one; our dogs were all in love with 'Big Nann.' She cheered them on in every way, she was aces at talking to pit bull-wary shelter visitors and she helped a whole bunch of pit bulls earn their Canine Good Citizen and Therapy Dog titles. This lady is a true blue Mensch.

On to brave new adventures. We will miss you Nann!

Donna
& the Pit Bull Hall Team

It's all Katrina's fault! ... (really?)

Debating bills that affect people's pets is NO FUN. The issues and arguments are the kind that can turn a stomach in knots. As the CA Healthy Pets Act gains momentum, some of the opposition is throwing off its gloves. We don't expect this 'fun' to fade anytime soon. For those of us who deal with shelter realities, tapping into the drama requires an extra layer of emotional armor. Here's a shelter stat myth that started circulating today:

AB 1634 does not address the very real problem of pet animals being imported into the state from other states, and other nations by animal rights, animal rescue, and animal shelter groups. The hurricanes Katrina, and Rita displaced many animals that ended up in California’s animal shelter system. These animals inflate shelter intake, and euthanasia figures. - From the position statement of a group called "Responsible Dog Owners of the Western States"

YOWCH. That's some Myth!

Disaster pets: A 'problem'?...Responsible for inflated euthanasia numbers?

For the record, the rescues and shelters that took on flood victims did so with the goal of reuniting them with their displaced families. Like this dog Jake, who came to CA with BR and then returned to Texas to join his very relieved family. They celebrated their reunion by getting busy with dogs shows and winning ribbons. (Yay Bill!)

The many orgs that participated in rescue efforts took pets on in addition to their regular intake of local pets. To do this, they burned the candle at both ends, shouldering the burden of extra work and extra animals and employing the help of foster homes willing to over-extend themselves for a few weeks or months. These are the times when disasters bring out the very best in animal people. Even the AKC got involved to collect money for displaced pets.

True enough, unclaimed pit bulls represented the bulk of the Katrina pets that did not leave CA shelters alive. This number was small though, as cargo planes that shipped dogs from gulf cities were reluctant to bring the breed in. We know ... We were watching closely.


The Katrina experience was a good reminder why spay/neuter programs are so incredibly important. Hundreds of puppies were born during and after the storms, the by-products of a region known for its pet overpopulation problems. (Above: Pearl came to us way overbred, malnourished and pregnant. Her pups were stillborn.)

We can only hope that western states pets will be fortunate enough to have the help of out-of-state rescues and shelters when the "Big One" hits our coast.

Who knows? Maybe a celebrated CA show dog, displaced by a monster-sized earthquake, will find his salvation with a kind and willing foster home in Louisiana. Don't be surprised.

More AB1634 Myth De-bunking here.

NOTE:: While BAD RAP rejects the notion of blaming Katrina pets for shelter deaths, we DO believe that AB1634 needs work so working dogs are not negatively affected, and are currently working towards this goal. Read BAD RAP's AB 1634 link for more info.

How much do you want that doggy in the window?

Some people go out of their way to avoid pit bulls. People like Jordan did everything in his power to bring one into his life.



Jordan's a young man who had a dream of owning a beautiful dog. Planning ahead - his wish list included breeds that would do well with the children he hoped to have someday. After careful research he settled on pit bulls...Smart man. We loved his application. It was full of details, very thorough and he admitted that he knew he had a lot to learn and wanted every help he could get to succeed with his new pet. Music to our ears!

He started showing up at Pit Bull Hall to nuzzle a pit-x named Gulliver through the kennel bars. We knew he was serious when a PBH Team member spied him deep in thought one day; lying on the floor next to the kennels - one hand rubbing Gully's ears, the other holding the book 'Pit Bulls for Dummies.' Hmm. Word got around quick that our handsome piebald had one serious suitor.



Planning ahead some more, Jordan knew his landlords (who were his parents) were going to be less-than-impressed with his breed choice, so he sat down and wrote a well thought-out multi-page proposal outlining all the ways he intended to be a good dog owner: How often he planned to exercise his dog, dog-friendly lodging for times he needed to travel, names of veterinarians he hoped to screen, training plans - you name it.

He presented his proposal
to his parents/landlords
and waited.

Then, the worst kind of luck: Newspapers in Sacramento highlighted a dog attack involving a pit bull. His parents read the news and rejected his proposal. Poor Jordan wrote us in a panic: "Help!" He was crushed. His mom later told us that he stopped breathing on the phone when she gave him the news. Thankfully, unlike many breed-nervous landlords, Jordan's mom fulfilled his simple request: PLEASE go to BR's website and learn about the program that selected Gulliver as a breed ambassador. Lady Luck must have been on his side because she did, and, the rest is history.

After home check and trial adoption, Jordan is now the official owner of this beautiful dog. Even better, he stuck to his promise, attended Pit Ed classes, read everything he could get his hands on, listened to every bit of transition advice we could give him and helped bouncy adolescent Gulliver become one of the "most-improved" dogs we've seen in these parts.



We had to kick Jordan out of Pit Ed class this month....He and Gully just don't need us anymore. They've graduated to Linda's CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Prep Class and are well on their way to earning the prestigious title that's bestowed on dog owners who like to go the extra mile with their pets. We look forward to seeing what these boys will do next - They're the perfect example of what you can accomplish when you set your sights on what you want.

That doggy in the window.

Friends in High Places

In planning this year's conference, I enlisted the help of Nicole, a bold BAD RAP volunteer. Ever the optimist, Nicole contacted several beautiful potential sites; none more beautiful than The Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley. At the Claremont, Nicole discovered that pit bulls have friends in high places. Kim, the Executive Meeting Manager for the Claremont, is a pit bull fan.

I'm excited to announce that with the help of Nicole and Kim, BAD RAP will be having its annual Conference at The Claremont Resort & Spa on September 22 & 23, 2007.

Save the date and stay tuned to the BAD RAP site for registration information.



Bambi @ BR

Labels: When They Don't Add Up

This is Nina. We met her her just days before she was put to sleep in a local shelter. Her temperament, according to breed standards (and, to our standards), was not only good, but, sublime. I would've given my eye teeth to have her in our program - She was that good. But, she wasn't kenneling well, so her time was up. And, sadly, we didn't have a foster home ready for her. The next weekend, she was euthanized and a shelter worker recorded her as untreatable - In other words, unadoptable.



I can't stop thinking about this dog. First, her home failed her, and then, the limitations of the shelter setting failed her. Even worse, her shelter notes - her obituary, if you will - labeled her in a way that implies that it was all her fault.

Untreatable. Unadoptable. Bad dog.

Why the label?

Shelters use labels so they can keep track of adoption and euthanasia numbers, including the reasons that animals are put to sleep. The labels are highly subjective though, and their meaning varies from shelter to shelter. According to the Asilomar Accords, the definitions for both “treatable-rehabilitatable” and “treatable-manageable” animals refer to those pets that can succeed with a standard of care “typically provided by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.”

Would 'reasonable care' have made Nina 'treatable?' Absolutely!
But with high numbers of dogs pouring into shelter doors, limited resources for 'treating' their needs (exercise, in Nina's case), breed bias, slow adoption rates and increasing pressure to show reduced euthanasia rates, many shelters choose to mark larger dogs that aren't adopted or rescued as untreatable. Human-friendly pit bulls fall into that category ALL the time, especially if they kennel poorly, like Nina, or, if they react to other dogs or show interest in cats while at the shelter (ie, 'terrier traits').

To keep adoption rates high (big donors love high numbers) many focus energies on smaller, 'desirable' dogs that get adopted quickly. Some private shelters in CA even go so far as to travel out-of-county to find small desirables to fill their kennels, leaving their community pit bulls and other 'undesirables' behind. Good for the small dogs, bad for the Ninas.

The opposition to CA's mandatory spay/neuter Assembly Bill 1634 believes that dogs like Nina aren't plentiful enough to be considered a problem. Organizations like the UKC (United Kennel Club) have stated, "There is no firm evidence that California even has such an overwhelming surplus of unwanted dogs." Of course, we disagree. Physical evidence aside (just take a peek into any central valley shelter), we're guessing that the UKC is referring to the labeling practices that render our breed and other larger breed dogs as 'untreatable' when they claim that adoptable dogs aren't dying.

Dogs many consider to be 'undesirable' (those that are all or part pit bull, german shepherd, rottie, chow, akita) make up a good portion of the dogs that are put to sleep in CA shelters, and their numbers add up into an estimated half million pets destroyed in shelters each year.



The authors of the Asilomar Accords, which promotes the keeping of shelter records, did the right thing when they made their brave challenge to shelters to reduce the euthanasia of healthy and treatable companion animals in the United States. But the fact that we keep tripping over the word 'treatable' is a constant reminder: We aren't doing our job. We're still failing our companion animals.

If we had our way, Nina's obituary would read very differently. Instead of 'untreatable,' she was

"A good dog. Let down by humans."

Rest in peace, my beautiful friend.

Sign Envy

One of our members has been wringing her hands over a pack of loose small dogs in her neighborhood for months. They rush her pit bull and bark and cause our friend and her dog mini-heart attacks every day of the week. No fun.

You gotta love a Girl of Action, though. Angie dodged the small dogs for weeks (hard to do!), begged their owners to leash up (no dice), squirted them with water when they charged (helpful only to a point) and when nothing changed, finally came up with a solution designed to keep everybody orderly. We hope her story helps others!



In her words: Reasoning with the small off-leash dog owners in my neighborhood didn’t work in my case, so I began to educate myself about the local laws in my town. I got busy calling and sending emails to all of the local authorities in my area about the off-leash dog problem in my neighborhood.

(Note: Not once did I mention any specific breed of dog in any of my complaints. I tried to keep the information very general and focused on the actions of the obnoxious dogs and even threw in a few points about how off-leash dogs impact the safety of the entire community, not just me. For example, I would say that my dog and I are being threatened by an off-leash dog in one of the city parks, rather than saying my pit bull and I are being threatened by an off-leash toy poodle.)

I filed a complaint to my Homeowner's Association against one of the worst off-leash offenders. Their response was less than helpful. So I contacted my local humane society and police department and asked them how I should handle a situation when an off-leash dog in a city park aggressively approaches me and my dog. Both agencies told me that I have the right to defend myself and my dog, “within reasonable means”, from such an attack. (I'd strongly suggest that you check with your local humane society and police department about what they consider to be “reasonable means." Surely, as tempting as it may be, drop-kicking a little off-leasher into the next zip code might be considered a little bit harsh by some people.)

The Field Services Supervisor at my local humane society offered to increase patrols for leash law violations in my park, and the local police department suggested that I call them if I’m ever feeling threatened, although off-leash dog complaints don’t rank very high on their priority list (…and who really wants to bother the police about this anyway unless it becomes really serious…).

My final attempt in resolving this was perhaps my greatest victory of all. On my travels around town with the dogs, I ran into signs that said, “Warning: Dogs not on leash may be seized and impounded. Owners subject to citation."

Oh, what I wouldn’t do to have a sign like that put up in my neighborhood!

I contacted my local City Parks Superintendent and asked to have a few of those signs to be mounted in my neighborhood. Just ask (the right person) and you shall receive! About a month later, 5 of the most beautiful signs on the planet arrived. As the city worker was mounting them, I just had to stop and ask him for one last little favor. I asked, “Would you mind putting one of those signs up over there? (as I pointed to the row of townhouses where four members of the off-leash drop kicker contingent live). That’s where most of the leash law violators live.” He was more than happy to oblige.

Hopefully my experience and efforts will help other responsible pit bull owners out there realize that there are many things that can be done to discourage and hopefully stop the irresponsible dog owners out their from putting other dogs at risk.

Thank you, Angie!

Crimes of the Heart

Oh PETA -- How could you?

Right as you were announcing (again) that pit bulls should be banned and grandfathered out of existence, a little boy named Josiah was falling in love with his new best friend, Miss Betty B. Bling.

He's still too young to realize what PETA is, or why your members condemn his friend, or that some of his friends' parents might read your words and prevent them from coming over to his house...because of Betty.

Betty, of course, is divine...As are all properly bred and responsibly raised dogs. Kids and their dogs have known this for centuries.



Josiah's mom has a big job ahead of her with explaining the very adult concept of prejudice to her little guy. Unfortunately, our country has had lots of practice dividing up who is good and who is evil, and who we aren't allowed to love - Yep, this painful path has been walked before. History has also shown that it takes a brave heart to ignore the nay-sayers and follow your bliss.

Speaking of bliss, Josiah's mom wrote this note about Betty:

The other night I was reading and had her on the couch snuggling with me, she was snoring with her head on my chest. I got hit with this overhelming feeling of being completely overjoyed and sentimental at the same time (otherwise known as falling in love?), I just broke down crying.

The trust and love that dogs exhibit amazes me, I think we as humans have a lot to learn. She just seems to fit in so perfectly and knowing the long roads these dogs have to finding comfort kills me sometimes...phheew...deep breath. Yes, I love her.

You just go on with your bad selves PETA -- Those of us who cherish our pit bulls firmly believe that good will prevail. Josiah, his mom and Miss Betty are great reminders why this is so.

Donna

Not your parents' camp!

If you are like me, when you hear 'camp' you think of kids in canoes on a lake and letters from home sick first timers. Not this camp. This is Pit Ed Camp.

Pit Ed Camp is going on right now. Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of welcoming the campers, a small group of shelter staff and rescuers from around the country. The week long program conducted by BAD RAP, sponsored by Animal Farm Foundation and PetSmart Charities, provides attendees with a variety of information to help improve pit bull adoptions in their communities. In this session we have special guests from Hillsborough county Florida, the home of Little Man (see April 8 blog entry), sponsored by the ASPCA as part of their Mission Orange Program.

We keep the group small so that everyone gets individual attention and lots of hands on with the dogs. They'll visit a variety of shelters in the area but spend most of their time at the East Bay SPCA learning about the breed and Pit Bull Hall. Campers spend the whole day talking about and working with pit bulls - I can't imagine a better way to spend the day. I can't wait to see the group on Saturday as they practice their newly acquired skills in our pit ed training class!

Bambi

Crew in Corning

This weekend we took some time to visit a small group of dedicated folks waaay up in the north of California. Past big cities such as Red Bluff, you'll find a little town called Corning. We flew in a small plane and the view as we approached the airport was pure farm country.

With a population of around 7,000 people, and maybe that many cows, Corning has a pit bull overpopulation problem. Rather than try to find more populated areas to send these pit bulls, the shelter staff - one employee and three volunteers in total - transfer out the smaller dogs so that they can focus their efforts on placing the pit bulls.

The shelter is a city facility, operated by the non-profit rescue organization, Second Chance Pets. It is a small, older facility with some kennels indoors and some outside. During our visit, there were approximately 10 pit bulls and 3 non pit bulls. The pit bulls were all very similar in appearance, leaving us wondering if they weren't all coming from the same back yard breeding operation.


The Corning pit bulls showed us their best manners. These fine examples of the breed parade around town and visit local schools demonstrating what excellent dogs they are. In the coming weeks, the shelter will hold its first CGC test. The crew in Corning impressed us. With just a few dedicated individuals, they are not only cleaning kennels, exercising dogs and teaching them basic obedience, they are CGC preparing and certifying them!




Yup. The crew in Corning impressed us.

Bambi

AB 1634 Hearing Report - A Guest Blog

Tina V - a tenacious champion for common sense compassion - represented BAD RAP in Sacramento this past Tuesday to voice our support for AB 1634. She reports on her experience in the capital:

When it comes to our pets, we are an emotional lot. Passions run high, and rightfully so, as they are more than ‘animals’ to us, they are friends, confidants. They comfort us when we are down and no day is so bad that a wagging tail, a sloppy kiss, or a silly antic can not bring a smile to our face.

On this, everyone at the hearing on AB 1634 was in complete agreement. Where opinions diverged was on how we, the lucky recipients of this unconditional adoration, could best help THEM.

For myself, the hearing was a very surreal experience. Back to that same room where SB 861 was originally heard, back to that very circus-like atmosphere of high running emotions. This time, it was so nice not to have the day tempered by fear, as it was back in summer 2005. That not-so-distant dark day of the past did help to remind me that the people who were there in opposition might be feeling a little like I was back then.

So, what happened? Well, we get to do this all again on April 24th. A couple of things in the bill need clarification before it goes to vote. (This, is a GOOD thing, since there sure was a LOT of misinformation flying about!)

We already know that nearly a MILLION pets enter California’s shelters each year, and of those nearly 500,000 are euthanized (in other words, KILLED - albeit humanely - at tax payer expense) forcing state and local governments to spend a quarter of a billion dollars each year to intake nearly one million unwanted animals, ultimately killing over half. Now, if you are like me, and spend most, if not all, of your money on your pets, this number is pretty mind-boggling. Imagine what we could do if we had that amount to spend on responsible dog ownership education.

The money isn’t the issue for me, as it may not be for you. The fact that 500,000 companion animals die each year for lack of a home in our state IS. Can you even picture how many dogs and cats that actually is? It’s 4 times as many as the entire population of the town I grew up in. These 500,000 dogs and cats - faceless and nameless to some - are our own pets, or were someone’s at some point. At one point, many of them waited eagerly to lick away those frustrations of a hectic day. Somewhere along the line, they became lost, or too much of a nuisance, or the people who were supposed to look out for them decided to move, get married, or have a baby. They became, somehow, disposable. Somehow, they no longer seem to matter.

They matter to me, and if they matter to you, I urge you write to Assemblyman Lloyd Levine and let him know that you care. Please tell him that you agree we need to stop using euthanasia as an acceptable means to control pet overpopulation.

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine
State Capitol
PO Box 942849
Sacramento, Ca 94249-0040

Tina V
News Report from April 10
More Info on the CA Healthy Pets Act Bill

A Little Flood Dog Does Good

In case you heard a loud whimpering sound coming from the direction of the SF bay area on Wednes afternoon, that was just me, driving away from dropping our foster dog Taz off in his new home. I did my best to look stoic for this photo but it wasn't easy. Taz has been near and dear to my heart since April of last year, when we met him in Louisiana as a 'left over' from the Katrina chaos. He's the best of old world Southern-style pit bull genetics: Small, spirited and shamelessly addicted to people.

We came a long way with this guy, plane flights and heart worm treatment and all. He had to accept being bottom of the totem pole around here with our personal dogs and put up with all the ill-mannered foster dogs that came and went. He charmed the neighbors in a big way, and even did a stint at Pit Bull Hall - which he actually enjoyed until the morning it flooded (Floods are b-b-bad). He became the perfect gentleman in all situations and turned from a grumpy dog-reactive brat to a flirty anything-goes socialite. Go figure.

It started to feel like he might never get a home. But then, his golden application arrived. He gets his very own person now in a warm Berkeley home with all the one-on-one attention a wonderful dog like him deserves.

I can't guarantee I won't get a little choked up tomorrow morning when it's time to tickle him awake and call him for breakfast. This one got under my skin. Welcome to your new life Taz. And, thank you. Your year in our home brought a lifetime of memories.

Donna

Many thanks to all the people who made saving Taz's life possible: Randy Covey for sending us to the prison project, Auntie Pam from Bermuda and V from Ontario for the toys that kept him happy, PBRC for heartworm treatment help, Pat for petsitting favors, Carolyn and Penny for being his best friends, the Pit Bull Hall crew for your devotion and everyone who donated to help our Katrina pit bulls find a second life!

A pit bull at preschool.

Each morning, my son, Parker, goes to a preschool which is only two blocks from my house. Dad usually takes him, but some mornings, I do. Today was one of those days. I loaded up my twins and we (Parker, the girls, and my mom who is visiting) all headed out. Right when we arrived at the school, a dog ran up to us on the sidewalk. It was a black mix of some sort. Probably with some sharpei. There was no owner in site. I kept one eye on the dog and one eye on my girls, still sitting peacefully in the stroller. Then a huge, brown and white, cropped ear pit bull came charging up the street. My mom was horrified. Another parent who was just coming out from dropping their kid off was horrified. I was, however, not horrified. When the dog came running up to me and the stroller, I said, in my firmest, but calmest voice, “Sit!” giving the sit hand signal at the same time. And you know what? He did.

You see, I had seen this dog on walks in the neighborhood. He is kinda hard to miss in my neck of the woods. So I knew he was well behaved and trained. And even if I hadn’t, I could tell almost immediately, this was not an aggressive dog. The sharpei mix was still running around and just then the owner came out of his house. He yelled at both dogs to “GET BACK IN THE HOUSE!” and they both jogged off back home.

While my mom was taking Parker into the school, the other parent, who was now in her car, pulled over and said, “I was very impressed how you handled that.”

“Handled what?” I said, thinking she noticed my smooth hand off of my son to grandmother.

“The dog,” she responded. “I was terrified. If my child had been down there, I don’t know what I would have done. I was soooo scared.”

I said, “Oh, that. That pit bull is a good dog. Most are, you know.”

She replied, “But you were so calm and handled it so well.”

Again, I said, “No reason not to be calm with that dog. Now…the sharpie mix was another story…”

She thanked me again and went on her way.

With Parker all checked in, my mom and I started home. She also said how scared she was and asked how I knew what to. I told her, “Mom, I’m not worried about well-behaved pit bulls. It’s the small off-leash dogs that terrify me.”

Mob Scene

We barely finished giving our permission to touch when eight little hands mobbed our foster dog in a Berkeley parking lot this weekend. It was like witnessing the ecstatic revelry of a junior rave....Little Man was thrilled to be sucked into a sea of pink and treated like a rock star by four cooing, love sick fans.

These are those blessed moments we live for. No need to dissect breed myths or explain breed traits; we get to shut our trap, stand back and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

'Do Pit bulls belong on cafe patios?'

What could go wrong?

Plenty! according to reporter, Steve Blow, who uses the power of pen to warn cafe patrons in his revealing Dallasnews.com column. Mr. Blow uncovers a "legitimate cause for concern" when certain breeds saddle up for latte hour at hometown cafes. Read his investigative report on a suspicious pit bull recently spotted in a Dallas eating establishment (Warning: Graphic depiction of tongue yielding human): Cafe Crimes.

We've noticed similar disturbances in SF area cafes. Hidden cameras captured these shocking images:

Below Left: Lulled by the sports page, an unsuspecting cafe patron is clearly unaware of potential dangers. Right: Seconds later, predictably unpredictable, the canine is crazed by an unsatiable lust for low-fat foam.



Unable to stop the madness, the cafe patron recoils in horror; his beloved refreshment a victim of unstopable carnage.

Do YOU have photo evidence of pit bulls lurking in your local cafes?

If so, please send to contact@badrap.org for publication. We're committed to getting to the bottom of this latte... Er, this disturbing trend.

Reporting,
BAD RAP Ground Crew

Fool's Gold

MAJOR NEWS!

We were shocked and overjoyed this morning when we woke up to Sunday front headlines. In an unprecedented move, major media outlets joined in a public apology to American Pit Bull Terriers and their owners for years of biased and overly sensationalized reporting. It seems an anonymous reporter finally got down to hard science, researched the breed and found the APBT was actually the breed most likely to sit on one’s shoe, lean into a leg, and grin from ear to ear, among other lovely talents.

Plans are underway to report real information that all dog owners can use. To launch their dedication to this new perspective, mobs of news crews converged on a local convalescent home to record five pit bulls at work as certified therapy dogs.

April 1, 2007, actually marks the eighth anniversary of BAD RAP’s first meeting. Over margaritas (top shelf, of course), we layed out a rough road map for building this group. We had a good laugh at ourselves when we realized the significance of birthing a non-profit on this oddly auspicious date. Only a fool would step off a cliff into the unknown and decide to help pit bulls in this kind of climate. What kind of strange cosmic force did we inadvertently align with for such an effort?

From a Tarot deck (hey, we’re Californians after all):

(One) interpretation of the card is that of taking on an action where the circumstances are unknown, confronting ones fears, taking risks, and so on. Although it cannot be seen in all modern cards, The Fool is often walking off a cliff. This raises the question "Is The Fool making a mistake, or is The Fool making a leap of faith?" He is ruled by Uranus, the planet of revolution and liberation.

The fool is traditionally scorned and mocked by society although he holds a significant role: In Shakespeare, for example, it’s the Fool who speaks the most profound truths.

Well. Maybe not such a bad role model after all. And it's true that we didn't quite know what we were getting into eight years ago, and every pit bull owner knows about scorn. Appropriately, a dog accompanies the Fool in most versions of the tarot. The dog symbolizes the natural world, a path to knowledge, and a valuable ally.

Maybe the Fool is actually a mentor for any and all dogs owners who are willing to champion for their underdogs? After all, during our toughest times, who among us have not gained courage, insight and understanding from the counsel of our dearest four legged friends?

Tim
(designated BR margarita maker and occasional blogger)