Pink

The rains slowed down a little bit yesterday, so the dogs were happy to stretch their legs and have a little romp. Of course new girl Pink was in the middle of the fun.

Toledo animal control - Bounty hunters?

KC Dog Blog has been steadily reporting some BIG news out of Ohio. Toledo has had a reputation as being one of the country's biggest death camps due to a decades-long no-mercy policy that not only barred pit bulls from surviving the shelter, but permitted dog wardens to enter private property to seize - and in most cases destroy - dogs they believed to be pit bulls.

Incredibly - according to the Toledo Blade - the city paid the warden's office a 'bounty' of a $100 for each citation they wrote against pit bull owners, which as Brent Toellner explains, was certainly an incentive for Toledo's hyper-focus on punishing pit bulls.

Last year, Lucas County took in and killed over 1000 'pit bulls' -- which could have meant up to $100,000 in incremental revenue for the dog warden's office... - Brent Toellner, KC Dog Blog

This news comes to light as historic bad guy and committed pit bull hater Tom Skeldon - Chief Dog Warden for Lucas County - has agreed to step down from his position thanks to public pressure. More recently, Ohio's BSL (breed specific legislation) was found to be unconstitutional by a Toledo municipal court judge.

Skeldon has done an incredible amount of damage over the years, not only to innocent dogs and the lives of committed families, but his mindset has certainly influenced and infected some of the animal welfare community. We were - what's the right word? - horrified - when he was invited to sit on a panel that discussed pit bulls at the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) yearly conference in 2006.

Skeldon's bio for the conference: Thomas G. Skeldon is the Chief Dog Warden for Lucas County, Toledo, Ohio. Through the advocacy of stronger laws, judicious use of the local media, and strict enforcement, Skeldon has worked vigorously and successfully for the last 20 years to combat the problem of vicious dogs in Lucas County.

Ohio state law defines pit bulls as a vicious breed, which makes them very popular with bad guys who love the idea of owning a vicious animal, and nearly impossible for committed owners to own. We're thrilled that the tide is slowly changing for pit bulls in Toledo especially and things are looking UP, but dog advocates have years of work to do to undo the damage done to the breed in Ohio and beyond.

Photo above of bounty hunters roping a wolf compliments of Howling for Justice, a blog that follows the persecution of the gray wolf.

February 20 - Bullylicious!

Got cabin fever yet? We do! and we're looking forward to busting out on Feb 20 at Bullylicious, a party designed to promote Pinups for Pitbull's annual calendar. Paco Collars go-to girl Ana Poe is Miss October, and she'll be there in living color to sign (and sell) calendars along with Pinups for Pitbulls organizers Little Darling and Audiogirl.

This is an adult-only evening as Little Darling, Bunny Pistol and Barbary Coast Burlesque take over the stage and do their thang. The event will raise funds for Pinups for Pitbulls and BR with a raffle and silent auction. If you have auction goodies, please contact anapoerocks@yahoo.com.

When: Saturday Feb 20, 7 pm-midnight

Where: Autobody Fine Art Gallery 1517 Park St., Alameda (510) 865-2608 (one caveat, stairs are steep at this address and the event is not wheelchair accessible)

Suggested Donation: $10-$20 includes food and cash bar. Music by 77 El Deora and Patty Schemel. Dogs by, well ... you know that one already!

Organizers Donyale Hoye and Ana Poe say "Dress like you want to party!"

See you there!

An American Love Story: Jon and Demo

Jon Bozak and Demo have spent the last 16 years together, perfecting the art of friendship. Most of us know Demo the cartoon dog, who's been helping the world understand the evils of BSL and discrimination in this famous book. As sad as it is to know that he's gone, it's a joy to "meet" the real dog through Jon's artful tribute. Thank you Jon and - lord have mercy - thank you Demo. Love Story

DONE! (fundraising, that is!)

Bully BULLY!

We're so happy to report that you did it - You helped us raise 100K to make a modest BR holding facility a reality, and you did it with a bang. We were inching our way towards 'Done!' in the final push of our campaign when an anonymous donor came through and donated the last 8K to rocket us over the finish line. We were dancing like crazed fools around here with the good news.

Raising that kind of money during such dry times was a tall order, but this campaign came together in only six months time. Amazing. We're proud to tell you that every single dollar came from a "common Joe" pit bull owner or supporter and in many cases, their employee matching donations ... We didn't receive any monies from large orgs; it all spilled out in heartfelt gifts large and small from real people all over the country. This is the power of the love that exists for these dogs.

To be honest we've been holding this happy news for a couple of weeks, but needed to fuzz out a bit while we dealt with the death of our pet. Losing Simon before the barn was done was especially hard; I'd really hoped it would be completed before he left us so he could bless it with his smiles, like he's done for so many BR projects over the years. We decided to bury our friend next to the barn - under its front porch, actually - so his big happy spirit can watch over every dog and human who uses this space.

Despite the heartbreak in our holidays, it felt great knowing that we would be able to start the new year without needing to beg up funds for the bones of the project anymore. A huge relief!

But what about that barn you ask?! Where are the photos of the finished product? I wish we could show them to you, but we've been in a holding pattern since December as we deal with city furloughs and temperamental employees in our broke city, variances, and yet more building permit delays ... What a hassle! We've heard what a pain it can be to do things by the book, but this is starting to feel like Chinese water torture. We're doing our very best to be patient knowing that there are plenty of dogs out there who need help.

While we tap our fingers over the permit sign-offs (once we're signed off, our contractor predicts 2-3 weeks to complete), we're pulling together the final materials needed to make this place a dog home. We're lovin' the windows! At the bottom of this post, check out the little video of trainer Linda Chwistek and her boy Audie having some fun in the yard just outside the barn. A sign of happy times to come!



Listed are the names of the people who helped us cross the finish line of this fundraiser....Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Susan Mitchell, Lindsey Wetterhahn, Kristen Hopkins, Aimee Chagnon, Edward Mittlestaedt, William Wilson, Robert Morisky, Maria Paladino, Sarah Covert Flory, Todd Antonuk, Katherins Pitts, Myra Tamanaha, Mark Johnson, Rachelle Valente, F. Matthew Zanner, Patricia Weisenberger, SWM Automotive, Andrea Stout, Julia Price, Jeanine Hebdon, Jennie Pack, Sue Hildebrandt, Jenifer Usher Toyomi Stinson, Sara Gann, Shaun Niel, Carol Lane, Tracy powell, Lisa Parmley, Michele Burbano, Angela Chua, Naalie Bowen, Carol Toms, Donna Smith, Mark Paul, LisaMarie Wame, Joyce Chen, Pablo Diaz, Tom Schmiegel, Robert McNicholas, Janel McDonald, Devera Shapiro, Laurence Berland, Nafija Weston, Kellin Defiel, Sherin Halfon, Elains Goodwin, Mary Jo Cananico, Daniel Roll, Nina Glikshtern, Richard Stewart, Katherine Nichols, Deborah G. Meads, Dorothy Mora, Nicole Vonderheide, Beverly Lawrence, Veronice Selco, Elaine Kuo, Amanda Williams, Joseph Tinner, Kaelin Dodd, William Thompson, Carolyn Mcintosh, Anna M. Stone, Kolleen Dohermann, Donna Blackwell, Esther Shir, Kare J. Anderson, Luisa Serrano, Anita Michel, Christine Mcgettigan, Debra Mittleman, Natalie Ucci, Sharon Scharm Harris, Sheri Cardo, Cris Cohen, Thomas Strother, Roxanne Alden, Molly Fleischner, Carly Selzer, Letti de Little, Renee Beltrenena, Cathlyn Valera, Michael Balter, Serena Gelb, Maria Harrington, Berth Cannon, Jill Morrow, Karen Jansson, Jamie Reilly, Pamela Quarterly, Emiliy Farrell, Louie Bernardo, Herther R Hanly, Kathleen Watkins, Carl M Classon, Vanna Pichel, Katie Moyer, Renee Bea, Karen Anderson, Deassa Binstock, Holly Schneider and Erin Oconnor.

This is a leash

It's nice when pit bull rescue people don't have to be the only ones to harp on about leashes. This comes from the Malamute people, who must get a million headaches in their mailboxes from nordic breed owners who want a born-free kind of experience for their dogs. There's some really good sense in this essay. Thanks for sharing with the rest of us, Malamute friends.


THIS IS A LEASH

IT IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR DOG SAFE, restraining it
from darting into traffic, preventing injuries, suffering, death and
huge veterinary bills.

IT IS THE BEST GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY, keeping your dog
from trespassing, attacking other animals, becoming a neighborhood
nuisance or violating community leash laws. It also stops your
pet from inflicting injuries on children and adults. It prevents your
insurance company from dropping your homeowner’s
policy because of your dog.

IT IS THE BEST IDENTIFICATION SERVICE, with a microchip,
a current dog license and name tag attached to the collar, it
will help reunite you both, should your dog get lost.

IT IS THE BEST WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION,
keeping your dog from harassing our wildlife, destroying
irreplaceable native plants, or killing expensive livestock
by itself or as part of a wild dog pack.

IT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEVELOP AN AFFECTIONATE PET, as
the cord connecting you together encourages a unique bonding
between you and your dog.

IT IS ALSO THE BEST CRIME PREVENTION DEVICE, because
when this leash is not in use, your dog will be at home
protecting your family and property.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT DEMONSTRATION TO THE PUBLIC, confirming
that dog owners can be responsible, considerate people with
an equal concern for the community and its residents.

- Author Barbara Bouyet

BOOYA! Twelve new CGC stars strut their stuff

Today was a BRILLIANT day for dog owners who've been working for weeks to prep their dogs for our winter AKC Canine Good Citizen Program exam. (Link: CGC Info)

Twelve of thirteen dogs passed! Right: A very happy Seam with her brand new CGC star, Rio.

There were as many happy tears and hugs as there were smiles. CGC Tester Jenny is thankfully tough and holds the bar high for handlers, so passing the exam under her watchful eye is well-earned and extra sweet.

I think we might've even spied Coach Linda (left) shedding a tear or two as she watched her pupils step through the testing. She knows better than anyone how hard some have worked to shine up one or more parts of the test.


Included in the happy crowd were the proud owners of former Vick dogs Ernie and Teddles!

Ted (Right) nearly passed his exam last year, but a scary train rattled by and knocked him off his game. A year in his new home with a devoted adopter seems to have made all the difference; Teddles barely noticed the train that rumbled right on by the testing grounds today and together, they passed the exam. Way to go Cindy and Ted!

Ernie's mom Sasha (Left) jumped some hurdles herself getting ready for the test. Her dorky boy used to spin and spazz and bark at other dogs in his early days with BR. But her calm, steady perseverance paid off and today Ernie is a brand new dog. They waltzed through the exam today like old pros and our hearts soared for them.

Another dog that got us cheering was Frida -- Frida!

She breezed through the exam with her lady Yvette like she was born doing obedience. I only wish we had video of how naughty this Sassafras used to be in Pit Ed class way back when. Frida is a shining example of why people with leash-reactive pit bulls need not give up hope.

A hardy thank you to Linda for volunteering so much of your time to help dogs reach their potential and thanks also to Jenny for testing the dogs. We're so proud of every dog/person who took the test today. You're all heroes to us.

For the full scoop, check our Hall of Fame page in a few days to see the names and photos of the new CGC Stars. Below, Chui with Bob the Dog helps Clover show off her dog/dog manners as Judge Jenny looks on.

Quaking in the heart. An uncanny season of loss.

It makes no sense to our mortal brains, but the earth and stars seem to have decided to open up and shake the living hell out of us this past week. The sheer number of souls that have been taken from Haiti is mind-boggling ... I'm sure we're all twisted in knots as news reports on this terrible tragedy roll in. What's going ON? Did someone, somewhere predict this gut wrenching time of transition? Sun conjuncts Moon’s North Node and Venus conjuncts Moon’s North node on January 11, 2010 This is a time when you should be wary of the unknown; things won’t be what they seem to be during this period.

On a lessor scale, many of the activists among us have lost their friends during an uncanny number of passings of special canines in recent days. Maybe the high price of reaching a tipping point is that, finally, the teachers that came to knock some sense into us are free to leave? Simon, as you know (and holy cripe - thank you for all the messages of comfort ... they meant the world to us.), but some other big personalities have left in the wake of this otherworldly shift...

Author Jon Bozak (left) lost his boy Demo last week and we're all so sad for him. It's not often that dog and man come together to fuel a revolution of the heart. Demo, as many know, was the subject of an influential book that every pit bull owner in the country probably has (or should have) on their bookshelf. Our deepest regrets, Jon.

We were also so very sorry to learn that diehard BSL-fighter Andrea Kilkenny lost her beloved dog Scooby at nearly the same hour. And close to BR roots, we just received news that a BR alum - the eternal frat boy Buzz - died of liver failure just yesterday.

A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops. ~Henry Adams

Buzz (above), like so many of the dogs that inspire and change us, had a larger than life personality that caused us as much headache as glory. He started out as a leash reactive bad boy and, under the tutelage of his fosters-turned-adopters Jaime and Ron, went on to become a mighty fine ambassador who educated thousands of school kids with lessons in humane education as well as empathy for pit bulls. This memorial to Buzz says it all (and his Happy Endings story is definitely worth a re-read).

The earth shook loud when these dogs left the planet. Godspeed to them all and much gratitude to their people for sharing their teachers so selflessly with the rest of us.

Tribute to a friend and a teacher

We lost an important member of our family last week, so have been turned inside out a bit. Simon came to us from Oakland Animal Services over 13 years ago and has been the faithful keeper of our hearts since then. He hosted hundreds of pit bull foster dogs in his home, and only complained if they tried to take his ball or step foot in sacred turf -- our bedroom, of course. He reminded us daily that life was meant to be lived large with as much jubilating as your lungs can muster. He also reminded me - quite often! - that while pit bulls were very special indeed, they're really only just dogs, and the most important dogs will always be the ones that call you family and turn you into better people.

Some are sending donations in Simon's name to Bullseye Rescue for the fabulous work they're doing with a recent group of bust dogs. Rock on Bullseye - Thank you for what you do. Or, in lieu of donations, please consider bringing a special treat to a husky or husky mix in your local shelter ... and make sure and tell him that Simon sent you. (Below, six minutes of Simon photos.)

Dance on, my little buddy. You did such a good job.

Fostering Part Four: In Praise of Tie-Downs

This is Part Four in our series on fostering, written in hopes that it helps more people say 'Yes.'
New guy Huck was very very naughty in his foster home. While his people were away, he rammed his big fat head against his crate and chewed and squeezed and pushed until he was free, free, FREE! to piss! poo! chew! and otherwise rampage to his heart's content.... Wheee! Needless to say, this did not go over well with his hosts, who promptly bounced him back to BR headquarters for problem solving.

Some dogs just hate having a barrier in front of them. Occasionally these are dogs that have lived their lives on chains or tethers, and/or dogs that have been locked up (in a shelter, for example) until they build an aversion to confinement that just won't quit. If you're a tenacious lil' pit bull - or a dog with a head the size of a bowling ball like Huck - a little piece o' vari-kennel plastic and some bendable bars ain't nuthin'! Especially if you have eight or more hours to spend on designing your perfect crate-escape.

Many people mis-diagnose dogs with crate aversion as having separation anxiety. That may be true in some cases, but if you're dealing with an otherwise well-balanced dog - a pit bull especially - crate fussing is generally connected with 1) a bored, under-exercised dog 2) who is more than happy to spend his unused treadmill or spring pole calories on destroying that obnoxious barrier that's getting in the way of his fun.

Huck is not what you'd call an energetic dog, but he's happy to use that big head to get what he wants...Namely, freedom. Stuffy vari-kennels were a no-go for him. A reinforced wire crate was more his style, but first we had to get him over his funk about the whole mess. Lucky for us, he's accepting the tie-down with no more fuss than this classic "Woe is me" face. He's not obsessing on a barrier in front of him so he's happier, and since he can't graffiti our house with urine, we're happy too. Tie-downs are a rescuer's best friend. They give us a valuable alternative to crates so we can build up a dog's tolerance for confinement while fine-tuning their exercise needs and basic house manners.



Dog trainer Shane Stanis wrote one of the best how-tos for tie-downs that we've seen, back when we worked together at the East Bay SPCA. It's a few years old, but the info is still good. We only have two exceptions: Some recommend against leaving dogs on tie-downs when no one's home to supervise. While that's good advice for new adopters, experienced foster homes can usually make that decision at their own discretion. We do it all the time. The trick is to use a tether that can't be chewed - we like a plastic coated cable - and make sure the dog is 100% comfortable and relaxed on this set-up before leaving the house.


To secure the tie-down, plug a heavy duty eye-hook into the hardwood molding of the room. If you're a renter and are afraid of causing damage -- don't fret. You can plug that hole up with wood paste before you leave and your landlord will be none the wiser. Give the dog the coziest bedding you can find and turn on the telly or radio. You'll also want to make sure that your dog can't reach any illegal chew items, and have that lovely stuffed kong all frozen and ready to go.

Tie-downs are also a great way to help dogs that don't know each other get acquainted. You might've read that in Yvette's blog about: Dog/Dog Intros

Read: TIE DOWN BASICS

Good luck! And please share any favorite tips you've found for helping your dogs stay safe and confined while they acclimate to life in a house.

Vegan Bakesale: Feed the people, help the dogs and the kids

Yesterday, during lunch with friends and a foster dog, a woman we've never met jumped out of her van with a big warm blanket for my foster dog, who must've been looking chilly under my chair. California winters may be tropical by midwest standards, but they're still winter! She swaddled him up until he was swallowed in swirl of fuzzy red Elmos, patted his big fat head, smiled big and then said, "When you leave, you can put it back in my van. It'll be unlocked." And it was, and we did. Our hearts melted. What a beautiful, perfectly random act of kindness!

Next weekend, a not so random act of the same kind is being organized by a group of bakers who want to help our dogs as well as local school kids who are learning about urban farming. They'll be baking all week long in prep for a vegan bake sale that will take place in front of the most wonderful Issues Magazines store in Oakland, just round the corner from Peets on Piedmont Ave. How cool! I can't wait. Proceeds go to BR as well as the School Garden Program of Laurel Elementary School. Come on down this Saturday Jan 9 from 11-4, grab some sweets, meet some BR dogs and say hello to some of the nicest bakers around. And while you wait for Saturday to get here, see how many random acts of kindness you can extend to the chilly creatures that you meet this first week of the new year. It could become a trend!

Thank you East Bay Vegan bakers for your big hearts and your labor of love!

2010: once in a blue moon

Once in a blue moon, we come across an opportunity to participate in a point in history that's so special, it changes who we are as individuals and as a culture. We are so very grateful to have connected with so many animals lovers in recent months as we walk into a brand new era together. Author and anthropologist Mary Elizabeth Thurston signals this new era in her musings, below. Wishing Happy New Year to all our friends and the creatures they hold dear.

The Path to a New Ethic

"History tells us that the welfare of the individual - humane or canine - is irrevocably tied to the welfare of the community. Now we have studies showing that children who care for dogs are more likely to mature into emotionally healthier adults, and that canine companionship prolongs the length and quality of life. Capable of remarkable love, the dog gives us what we crave most - a sense of belonging.

Throughout our shared history with dogs, it has been the spark of love between one person and one pet that became the catalyst for social change. That this canine "ephiphany" is now happening with increasing frequency points to a revolution in our concept of ourselves - our growing acceptance that we are part of the community of animals, not above or separate from it. With overpopulation, urbanization and habitat destruction threatening our personal links to the natural world, the role of the dog in bringing us to this new awareness cannot be trivialized.

Pet keeping is now one of the Western values being exported to cultures where animals have traditionally been viewed as consumable resources. With only the affluent in these countries able to afford keeping dogs for pleasure, pets again are becoming emblems of prestige, just as they were in nineteenth-century Europe. So we might ask, as the far reaches of the globe are transformed by a second wave of industrialization, whether the human-dog relationship in these developing nations will follow the same evolutionary pattern. Will the camera again document a canine pilgrimage from slave to soulmate as these societies grapple with concepts of self-determination and a compassionate ethic that embraces us all?" - Mary Elizabeth Thurston

where's badrap.org?

With all the new traffic to our site, our server bills have gone thru the roof! So while we migrate to a new server today, BR's website and corresponding images on the blogspot, etc, will be playing hike-n-seek.

Bookmark badrap.org ... No more "www" in our url.

Thanks for your patience as we re-figure ourselves for the New Year! ... (the year of a website re-design wethinks!)

Announcement: Pit Ed Class Switch

Muggy and Lola's sweet mugs show up at many of our adventures and events. They're a steady fixture on the sidelines of Pit Ed classes, always wearing those classic "Woe is me" faces and luring visitors over to get them some lovin' while their person stays busy teaching two back to back training classes. Smart dogs!

Their person Donyale is a popular instructor with the steady stream of new dog handlers that file in each week. She's got a knack for helping people learn their beginning skills with her down to earth style, her endless enthusiasm and happy sense of humor. Donyale understands how new handlers feel - She started out as a shelter volunteer herself, taking Berkeley shelter dogs through class and helping them get adopted. She showed so much natural ability that we snagged her for a new role as class instructor for the Beginner and Novice Drop In classes and we've been humming along ever since.

Class members may not always realize that Donyale comes to a good number of classes right off of a 48 shift at her 'real' job. She's a SF fire fighter and does a lot of shift trading so she can be there for the dogs on Saturday mornings, with or without a full night's sleep. A true pit bull junkie - she painted Muggy and Lola on her station helmet to keep their bully spirits near when she's on the job.

ANNOUNCEMENT TO PIT ED CLASS MEMBERS:

Starting THIS coming weekend, to accommodate a busy seven week stretch in Donyale's work schedule, we'll be switching our classes off of Saturdays and running them on Sundays instead. Beginning and Drop in classes will run on Sunday from 11:30-12:30 until February 14 when we go back to our Saturday schedule. Linda's CGC Prep Class will also switch to Sundays starting January 10.

Are you on BR's PIt Ed class wait list? It's currently taking 6-8 months for people to get in once they register for classes. We're so sorry about the long wait! We're looking at ways to move things along so we can help you with your dog. Don't give up!  Registration

"Happy New Era" - Anti-BSL Statement from the A

We can't think of a better way to start a new year - a new era! - for pit bulls:

ASPCA Position Statement on Breed Specific Legislation

"...in light of the absence of scientific data indicating the efficacy of breed-specific laws, and the unfair and inhumane targeting of responsible pet guardians and their dogs that inevitably results when these laws are enacted, the ASPCA instead favors effective enforcement of a combination of breed-neutral laws that hold reckless dog guardians accountable for their dogs' aggressive behavior...."

Happy Gotcha Day, Aberfoil

Aberfoil was such a clownish punk when we first met him at Oakland Animal Services, that we even caught our ever-patient trainer Sara counting to ten on some days. He was determined to jump jump jump, so she taught him it was okay to use the springs in his legs as long as he avoided using human body parts as a launch pad. Fine! Aberfoil became highly skilled at impersonating a kangaroo and would hop hop hop in front, next to, and around people as high as possible with the biggest "Lookit ME!" grin he could muster. Good lord Aberfoil!

We used to wonder who would ever fall for the Dorkish Wonder, but Carol and Hank put that question to rest. They've been wonderful for him since he went home on a pending adoption contract and it's been a joy to see him morph into their perfect dog. The trio went full adoption this past Saturday and we couldn't be happier. There is definitely a CGC in Aber's future with this devoted family.

Sir Aberfoil! Our shelter memories of you will always make us slap our foreheads, roll our eyes and break into giggles.

Home for Christmas. One bust dog's little miracle.

Chapter One: This is the Story of Ernie, now known as Monkey. He was one of the 500 or so dogs swept up in the same seven state dog fighting raid that's been filling blogs with excitable chatter since July. He's home for good this Christmas, and I wanted to tell you why that is such a miracle....

We were fated to meet Ernie at an Iowa shelter (Animal Rescue League) during one of our visits to the midwest this past summer. Our job was to evaluate him and his kin of canine victims, file our recommendations and then, court-willing, sort the dogs out for whatever responsible rescue placements we could find.

It's a difficult job, because giving every dog the best opportunity involves making as honest an assessment as you can muster within a tiny window of time under less-than-ideal circumstances (oppressive heat, for one!), then brainstorming the most appropriate placement options to ensure each dog's long-term success. Then comes the task of locating those fabled placement options before the dogs go absolutely nuts in their kennels. With so much at stake, and so many deserving dogs vying for so few qualified foster homes, it's one of the most emotionally taxing jobs a dog lover can sign up for. I'm sure Ernie would say that he feels the same way.

Every dog has a different set of needs, of course. No such thing as a one size fits all bust dog. Some are shy but resilient like Frodo, so need very patient homes. Some are confident like our Vessa and need dog savvy leaders. And some, like Linda's agility contender Audie, have uber-energy that will need to be channeled for the rest of their lives. What kind of dog was Ernie?

Our hearts started thumpin' the minute we saw his tiny self bunny hopping around in his kennel, although he presented some bigger challenges right from the get-go: Great dog, but he was a committed
R-A-S-C-A-L.

He exploded out of his kennel in such a hurry that we needed rodeo-star lasso moves to snag him with our slip-lead. He was wired for sound throughout most of his out-time, he practically flew through the air at a toy (including a copper pipe - yum!), he tried rearing up and spitting fire at a dog, and generally did what he could to wriggle right out of his skin in hot pursuit of a good Par-tay.

What fun! - What work! We loved him. He is a performance style staffordshire bull terrier (SBT), meaning, he's a little working dog - smart as all get-up, with drive to spare. Awesome fun and incredibly trainable, but oy-vey, what a handful to most dog homes. With so many dogs in need, this little stinker was going to need a good dose of Santa's magic.

Right: Lara Peterson from A Rotta Love Plus wrangles the wild man during evals.

Below is one of Ernie's 'screen tests' during our get-to-know-you eval in Iowa. Yee Haw! This clip captures the moment we all fell in love.



We knew we better get busy with searching out a spot for the irrepressible Ernie even before the courts made their ruling. Not easy - explosive little brat-dogs aren't exactly an easy sell, and most rescues had already committed themselves.

Thank dog for internet friendships - our last shred of hope came from a staffy bull owning friend who'd been watching with sadness as more and more SBTs were finding their way into the hands of the bad guys (several of Vick's dogs were SBTs as well as TugTug from the Kay County OK bust).

Kristi Johnson (right) was dialed into the SBT world through her own two gorgeous show staffys, but a call for help to her circles bounced back with dead silence. Damn. Letting this little monkey dog go seemed painfully impossible.

Just when we were getting worried, Kristi wrote to say that a talented dog trainer had shown some interest in the funny little bust dog. She liked fast dogs and wanted to see his evaluation videos and learn why the pit bull people were making such a big fuss about him. (Don't you just love how the Internet is making these kinds of connections common place?) Ernie's videos hurled thru cyberspace and not long after, along came the words "I'll take him." We did the happy dance all over the house, then anxiously waited for news of their first date. (In case you missed it, this video shows Ernie with Kristi on jail break day!)

Chapter Two: Lynn Silvis, Ernie-now-Monkey's new person, explains how things looked from her end....

"When the email of a little staffy named Ernie came over my desktop, I nearly hit delete. I just nursed my 10 year old pit mix through a serious immune disorder that left me rather raw and drained my bank account to zero and a earlier this year I got my other dog through cancer, so the timing felt very wrong. While I have been entertaining the idea of adding in another dog a year or two down the road (I wanted a dog to learn Mondio with), I thought the last thing I needed right now was another dog. I kept the email, but resisted opening it for a few days. A second email came and again, I didn't open it. Finally a co-worker who had received the email as well pushed me to at least take a look.

Once I opened it, I knew my resolve was sunk. I went from saying "I do not need a third dog" to, "Why am I thinking about a third dog?" ... to, "I want this dog!" in a few short days.

The more I learned about this little dude, the more I knew he was right for my pack. Bit by bit I received videos of his temperament testing and was very impressed. I was falling in love.

On October 19th, he came home. The first few days I vacillated between intense love and a feeling of, "What the heck am I doing?" He has pretty significant kennel aversion and would wail and throw himself against the kennel in a panic, sometimes shaking the whole house. When he would come out of the kennel he would jump into my arms and wrap his front legs around my neck and tuck his head into my chest and shake.

He was like a little monkey and the name stuck -- "Monkey," silly yet somehow fitting. We spent weeks working this through and now goes into to his kennel on command and while he doesn't exact love it, he will settle down quickly. He obviously had never lived in a house and his explorations were a joy to watch. He nose bumped everything and behaved like a pup -- everything a chew toy! The first week he spent on leash to make sure he was successful with all the rules of indoor living and with my two canine girls. We went slow since we had nothing but time and I wanted him to be adored by girls as much as I adored him.

Ruby, the red pit mix, was the first to accept him -- a play bow was all it took for her. Kya, the black pit, is little tougher to charm as she is more of a people dog than a dog dog, but he was wise enough to approach her slower and snuggled next to her on the couch. She has been in love ever since! I have also been fostering a toy poodle he is friends with --even changes his normally boisterous play style to more gentle and less "bully" when they play. Within two weeks he was sleeping on the bed with all of us like a normal dog and has quickly become a snuggle junkie, spending most of the mornings on my lap while I answer my emails.

Unfortunately, his vet check gave us bad news. He tested positive for heartworm. Luckily, the vet felt it was an early infection, so he would not likely have any lasting problems. My vet was incredibly wonderful and discounted Monkeys treatment by more than half price! The next 8 weeks were a challenge! Trying to convince the busy boy that he needed to be calm was a constant struggle. We spent the weeks learning house manners and basic obedience skills. He loves learning! The more I challenge him, the more he amazes me!

He came though treatment early December with no lasting effects of the infection and was given the go ahead to be a normal dog! Our first night off restriction we spent at one of our training facilities playing unbridled with his girls! I've never seem such a big staffy smile!

Life is good now for the little boy. Now that he is off restrictions, he will start formal training and I will decide what his talents are so we can start him on his way to become an ambassador for the breed and for fight dogs. Whatever we do, I am confident this little guy will be up for anything! His positive attitude is inspiring to all who meet him. The first email I received on him told me he was a special guy and you were all right!

I want to thank all those who help my little Monkey along his journey and helped him find his way to our family. My life is incredibly richer with him here and I already can't imagine life without him! We all love him so much!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!" - Lynn Silvis

Are ya kidding, Lynn? Thank you for sticking your neck out for a goofy little bust dog. Huge thanks also to Kristi for responding when we screamed for help. We just know that Monkey is going to make everybody proud, and we look forward to hearing about your happy adventures together for many years to come.

Merry Christmas to the Miracle Monkey!

Hector, doing the work he was bred to do.

News: One-time Vick fighting dog embraced by St. Paul 3rd-graders ... Video One ... Video Two

Above: Hector does the famous Hector flop in Clara Yori's arms.

Endangered media. And, we meet a hero

News Cycle reported last week that over 15 thousand journalists were canned in 2009. After suffering more than two decades of character assassination of pit bulls in the news, some might be tempted to say "Bah humbug! Who needs'em!" ... But the worrisome part of this trend is that it threatens to rob us all of whatever ethical journalists might still be out there, while opening the door to yet more tabloid bombers who steamroll over facts in a hot hurry to file shocking headlines and crap reporting.

At a time when pit bulls have reached a tipping point with widespread positives in the media, we really need the good guys to stick around. We're all too familiar with damage done by the fear-chasers. Brent Toellner ran a fascinating series of blog posts recently about David Gardner's book The Science of Fear, which includes some discussion of the media's role in paralyzing the public with demonic, media driven stereotypes - which includes pit bulls, of course. KC Dog Blog. Brent's research offers solid 'know thine enemy' kind of reading.

BR members have had more contact with the media than we ever thought possible over the last two years, and despite their history of ick and our own initial fear and prejudices, our experience with journalists has been overwhelmingly positive. It wasn't just that we had a winning story - victimized dogs resurrected, and all - how can you lose, really? But the people writing their stories were ... fabulous. Warm. Thoughtful. Where have they been hiding all these years? And now that we've found them - or rather, now that they've found the dogs - are we going to lose them completely to this downward spiral in the news industry?

Nearly every single writer we've met has relayed some concern about losing their jobs during our get-to-know-you conversations. That includes John Glionna of the L.A.Times (above), who is just the kind of reporter we want on the dogs' side. He made several personal visits to learn about his subject, even allowing our dogs to swarm him during his interview for this flattering article that makes pit bull rescue - important. (John has since starting covering stories in Korea, by the way. He may be far from pit bulls, but we were glad to see he's still using his pen for important animal issues)

One of the biggest voices for pit bulls in the news media came to the SF bay area last weekend for a visit. We were thrilled - thrilled! - to finally meet her.

Cheryl Wittenauer, writer for the Associated Press, introduced the Vick dogs to the world in this precedent setting article that was launched to hundreds of media outlets around the world the minute the last defendant in the Vick case was sentenced and we were free from our gag order. Not only did she keep her word and honor our request for strict confidentiality during her research, she wrote her piece with so much compassion for the victims that she turned the previously reported 'Menacing Dog' business on its heels and set the tone for the avalanche of positive media that would follow. During the time that she interviewed our crew for the story, she held a curious and objective mind, and avoided baiting us with fear-fetching questions. She later went on to write some of the more compassionate articles about the dogs from this summer's big bust in the midwest. She's truly one of the most important media voices for our breed right now. Left: Cheryl nuzzles Vick dog Zippy, who is held by her foster mom, Berenice Mora-Hernandez.

I hope people like John and Cheryl find a way to ride out the lay-off storm so their curiosity and professional integrity can continue to benefit the animals. It's one of the main reasons we always have to remember to thank the editors when their publications run a good piece. Not only are we ensuring that positive press continues, but we just might be helping to secure the job of the writer so they come back to do it again.

Below: Cheryl spent the afternoon with six Vick dogs and their people during Pit Ed Class last Saturday, including Daisy (bottom right), one of the survivors from the big seven state dog fighting bust. It's been almost two years since her celebrated Vick dog article came out, and this was her very first time meeting the dogs. We had a blast!