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Friday, September 28, 2007

Respect Your Elders, Dammit

Our 3rd annual conference at the Claremont Inn was wonderful ... but before we could decompress and digest, the dogs started calling. Right now, this little lady has us all distracted....



She's a senior pit bull who lived much of her 11 years tied up out a yard. She may look a little beat up (Well okay, a LOT beat up) but she's somehow maintained the optimism of a puppy.

Sophie is missing an eye and an ear and is full of fight scars. She's been way-way-waaaaay overbred and she walks on wrists that have been broken and left unmended. Her jaw was broken somewhere along the way, and she doesn't have many teeth left. Her skin is bad, and her titties are hanging low from a very recent litter. (WTF!?) Despite the obvious trauma, drama and hard knocks, she loves people. Viva pit bull resiliency.

A BR member just brought her home so she could have some comfort while we scratch our heads and try to figure out what to do with her. For now, we plan to do a lot of standing back in amazement. More news to come as we get to know this beautiful soul.

Watch: Sophie's Movie







Update on Gary - Our other compassion case is improving very slowly. He loves chicken livers, but distrusts digital cameras. He's still sleeping off years of neglect, but comes alive and "Woo Woo!s" to hurry us along at dinner time. He's a funny, sorta simple kind of guy.

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:48 AM

    A million thanks to BAD RAP and its compassionate crew! I am so touched by your acts of kindness with Gary and Sophie. Your group has inspired me for years towards becoming part of the solution to the bully-breed crisis. Thank you!
    ~Cathy in ATL

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  2. Anonymous10:47 AM

    Your compassion case???? ALL of your dogs are compassion cases, from where I stand. Considering the 'badrap' that our bullies get, the abuse and misrepresentation by the media....all are compassion cases.

    She's a beautiful girlie and I'll bet she was a very caring Mommy as well.

    But yes, you are SUCKAS...and thank doG for that!

    I echo the sentiment of Cathy above...you are an inspiration to us all.

    Dina

    PS nudge, nudge to Bambi....out on the East Coast, we need our fill of the party goings-on last weekend! Pictures, stories, videos, please....we who support you circulate to all that we know in rescue...and have changed the minds of a few as well.

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  3. Anonymous11:51 AM

    I shudder to think at the life Miss Sophie endured. Thank GOD for Bad Rap. Poor baby. Hugs and Kisses from Minnesota. Heal well, both physically and emotionally.

    Twyla in MN

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  4. Anonymous3:52 PM

    OMG! OMG! OMG! I am speechless... tears are flowing...you guys have got to be the most compassionate people in the world..OMG! OMG! OMG! This old girl needs so much love and attention..i am sending my loving vibes to her right now...I am also lighting a candle in honor of her rezealant soul and for the all wonderful loving compassonate people associated with BADRAP..YOU GUYS ROCK!! Smooches to Sophie..what a stellar name for such a strong lady
    Crystal Tampa Fl

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  5. Oh Sophie.. look at that face. So much hardship, so much mistreatment, and look - look! - at that face, filled with love and happiness and optimism.

    I hope she has sweet, easy, warm days, for as many days as she has left. I hope that anyone who still thinks that 'dogs that have been fought' need to be put down looks at her face and looks again, hard.

    I hope all those companies and groups who raised money 'for the pit bulls' that they only wanted to see euthanized cough up a buck or ten to help Sophie get softer beds and more cookies.

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  6. I have no words. Only shame, in my fellow human beings, if you can call them that. Who could do this to a sweet animal. Beyond my comprehension.

    Thank you Donna and BadRap.

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  7. I just wanted to let everyone who reads this and those that have commented know that Sophie is doing well. She's here with me... and a real love, she is. She had a big warm bed in a quiet spot, good yummies and clean water, she got a nail trim today, and goes for a walk around the block every morning.

    She's spending her days in a nice kennel with a house and blankies where she can see my other dogs... they all wait for me to get home then it's "wooooooooooooo!!!!" party time! Since she has kennel cough and worms, I'm keeping her safely distanced from the rest of the crew, but that doesn't keep mer from loving on her.

    She never, NEVER stops wagging and twirling around... and even musters up zoomies energy. I imagine once the worms are gone and the good food keeps coming, she'll feel even zoomier :-)

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  8. Anonymous6:39 PM

    Kadillac Grrl..thank you for taking her in and loving her like she has probably never been loved before!! You rock!!! Please please keep us updated:) Crystal Tampa FL

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  9. Anonymous8:02 PM

    Wow - what a beautiful girl! Thank you BAD RAP - you are kind and caring. She needs kind hands as in picture #3. What a "bully"! Keep up the good work.

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  10. Oh, she is beautiful. She reminds me of my old girl Julianna. Sophie looks to be just as soulful and stubborn a she was. If I was not living in Kenya right now I would be coming down to SF to woo her.

    Sam

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  11. Anonymous5:06 PM

    The pictures and the movie leave me speechless. Its scary how in some people cruelty and stupidity knows no limits.

    Sophie, from this side of the planet we wish you all the best and that your example may inspire humans to treat and look at pitbulls diferently.

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  12. Anonymous10:20 AM

    God bless you all for what you are doing. My heart constantly aches for these dogs, and many more. Each one that is taken in by loving humans heals one more hole in my heart.
    On Sat. Oct 27, KS and MO will be joining 7 other states to protest BSL, and of course, abuse is a big part of it. See roverlution.org for march information.

    I do respectfully request that on this day, regardless of whether you are marching or not, that you wear your Red, White and Blue in Honor of the thousands of American Pit Bull Terriers who have lost their lives to BSL and abuse. Of course, we honor ALL dogs, and we are protesting ALL discrimination, but this particular breed needs some extra special attention, respect and honor on this day.

    Thank you again for all that you are doing! It is deeply appreciated!

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  13. Can anyone give me an update on Sophie? Hugs and kisses from us to this sweet girl. May she know many days of love and kindness.

    Cornelia & PB's Misty & Buddy
    Lodi, CA

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  14. Anonymous5:44 PM

    What would the world be like if we did not have folks who cleaned up the neglectful aftermath of other human beings ignorance and greed?

    I salute BAD RAP time and time again!
    You all are angels to Gods creatures who have fallen into the pits of hell on earth.

    Joe Chess

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  15. Anonymous6:24 PM

    We love Sophie!

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  16. Anonymous6:07 PM

    I will never understand how people can be cruel to animals. Sophie is a beautiful soul inside and out. Thank you so much for saving her and for doing all that you do.

    The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his DOG. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground,where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wing and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the cold, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, and to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

    -Senator George Vest, 1870.

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  17. Awww, I had no idea that she went to you guys, when I saw her in the Oakland Shelter I could barely make eye contact with her, it was too painful. She was one of the many that were brought in that day from that bastard...

    If there's anything I can do let me know! Thanks so much you guys.

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  18. Anonymous10:22 AM

    I'm a BADRAP fan from the east coast and have admired, from a far, all of the work you all do. My husband, non-bully mutt and I have a one year old Amstaff who we adopted at 3.5 months. Every time we read a horror story about bully abuse we hug our little guy and think of how terribly things could have been for him. I would add more but I'll leave it at that because I'm starting to get misty! Thank you again for all of the work you do!

    Love,
    3 bully fans (and one bully!) in Atlanta

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  19. An amazing site that I found while tracking the Michael Vick's situation. The work your do is truly inspiring, and counters the negative press that is perpetuated via the media. Our little ambassador of the breed, Norman Apollo, shows love and enthusiam to all he meets. Our last Amstaff, Zeus, paved the way for him. All our best from NJ!!!!

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  20. Anonymous7:22 AM

    Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
    Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!

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  21. Anonymous6:42 PM

    Your group has hearts of gold. You are wonderful angels to save this sweet soul of a dog. Bless you all for the work you do, and prayers that this sweetie will find a wonderful forever home!

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  22. Anonymous1:26 AM

    She is so beautiful and she breaks my heart. You guys are the best for looking after her.W e are going to be donating to you and some other shelters as part of the Vick payback pledge, and buying shirts to raise awareness. <3

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