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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Pit Bull saves Couples life in Fire


Dog awakened sleeping couple as fire engulfs mobile home. - Greeley, Colorado

For more of the story, click here: http://network.bestfriends.org/thepitstop/news/2703.html

Pit Bull Saves Child From House Fire

A three-year-old pit bull named Marley is credited with saving a little girl in Alaska from a house fire in early December.

by Sherry Morse

A three-year-old pit bull named Marley is credited with saving a little girl in Alaska from a house fire in early December.

Marley, a black and white dog who looks like Pete from the Little Rascals television show, grabbed the back of six-year-old Autumn Marley's jacket to drag her out of the burning house.

Autumn alerted her mother who was cooking dinner that the entryway to the house was on fire.

Julie Marley then forced open a seldom used back door so she and her two daughters could escape the fire.

As Ms. Marley left the house she turned to see Marley the dog pulling Autumn through the door to safety.

Jennifer Ingram, Marley's guardian, said that, "She's always been an awesome dog, but I didn't know she was capable of doing this." Ingram has raised Marley from a puppy.

Ms. Ingram was out shopping for Christmas presents when the fire broke out and arrived home to find Marley running loose in the midst of all the firefighters and bystanders.

She planned to take Marley to the vet to treat frostbite on her feet from being out in the snow.

Thanks to Autumn and Marley no one was injured in the fire, although the house was a total loss.

The Red Cross set up a place for the Marley family to stay, while Ms. Ingram and Marley the dog are staying with a friend.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.















Sgt. Stubby was a decorated WWI Hero. Helen Kellar had a 'seeing-eye' Pit bull. The dog from the Little Rascals; Petey, was a Pit bull 'type' dog.
















Orlando Bloo here Folks! They can't be all that bad! It doesn't hurt that Orlando is hot as heck! :D


Linka Blair is another famous owner of the Pit Bull. Other than rappers, how many other influently people are out there who own Pit Bulls?

Pit Bull Saves Man's Life, Dies a Hero

**It's not current, but it is 1 of the numerous articles out there like it!**

April 26, 2001 Belmont, North Carolina, USA

Good thing Gaston County, North Carolina doesn't have a ban on pit bulls, or this man wouldn't be alive this morning.

Steve Carpacca, 41, was asleep in his mobile home at 3:15am when his pit bull ran into the bedroom and started barking frantically.

The man awoke to a room filled with smoke and immediately ran outside. When he realized that his dog had not followed him, he rushed back into the blazing trailer, armed with two 5-pound fire extinguishers, but the fire was already out of control.

Four fire departments responded to the call, and it took a total of 15 firefighters to douse the flames. The dog never made it out; fire crews found the little hero's body in the hall just outside Mr. Carpacca's bedroom.

Mr. Carpacca was devastated at the loss of his dog.

"The dog saved his life, absolutely," said Chief Dicky Harris with the Community Volunteer Fire Department. "If the dog hadn't been in the house, [Mr. Carpacca] would have been overcome by smoke."

It is believed that the fire was caused by an electric heater in the kitchen. Mr. Carpacca never heard any of the smoke detectors sound.

http://dogsinthenews.com/issues/0104/articles/010426a.htm

'Pit' Puppy saves boy, 4, from injury


A puppy saved its four-year-old owner from serious injury after the boy stepped on a manhole cover and plunged feet first into a sewer.

The accident happened last Thursday when Jack Sorrell, from High Brooms, was holding the Staffordshire Bull Terrier on a walk with his grandfather.

Fortunately Mia the dog pulled forward on the lead and stopped Jack from falling down any further.

Kent County Council denied any blame as the drain is on private land.

But Jack's father Tony Philips said it was the second such incident.

"The lady who lives next door, her husband fell through the same drain hole two months ago and they reported it, but it still hasn't been fixed."

Norman Kelly, the youngster's grandfather, demanded that something be done.

"It's down by a set of garages so it should be able to take the weight of a vehicle, never mind the weight of a four-year-old child.

Jack described the experience as "scary".

His father said it could have been a lot worse because his son suffers from a medical condition where by he can stop breathing if he hits his head.

He added: "Mia's a super dog, she's a star and she's Jack's saviour."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/kent/4376856.stm

threewoofs

threewoofs

What a great blogspot! Love her photos and the dogs just seem amazing!

Friday, August 25, 2006

For Pit Bulls, It's A Bum Rap

August 20, 2006 By B. Phillips

The story was all over the TV news in July: Hartford police shot a pit bull six times after the dog attacked a woman, who needed 17 stitches in her calf.

Most people probably paid little heed, or merely thought "typical pit bull."

Some of us, though, saw that story and shuddered. Not with fear but sympathy.

For the dog.

The images were telling: a small fenced-in dirt yard, a giant chain with a broken padlock at the end, scared bystanders describing the ferocious dog.

Sitting on the couch in my condo, watching, I blanched. I looked over at my pit, Augustus, reclining on the couch next to me. He, too, came from the streets of Hartford, where he earned his scars in fights with other dogs.

A skinny wraith when he was rescued, now he's 80 pounds of black-and-tan affection, winning the hearts of everyone he meets. Well, mostly everyone. Some people still cross the street when they see him coming.

Everyone's heard the stereotypes about pit bulls: They're vicious. (Occasionally.) They were bred for fighting. (True.) They can bite down with thousands of pounds of pressure. (False.)
Once they bite, their jaws lock and never let go. (False.)

But talk to pit bull owners and you'll hear a different message:

"They are the most loyal, loving dogs you'll ever own," said Barbie Perry, executive director of Canton-based Hot Water Rescue, an organization that rescues, fosters and places the so-called "bully breeds" like pit bulls and Rottweilers."

They are so loving," said Mariette, owner of three adopted pit bulls who lives in Barkhamsted with her husband Steve. She didn't want her last name used because she's afraid her insurance company would raise their insurance premiums for having pit bulls."

They are wonderful dogs," said Stacey, a Winchester resident who withheld her last name for the same reason. She and her boyfriend adopted their pit bull, Maple, from a shelter after the dog was seized by the FBI during a drug raid in Hartford. Since getting to know Maple, Stacey said, her boyfriend's father, sister and brother have each adopted pits of their own.

Loyal, loving, affectionate - downright snuggly, in fact - are words used to describe pits by those who own them. And it seems that once you meet a pit, it won't be long before you want one.

It's the dogs' loyalty that helped them earn their reputation as deadly fighters. Originally bred to bait bulls or to fight in arenas called pits - hence the name - the dogs' owners had to be able to enter the ring and separate the dogs if necessary. Any dog that showed aggression toward humans was usually put down.

Pit bulls' "ultimate instinct is to do whatever they have to to earn their owner's love," said Perry, a slight woman with long dark hair and intense blue eyes, whose extensive knowledge of the bully breeds is matched by her passion for rescuing them. " The dogs were bred to be non-aggressive to humans."

The name "pit bull" is used to describe a type of dog, most often one of three breeds: the American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. All three have short coats, well-muscled bodies and stoic demeanors.

Petey, the dog on The Little Rascals comedies of the 1920 and '30s, was an American Staffordshire terrier. Helen Keller's service dog was a pit bull-type. And a Staffordshire terrier named Sgt. Stubby was a decorated World War I canine hero who warned troops of incoming gas and helped flush out enemy snipers.

It's only in the past 20 years or so that pit bulls have acquired a bad reputation, according to Karen Delise, author of "Fatal Dog Attacks, The Stories Behind the Statistics." And it largely stems from irresponsible owners, who chain their dogs in back yards, starve them, beat them, fight them or throw them away if they aren't good fighters.

"Most pits don't want to fight," said Perry. "They want to be loving to people. They're the ultimate family companion."

"My bird and my dog can chew on the same bone," said Stacey. When a Chihuahua bit Maple on the nose, "She didn't react at all."

Many pit owners mentioned the sense of responsibility that comes with owning such a high-profile, much-maligned breed. They take care to keep their dogs leashed and make sure they're well-trained and obedient."

I'm overly cautious," said Liz Taylor of East Hartford.

"I'm harder on my dog because she's a pit bull," said Stacey. "I make sure she has impeccable behavior. I'm proud to say she's a pit bull."

Perry offered advice for those thinking of getting one. Educate yourself, so you know exactly what you're getting. Be prepared to face prejudice. Be ready for a full-time commitment; the dogs need lots of exercise. If you're getting a puppy, make sure it's socialized with other dogs at an early age.

The extra precautions and work of owning a pit bull are worth it, owners say. "I couldn't imagine owning any other dog," said Taylor.

Neither can I.

But Perry, whose organization rescued Gus from the streets, is right when she urges people to research the breed. Pit bulls aren't for everyone. Gus can be a handful at times, and he can't be around other dogs. On my insurance forms, he's listed as "mutt."

But visitors to my condo are more in danger of getting licked to death or thwacked by his constantly wagging tail than they are of getting bitten. On a recent night, as six friends sat around talking, Gus walked joyfully from person to person, a big pitty smile on his face. One woman sat tucked into a corner of the couch, keeping a wary eye on him. Correctly sensing her fear of dogs, he climbed onto the couch next to her, sticking his big anvil-shaped head close to hers and licking her ear.

By the end of the night, he'd won another heart.

http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-mypit0820.artaug20,0,580945.story

Owners Accountable for Dangerous Dogs

http://myblog.injuryboard.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1363

As well they should be held Accountable for THEIR dog's actions! It is them who teach or lack there of, the dog it's behavor.

This blog; written by a local Virginia Lawyer, makes for fine reading on the topic. I'd rather vote for a law that holds the HUMAN responsible, than vote for one that lumps all of one breed regardless into one catagory for distruction.

"On Sunday, one pitbull got loose in Monroe Park and attacked at least five people, causing puncture wounds from the dog's teeth. Witnesses at the scene told police that the dog was not provoked and just went "wild". The owner admitted to one reporter that this dog had been known to attack. Notwithstanding, he decided to take this dog for a walk without a muzzle or any special chain."

The above individual should be sued by those biten by his dog. He was at fault souly, he failed to train his dog properly or 'walk' it properly. But in the end, HIS dog will be put down or was. Due to the Ignorance of this poor dog's owner, he pays the Highest price of all! His life!

When will it stop? What breed is next?

ONTARIO MOVES TO BAN LABRADOR RETRIEVERS
by Publisher on Wed 23 Aug 2006 09:55 AM EDT

Toronto, August 23, 2006:
The Attorney General for Ontario announced last night that in view of the success of the province's ban on pit bulls the government is turning its attention to another very popular breed of dog.

He made the following announcement at a press conference late yesterday: "These dogs are involved in more biting and mauling incidents than any other breed in Ontario. Every time I read a news report about a dangerous dog, it involves a Lab or a Lab cross. We had another incident today in Waterloo involving Labs attacking people on the street. Enough is enough. It's time to take a long, hard look at these dogs."

When questioned about the advisability of bringing the issue before the public in an election year, the Attorney General said: "The public wants to be protected from dangerous dogs. The public supported the pit bull ban because they knew it was time to get dangerous dogs off our streets and out of our parks and backyards. The precedent has been set, our ban is working and it's time to look at other types of dogs involved in large numbers of bites and attacks."

As to whether it would be put to a vote in the Legislature or if public hearings would be held as they were for the pit bull ban, the response was: "We went through a vote, we had public hearings and we remained convinced that banning pit bulls was the right thing to do. The law allows the government to add any breeds or mixed breeds to its list of prohibited dogs without consultation. Municipalities have that authority as well."

The Opposition Critic could not be reached for comment. The NDP Attorney General Critic had this to say:

"I don't know why anyone would be surprised by this announcement.
The Attorney General has already proven he is capable of banning dogs because of their breed. Labs are one of the most popular dogs in the province, why wouldn't they be next? More dogs, more bites - it isn't rocket science".

Asked if he thought adding another breed to the ban would protect the public, he replied "I don't know about the public. I think this is more about protecting the Attorney General's seat."

To view dogs people think are 'lab mixes', click here.

Concerned? Write to your MPP

h/t CVTNews

**this kinda bites doesn't it? BUT this entire story is SATIRE! Did it make you think, at all? I truly hope so!!**

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

An abused, dying pup becomes a drug-sniffing superdog


KOOL K-9 Popsicle
<~From People Weekly Magazine Edition April 26, 1999 The "Animal" chronicle, Page 117

"He's a little ball of fire" says U.S. Customs officer J.J. Trevino of Popsicle (Receiving a significant Seizure medal in March).

During an arrest two years ago, Buffalo policeman Ron Clark, Jr. opened an abandoned freezer on a known drug dealer's back porch and found a bulging black garbage bag.

"I poked my flashlight at it," he recalls, "and it started moving. My worst fear was that it was a baby."In fact, it was a puppy, a pit bull who would be known as Popsicle and -- in a lovely ironic twist-- would gain fame for sniffing out the kind of bad guy that nearly killed him.

One year ago, Popsicle helped the feds seize 3,075 pounds of cocaine from a pineapple-laden truck at the Mexican border-the biggest drug bust ever at the Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry. "It's astounding the obstacles this dog has overcome," says US Customs Service Commissioner Raymond W. Kelley.

When Officer Clark found the wounded, blood-caked animal who had apparently been used in pit bull fights, he was undernourished, hypothermic and near death. "He was in bad shape, but I was drawn to him," says SPCA adoption counselor Shannon Willie, who name the pup Popsicle.

Alas, people who visited the shelter looking to adopt a puppy were put off by his breed's reputation. They would take one look at the pit bull and walk away.

When Popsicle regained his strength, the shelter contacted US Customs canine-enforcement officer Sally Barr. It was a long shot, but maybe he would qualify for the dog training school in Front Royal, VA.

Of 500 dogs Barr has tested in the last three years, only 4 have made the cut. "You want a dog that plays a terrific tug-of-war," says Barr. Popsicle did, and in February 1998 he graduated at the top of his class and became a celebrated alumnus two months later by detecting the record contraband cache under a tractor-trailer.

"You have to imagine him," says US Customs canine handler J.J. Trevino ,"on his hind legs, barking, trying to reach up to the bottom of the truck."

Back in Buffalo, where the bad guy eventually got off with probation for animal cruelty, Ron Clark remains awed by Popsicle's comeback. "I still don't know why I opened that refrigerator," says Clark. "But it feel like it was meant to be."

Ban Pit Bulls - SHEER IGNORNANCE

Ban Pit Bulls (BEFORE CLICKING - READ BELOW)

1st off, let me say this, if education is key in your life, DO NOT VISIT THIS blog! Ignorance abounds here by it's creator.

His profile shot is sadly and obviously a photoshoped Pit with narly teeth snarling at you. Poor photoshop I might add as well.

He's chosen to display the negative and refuses to display the positive in this breed. He refuses to acknowledge that a dog's temperament is the product of it's owner, as are our children!

HATE is a LEARNED behavor, not bred for like he'd like you to believe. His Hate for this breed is painfully obvious in his blog.

I've chosen to flag his blog, and I ask that if you have a heart, love education and what it allows you the freedom to do, please consider flagging this blogspot. Please..

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Look At This...: Photography - War

Look At This...: Photography - War

Found this blogger to be of interest, and enjoyed reading some of his posts.

It's a Beautiful late Summer Day!

It's been awhile since I've done this. I would prefer to be far more diligent at it, but you can say Life sorta gets in the way. Since my sister and nephew left in July for home in Alaska, I've traveld home to Williamsburg, I guess twice now. Not as often as I'd like to though.

I've done some volunteering in that time as well, home visits for families looking to adopt and I've even surfed through CL and offered up some advice and info for those looking for help with a new pup or a rescued animal.

I've since taken the choke collar and the prong collar off Angus and we are using a Halti. You'd think I was trying to murder the poor pup with this thing the way he behaves, but he's coming along nicely, wish I had stuck to it the first time. :( Oh well, hindsight is always 20/20.

The job I took in May with a small software company is moving right along. Bob is so genuinely nice and it's hard to think I'm preparing to accept a much better, salary wise, job offer with a far more prominant Government Company in the area. BUT, family has to come first and as much as I am enjoying my current job, the money just isn't there to live like I have grown accustom to.

Wow, that last statement just really sounds lousy to me. I would have never thought there would be a 'style' or a 'quality' of life I just had to live within. I hadn't ever seen myself as a 'uppy individual'. But I guess you can't live on love and family alone.

I'm hoping to have some new pictures of the family here soon. I'd like to post a few here. Angus is growing like a weed and Kacie and Atlas need updated photos taken of them as well. I think once the weather begins to truly turn, I'll have Joe set up his tripod and see if we can get a good group photo outside in the backyard.

Joe is getting ready to celebrate his 33rd birthday on August 24th. I've managed to get 2 of his WWII prints framed thanks to my mother; who btw, is an amazing 'master' framer. She owns her own business and works for MWR on Fort Eustis, VA. The one he has wanted done for a while was of him taken by Rob Gibson of Gettysburg, PA, and is of him holding a vintage WWII machine gun 'laying in wait' to ambush WWII vintage troops at the corner of a 'house'. This photograph was taken with a working vintage 1940's camera and produced in B&W and inlaid on an old German magazin cover called 'Signal'. I'll see if I can capture a shot of it and post here it. http://www.civilwarphotography.com/gibson/index2.html

Well.. got a busy weekend ahead of me.. I'll update more later.. Have a wonderful weekend all..