Cayr Ariel Wulff's Blog, page 16

I Can Still See What a Dirtbag You Are.

Did you know that there are over 227 rescue groups in the United States that are devoted to saving pit bulls?  That seems like a lot, doesn't it?  There are three standout reasons for this. First, there are a disproportionately large number of pit bulls that find their way into shelters.  A main cause of that is that backyard breeders over-breed pit bull terrier type dogs because of the demand for pitties to populate illegal dog fighting rings.

And make no mistake: dog fighting is illegal. It is a felony offense in all fifty states.

The second reason accounting for the number of pittie rescues, is BSL. (Breed Specific Legislation). Many people get a pit bull without researching the laws in their city or state, only to find that there is BSL where they live, and then are forced to relinquish their pet. BSL also affects rescue groups, because it requires them to carry the same outlandish level of insurance for housing a pit bull that the dog's owner would have to carry. As a result, there are many rescues that just won't take pit bulls.

The third reason for so many pit-bull specific rescues is because a large segment of the dog rescue community recognizes the need to help a breed that has been unfairly vilified. And let's face it: pit bulls have really gotten a bad rap. A fear-driven hysteria has taken root in regard to this breed because of its vilification in the media. To make matters worse, Google Android has recently released a Dog Fighting app for the smartphone.

The first release of the app that simulates dog fighting was called "Dog Wars". The game teaches users how to breed, train, fight, medicate and kill virtual dogs. Last month, the app was pulled, but it turns out that it was pulled because of a copyright violation, not because the idea of the game is heinous and irresponsible. Last week, the app was rereleased  under the name KG Dogfighting.

I guess it's a no-brainer to figure out what I think about this sorry excuse for a game. Dog fighting at every level, from high-stakes interstate rings to back-alley street-level fights, is a cause of daily suffering and death for dogs. And not just pit bull type dogs either. Dog fighters obtain all sorts of breeds from "free to good home" ads to use as bait dogs. If you don't know what a bait dog is, you can read Noah's personal story in this post on the Lucky Dog Rescue Blog.

This is a photo of Noah. He was once a bait dog.

Noah: a former bait dog. (photo by Ashley Owen Hill)

Bait dogs are used to train fighting dogs how to kill. They often have their teeth removed, or their muzzles duct taped shut. Then they are restrained while the fighter dogs are instructed to attack.

Kage Games, the creators of "KG Dogfighting," made a statement to the LA Times, claiming that KG Dogfighting is educational, and that the company is donating part of the profits to animal-welfare organizations and disaster relief causes in Japan. A Kage Games official, using the alias "Pit Boss," reportedly emailed the Times:

"We are in fact animal lovers ourselves," Pit Boss wrote. "This is our groundbreaking way to raise money/awareness to aid REAL dogs in need, execute freedom of expression and serve as a demonstration to the competing platform that will not allow us as developers to release software without prejudgment."

Yeah. And I can leap tall buildings in a single bound. What a crock of shit.

Is Kage Games really playing the "Freedom of expression" card?  Really? Sorry to break it to you Pit Boss, but just because you are hiding behind the first amendment doesn't mean we can't still see what a dirtbag you are.

Since when do we educate by bad example? What's next: A child sex-slave app? A rape app? A terrorism app? The companies that sell KG Dogfighting should be ashamed of themselves; putting corporate greed above social responsibility.

If you are as appalled as I am by this muck-sucking excuse for entertainment, please sign the petition at change.org asking Google android to permanently remove KG Dogfighting from its mobile store.

My Dogs Are Not Perfect.

My dogs are not perfect. They are the obedience class rejects that other dog owners mock in class. Or, at least they would be, if they had ever gone to obedience class, which they haven't.  One of their most egregious traits is their barking. There are five of them, and they are Barkers.

They bark at all the usual stuff: wild animals in the yard; strangers that walk too close to the car; things that go bump in the night; they bark if they need to go out. But they also bark about all that other stuff.

Maria

Maria barks whenever I get on the phone. What better time to instigate play than when mom is otherwise engaged, holding that old-fashioned plastic receiver to her ear with a cord that only reaches so far; which is not far enough to grab her?

Taco

Taco barks at all the things that the rest of us can't hear, because her huge Yoda-style ears sit on her head like giant satellite dishes. She'll be the one to alert us to an alien invasion, because she'll hear the radio signals while the ships are still circling Mars.

Lammy-Lamb

Lammy-Lamb barks because at fourteen, the couch looks higher than it did last year, and she's not entirely confident that she can make the jump, so how about a little help please? And she barks because Waldo is giving her the evil eye and she is afraid to walk past him…so if you wouldn't mind escorting me?

Waldo

Waldo is not too small to jump on the bed, in fact, he is as big as me. But he stands next to the bed and barks because he needs me to hold the covers up so he can climb underneath and be covered 'just so', in order to hog the bed properly all night.

And Rocket-Boy barks anytime we are trying to nap to let us know that he is on guard duty and that we are safe under his watch; which

Rocket-Boy

he states for us at fifteen minute intervals as if he is calling out "fifteen minutes and all is still well."  He also barks whenever he comes home from anywhere – which he does with his lips carefully aimed directly  into one of Taco's satellite ears, because…well, I'm not really sure why he does that…but it seems important.

No. My dogs are not perfect. But neither are my family or friends, and neither am I. They're not perfect, but they're perfect for me.

Looking at the World with Dog-Colored Glasses

Last night I realized something about myself. I was watching the movie, SALT, starring Angelina Jolie as a CIA/Russian double agent.  It was a fun movie, full of action and suspense…but while Salt was on the run from the CIA and on an apparent assassination mission,  I found myself wondering over and over again whether she was going to go back for her dog. 

Crazy, right? What kind of a cuckoo worries about something like that in the plot of a movie?

That's when I realized: I'm a person who views the world with dog-colored glasses.

I am always honing in on a dog.

When I heard about a family member having a rough time with anger recently, I asked if the dog was OK. I was answered in a tone that people use to talk to senile old people. Like I was the most ridiculous person on the planet. But it's a fact: pets are often the first to suffer in violent domestic situations. And when humans are busy creating fear and drama, who is looking out for the family dog?

When I saw the horrible footage of Hurricane Katrina, and all the people who died trapped in their homes, all the people who lost everything they had; I felt compassion – I cursed the slow rescue effort, and I cursed the shelters that wouldn't let people bring their pets, because I was worried about the dogs that had been left behind when people fled. I agonized over the dogs left chained in their yards with no means of escape. I worried that the pets that were rescued would not be reunited with their owners.

When I recently heard a story on the news about a house fire where the people and dog were rescued by firefighters, I was frustrated when the reporter didn't report on how the dog was doing.

Maybe it's silly. I'm sure other people see it as a character flaw. But I won't apologize for it. I see the dogs, and I see them everywhere.

I'm not really sure when these goggles got glued to my face, but Ken Foster wrote about it in The Dogs Who Found Me…how some people see dogs where others do not. A dog can be right in plain view and be unnoticed by a dozen people…but then there are the people like Ken and like me. The ones with the Doggles.

Is That The Right Period at the End of That Sentence?

April 6th was Companion Animal Lobby Day in Ohio, when animal advocates around the state met with legislators in Columbus. The central focus of the day was NITRO'S LAW which seeks to make animal abuse a felony in Ohio. Ohio is currently only one of four states where animal abuse is still a misdemeanor.  Nitro's law was introduced in February of 2010 as House Bill 70, and finally died in committee in December. It was reintroduced in January of this year as House Bill 108

In preparation for lobby day, my friend Karen and I put together a presentation detailing why Nitro's Law is so important.  I gathered information and photographs from animal cruelty and abuse cases that occurred during 2009 and 2010 , and Karen did the creative work.

One of the things that struck me as I gathered the information for the presentation, was how many judges, after imposing a fine and slapping an animal abuser on the hand, had sentenced the individual to perform community service at an animal shelter.

C'mon, really?

I don't understand the thought process of these judges.

Do they sentence child abusers and pedophiles to community service at day care centers? Do they sentence rapists to community service at women's centers?

Of course not.

Because the law seeks to protect the victims and potential victims in cases of child abuse or rape. You don't dangle temptation in the face of those criminals, instead, you seek to keep them far away from situations that may trigger their aberrant behavior.  Courts even issue restraining orders and restrictions as to where pedophiles are allowed to live.

So what is the judge thinking that puts animal abusers into a situation where they are hands-on with the very creatures they have tortured, abused or neglected? I'm not a psychologist…I don't even play one on TV; but even I can see that making an animal abuser clean up animal feces is not in the least likely to be rehabilitative. Wouldn't the very nature of that make them hate animals more? And how fair is it for the shelter employees and volunteers who are there because they love animals to have to work with a person who they know has hurt animals?

There's no doubt that Ohio needs stronger penalties for animal abuse, but it appears that Ohio also needs to educate the judges who keep court -ordering these ridiculous and misguided "punishments". They clearly have no idea how to punctuate a sentence.

 

Yeah. I believe that I can change the world.

Yeah. I believe that I can change the world.

And because dogs are my passion, I'm trying to change the world in ways that benefit them.

Believing is the important thing, because without it, how can I hope to change anything?

Yeah. I'm just a person. A person with limited funds and no real assets.  A person who doesn't hold a public office. So I can't use money or power as a tool. All I really have are my hands, my head, and my heart.

You might be wondering how one person might be able to change the world without any real power or money. I'm here to tell you that each of us is more powerful than you think.

I'm pretty good at putting things into words, so I write articles and books and blog to try to get people thinking about my cause. I'm pretty good at art, so I paint pictures that depict the joy that lives in every dog's heart. I use my design skills to create a newsletter for a local humane group so they can raise funds and continue to help pets in our area. I donate my art and talent to other humane groups to help them raise funds for their rescue work.

And I write letters. Holy cow, do I write letters. I write to Congressmen and Representatives, foreign dignitaries, governors and prosecutors. I write to newspapers, rescue groups, private citizens and celebrities. Sometimes I even write to the President. And I talk. I talk to everyone about their pets; about what needs to be done, about how to do it. I try to educate.

Is it changing the world?

I think it is.

If one person does something different; if one person adds their voice to the fight; if one animal receives a little more kindness;  if one animal is made safe and loved; I think it is.

Do I get frustrated?  Yeah. Do I get depressed?  You bet.  But ultimately, the feeling that I wield some sort of power to affect change is pretty awesome.

A landslide begins with a single pebble set into motion.

You are more powerful than you know.

Do You Know the Difference Between Animal Rights & Animal Welfare?

Recently, a woman I admire in the animal welfare community was invited to be on an internet radio show where they were going to discuss human rights vs animal rights. They had invited her because some of the rescues she had attempted to perform had gotten controversial press coverage. The conversation never actually got to what it was advertised to be before I shut it off.

The host of the show had invited too many guests and everybody wanted to talk at once, and all of them wanted to talk about different things. (Except for the person I had tuned in to listen to. She politely offered her opinion when it was asked of her, and she answered questions about her cause.)  I tried, but couldn't listen to the whole thing, because after about a half an hour of mostly incomprehensible blabbering, (where ultimately almost everyone on the show actually agreed with the woman I had tuned in for)  the host began blatantly attempting  to bait her and discredit her.

One of the interesting things that came through to me during the time I did listen, however, was that the radio host clearly had this woman lumped into the category of "Animal Rights" when she is obviously all about Animal Welfare. I'd like to explain the difference for those of you who don't know.

Animal Rights activists subscribe to the belief that animals have the same rights as humans. Proponents believe that animals and humans should not really interact. That animals shouldn't even be kept as pets, because that's a form of slavery.  Proponents of the philosophy would ban the raising of livestock, petting zoos, marine parks, breeding of purebred pets and any use of animals for entertainment. (Imagine!  No Lassie!  No Benjy!  No National Velvet!)

Animal Welfare advocates subscribe to the belief that animals should be well cared for. The philosophy encompasses all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care, humane handling, and, when necessary, humane euthanasia.

If you are a regular donor to humane causes, with the knowledge of this distinction, you can make a better decision as to which camp you prefer to support. A lot of animal lovers donate to the biggest animal organizations in the country because their names are well known. But before you decide on a humane charity, please consider the following.

PETA:  Animal Rights. Incidentally, they just released their kill statistics for 2010. PETA took in 4569 animals, of which 838 were adopted out, 3,630 were killed, and 63 were transferred out of the shelter. PETA's kill rate in 2010 was 80%. Most people don't know what a high kill rate they have. PETA believes that an animal is better off dead than a pet.

HSUS:  Animal Welfare. While the Humane Society of the United States has the clout to perform large scale animal rescues like puppy mills and horse farms, they do not have a shelter. Animals rescued go to whatever local shelters have room to house them, and not all of them are no-kills. While HSUS is doing great work getting animals out of bad situations, they do not subsidize the shelters that take in the animals they've rescued. HSUS uses the largest percentage of the monetary donations they receive to buy advertising and marketing that asks for more donations.

It's a little disconcerting, isn't it? You love animals and you want to donate to a reputable organization that helps them, yet the two most well known organizations in the country are using your dollars for dubious pursuits.

I suggest that if you want to donate to a humane group, that you donate your dollars to small local 501(c )3 organizations, that are staffed by volunteers and rely on donations to operate. Here are some of my recommendations.

PAWS: Animal Welfare. No Kill, free roam shelter. Volunteer organization. http://www.pawscanada.org/index.html

DOGS DESERVE BETTER: Animal Welfare. No Kill.

Bella: the blind cocker spaniel that was rescued from a chain in Akron this February by the local chapter of Dogs Deserve Better.

Volunteer organization. Rescuing, fostering, rehabbing and rehoming formerly chained dogs. http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org

VALLEY SAVE-A-PET: Animal Welfare. No Kill. Volunteer organization.  Rescuing, fostering, rehoming.  Low cost spay and neuter. http://www.valleysaveapet.org (new website under construction)

SANCTUARY FOR SENIOR DOGS:  Animal Welfare. No Kill. Rescuing, fostering, rehoming senior dogs that have been abandoned in shelters.  http://sanctuaryforseniordogs.org/

THE GENTLE BARN: Animal Welfare. No Kill. Rescue, rehabilitation and sanctuary for animals. (focus on farm animals) http://gentlebarn.org/index.php

I hope you will add your own favorite small, local rescue group(s) below in the comments section.

It Takes a Certain Kind of Person to Love a Dog

It takes a person who can accept that life is messy sometimes. That just because you step in a little dog poo, it doesn't mean you have to throw the shoes away.

It takes a person who understands that

My dogs are cuter than your dogs.

voice-activated phone systems are for homes without barking.  And that sometimes the neighbors look scary, even though they live there and we see them every day.

It takes a person who believes that shared body heat makes up for the paws poked in your back on cold winter nights. And that as long as you can make your body into the shape of an "S", there's plenty of room for everyone in the bed.

It takes a person who can accept that sometimes, it's okay to be used as a trampoline. Especially if there's something really interesting to be seen out the window; like leaves falling or grass growing.

It takes a person who can shrug off that errant strand of dog hair in a sandwich and pretend that it's nothing more than pure protein. And that leaving the sandwich unattended on the table is the same as an engraved invitation to dinner.

It takes a person who understands that sometimes the temptation presented by a roll of toilet paper is just too much to resist;  and it must be shredded.  A person willing to concede that shoelaces and dirty socks might be more palatable than you think.

It takes a person who understands that throwing the yellow ball is far more important than the program you are trying to watch on TV, the book you are trying to read or the telephone conversation you are trying to have.

It takes a person who is willing to be worshipped and adored for the next 10-15 years despite all of their personal  faults and shortcomings.

It takes a person who can laugh at the chaos, shrug off the messes and embrace the joy.

Do you have what it takes?

How to Not Suck at Dog Care

Last night I dreamed

I was running up a steep hill.

But there was a dog stuck

on top of each one of my thighs

Maria on one side and

Rocket on the other.

The weight of the dogs made it

harder to get up the hill, but

still, I kept running.

How Much Time is Enough Time?

Yesterday the sentencing was handed down in a Toledo, Ohio animal abuse case that has received quite a bit of press. The case was about a mixed breed dog named Tyson who was stolen out of his yard and shot last June.

Essentially, the details in the case were that a man and a woman went onto Tyson's owner's property and took him. A neighbor's security camera caught some of it on tape. The woman went into the back yard of the home, got Tyson, and led him away down the street. Tyson walked with her just as nice as you please. Later, the security camera caught Tyson staggering home, reaching his driveway and collapsing. He'd been shot once in the left eye and once in the chest with a 45 caliber handgun.

The man then called 911 to report that his own dog had just been attacked by another dog (Tyson). But Toledo police found no evidence of injury to the man's pet.

The man and woman were charged with animal torture, killing or injuring animals, firearms discharge, making a false police report, petty theft, endangering, & criminal trespass. Both pled no contest and were found guilty last month of cruelty to animals. The other charges were dropped.

On March 3, Judge Michael Goulding of Toledo Municipal Court sentenced the man to 180 days in jail (120 days suspended). 30 days must be served and then he will have 60 days of electronic monitoring or work release, four years active probation and two years inactive probation and he must perform 100 hours of community service. The woman was sentenced to 30 days electronic monitoring, 2 years probation and 100 hours of community service. They each must pay $100 in fines and court costs.

There was no court order to pay any restitution to Tyson's owners for vet bills. There is civil case filed to recover damages of $25,000 for Tyson's care and $150,000 in punitive damages. Tyson is blind in his eye since being shot and still has a bullet lodged inside of him, which his owners can't afford to have removed.

As you might have guessed, the reaction to the sentencing in the animal rescue community has been one of disgust. The general consensus is that the punishment is not severe enough to fit the crime. Some people have thrown out comments like "It should have been 30 yrs!" and I personally feel like the courthouse should just be bulldozed because it's apparently a useless pile of brick and mortar.

So this begs the question: How much time is really enough time for this type of crime? Take into consideration the reality of prison sentences served for various crimes: some murderers don't even serve 30 years – and please comment below.

A little reference for your consideration: Ohio's animal abuse laws are some of the weakest in the nation. Animal cruelty is only a felony in Ohio if the person has a prior abuse charge and is caught. Currently there is a bill in the Ohio house called Nitro's Law (HB 108) which seeks to make animal cruelty/abuse a 5th degree felony in Ohio.

Just to clarify, the felony laws in Ohio carry the following sentences:

First Degree—3 to 10 years in prison, maximum fine of $20,000
Second Degree—2 to 8 years in prison, maximum fine of $15,000
Third Degree—1 to 5 years in prison, maximum fine of $10,000
Fourth Degree—6 to 18 months in prison, maximum fine of $5,000
Fifth Degree—6 to 12 months in prison, maximum fine of $2,500

People convicted of committing a felony in the first or second degree will most likely serve time in prison. Crimes committed in the fourth and fifth degree carry a presumption against time in prison and the offender will probably receive probation.

I have been a supporter of Nitro's Law (HB 108). However, in light of this case and the description of felony sentences in Ohio, I personally think that Nitro's Law should be even stronger: fourth degree felony at least.

Let's discuss this. How much time do YOU think is enough time?

Tyson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dealing with Cause Snobs

Lately, I've heard a lot of my friends in animal rescue comment about their critics. I can't count the number

Sez who?

of times I've had the same experience they are describing: somebody finds out you are a volunteer in animal rescue, and they feel compelled to criticize you.

"Why devote all that energy to animals when there are so many ….

needy children
sick children
abused children
starving people
homeless veterans
homeless people
needy seniors
poor people
victims of the latest natural disaster
[insert favorite cause here]?"

Why do these cause snobs always presume that because a person has compassion for animals that it automatically precludes them from caring about other issues? It's been my experience that people who have compassion for animals — who work in rescue, are often the first people who step forward when help is needed in any area. I've seen them volunteer at food banks, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and hospitals. I've known them to write letters to congressmen, senators and presidents about human rights issues. I've known them to drop everything in order to hold fundraisers for victims of crime or natural disaster.

Just who do these cause snobs think they are, anyway? That they feel they can sit in judgement of where any of us choose to devote our energies?  Who are they to say which cause is more worthy than any other, or which cause we should be more passionate about?!

I've found that the critics who are quick to pose this question with such righteous indignation are usually of the do-nothing persuasion. They are people who don't have the time or inclination to devote energy to any cause. People who only have passion for criticism.

From now on, I will turn their question back on them.

"Ah, yes! The needy children.  What are YOU doing to help them?"

"Oh…the poor! Where are YOU donating your money?"

"Oh my, those poor people who lost everything in the latest natural disaster! When are YOU shipping supplies for them?"

"Ah, all those sad, sick children!… When are YOU holding a fundraiser to help them?"

"Yes, seniors have really got it rough. What nursing home do YOU volunteer at?"

If these cause snobs can answer any of these questions with actual facts, I'll thank them for donating their time/money/energy to their cause, because that way, between us, we have at least two things covered in a world of need.

Otherwise, they can just kiss. my. ass.