This week's news wrap up

It's been a newsworthy week or so for pit bulls. I wanted to write a blog about a totally different subject...but there are things that just seem to stand out that need mentioning.

There were a few good stories. Hektor, former Vick dog passed his therapy dog test to become the second Vick dog to achieve that goal. Roo sent out a message on his Wallace the Pit Bull Group:

"Hey everyone! Just sending out a quick last minute message to let people in the Twin Cities area know that we'll be at the Twin Cities Pet Expo again this year performing with the MN Disc Dog Club throughout the weekend. www.twincitiespetexpo.com

Hector will also be there and you can have some nice professional pictures taken with them after the show to raise money for the club and A Rotta Love Rottweiler/Pit Bull Rescue if you'd like. Hope to see some of you there.

Regards,
Roo"

That was good news after Bonita's death during surgery to try to fix all the damage done to her teeth at Bad Newz Kennels. As most of you know, Bonita, a former Vick dog, had her teeth pulled and filed down and no matter how hard Best Friend's tried they couldn't get her health back up to par.

Then there's the news that the 49rs or the Vikings might be considering adding Vick to their rosters. I cannot imagine how Roo feels about that, as he lives in Minnesota. All the time and energy he has put into Hektor, only to be looking at the prospect of Vick appearing on his local sports news, Kind of like putting a pedophile in charge of UN Children's issues...just an insult to everyone who has worked so hard to house, rehab, and rehome Vick's four-legged victims.

Insult is added to injury as we mourn the unjust deaths of 147 pit bulls in North Carolina, doomed by a badly written law which states that any dog raised or kept for fighting is deemed dangerous...even if it is a newborn puppy born after the dogs were seized. All are aghast that even though rescue was available for each and everyone...the law prevailed in black and white with no shades of grey and it was a battle lost before it began. I myself have shed a few tears over the callousness of authorities on that one. I can't call it a euthanization...it was a slaughter. What world do we live in that we can support laws for slaughter?

There are heroes in the news this week as well. Mann, the pit bull who saved his family from armed burglars and took a bullet in the leg, resulting in the loss of his leg. At nine months old he had more honor than someone like Vick could ever have.

Not to forget the other banned breeds; a rookie drug-sniffing dog working for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency found 477 pounds of marijuana on his very first tour of duty. The two year old german shepherd is described as precocious. I like "precocious". It beats "vicious" any day.

On another note, the Humane Society of the United States reports that only 14% of people acquire their pet through a shelter while 38% purchase from a breeder and the remainder acquire pets from a friend, relative or taking in as a stray. There are 10,000 people born every day in the US, there are 70,000 puppies and kittens born....Just a reminder Spay Day USA is Tuesday, February 24. Spay or neuter, please.

As I am wrapping up the news for the week and reviewing all the threads I follow, I also want to urge more people to volunteer for transports. It is so sad to see a transport fail due to one unfilled leg. I know these are tough times and a tank of gas has become a precious commodity, but there is nothing more rewarding than looking in your rear view mirror and seeing a death row dog grinning over a new chance...Once you do it you will find that it is a rare privilege and can touch your heart like nothing else. To volunteer, go to yahoo groups and search animal transports. You will get an application and once approved will receive notices on transports, east coast volunteers are sorely needed.

Remember, always report any suspected animal cruelty. You are their voice.

Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animals suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don't vote. ~Paul Harvey