More on a shelter dogs life....

My name is "worthless mutt" even though I have also been called "Dumb Dog", "Flea Bag" or more recently "adult mixed breed" and I'm a stray dog who was found by an animal control officer when I was trying to find ...food in somebody's garbage can. I'm starving, skinny and scared. I'm 2 years old, and my whole life was spent in the backyard of my owner's house, chained to a tree. One day my owner didn't want me anymore and left me on the side of the road. I tried to chase after him in the car, but he was too fast and I almost got hit. I'm not that beautiful. I'm a pitbull mix like most of the other dogs here.

My ears are flea bitten and you can count all my ribs. Most people will pass me by because of my emaciated body and my breed's reputation. I know it's time for me to go to heaven and I accept this. I will die with dignity... but apart of me still secretly wishes a kind hearted person would stop at my cage for once and pick me to go home with them. Some of the other dogs talk about having warm beds to sleep in, and bowls full of food everday. They talk about how they miss their owners and being pet, belly rubs, scratches behind the ears, playing fetch and going for walks to the park. I wish I had a home with these things. I wish I had at least had an owner who loved me enough to take care of me, then I could die knowing, at least, I was loved at some point. I want to be loved so badly. But everyone keeps walking by, glancing at me and shaking their heads. If someone would just give me a chance I would be the best dog ever. I would love them forever and be eternally greatful. Since I have been here, more and more dogs disappear and new ones have come in. I heard one shelter worker say I will be next if no one adopts me by tomorrow. They say it won't hurt and I shouldn't be scared. There will be angels in heaven that will meet me at the rainbow bridge...I guess they mean, since I have no one to wait for, but I still wish... I know a large pitbull mix like me shouldn't have hope in a place like this, but I can't help it. I feel there is someone out there who will love me, I just hope they come in time because my time is almost up and I am scared.



Precious the Pitbull

Precious' story is not unusual. A beautiful, sweet, and gentle pitbull was tied up to a logging chain. This is very common in the south. I always try to reason with people and ask them,

"Would it be okay if I chained your child up outside all day and night with a logging chain?" But sadly, a lot of people don't view animals as living creatures with feelings. To them, they are easily discarded. It's amazing how many people discard their valuables isn't it?

I got the photo of the chain from my friend in rescue Nikki Masters. She and I work together helping to save our southern dogs. She knows Precious and how sweet she is.

Precious is part Boston Terrier, part Stafford. Precious escaped from being chained up with a 11# logging chain. She was found dragging that chain and she at the time weighed 33#. She is sweet, loves people and kids. Very active and still very young. The only thing wrong with Precious, is the owners that had her.

She has had a very rough start in life and deserves so much better than what she has had thus far.

Below is a photo of the logging chain. Notice the big connector that was on the end of the chain, looks like what you hook on the back of a trailer hitch. That connecter was attached to the collar. That piece alone was heavy. This chain is on display in the shelter in GA where precious was taken with a sign below it saying "this is animal cruelty".

If you are interested in adopting Precious, you can email me at MuttsMatterRescue@gmail.com for more info.

Hazel -Another example of why we need to fight BSL

I have been very blessed to have met a new friend named Suzi. She is an old college friend of my husband's, and he thought we needed to meet. I think he saw her tireless and passionate posts to save the animals on Facebook, and thought we were a friendship made in heaven :-)

Brian thought she and I would get along well since we are both animal crazy people. (and of course he was right!) So once the intro was made, we hit it off. Suzi has an AMAZING dog named Hazel. She is one of the most beautiful pitbulls I have ever met on both the inside and the outside. She and Suzi came to meet me and my friend Julie at the vet yesterday so she could meet Jade, one of our potential fosters. Hazel is beautiful!! I mean she is the size of a small tank, hahah-but she is a beauty.

Her story is a sad one, but with a happy ending. When Hazel was a puppy (like in this picture below) he prior "owner" kicked her leg and stomach very badly. It damaged the growth plate and was beyond repair. I hope the owner is out there suffering and knows he is going to hell....

Anyway, once she was rescued and taken to a vet, they decided that her leg had irreparable damage and had to be amputated. You would think that after being abused and mistreated so badly by humans that Hazel would be untrusting or scared-or just plain mean. But she is just the opposite. She is sweet and kind and a big lover. Not a mean bone in this girls body. I am amazed everyday at the abuse our animals suffer at the hands of man, and yet continue to love us. We are not worthy.

Make no mistake, Hazel is just fine now. Losing a leg has not stopped this girl one bit. She gets along just fine. I don't even think she knows she is missing a leg. Suzi rescued Hazel, and Hazel rescued Suzi right back. Hazel is a living example of why we must not tolerate Breed Specific Legislation. It's not bad dogs-bad owners. Pitbulls are no different than any other dog. They just have the ability to fight back stronger if pushed to do so. Can they help it they were born with such strength? They want the same thing every other dog wants-love, kindness, compassion. Thank you Suzi for saving Hazel and for fighting for the rights of animals!

If you want to read more about Hazel's story, you can read it here:

http://www.gooddogrescueva.org/info/display?PageID=3058

Look at that face!

In Memory of Sam

I was moved by this, but also greatly saddened.

A moment for Sam, a face to the THOUSANDS of animals that will be euthanized at the shelters...he would urinate in submission when other dogs approached - in an overcrowded pound this was reason enough to be euthanized.
RIP Sam - you are remembered.

"Life was not a valuable gift, but death was. Life was a fever-dream made up of joys embittered by sorrows, pleasure poisoned by pain ... but death was sweet, death was gentle, death was kind; death healed the bruised spirit and the broken heart, and gave them rest and forgetfulness; death came and set him free." - Mark Twain


I have to say that seeing this is shameful. How do we treat such wonderful creatures with so little respect? There is a very serious crisis going on in the world right now for animals. They deserve so much better.
Thank you Susan Cava for sharing this on FB in his memory. RIP Sweet Angel

Just had to post....

WHY, WHY. WHY?????...Is man so cruel?????

Kathi Taylor, a wonderful lady who I have worked with at PittsandRottsforlife, posted this today. It baffles me. Pitbulls are so misunderstood.

Sorry this will be long - On Friday, January 22, 2010 and email went out to rescues regarding 2 extremely injured pitbulls that were found in an abandoned house in Gary, IN. The injuries were from animals and humans. Even in their horrific condition, the injured pitbulls allowed the Animal Control Officer to handle them and assess the injuries. Sadly, the male passed away in her vehicle after his rescue. We can only be thankful that his last interaction with a human was with love and compassion.

Barely able to stand on her legs, she was extremely grateful to see her rescuer and get out of that house of horrors. Because of her injuries, the animal control office needed a rescue commitment within a couple of hours as it would have been cruel to leave her in that horrific and painful condition. Thankfully, Jamie from Almost Home Animal Rescue saw that email and grabbed this little girl. She brought her to the vet and they immediately started assessing and treating her injuries.

Her legs are mangled and have hundreds of bite wounds, her front leg has an old untreated break and an abscess, her elbow bones are exposed and sticking out through the skin, and one of her back legs has a bone infection. She also has an enlarged heart, an abscess over her eye, and is only 30 lbs!

During all of the handling, tests and treatment she was wagging her tail and giving kisses. So typical of a pitbull…to survive this and be happy to see people and let them do anything to her!

Knowing full well that we didn’t have room, one of our volunteers and board members called me and said she will take her even though her husband may divorce her and her dogs may run away from home. Luckily, no divorce papers have been filed and the dogs actually like the new dog!

Since Almost Home Animal Rescue and Chicagoland Bully Breed Rescue have worked together for years, Jamie transferred her over to CBBR and Debbie picked her up on Sunday. It’s been a long time since I heard tears over the phone when Debbie described this poor girl but I wasn’t prepared for the amount of bite wounds I was going to see in the pictures.

Note from foster mom Debbie:
I picked up Destiny yesterday. She is a sweet, sweet dog. I've seen a lot of dogs in horrific condition but I've not seen a dog with so puncture wounds on their legs. I agree she was most likely a bait dog. She has puncture wounds covering all of her legs, some new, some old and some partly healed. I think she is still a pup - not much older than 7-8 months. She has a very solid temperament, calm and non-reactive. She has met all of my dogs through the gate and she has been loose this morning with Surrey and Peanut. She gives the best possible reaction - sniff and move on, interested but not focused. I know she has a long road of recovery ahead but feel very positive that she will not only heal but be very adoptable. So, once again, a big thank you to all of you who helped in rescuing her!

While many people helped donate toward her initial vet bills, she is going to need significant future care. We are asking for help in any way possible – no amount is too small! All donations are tax-deductible!

Donations for CBBR’s Destiny can be made directly to:
Animal Wellness Center of Monee
5750 Industrial Drive
Monee, IL 60449
Phone: (708)534-2200

We can always use other items as well such as gift cards to PetSmart, PetCo and Pet Supplies Plus, food and other items - see our Wish List http://chicagolandbullybreedrescue.org/WishList.asp to get a full list.

Updates on Destiny will be on our website – www.chicagolandbullybreedrescue.org as well as on our Facebook page.