Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Sound of 500 Dogs

Yes, this is turning into a dog blog. If I do go back to blogging after I'm done with all this law school application, test taking madness then it will probably be mostly about dogs and/or animal law. I'm still ranting about politics, but I'm doing it more in my real life than on teh intertubes and I don't feel like I have anything substantive to add to the debate. But with the topic of dog rescue, or even animal law in general, I feel like there's actually an opportunity to educate and contribute something different or new to many people. I'm learning a lot of new information and ideas myself, so this could be a good place for me to process.

Those of you who are also my Facebook buddies know that I recently spent some time volunteering at the Secret Bunker where almost 500 dogs are being sheltered from the largest dog fighting bust in US history. What I saw was heartbreaking, inspiring, and uplifting all at once. Over two years ago, the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) initiated the investigation that eventually led to the arrest of 26 suspected dog fighters/abusers in six different states.
Information from a 2008 dog fighting case investigated by members of the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force led to the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Tim Rickey, director of the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force, and Kyle Held, Humane Society of Missouri animal cruelty investigator, spent countless hours providing consultation and dog rescue services throughout the ensuing multi-state investigation. At times, when other agencies had doubts about continuing the investigation, Rickey’s and Held’s unrelenting commitment to ending dog fighting kept the investigation alive.

On July 8, Rickey and the Humane Society of Missouri Animal Cruelty Task Force coordinated the crime-scene evidence gathering and animal rescue efforts in five states: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, and Oklahoma. Dogs also were rescued in Nebraska, Arkansas and Mississippi. The multi-location evidence and animal recovery operation required professional animal rescuers and a variety of specialized animal transport vehicles from the Humane Society of Missouri as well as those from the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States.

I encourage you to read the rest of HSMO's press release here. With the help of volunteers from around the country, HSMO has been housing and caring for the dogs since July. I was lucky enough to "meet" the founder of a wonderful rescue in an online bully breed rescue forum. Gale is a wonderful example of what rescue really should be about and has a lot to teach me about how rescue should be done. Gale and her rescue, Mutts-n-Stuff, has worked closely with HSMO in caring for the dogs at the Secret Bunker and will be one of the many groups trusted with finding foster and permanent homes for the adoptable dogs. I hope to provide a temporary foster home for at least one dog myself! A few weeks ago, a friend and I drove down to the secret location in the St. Louis area and spent two days cleaning crates, stuffing kongs, distributing treats, assisting with medical care, carrying around days old puppies, unfolding newspaper, washing bowls, emptying and filling buckets, and getting COVERED in poop and slobber. It was one of the most incredible, wonderful experiences of my life. I have volunteered at shelters before, but this was like nothing I had ever seen or done. Since I'm under a gag order, I can't discuss too much about it. But I can tell you how impressed we were with everything! The logistics involved with caring for these dogs is overwhelming. Around 300 dogs were seized in the raids... there are now almost 500 because of the HUNDREDS of puppies that have since been born. Imagine, if you can, what 500 dogs barking might sound like. It was mind-and-ear-blowing! The HSMO staff and volunteers were unbelievable, many of them having spent weeks and weeks working at the shelter without even a single day off. The physical and emotional toll of spending so much time caring for dogs that have been severely abused and/or neglected can be overwhelming for many rescue workers, but we barely heard a cross word from anyone. These are amazingly capable and dedicated people and I did not see a single thing that I thought could have been done better. HSMO has cared for these dogs in the best ways possible under the circumstances and restrictions placed on them. The whole operation was truly impressive.

I'd love to share more about the work and the dogs, and when the gag order is lifted I will. Guilty pleas are starting to come in, which means that some of the dogs will soon be on their way to finding homes. I want to recognize Mutts n Stuff for being such an effective, competent, caring, and trustworthy rescue. I've discovered that there is a dark side to rescue aside from the suffering and cruelty you see reflected in the fear in the dogs' eyes or the scars on their bodies. There are some people involved in rescue who do far more damage than good. Some of them care more about serving an agenda than serving the dogs. Some of them want the fame, glory, and recognition that come with being associated with a sensational story. They popularize ideas that are potentially harmful to the dogs and tear down other rescues and organizations that disagree with them. They suck up resources but deliver very little return on the investments made by the individuals and communities that trust them to use their funds in ways that will most benefit the dogs. But there are dozens and dozens of wonderful rescue groups that few people outside of their local areas have ever heard of, with incredible, inspiring people who will never be invited to appear on a talk show or be the subject of a major magazine's feature article. Please consider making a donation to one or more of these organizations to support the very difficult work that they do.

Humane Society of Missouri
Mutts-n-Stuff
New Hope Pit Bull Rescue
Our Pack, Inc.
Faith's Hope Rescue
Bama Bully Rescue

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Philadelphia Eagles Corporate Sponsors


Less than 36 hours after announcing that they had signed Michael Vick to the team, the Philadelphia Eagles have removed their Corporate Partners page from the website. Hmm, I wonder why. Figuring they would do something like this, I got a screen grab of the page yesterday and posted it here on my blog (see post below).

I was actually able to bring the page up by entering the html code at the end. Here's the link, but who knows how long that will work:

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/corporatepartners.html

So here is a list as well...
Founding Partners:
Lincoln Financial Group
WYSP 94fm
ACME
Budweiser
Miller Lite
NovaCare Rehabilitation
Pepsi
Sovereign
US Airways
Verizon Wireless

Corporate Partners:
7Eleven
AAA
Aflac
Best Buy
CJ’s Tire
Chrysler
Comcast
Dietz & Watson
Dunkin Donuts
Gatorade
Geico
Heineken
Idearc Media
Independence Blue Cross
Jeep
Taco Bell/KFC
MasterCard
Motorola
Pepcid
Pennsylvania Lottery
The Inquirer/Daily News
American Red Cross
ReMax
RiteAid
SCA
Snapple
Tastycake
TEVA Specialty Pharmaceuticals
Jefferson Universal Hospitals
Waste Management

Friday, August 14, 2009

I Can't Change Your Mind, Don't Try to Change Mine

If you've read my previous posts on Michael Vick - specifically the ones detailing the horrible cruelty he inflicted on his animal victims - and you've read my and others' arguments for why he should not be allowed to play in the NFL, and you still feel that he has paid his debt... well, you have a right to your opinion. I don't want to argue about it anymore.

But if you agree with me, then I encourage you to let your feelings be known to the following corporate sponsors of the Philadelphia Eagles. The money that they pay to the Eagles for advertising and sponsorship will end up in Michael Vick's pocket. Email, write a letter, call, let your voice speak for the dogs who can't.



Thursday, May 21, 2009

The Slackmistress Says It Better

Nina Bargiel, aka slackmistress of The Slack Daily, has written a post on Michael Vick that pretty much sums up how I feel. Here is a repost.

On Michael Vick.

Michael Vick was released into house arrest yesterday, after serving 18 months in a Federal Prison. Unless you've been living under a rock - and a big one at that - you'll know that he was sent there for dogfighting charges. Most of the dogs were killed - either in the ring or at the hands of Vick and his cohorts. The ones that were lucky enough to make it out alive found their way into the very few (and I stress very few) rescues that had the skills and resources available to rehab a fighting dog.

As you can see, most of the Vick dogs - dogs that had been abused, beaten, starved, and fought - are now family pets, therapy dogs, and canine ambassadors. You can what happened to them here.

But what about Michael Vick? The ex-quarterback will be on house arrest for two months, missing out on the 2009 season. While still on suspension, he can petition to be reinstated to the NFL in 2010.

One can argue a million-dollar home in Norfolk, VA isn't exactly punishment, but the reality is Vick has served his sentence. As Jason Smith, the talk radio jock who hosts All Night With Jason Smith, said last night on his show, do not confuse that with paying his debt to society.

Unlike the dogs that survived his wrath, here's no indication that Vick has been rehabbed. There's talks that he might do a series of PSA with the Humane Society or PeTA (which is ironic since PeTA wants to kill pit bulls dead <-- note that this link includes some ugly images) but that's more about rehabbing Vick's image. He's a PR nightmare, but he's a PR nightmare who has played professional football, which means that there might be a team out there desperate enough to sign him.

I've seen plenty of images of dogs who were used as fighters, of dogs that were used as bait. You don't need to take a class in ethics to know that dogfighting is wrong. You just need a single shred of humanity.

However, we do have a legal system in this country, and no matter what you think of it, when he's done with house arrest Vick will have served his sentence. The NFL has every right to reinstate Vick for 2010. But more so than any PSA, than any post-prison interview, than any in-depth feature in ESPN magazine, the NFL has a chance to show current and future players who break the law - especially in such a cruel and tortuous way - will not be tolerated.

If you feel the same way, please email or call NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and ask him to not reinstate Michael Vick:

Roger.Goodell2@nfl.net
Telephone #: 1-212-450-2000 or (212) 450-2027

On twitter: @nflcommish

I understand that there are other NFL players who have done terrible things and continue to play. This is not to say that I think that I think one thing is worse than the other, or that those crimes committed do not warrant the same judgment. But as a pit bull owner and a football fan, this one strikes close to home.

Respectfully,

Nina Bargiel
the slackmistress

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

It's a match made in... prison, apparently

Hi, how ya doing? Yeah, it's a new post, which means that something sparked my interest and ire enough to pull me away from work and studying and bitching on Facebook.

That something was the news that Michael Vick will be working with the Humane Society when he is released from prison. From CNN:
Vick will work on programs aimed at preventing youths from getting involved in dogfighting, and also on programs aimed at assisting youths who have been involved.

Ok. I really don't know how to feel about this. If you read my blog regularly or know me at all, you understand that I'm pretty passionate about animal rights, particularly animal abuse and neglect. And even more particularly, the abuse and exploitation of pit bulls and other bully breeds. We all have our hot button issues and this is one of my biggest.

Here's why I'm torn. I work in nonprofit advocacy and I know that personal stories from people who have actually dealt with a specific problem are effective outreach and education tools. But my first thought when I read this story about Vick and the Humane Society was that this is like having someone who has been convicted of child abuse go educate people about not abusing children right after they get out of prison. No, I am not suggesting that they are equatable - but abuse and cruelty are about victimization and lack of empathy, no matter who or what the victim is.

It doesn't sit right with me. I don't know if Vick will be able to convince anyone not to get involved with dog fighting or not to abuse, torture, and kill dogs. I admit to being very biased, but I just don't think Vick is at all concerned about preventing animal cruelty and exploitation. I think he's broke and needs to repair his image so he can play football again.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Go Orange! Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Not Goodbye

I've finally had to admit defeat in my commitment to blogging. I also must confess that - right now, at least - I care more about reading blogs than writing one and I don't have time for both.

I like reading your blogs. I like reading what smart, funny, snarky people write. I started this blogging thing because I had a lot of anger and frustration to express. I'm still angry, but with Chimpy and Company gone I just don't have as much. Yes, there are still a million travesties and tragedies happening in the world that make me scream. For the moment, I'm content to deal with it the same way I did before I started blogging.

I'm not closing the blog and I'll still post when I feel inspired. I started doing this for me and I'll keep it that way, but I hope you'll still drop by and comment. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who started coming here and commenting from the very beginning, to those of you who stayed and became friends, to those of you who came and went along the way, to those of you who lurk. I'm not going away and I hope you won't either.