I received a letter from a volunteer at the North Mecklenberg Animal Rescue about a beautiful girl named Hope, a throwaway who survived against the odds.
She is currently being fostered at a wonderful home but needs her own permanent loving forever home.
Hope was neglected and abused until, as a 6-8 month old puppy, being thrown into a rock quarry in an attempt to drown her. Her spirit and determination allowed her to fight for an indeterminate amount of time, acquiring significant injuries to her feet and legs as she tried desperately to free herself. Somehow, she found a small ledge, where she huddled for another indeterminate amount until Fire and Rescue rock climbed and rafted her out. By this point, she was totally catatonic and responsive due to her fear.
The reason my home was chosen for foster care was because of the very special pack of rescued animals who lives here. There is a rescued fighting dog who was used as bait and subsequently lost a rear leg and underwent 3 surgeries, another dog that was abandoned twice before the age of 3 months who is now a Therapy Dog for humans and other animals, and three elderly cats who were abandoned at various stages in their life. They now work together to help other animals adjust and recover from bad situations. One of these cats keeps all arriving foster dogs company by spending the night sleeping in front of their crates, as well as by engaging in boxing matches with the dogs regardless of their size.
A 28-year-old man, Jared Levi Colony, got a friend’s dog drunk while he was dog sitting. The dog’s owner was only gone for about a half an hour, but in that time Colony poured vodka into the dog’s bowl encouraging him to drink it.
When the owner returned, the dog – named Pip – was unresponsive and had its tongue hanging out.
‘Pip’s just a little drunk right now,’ Colony is reported to have said.
Pip was treated for alcohol poisoning at the local at Bright Eyes and Bushy Tails veterinary hospital, and survived.
Colony, who may have thought this was funny, probably isn’t laughing anymore after being charged with animal abuse and facing up to two years in prison.
*I didn’t have a picture of the actual dog drinking, so here’s Dogster Reba posing as a drink, a Mai Tai to be exact.
MISSION VIEJO – A pit bull puppy stabbed seven times by one of its owners and then saved by a Mission Viejo rescue group earlier this year is for sale on Craigslist.
The ad put up at 10:49 p.m. on Tuesday advertises a bluenose pit bull that is 14 months old.
“Azure is a very lovable Pit Bull,” the ad says. “Unfortunately, my living situation is not working for a big dog like her. She is very loving and playful around people, however, I am still working on socializing her with other dogs. She weighs about 70Ibs and is very healthy and needs lots of exercise. I am asking $300 which includes her brand new dog house we just built, leash, harness, chain, whatever food I have left, treats, toys she hasn’t chewed up yet, certificates, medicines, ect. She is also spayed and up to date on all of her shots.”
The contact person for the ad is listed as “Erin.”
Erin Lup of Costa Mesa owns the dog and is the former girlfriend of Justin Carrafield, who is serving time for the stabbing earlier this year.
If you’ve ever lost a dog you know how devastating it is. This story proves no matter how much time has passed there’s always hope for a happy ending.
SYDNEY – Nine years after vanishing from outside her Australian family’s home, Muffy the dog was found alive and well this month in another backyard – 1,200 miles away – officials said Thursday.
Inspectors with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were investigating a possible animal cruelty case at a home in the southern city of Melbourne two weeks ago when they found the fluffy white mutt sleeping outside on a scrap of cardboard, Victoria state RSPCA spokesman Tim Pilgrim said.
A microchip in Muffy’s neck identified her owners, and, after a few days of searching for a current phone number, officials tracked down Natalie Lampard, who hadn’t seen Muffy since the pooch disappeared from her backyard in the eastern city of Brisbane nine years ago.
This story could easily have ended tragically, but thanks to Sunny’s disposition and one very special young woman it didn’t. Kelsey Westbrook is a senior at The University of Louisville and part-time server at Joe’s Crab Shack.
On Sunday while working Kelsey and few of her co-workers heard the dog hit the water after someone had thrown her over a bridge near the restaurant. While some may have figured there was nothing they could do for the dog Kelsey and her friends jumped into action. Here are the details from the Courier Journal.
A white Chevy Malibu had stopped on the bridge in the southbound lanes, moments before Sunny’s plunge, said Kelsey Westbrook, the Joe’s Crab Shack server who took in the pooch and named her.
Sunny’s enlarged belly and protuberant nipples suggest she recently gave birth, she added.
“A person threw her over,” the University of Louisville senior said, “I guess somebody used her to breed and didn’t want to take care of her anymore.”
Westbrook and two other servers raced to the riverside to shout encouragement to the dog as it swam in circles a half mile way. At the sound of their voices, she said, the dog paddled toward them on the Kentucky side of the river. Louisville firefighters preparing for dive team training went out with their boat to get her some 20 feet from shore.
“I wanted to give her some hope, to let her know somebody was waiting for her,” Westbrook said. “I was afraid she would give up and drown.”
I just wanted to let everyone know the makers of the cool “I’m Tired Of…” anti-cruelty bracelets just started selling a new t-shirt.
The “I’m Tired of…” bracelets were created to fight against the world’s issues that we are all tired of, like animal cruelty, world hunger, global warming, cancer, diabetes and so many more.
The fashionable bracelets are made from recycled tires and metals, creating a fun play on the word, tired, and cost just $10, so anyone can afford them. Then half the sale ($5) from each one is donated to charities the company is aligned with that support each cause.
Best Friends Animal Society is the beneficiary of the sales of the animal cruelty bracelets.
The new “I’m Tired of Animal Cruelty” t-shirt now comes in black. It was sold before in white but since the words didn’t show up that well they are now offering a dark tee. The words really pop, you can let everyone know you participate in the fight against animal cruelty.
The best part is half the sale ($14.75) from each 100% organic cotton t-shirt goes to Best Friends Animal Society. Go check out the new tee on the “I’m Tired Of…” website.
The firefighter who shot his dogs because he didn’t want to pay to board them has been fired. The pressure on the city from dog lovers around the country helped make sure these dogs did not die in vain.
Disgraced Columbus firefighter David Santuomo, who executed his family pets and lied about it to investigators, was fired today by Safety Director Mitchell Brown.
The Dispatch and WBNS-TV (Channel 10) have learned that Santuomo sent a text message to a fellow firefighter threatening a Columbus police officer because he thought the officer had turned him in to the Capital Area Humane Society.
The message said, “You realize that there is a funeral in CPD’s future,” according to the internal-affairs investigative report.
That information was forwarded to prosecutors and the safety director, sources said.
Last week, Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. recommended that Santuomo be fired. Only the safety director can fire firefighters under the city charter.
Brown did so today.
“After careful consideration of the relevant facts … it is my decision to uphold the recommendation of Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr. and terminate Firefighter David Santuomo from the position of firefighter for the City of Columbus,” Brown said in a statement. “As in all personnel matters, no further comment will be made at this time.”
Thousands of people have called for Santuomo’s firing through e-mails, letters and phone calls to The Dispatch and the city.
Santuomo has had other issues while working for the fire department, several reprimands for tardiness as well as for two improper remarks made on fire dispatching radios. He is a divorced father with two sons. What a role model.
Not much left to say about this, except good riddance to Santuomo.
* Photo courtesy Tom Dodge/DISPATCH, Santuomo is on the right.
Thanks to a report from CBSnews.com we get a look at the insider world of dog fighting and the united effort it took to help bring down these dog fighting rings.
“These are animals which are so eager to please. Yet they have been bred to fight and die for human amusement,” said Dr. Randall Lockwood, a senior behavioral psychologist for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which worked closely with law enforcement on the raids. “I do see dog-fighting as the greatest violation of that special bond between people and dogs.”
Kathy Warnick, president of the Humane Society of Missouri, said tips had come in from “multiple sources” about dog-fighting and anticruelty workers worked with federal authorities for 18 months. “This heinous, heinous blood sport is not going to be tolerated,” she said.
The national Humane Society said there also were arrests in Arkansas associated with dog-fighting, but no dogs were seized.
Dog-fighting is banned throughout the United States and is a felony in 50 states. A law enacted two years ago increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting after a long campaign by animal-welfare groups.
Watch a video of federal agents as they raid dog-fighting operations in Mo. and Ill.
If you can’t see the video in your RSS link, then click here.
Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States, said dog-fighting operations typically are not small acts of animal cruelty, but part of organized criminal networks. Read the rest of this entry »
I just found an update on the firefighter who shot his dogs so he wouldn’t have to pay to board them. Santuomo’s job is now on the line, Chief Pettus Jr. wants him fired.
Pettus Jr. recommended Thursday that a firefighter who shot his two dogs to death before going on vacation be terminated.
In December, an anonymous tip brought officers from the Capital Area Humane Society to the Dumpster behind Fire Station 27 where they found two bloody bags containing the dogs’ bodies.
Santuomo, 43, allegedly bragged to fellow firefighters that he shot his dogs because he was leaving on vacation.
The Division of Fire office said that several complaints and concerns were received after Santuomo’s conviction.
Pettus’ recommendation will be reviewed next week by the Director of Public Safety, fire officials said.
Santuomo has been a firefighter since 1996, 10TV News reported.
Stay with 10TV News and refresh 10TV.com for continuing coverage.
Go to the WBNS site where they’re taking a poll to see what the public thinks about Santuomo losing or keeping his job. Cast your vote and let it be known that what he did is a disgrace to the fire department and he is not fit to serve the public.
Obviously the pressure from the public has had a huge effect on this case, the fact that his job is up for review proves it. Way to go dog lovers of America!
* Photo courtesy Tom Dodge/DISPATCH, Santuomo is on the right.
I want to thank Debbie for sending me this story and helping to expose another animal abuser, let’s hope Clayton gets what he deserves.
WEBSTER - A Missouri man who delivers animals to pet stores was arraigned Thursday on animal cruelty charges after police rescued what they said were weak, limp and sick puppies from his van.
John T. Clayton, 44, of Missouri told authorities he left Missouri Monday night, and the puppies had not been walked since then, police said.
Police said 27 puppies were crammed into small cages, surrounded by animal waste, filth and flies, in a locked box truck parked in front of a Main Street pet store Wednesday afternoon.
In Dudley District Court Thursday, Mr. Clayton pleaded not guilty to the cruelty charges. Bail was set at $1,000.
Before his arrest, Mr. Clayton had just delivered 10 puppies to Elite Puppies, 172 Main St., and had delivered nine puppies to Laughlin Kennel in Oxford, according to police. He may have dropped off puppies at other New England locations as well.
The case unfolded after two people drove by the delivery box truck when it was parked in front of Elite Puppies on Main Street about 2:45 p.m. They heard barking dogs and feared the dogs might be distressed. They flagged down a police cruiser and called an animal rescue organization.
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I received a letter from a volunteer at the North Mecklenberg Animal Rescue about a beautiful girl named Hope, a throwaway who survived against the odds.
