Michael Vick was given the chance to visit some of his former dogs who are housed at Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pit Bulls, also known as BAD RAP.  He was going to be in the Bay Area this weekend when the Philadelphia Eagles are in town to play the Oakland Raiders.

Here are the details from The Associated Press.

“We understand Vick is trying to right his wrongs and is very interested in redemption, but you can’t find redemption without acknowledging your victims,” Racer said. “Making amends to the dogs themselves would have helped to create some closure for many of us, especially those people who worked so hard to keep them from being destroyed. It seems that Vick is not ready to go there.”

The visit would have taken place at a location where Vick could view the dogs from a distance so that it satisfied the conditions of his parole that bar him from being near animals.

Despite the fact that Vick claims he is trying to ‘right his wrong’  he declined the offer.  Maybe he was afraid the dogs would recognize him.

*Ollie is available for adoption, he’s on Dogster’s Adoption & Rescue Center.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

On March 6th I posted an article, I Love You A Bushel And A Peck, concerning Kimi Peck and her 170 dogs. Due to some issues, the county imposed some rules which could ultimately force her out or to get rid of the dogs. When I commented on this article I was going by the information that was reported.  A Dogster reader  has brought to my attention that it may not be as cut and dry as it first appears.

As a blogger I use articles that are written by reporters, on occasion it happens that not all the pertinent information is there.  Unfortunately I cannot do research on every article I post, or nothing would ever get posted. However, I strive to make sure all sides are heard, and always appreciate when information is sent to me with another angel or perspective.

With that being said, thank you to Sparky’s mom for forwarding on some additional information for you to peruse.

Tina Forde wrote a follow-up article:

‘People have had it’ say Kimi Peck’s neighbors

“At least one local rescue organization, STOP – Save Tehachapi’s Orphaned Pets – attempted to reach out to her following publication on the Internet of the accompanying feature story on Kimi Peck.

“I wish she would accept some help,” said STOP secretary Marsha Donelson Friday. “We feel so strongly part of it could be solved.”

Donelson said the officers of her organization believe that some of Peck’s dogs could be rehabilitated – “Not on a huge grand scale” – but enough to whittle down the problem…Trail of troubles
Peck’s troubles did not start with Kern County.

In 2005, prosecutors charged her with five misdemeanor counts related to her collection of dogs in her home in Burbank, including allegations of unsafe premises, not keeping proper records, sanitation, insufficient food and water and keeping the animals clean….

A judge dismissed four of the charges. She was convicted of not having proper records on three dogs, a misdemeanor. She agreed to remove all the animals, at which time the charge was to be reduced to an infraction…”

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/91774

there are complete details of Pecks history, news articles, volunteer declarations, copies of citations and pictures of her Burbank and Tehachapi “homes”

Please take this ALL into consideration before writing a letter – believe me I understand wanting to be compassionate – but Ms. Peck is not taking care of these dogs, she is maintaining them.

There are also two other websites to visit, Save The Chihuahuas and Hoarding Chihuahuas.  Hopefully all the information is now on the table, and  you will have the complete story on Kimi Peck, allowing you to make an informed decision on the situation at hand.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

On January 8, 2009 I posted a tribute to Wendy who had sadly passed away unexpectedly in her sleep.  Wendy was a big believer in animal rescue and some of her Dogster pals are helping to set up a memorial in her name.

I want to pass on this information to all of Wendy’s Dogster friends and pup pals.

We spoke with Wendy’s husband and he indicated that what Wendy would most like is for us to donate to the Sacramento SPCA on her behalf.

We can do this in two ways:

1. If you wish to be a part of a collective donation from Wendy’s Dogster Pals, you can send your donations to my PayPal account at Sam_Storm@msn.com or pmail me for my address to send a check to be included.

2. You can go directly to the Sacramento SPCA website at http://www.sspca.org/MemorialDonations.html or call in you donation directly to them at (916) 383-7387 ex 9143. This method will get you recognized individually and not as a Dogster.

It is your choice as to how you would like to make your donation. I know that Wendy will be pleased no matter which way it is done and Spy, Liz and Lala will be thankful for what you are doing on behalf of their wonderful Mommy Wendy.

If you have any questions or need further instructions, please feel free to contact me and I will be glad to explain further.

Thank you everyfur for your love and kindness to the family at this time of such great sorrow.

Please feel free to cross post this message as I am not a member of all the groups that Wendy participated in.

Respectfully,

Ravan NPC

What a wonderful way to honor the life of someone so special, and at the same time give hope to animals in need. Wendy, you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere:

There is a wonderful organization, Bernese Rescue Auction Coalition (BARC), that rescues Bernese Mountain dogs from puppy mills and auctions. We adopted our gorgeous boy Logan from them on June 7, 2008.

I just received a Christmas card from them and enclosed was a story from Courtney Erickson, one of the foster moms.  I read it and knew I had to share, it’s dedicated to all the Dogsters that have ever lost a dog or had one stolen.

Elizabeth’s story is one of faith, hope, courage, and love. It reinforced what I’ve always believed, we don’t choose the dogs that come into our lives, they choose us. For all those waiting for the return of their beloved friend this story will inspire you, it will make you realize that thanks to some truly amazing people there are guardian angels here on earth, making anything possible.

ELIZABETH’S STORY

We named her Elizabeth. She was a wee bit of a girl who sat and watched our every move.  She sat just a queen, regal and beautiful.  Queen Elizabeth,Elizabeth for short.

She was adopted immediately and went to a couple in southern Kansas City.  She was a timid girl and apparently, this couple didn’t understand her needs. They sent her to a “trainer” to make her more “normal”.  This “trainer” abused her and being the smart girl she is, she escaped. They waited a couple of weeks to let us know.  We began searching, every day. About a year later, a woman contacted us saying that she had a Bernese Mountain Dog that was coming to her property and eating every night.  We went to see her and immediately, we looked at each other and knew it was Elizabeth.  Slowly, we lured her into a pen where the woman could close the door and call us to come for her.

I went to get her and brought her home.  She needed to be shave and bathed (quite a few times). It was excruciating for her. She was with us for eight months as she slowly came out of her shell. She began to tease me and be silly.  She wanted to sleep on the bed with me.  She was finally comfortable.

At this point, a man expressed interest in her.  After prodding, I agreed to let this man adopt her.  Of course being the over-attached foster mom, I gave him explicit instructions and held my breath.  Six days later, she was gone again.

We immediately went to Des Moines, hoping that she would respond to my voice.  No luck.  Her feral instincts kicked back in.  A year later, an amazing woman was determined to catch her.  She bought surveillance cameras and rigged a pen that Inspector Gadget would be proud of.  She finally caught her after 18 months in the wild. When I saw her, she locked eyes with me.  I laid down next to her crate and leaned my head on the crate.  She reached her head over to mine and briefly rested.

I brought Elizabeth home again and she said, “Finally! Where is my bed?”   She jumped right in where she left off two years ago.  She is now my silly little girl who teases me again outside, takes naps with me on the bed, spends cold days wrapped up on her favorite purple couch, and relished in bits of leftover turkey and an occasional sugar cookie.

Elizabeth is at peace.  I no longer worry if she is cold, hungry, or hurt.  We have been brought together for a reason.  She was meant to be with me.  All my four legged angels helped her get back to her home.  She is now Home for the Holidays, and Home for good.

-Courtney Erickson

I want to thank Courtney for allowing us to share her story.  We are so happy that Elizabeth is finally where she always belonged.

The beauty pictured above is Joy, a 7-year-old rescue. She is one of the many Berners that BARC has available for adoption. Anyone thinking about an older dog please consider her, she is beautiful and loving, and could bring much Joy to your home.

Share this entry with your pawple anywhere: