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Changing attitudes is much harder than changing behaviors. Here’s a happy story about a sweeping change-of-attitude
and behavior that’s the best possible
news for countless dogs -- many or most of them pit-bull types -- and people
too.
There’s dog fighting, and there was (then NFL star) Michael Vick’s dog-fighting
ring, which made headlines when it came to an end in 2007, with 51 dogs rescued
from what was aptly named “Bad Newz Kennels.”
What would usually have happened next was euthanizing those dogs on the
assumption they had suffered severe emotional trauma and couldn’t be trusted. But the widespread publicity about Vick’s
operation and the dogs involved prompted caring people and organizations to suggest trying rehabilitation.
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So, “the Vick dogs” were given a chance to live. This happened in spite of the position taken by
PETA and HSUS, whose long standing argument was that such dogs couldn’t
overcome the trauma they’d experienced and should be euthanized. (Thus, two punishments, one fatal, for
innocent dogs who had not started out as fighting dogs.)
(My information comes
from an amazing September 18 story in the Washington
Post: “A second chance: Twelve years ago, 47 dogs were
rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting operation and allowed to live. They've enriched the lives of countless humans
and altered the course of animal welfare,” by Emily Giambalvo. The article includes
a portrait photo of each survivor and details that animal’s life after Vick.)
Of the 51 dogs rescued, just one was euthanized for
behavioral reasons; one, for medical reasons and two died in care -- leaving 47.
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While nearly half of the dogs initially went to Best Friends Animal
Society’s sanctuary in Utah (where some were adopted and some stayed, and
thrived), the rest went to private homes all over the country as pets; 11 are still alive today. All of
them became proof of what’s possible through rescue and rehabilitation. “In doing so, they changed how the public and
some prominent rescue organizations view dogs freed from fighting rings.”
PETA’s position reportedly stayed the same, while HSUS “adjusted its
stance.” (I don’t know how comprehensive that HSUS adjustment was; maybe someone
will let me know.)
Now, the article concludes, thanks to the Vick dogs’ successful rehabilitation,
other dogs seized in busts are evaluated to see if they can become pets -- a humane
far cry from automatically euthanizing such animals.
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“Your ignorance is more dangerous
to the planet than any pit bull.” -- seen on a tee shirt today!
Plant for wildlife
Animals have another kind of hero: those who plant wildlife-friendly
gardens . . . something that will happen (again) in Lambertville this Saturday,
Oct. 12. Starting at 9 am, three organizations
will partner to install the garden in the city’s newest park at Cherry St. and
N. Union St., behind CVS. By early
afternoon, Lambertville will have such gardens at both the north and south ends
of the city.
Pollinators, especially bees, as well as wasps, beetles, butterflies
and flower flies, will find a new haven, as will birds and caterpillars drawn
by the food plants. Only native plants
will be used in the garden, and volunteers (not
limited to Lambertville residents) should bring planting gear like gloves,
shovels and trowels, and drinking water.
Last July,
Lambertville was certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a community
wildlife habitat, based partly on its number of wildlife-friendly private
properties, school gardens and public spaces. In offering native plants, water and shelter, they
become welcoming places for birds, butterflies,
and even people.
Three
organizations -- Lambertville Goes Wild and the Lambertville Environmental and
Recreation Commissions -- are all involved in maintaining that certification. Prospective volunteers can learn more at https://lambertvillegoeswild@gmail.com
, and they can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4FA4AD2DA6FA7-cherry.
October is “adopt a shelter dog month” -- please do! (And look especially at the pit bulls.)
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#
Your comments are welcome. Just go to 1moreonce.blogspot.com, and have your say!
Because the Washington Post article that had traced all the "Vick dogs" mentioned that some organizations that formerly advocated for euthanizing all dogs rescued from fight rings had changed their views as a result of how well the Vick dogs did. So I asked for specifics on just how much animal organizations have changed. And I now have a response from Brian Hackett, HSUS-NJ director. Here it is:
ReplyDeleteRegarding dog fighting victims: The Vick case created an opportunity for organizations like Bad Rap in CA to evaluate each dog individually and make determinations based on their behavior. They then were allowed to pull the adoptable dogs and work to find them homes. It was a groundbreaking time both in terms of an organization advocating for the placement of the adoptable dogs but also in terms of law enforcement and prosecutors being willing to allow them to be transferred. Up until that case, it was the policy of many shelters and national orgs, including HSUS, to euthanize all dogs from fighting cases.
This was partially a lack of education about their behavior, partially that there were so many other dogs being euthanized at the time for space, and partially liability concerns. Now, HSUS and many other orgs assess each individual from these cases so that the adoptable dogs can be placed. We also now advocate for changing state or local laws that require euthanasia of dogfighting victims – I did just that by working hard earlier this year with Best Friends to repeal that law on our books and revise the dangerous dog law, so now only 8 states remain to do so and NJ is no longer one (Murphy signed this bill into law earlier this year). It’s a priority issue for us to see this happen.
Brian R. Hackett
New Jersey State Director, State Affairs
bhackett@humanesociety.org