Earning our Wings

UPDATE: The citizens of Oklahoma have truly opened their hearts and resources. WOW! They are earning their wings!

In the movie ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ little Zuzu says, “Look, Daddy, Teacher says, Every time a bell rings an angel get his wings.” Well, every time a pit bull is saved and angel has earned their wings, because they have one of the hardest jobs out there.
After the fiasco in Houston, it is heartwarming and reaffirming to see examples in different parts of the country were people are looking at dogs in busts as victims and evaluating them as such.
We have an example in LA, where the judge in the case laid down the law and let the defendants know that dog-fighting was indeed a felony and they were prosecuted and convicted to the full extent of the law.
The dogs from this bust were evaluated. Due to aggression and health issues, all but 4-5 dogs had to be euthanized. But the dogs were evaluated and given a chance. The ones that could be re-homed and live good lives were given a chance. That is what rescue is all about.
Another bust in Oklahoma, just over the Kansas State border, ‘100 distressed pit bulls’ were found neglected. The officer on the scene said ‘he saw only two dogs that were so aggressive that they made him feel uncomfortable.’ Veterinarians from the Oklahoma State Veterinary Board are going to evaluate the rest of the dogs for adoptability and fostering.
Despite the BSL in Kansas City, dog-lovers in Kansas and Oklahoma are rallying and sending food and supplies to the Kay County Sheriff's Office to help them until shelter and foster arrangements are made. THIS is the appropriate response to the unfortunate situation of dog-fighting busts. The dogs are NOT guilty, people are.
This is a far cry from the attitude of the officials in Houston, where they apparently think that there is no good pit bull and they can not be rehabilitated.
For pit bulls the statistics are bleak, but they are getting better and better because we are sounding the call of justice. We are putting faces and personalities to these sweet, sweet dogs. We are earning our wings.

A Dog's Courage

     Once more I am astounded at the great capacity that human being have for cruelty and compassion. I was lead to the Montgomery Alabama Humane Society website for an unrelated story regarding the seizure of 27 pit bulls from a possible fighting ring. The investigation is on going. In the left hand corner was a link with a picture of a truly damaged looking dog with the caption of See How Louie’s Doing. I was unable to resist. I clicked.

     And my heart broke at the pure viciousness of the act of one selfish individual, who through a complete act of delibrate cruelty irrevocably changed the life of a dog, and ruined his own life because of his immaturity.

     Because this individual was ‘denied’ the use of his parent’s vehicle, in retaliation he doused the parent’s dog, Louis Vuitton, with lighter fluid and set the dog on fire.

     Louis was brought to the Montgomery Humane Society with 60% of his body covered in burns, his nose, eyelids and ears sloughing off and his toenails and the pads of his feed completely burned to where he couldn’t stand on his own feet. But he couldn’t lay down either because of the rest of his burns.

     Here’s the kicker in all of this. You would think that Louis would become afraid of people. He would snarl and snap. Bite and lash out from the pain at his care takers. No. He wagged his tail at his care givers at his first examination. He has been a trooper through his treatment. His burn wounds are healing and his temperament has not changed. He proved to be an amazingly resilient example of the extraordinary well of courage & love that a dog has.

     The Montgomery Humane Society staff have been stellar examples of the other end of the spectrum of the perpetrator of the act of cruelty that put Louis in the hospital. The MHS staff have cared and loved this dog and reinforced that the world, while it can be scary, is not a bad place.

     The person who committed this heinous act is in jail awaiting trial. I won’t revel in his capture, because I don’t believe that anyone should celebrate the ruination of a life. His thoughtless selfish act destroyed any trust his parents could ever have in him and destroyed his own life. I can never understand what causes the need to hurt another creature, human or animal.

     If you go out to the site and you see pictures of Louis, some people will say why not let nature take its course and let the animal die. If you are one of those people, I can honestly say that you have never known or acknowledged the unconditional love that a dog can give you. Or the unconditional love that a pet can provide you.

     It is not that we humanize the animals, it is that they make us more human and help us keep the gifts of love and compassion in our lives.