• Henry McDonald , Ireland editor
• The Observer, Sunday 27 July 2008
• Article history

He was once branded the ‘dog of death’ by a British tabloid. These days Raymond, a pit bull terrier, jumps and frolics playfully outside an Irish cottage that is offering a safe haven for dogs under death sentences in the UK.

The pup gained national notoriety this year when he was bought online by a British Sunday newspaper from underground dealers in fighting dogs. Like others, Raymond is illegal in Great Britain and could be put down at any time because of the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991, which banned the breeding, sale or exchange of pit bull terriers and some other breeds.

The hyperactive ginger pit bull has now been ‘rescued’ and relocated to an isolated corner of Co Galway, where pit bulls and other dogs in danger live in exile. His saviour is German-born dog-lover Sara Gunther, who has turned her rented cottage into a refuge for breeds that are banned in Britain as well as dogs that Irish owners have either neglected, starved or exploited. On arrival, Gunther nervously asks for ID cards to verify who the strangers at her door are.

‘I have to check you out because of the Farmers’ Boys,’ she said, referring to a notorious gang running illegal dog-fighting rings in Ireland. The Ulster Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals labelled the group the ‘Manchester United of the dog-fighting world’.

‘They know that I have pit bulls here, some of whom come from fighting stock,’ added Gunther. ‘I have received threats on mobile phones that these gangsters want my dogs and will take them from me.’ She pleads that The Observer does not print the precise location of where she lives with 22 rescued dogs and her four-year-old son. ‘I have to protect myself and my family,’ she adds.

Gunther says that she grew up with pit bulls in Frankfurt. She says this is why she has no problem allowing her son to play with dogs that have such a fearsome reputation on the other side of the Irish Sea.

‘The only dog that ever attacked me in my entire life was a golden labrador, but no one in the media will ever do a report about someone being attacked by an Andrex puppy lookalike,’ she added, as Raymond leaped around with a fellow rescued pit bull named Bowie, after the rock star.

Gunther revealed that her cottage is home to yet another pit bull media star. Nipper was sold to Panorama, the BBC’s investigative current affairs show, during a programme on dog-fighting rings. An undercover reporter bought Nipper from European pit bull dealer Paul Dunkel in Helsinki. Nipper was described on the programme as a lethal dog descended from a legendary Texan fighting dog called Little Killer. He was subsequently sold to the documentary makers but has ended up, Gunther claimed, at her sanctuary to avoid being put down.

‘My son is four and he plays with Nipper,’ she said. ‘I am even able to foster him out part-time. Nipper has more scars and injuries than any of the other dogs we look after, but he sits and watches cartoons with my son.’

Asked if she was prepared to take in more pit bulls and other illegal breeds that face being destroyed in the UK, Gunther replied: ‘I have to be very clear about this. I will not break the law in Britain, so I won’t go over and take a dog there. But if someone comes to Ireland with a dog and hands it over here to me in the Republic, then that is different.’

The organisation that speaks for rank-and-file Irish police officers, the Garda Representative Association, is currently campaigning for an Irish version of the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act brought in by John Major’s government in 1991. The GRA highlighted the lack of legislation after one of its members was subjected to a ferocious attack by a pit bull terrier in Galway earlier this year. The officer had to receive more than 100 stitches during a raid on a house in the city when he was savaged by the dog belonging to a suspected drug dealer.

The prospect of an Irish Dangerous Dogs Act which would outlaw certain breeds like pit bulls horrifies Gunther. She pointed to her T-shirt, which reads ‘Deed Not Breed’, referring to a campaign that fights against ‘breed-specific legislation’. Gunther argued that legislation would only drive the problem underground and result in dogs such as Nipper and Raymond being put down ‘just because of their looks’.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/27/ireland.wildlife

Listen to the story on NPR

Scientists are hoping that a new DNA database for dogs will help track — and prosecute — people who breed dogs to fight. But advocates say there’s a risk that the DNA records could be used against the dogs, or against people who adopt them.

The idea is to have a canine version of the FBI’s CODIS — a database of human DNA that is used to connect criminals to crime scenes. But in this case, the DNA might help prove that breeders supplied dogs to a dogfighting ring.

In July 2009, a dogfighting operation was raided in northwest Missouri. Tim Rickey, the senior director of field operations for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, recalls the scene from that morning.

“I very vividly remember getting out of the truck, and one of the first images I seen was a dog that had one of its legs chewed off in a fight,” Rickey says. “And then the owners just amputated the leg.”

More than 500 dogs were seized from sites across seven states that day, and authorities arrested 26 people. It was the largest dogfighting raid in U.S. history. Rickey says he has heard all of the excuses.

“What their cover is, is that they’re just breeding the dogs,” he says. “They don’t fight the dogs, you know — they’re just breeding dogs because they’re a lover of the breed.”

In the Missouri case, DNA samples from the dogs proved that these weren’t just random pound dogs. They were all related. Prosecutors believed this was evidence that the dogs had been bred to fight.

And that makes sense, says Beth Wictum, who directs the forensics lab at the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of California, Davis.

“Essentially by breeding these dogs they’re creating a subpopulation, almost a new breed,” she says.

“Just as with Labradors, they may try and concentrate certain aspects of pointing or retrieving, there are behavior traits that they’re trying to concentrate within this subpopulation.”

Working with the ASPCA, Wictum is compiling a database called the Canine Combined DNA Index System. So far, it includes about 400 samples taken from inside the cheeks of fighting dogs, including those seized in the Missouri raid. It’s designed to help law enforcement go after not just the fight operators but also the breeders.

Rickey says that’s where the money is.

“For most of these fighters, it all comes down to creating a champion, and then to breed that champion,” he says.

Breeders can get as much as $20,000 for a puppy from a champion bloodline, according to Rickey.

And genetic proof of that bloodline could go a long way in court, he says, by helping convince a jury that a suspected breeder is supplying dogfighting rings across the country.

Still, the dog database makes some people very nervous — among them, Ledy VanKavage, an attorney for the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah.

“I’m not convinced this is a good thing for dogs,” she says.

VanKavage is also the owner of Karma, a pit bull whose DNA is in the database. Karma was a fighting dog rescued from the Missouri bust in 2009. By VanKavage’s account, she Karma has turned out to be a wonderful pet, whatever her DNA might suggest.

“We know that if DNA was the be all and end all, all of Secretariats’ foals would be champions and win the Triple Crown. And they don’t,” VanKavage says.

She said she worries that the genetic information could be like a scarlet letter on the dogs, precluding even the gentle ones from being adopted. Companies could refuse to sell homeowners insurance to people who adopt former fighting dogs. That would be unfair, she says, because as with people, DNA is not destiny.

“We’re not a prisoner of our genetics,” VanKavage says. “Each dog, like each person, is an individual and should be judged on their own character.”

Rickey and Wictum agree on that point — that the DNA records say much more about people who breed dogs than it says about the dogs themselves. In the Missouri dogfighting case, everyone who has been charged with a crime has pleaded guilty.

Susa Ataris

Beware. by the end of this you”ll know more than you need to about our new cat.

Once we got a bigger place to hang out, we were finally able to have a cat in our lives again. I think we had the new trailer for a day when I started looking on craigslist for needy cats and within a week, on a routine dog food stop at Pet Smart, we walked in just as they were closing the adoption counter. There were tons of cute cats, mostly adults or sister brother pairs, and one young orange cat. I often say stupid things for no reason so I saw the orange cat and said “I don’t like orange cats, they’re terrors.” What my mind had used to come to that conclusion was that every orange cat I’d ever known was a horrible half wild tom cat (and maybe I’m a bit of a ginger-cat generalist). Since 80% of orange cats are males, because orange is basically the calico of male cats, I assumed the orange cat, although the prettiest one, was a male. I read the card above the cage anyway, and it was a girl! I immediately and illogically changed my mind about her and decided to make a connection. I put my hand to the glass and she put her paw to the glass and it was done. There were several other females that were pretty but I was happy with a young cat, not a kitten, and one not too set in their ways already. All the cats were from the New Orleans Animal Control and had either been dropped off or caught feral, they didn’t have any clue which one she was.

We did all the paperwork and took her to the RV parked out front in a little cardboard cat carrier. She was surprisingly calm, didnt meow, didnt scratch, just quietly worried and hoped for the best. We went back inside to buy some things for her, and $150 later (egads) she was the most spoiled cat in the trailer park. I took her out once during the drive back home to give her some water, she just walked around the RV curios and sniffing everything, then mostly quietly went back into her box (except for the part where her water spilled and she got all wet - didn’t like that).

When we got back to the trailer without any issues or noise. When I opened her box, Chena -lover of all things box, was right over top waiting for the surprise. I knew it might not be the best idea to introduce them that way but I had high hopes. They would have to be best friends eventually, it’s a condition my pets have to endure (within reason). As I’d hoped, the cat didn’t even look at Chena, almost looked right through her while curiously looking around the trailer.  After that she made herself right at home. Never once hid or peed on anything, didn’t meow uncontrollably, hiss at us or try to escape. Just laid out in the open or played with her new toys.  She spent one night in the bathroom just in case her litter box skills werent perfect and after that shes been with us almost every minute of every day. I even gave her a bath on the second day because she smelled like kennel and pee and she was fairly decent about that, didn’t scratch, just a little worried.

Susa And Chena

As far as her personality, shes very trusting and affectionate but sometimes she would duck from us when she got in trouble, like she thinks we’re going to whack her one, but shes getting used to the idea that we wont be doing that. She has the “I want to trust you so badly and love you unconditionally but some bastard kicked me” syndrome. She came to us with 2 shaved areas. Her belly from being spayed and the side of her back leg. We considered at first, that although strange, maybe it had to do with the spaying but upon closer inspection the hair was longer (more grown out) and there was a 1 inch scar. She may have got cut on a fence, beat up by a raccoon.. who knows. Shes also pretty scared of loud noises, as is Chena but for different reasons. The first time she got scared was by a storage chest closing loudly, she ran from me for several minutes. It was painful that she was so afraid of me but after hours of apology and showing her that what she was scared of wasn’t so bad, shes started to understand. Now when she gets scared she looks at you intently and wide eyed to make sure you give her a sign that you didn’t mean it to scare or hurt her. You have to walk up to her and pet her or pick her up and apologize – If you don’t, she’ll run off and be scared and overall lose trust. Sensitive little kittehs!

It took us a while to name her. We went though all the cliche names for orange cats, and cats in general ans since she nibbled your hand, nose or face while she’s being brushed, we considered Nibbler (from futurama) but decided on a completely different little black monster, Susa Ataris from My Neighbor Totoro. They are soot sprites that hide in the shadows and are said to be good luck – there’s no real connection between them and her personality but it sounded like a cute name and we were sick of having nothing to call her. Within a day she was coming to Susa and it was set.

She’s super curious, what cat isn’t though right. Every time you’re doing something at the counter shes up on hinds mewing at you to know what’s going on. We encourage her curiosity by showing her every single thing she wants to see. Whether its a running tap, sink full of soapy water or jalapeños. After the first 2 times of climbing up my legs, she figured out she could get picked up if she just taps them with her paws. I find that the more you show cats willingly, rather than making things and places forbidden, the sooner they get over it. She walked all over my camera equipment and art supplies twice (on the top bunks), getting hair on everything, then never cared to hang out up there again (save the random kitty freakout and run around the trailer session).

Although I got her the cutest little princess bed, she lays on the hard floor and wont even go into the bedroom except sometimes when we’re sleeping. Good for me because I prefer my clothes stay somewhat hair free before I put them on. When I work she often sits on the breakfast tray beside me and lays her head on my arm. Making it hard for me to type but too adorable to resist. She also likes Jalapeno chips so any time we snack on them she gets her own little crushed chip to snack on.

Susa at work

Susa says hi to Ross

All in all I think we’re pretty lucky people and got the best cat we could have possibly found.

She’s undergoing lessons in fetchology, climbing the walls control (claw control), lick the doggys face and ears and most exciting of all, harness training! Shes going to be even more awesome than she already is!

Oliver

If you have ever felt lost or alone in this world or that no one cared, you might be able to relate to how Oliver felt. If you can remember the first time you ever felt completely loved and cared for, you might be able to understand how Oliver feels now. Oliver’s life has changed dramatically over the past several weeks.  He once was a lost, lonely soul on the streets of Portland until concerned citizens flooded our Humane Investigators with telephone calls. When our Investigators responded, they found Oliver, a six-year-old American Pit Bull mix, wandering alone and almost completely blind in both eyes that had ruptured long ago from glaucoma.

Frightened as Oliver must have been, he quickly responded to the kindness of our officers. Oliver was brought to the safety of the shelter where he was put under the care of our Medical Team. We can only imagine the relief Oliver must of have felt. To be in a place that offered hope, refuge and a second chance. To be surrounded by caring hands, tender voices, full food bowls and a warm bed. He no longer lived to merely survive another day, but was able to wake up and feel a sense of security.

Due to the damage the glaucoma had caused, our staff veterinarians surgically removed both of his eyes. Glaucoma is an extremely painful condition in which fluid accumulates inside the eye which often causes pressure and blindness. Throughout all of his exams and procedures, and the obvious pain and discomfort he was in, Oliver has been amazing. He is so gentle and loving and stoically endures all of his treatments. He has a wonderfully patient nature and tolerant temperament.

Our kennel staff has been working lovingly and diligently with Oliver helping him adjust to having no eyes and shelter life. He is extremely intelligent and has quickly learned the basic commands of  “Easy,” which alerts him he is about to walk into something,  and “Step Up” and “Step Down,” to go in and out of kennels and maneuver stairs. He has also learned that when staff tap gently on his sides, it tells him what direction they want him to go (tap his left side to turn left, right side to turn right).

Oliver has a quiet grace about himself. For all he has been through he seems to realize that something very good is happening to him. A life of real joy and peace is within his reach. Oliver may be blind but now he sees people truly have the capacity to be good and kind. Oliver is no longer lost. The next step in Oliver’s incredible journey is to find the perfect forever home. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting Oliver, you can find out more about him on his profile.

-Denise and Kelly, Foster Care Coordinators

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“Dogfighting is a despicable and indefensible practice,” says Kelly Peterson, Oregon state director for HSUS.  “Spectators finance dogfights through admission fees and gambling, and Oregon’s law was deficient in handling these people who cheer and enable this cruelty.”

Although watching dogfighting doesn’t carry the same notoriety as training dogs to fight, spectators enable the “sport” to make a profit.  Under the previous law, spectators weren’t held accountable for viewing a fight.  The new law differentiates between people who purposefully view dog fights and those who accidentally come across one.  The bill makes advertising dogfighting equipment and possessing dogfighting paraphernalia class C felonies as well.

“Oregon has some of the toughest animal-cruelty laws in the nation,” says Sharon Harmon, executive director of the Oregon Humane Society.  “This bill is one more step in demonstrating compassion for those who can’t speak for themselves.”Portland Tails Magazine – April 2008

www.PortlandTails.org 

We are a blog and information center dedicated to the eradication of ignorance against dog breeds at risk of being banned worldwide. No breed should be treated as criminals because of the behavior of a few poorly treated and/or trained individual dogs. A dogs behavior is directly related to its training and we believe that the responsibility is on the owner who trained the dog to fight or mistreated the dog so horribly. These amazing dogs are important parts of families around the world and no one should expect anyone to hand over beloved pets any sooner than our own children.

Our site mascot is a rescued pitbull mix named Chena. Saved her from almost certain doom 9 years ago, she has been a most solid and consistently dependable friend. She is unendingly loving, perfectly behaved and at peace with other animals. She loves children, has an extreme (understanding of) vocabulary and we cant imagine our life without her. Sadly, she was diagnosed with diabetes about 2 years ago but has been going strong regardless. I hope to open minds and hearts to animals like Chena, faithful, loving and intelligent. It is speciesism and wrong. Please read our BSL Facts page and comment as you feel! Thanks!