#GetTough [on dog fighting]

If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.”

 – Albert Einstein

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.

 – Mohandas K. Gandhi

Today is National Dog Fighting Awareness Day.

The ASPCA is "asking animal advocates across the country to help us Get Tough on dog fighting. This brutal form of animal cruelty occurs in every part of the country and in every type of community, and it must be stopped. [They]’re working to eradicate dog fighting by assisting in raids and rescues alongside law enforcement agencies and by advocating for stronger laws and sentencing for those who commit this terrible crime."

This topic hits too close to home for me. As we all know, pit-bulls are used mostly for this awful crime, and sweet little Pappy and Wally are 50% pit. Not only that - but I also have a friend who rescued her beautiful Nelly - who was once used as a BAIT dog. Starving and nearly dead.

You should see her now.... So happy and full of life

I could NOT feel more strongly that this wonderful breed has been criticized, banned, and neglected ONLY because of awful owners and human beings (in general). We need to rebuild our opinions and open to hearts and SAVE these little darlings.  Be their voice.

Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes! 

– Theophile Gautier

Deliberate cruelty to our defenseless and beautiful animals is surely one of the meanest and most detestable vices of which a human being can be guilty.  

– William Ralph Inge 

All beings tremble before violence. 
All fear death, all love life. See 
yourself in others. Then whom can 
you hurt? What harm can you do?


 – Buddha

You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late. 

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

 From alternet.org:

"For most of the 114 years since the American pitbull terrier was first recognized by the United Kennel Club, the breed was rightly seen as the perfect “nanny dog” for children because of its friendly nature, loyalty and stability. As the ASPCA notes, the pitbulls were “once considered especially non-aggressive to people.”

Today, as any owner of a “pitbull-type” dog can attest, parents often recoil in horror when they spot one of these animals, pulling their children close as if to protect them from a marauding werewolf...

...Since the 1980s, the media have falsely portrayed the pitbull as a bloodthirsty monster, inherently more dangerous than other strong breeds of dog. There is absolutely no factual basis for that narrative..."


So, everyone -- Matt, Pappy, Wally, and myself are asking for all of your help:

1) Get the toolkit - Go here and fill out the form. You will receive a downloadable kit with cover photo, twitter/facebook display pictures, and banners to share all over your social media accounts.

Like these:

2) VERY IMPORTANT: Sign the petition! Get justice and fight cruelty. Click here to tell our justice system to #GetTough on dog fighting. Ask that they pursue more dog fighting cases and demand a more serious punishment to those to commit this heartless act.

3) Research! Learn more about the #fennelpuppies breed (pitbull) by clicking here and how the ASPCA is working to fight cruelty

4) Upload pictures of your pup (pitbull or not) with the hashtag #GetTough to raise awareness

(Our dogs look so viscous, don't they?)

5) Lastly, if you were to ever like, comment, or share any of my posts - please, let it be this one!  

Spread the word!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
  

– James A. Froud

 

And a poem that I found online which brought tears to my eyes and chills down my spine.

Once I was a lonely dog,

Just looking for a home.

I had no place to go,

No one to call my own.

I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain, heat, and snow..
I ate whatever I could find,
I was always on the go.
My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain
And no one stopped to give a pat

 Or to gently say my name.

 I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.
And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me.
And took me off my feet.
"No one again will hurt you"

Was whispered in my ear.
"You’ll have a home to call your own.
where you will know no fear.
You will be dry, you will be warm
you will have enough to eat.
And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet.”
I was afraid I must admit,
I’ve lived so long in fear.
I can’t remember when I let
A human come so near
And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur

 She told me ’bout the rescue group

 And what it meant to her.

 She said, “We are a circle,

 A line that never ends

 And in the center there is you

 protected by new friends
And all around you are

 the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home

 to the helpless ones who are found
And all the other folks

 are searching near and far
To find the perfect home for you
where you can be a star.”
She said, “There is a family

 that’s waiting patiently
and pretty soon we’ll find them
just you wait and see
And then they’ll join our circle
they’ll help to make it grow
so there will more room in here
for those who have no place to go.”
I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went
Today’s the day I thought
my family will be sent.
Then just when I began to think
that it wasn’t meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me
I knew them in a heart beat
I could tell they felt it, too
They said, “Hello my little darling.
We’ve waited so long for you”
Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be
“Thank you for the life I live

 and all you’ve given me.

 But most of all protect the dogs
in the pounds, and on the street
And send a Rescue Person.
to lift them off their feet.”

 To Pappy and Wally's "rescue people": 

Tina, Anne, Lindsay, those who helped with the transport from NC, and all the others whom I've never met but had a part in saving our boys- 

THANK YOU! We are forever grateful for all of your hard work. Without you and your compassion, Matt and I wouldn't have the little lights in our lives that bring us SO MUCH joy each and every day. We cannot thank you enough, and God Bless!

 Go sign the petition! And SHARE SHARE SHARE!!!