Saving Turtles ~Sitting in my drafts from last week....oops!

So, I'm the type of person that sees a turtle trying to cross the road who stops and helps the turtle. I never thought it was something out of the ordinary, but as I grow up more I find that there aren't a whole lot of people that really care about the turtles in the world, these are the folks that would rather turn a blind eye and not know that there's bad things going on in the world.

Being the type of person that I am, I stopped to pick up a turtle out of the road yesterday. This turtle was quite large, but was obviously scared out of his wits because he was hiding in his shell. I picked up the turtle and put him back in the grass near the water in the field.

I will save just about anything, I even worry about snakes, even though I can't stand to be around them! *shudder* I just imagine that the turtle is grateful, I didn't change the world, but I changed it for that one turtle that one time.

Can we as humans do something truly selfless? I keep wondering if my need to save creatures means that there is something innately wrong with me, because I seem to be in the minority. What are your thoughts?

As usual, thanks for stopping by.

What Exactly is Hoarding

According to Wikipedia "Animal hoarding is keeping a higher-than-usual number of animals as domestic pets without having the ability to properly house or care for them, while at the same time denying this inability."

Now, Wikipedia is not the only source to get information, but that sentence about sums it up. Honestly, what does that really mean? To me, a hoarder is someone that has good intentions....well, usually.....but end up hurting the animals more because they keep taking animals until they are in WAY over their head. So, that threshold is different for everyone. 

Let's use me as an example. I have 2 dogs that I own, 1 dog that I co-own, 2 fosters, and 2 horses. (I rescued a pregnant horse NOT knowing she was pregnant.) I take care of my animals PLUS I help others take care of their animals. Now, am I considered a hoarder? Some people can't imagine having 1 dog, let alone 5 in their home. But me, that seems like nothing....I had a "friend" that claimed 22 dogs as her own. She turned out to be a bit psychotic and had about 20 fosters on top of her 22 "owned" dogs. Now could 1 person, out of work, with no other source of income possibly take care of that many animals? Not really, well, not in my opinion of course. This is all done in the name of rescue, but what exactly is she rescuing when they have to spend most of their time in a crate or 20 of them are randomly roaming the house peeing, pooping, and tearing up everything. THAT is a hoarder in my opinion, but in her opinion she is saving them from death.

How many hoarders are there out there, really? I have come across quite a few in my rescue adventures, and all of them have the same thing in common, they say they are "saving" the animals, and they can't possibly imagine letting them go because they don't know how they will be treated. There is a very simple solution to that one, of course nothing is 100%, however screening, and screening EVERY time helps solve that problem.

Now, what can the average person do to help stop hoarding, abuse, neglect, animals dying in shelters, etc? Well, that's easy! Be responsible. Of course, here we go with the subjective content again, what exactly is responsible, and who mandates those "rules". To ME being responsible is making sure your dog is fed, watered, has adequate space, a yard to go in that is not full of excrement, attention, some regular vaccinations (I don't believe in some of them, but that is another  matter) and that they are altered. Why altered you say? Because I have to see the poor souls sitting in the shelter that are starved for attention, missing their "family", wondering what they did wrong, sitting beside their own excrement, and definitely not getting enough attention. I also see the animals that are abandoned by the side of the road that sit and wait, the puppies that the "breeder" can't sell so they want to give them up and let someone else handle it, the dog that is screamed at, some of them physically abused, and the longing for love that most of these animals have.

If only a few more people would realize that the litter they are breeding is not going to "make" money, there are no promises on the temperament or looks of the puppies, and that most of the litter will be killed because they will make it to the shelter. Maybe, just MAYBE a few litters could be avoided, getting us all as a community one step closer to solving the over population problem. There are the "accidental" litters....those can definitely be avoided, just spay or neuter your animal! There are low cost options, there are places that sponsor it....heck, I have paid out of my own pocket to get an animal that is not mine altered so I don't have to deal with the after effect of an "accidental" litter.

If only a few more people would just alter their dogs (cats are included in this, I don't rescue cats, but for the kitty people, just substitute cat in where dog is) then they would not be contributing to the over population....the overpopulation that causes SO many to be killed in the shelters.

Another thing a person can do is adopt a shelter or rescue pet, don't buy from a breeder. If you are planning on showing, this does not apply to you, you probably already know all of this, and you deal with responsible breeders....or at least one can hope. I digress, don't buy from irresponsible breeders. Don't buy from someone sitting on the side of the road, don't buy from a puppy mill, don't buy from a pet store, don't buy from someone that didn't have health checks and is not trying to get "rid" of the puppies, etc.

So, I'm getting off of my soapbox, I felt like I had to vent that out. I would love to hear opinions on hoarding, responsible, and irresponsible pet owners. What is it that makes people irresponsible in your eyes? What about responsible?

Signing off for now, thank you for stopping by, and don't forget to stop by our Facebook page to say hi, if you haven't already!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/North-Texas-Bully-Rescue/194934184011867

Horse Rescue on top of Dog Rescue

Our Landlord runs a small horse rescue, you can find them here on Facebook. 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Last-Chance-Horse-Rescue/154967804568774

I'm so excited to be around the world of horse rescue in addition to the dogs. We rescued our two mares in March of 2012, they both had babies in June of 2012....SURPRISE! They were so skinny we had no idea...so cruelty does NOT just happen to the little animals, it happens to the big guys, too. 

I've gotten to know a couple of the rescue horses on his ranch, and I'm enthralled with the sweet disposition of one in particular, his name is Jackpot. Of course, I always cheer for the "under-dog", in this case he is the "under-horse", but let's not quibble about specifics. He is SO sweet, and the other horses pick on him a bit....being low man on the totem pole, it really sucks. He gets along well with our mares, and has made friends with my little gelding that turned a year old in June. I'm glad our horses are out there so this guy can have a friend. 

I love the idea of rescuing every animal that is out there and needs rescued...but that is not possible. We do not have enough time, money, resources, or space. Instead, we have to do what we can, when we can and hope that there are others out there doing as much, or more than we are. That is such a helpless feeling for me. I have found that I have to concentrate on what I CAN do, not what I CAN'T do, or I will overwhelm myself to the point of not being able to help at all. 

So, until the world changes, and more people get on board with simply being responsible, and maybe a bit nicer, then us, and those like us, will continue to make the world just a bit brighter for those that we can help. And to help advocate and educate for those that we can't physically help. 

I hope that this small horse rescue truly makes the difference that they hope to make, I know that we had the same hopes and dreams when we started. And although it seems like we have barely made a dent, we HAVE made a dent, and I intent to make even more dents as the years pass. 

Thanks for stopping by to catch my ramblings...and don't forget to be responsibull, spay or neuter your critter, don't litter! :)

The view from inside my head....

Pit Bulls have such a stereotype of being vicious and mean, I hear this every day, but do not understand it. This is the side that I see, I see my sweet babies cuddling with their Aunt Penny, because she didn't feel good. I see DOGS that just want attention so bad that they will cry just to get my attention. I see dogs that when we are playing ball, or with rope toys, or with any other toy that are SO careful about getting my fingers in their mouth. In fact if I put my hands in any of their mouth, they will try to spit it out with their tounge and act like it was the most horrible thing ever. The biggest worry I have with mine, is that they will knock me down when they are running around playing, and I accidentally get in the way.

I know it is because the media has vilified these dogs as being beasts with horns, 2 heads, no soul, and as killing machines. YES they have been used as fighting dogs by sadistic, mean people, and during that time the human aggression was bred out of them.... feel free to visit Diane Jessup's website HERE, you can find history on temperament AND modern temperament testing information.

It just frustrates me SO much that people can be so ignorant, and can not see past the tips of their noses. I'm tired of walking down the street with my sweet, sweet Bam Bam, that would literally not hurt a fly, and people move to the other side because they "see" a vicious dog. If only people would open their eyes that he is wiggling his back end so hard because he sees people, and then he cries just a little when he isn't allowed to see them.

What can you do to prevent breed prejudice? We as Bully Breed owners have to be more responsible than any other breed. We must train our dogs, and make sure that when we go out in public, that our dogs are safe.... meaning that we can not give the public ANY reason to vilify our dog. We ALL know that if another dog starts a fight, and our dog simply defends themselves, then it is our dogs fault no matter what.

The media completely infuriates me, with their quest to a sensational story! When I hear of a "Pit Bull Attack", I want to see a picture of the dog, I want to know the back story, AND I want to know how the dog was treated. Is this a dog that lived their life on a chain and never had ANY attention? You do not hear of spayed/neutered family pets that are well behaved and owned by RESPONSIBLE owners having issues out of the blue. Dogs show signs, and unfortunately when the dog shows a sign, we as responsible owners must deal with it, including euthanizing a dog if human aggression is present in any way....

And of course, you have a look at dogs such as Lennox, you can read about it here on the Facebook page dedicated to Lennox. Lennox was a dog that was taken from a loving family and put in jail for more than 3 years, then killed just because of what he looked like, EVEN with public outcry all across the world. The family was not even given his collar, or allowed to visit him the entire time. This family owned Lennox from the time he was a puppy, he was a threat to no person or animal. Yet, because of his looks, he was murdered. This kind of thing happens because of media hype, we never hear of other breed dog attacks, OR they are labeled as "Pit Bulls" no matter what they look like.  Then there is the heartbreaking story of a puppy named Fudge that was killed before she was even old enough to cause a problem, she was killed based solely on what she looks like and what she "might do" as an adult. Seriously? What kind of logic is that? The light bulb in the bathroom might burn out, but you wait until it no longer works before you get rid of it, right? It is only common sense!

Ok, enough of my rant for the day, I really just want to make a difference. I try to educate, save lives, and walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Do you have anything to say about BSL or breed temperament? Feel free to comment in the comment section.

Thanks for reading, and , "Have a Bully Day"! ~Jennifer

Take a look at our rescue on Petfinder and help us spread the word about these wonderful puppies that are looking for their furever homes. They deserve a family of their own, and just by simply sharing a page, you are helping to save a life! 

Don't forget to browse the rest of the shelter, Coal has litter mates, a Mother, and many other rescue buddies that would LOVE to have a chance at a happy family! 

"Please don't shop, Adopt...until all have homes"

Small acts make a big difference!

I found this picture as I was perusing Facebook and ran across the Four Legged Barkery....you can visit them on Facebook here....

I agree SO much with this picture.

There are those that that tell me my endeavors in Pit Bull Rescue are fruitless...this picture is how I feel. I save lives, I make lives better, and I help educate to keep others safe.... that includes humans, Pit Bull Rescue is as much about keeping the animals safe as keeping the humans safe.Education, Education, Education! What more reward is there?

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

I choose not to be silent....I choose to speak out.....I choose to act....I choose to be able to look in the mirror every morning and know that I am trying my hardest to make a difference.

To make a difference, one does not have to live and breathe rescue, there are small things that can be done that can have a huge impact and really make a difference. If you see abuse, report it, stop it, speak up for those that can't speak for themselves! 

~Donate newspapers to your local shelter if they use them

~Donate a bag of dog or cat food to your local shelter or rescue

~Sponsor a spay or neuter, at most low cost places it is well under $100, and its tax deductible

~Spay and Neuter your own pets, if they are not show dogs, they do NOT need to reproduce. (In some cases even the show dogs don't need to reproduce, and hopefully the responsible handlers will make sure they dont')

~Volunteer one day a month to walk dogs that won't get out of their pens if volunteers like you don't give them attention. You help get them socialized, and get their extra energy out so they have a way better chance of being adopted. 

~Donate used collars and leashes to the shelter or rescues....those dogs own NOTHING, give them a small glimmer of hope. If they look like pets, instead of strays they have a better chance of being adopted!

~If you shop online, you can go to iGive and the store you shop at will donate  a small amount to the charity you choose....or you can simply use the search engine and generate a penny for every legitimate search...those add up! Click here to check out iGive for North Texas Bully Rescue. You don't HAVE to sign up, but you can, and it will help even more. Honestly, I have had the button on my computer for a while, and it is not intrusive...it will pop up in the corner and alert me to a site that donates, then I can dismiss it. It's that easy!

There are tons of other ways to make a difference, no need to dedicate every single day, just do something small....if enough people do something small, that makes a HUGE difference. Besides, even if you just walk a dog once a month, you gave that sweet soul a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dark world....isn't that worth it? Not to mention what it does for your self esteem and perspective on life when you help improve the lives of others. 

*Please feel free to contact North Texas Bully Rescue at adoptabull.org@gmail.com if you have questions or comments. PLEASE visit our website here to check out what to do if you have a Pit Bull you found, or you have a dog that you need help rehoming.  

Sweet pup with no name, but a bright future!

I called and talked to Humane Society North Texas (HSNT) to check on the little pup that got hit. As she tried to find the puppy I thought I was going to receive bad news, it was taking an awful long time and my list of dogs that I have turned into the shelter is quite short! I turns out that the person that input my name mispelled it, so we figured it out and the little guy has already been adopted. I wish I knew his name, or his new owners names so I could tell them what he has been through. All I can do is hope that a sweet little guy like him will have a good life ahead of him, and will NEVER be in the position to get run over again.

There are so many bad things that happen in rescue, it can quite frustrating. We face sick dogs who have been mistreated in every way possible. It seems to be insurmountable odds to find good homes that will treat them right. Not to mention, we deal with a maligned breed of dog, so we also face discrimination on top of that. To have good news is always something we cling to, the good news drives us through all of the bad news.

Can you make a difference, even in some small way? YES you can. Here are some easy ways...
~donate your newspapers to your local shelter, they use them in the pens, especially with pups
~Pick up an extra bag of dog or cat food and drop it off.
~Drop of your used collars that are still usable...your used collar might be the ONLY possession of a homeless dog, and might help them get adopted because it makes them look more like a pet than a stray.

And most of all, DON'T look the other way, speak up for those that can't speak for themselves. The pup might not have a name to you, but that does not mean they are not an individual that deserves a loving home, and deserves NOT to be abused, neglected, or mistreated in any way. A name doesn't mean much, but a moment of your time to make a difference, that means a lot.

Small glimmers in a dark world.

I was at a mechanics shop on a busy street, when I saw a little dog, no bigger than about 10 lbs, trying to cross the road. The shop is situated just a half a block from a busy intersection, with the road directly in front being a 3 lane going both directions to the right and left. The little guy was coming from the bus station a few yards down the sidewalk, while 5 of the 6 people at the bus stop just sat and watched. The person that brought the unfolding events to mine and the mechanics attention, was yelling "NO" at the top of his lungs, so we turned around and looked. A car was slamming on their brakes in the lane closest to us, but the car in the middle lane could not possibly see the wee puppy and slammed right into him. He was pitched at least 30-40 feet, he rolled then the car passed over him, and the car never even slowed down. I know I screamed pretty loud, I thought for sure the puppy was dead, or close to dead. It really was like I was watching this unfolding in slow motion, and the feeling of being helpless was totally and completely devastating. 

The man at the bus stop that yelled, ran out into the street to stop the cars as I got to the puppy, we both saw him lift his head at the same time, and realized he was still alive. I scooped him up in a towel that I grabbed from the shop....I didn't ask, oops!....and ran out of the street to the shop. He was shaking and obviously very scared, but I saw no blood, and he never once made a sound, nor did he try to bite me...I thought he was just in shock. I thought for sure he had horrible internal injuries, so I jumped in the car and ran him to the Humane Society North Texas knowing that if he was severely injured they would at least humanely euthanize him. 

When I walked into the lobby I immediately told the desk clerk that he had been hit by a car, and explained that I did NOT have enough money to take him to the vet, but I couldn't just let him lay there. The desk clerk called the vet down, the vet took the puppy and ran off to the back with him. I was spooled up to the point of a panic attack, I thought he was surely going to have to be euthanized. I filled out the paperwork and left feeling very sad.  

Fast forward to the next day....we have a puppy that has distemper that the vet suggested euthanasia because of the intensity of the disease. This was a sad day, this would be the second puppy in two days that was going to die, and I was now feeling very, very sad because it is horrible when a life ends. As I was in the lobby talking to the same clerk as the day before, I happened to ask about the puppy. I NEVER expected what she told me next, the little guy didn't have any broken bones, no internal injuries, and just some minor road rash on his hip. If we had not stopped traffic he would have surely been hit again, and most certainly would have died! I felt so guilty because I was actually happy, even though I was there to have a puppy euthanized that was waiting in the car with another volunteer. The clerk even told me that the two off site adoption centers were both very excited to take him, so he could find a home. Apparently he has a wonderful temperament, and only has to wait until his "stray hold" is up to go to the off site adoption center. 

On a day that we had to do such a horrendous thing, we got a small glimmer of good news. We will watch him and make sure that he is indeed going up for adoption, and hope that he will now find a good home. It is mind boggling that such a little puppy could survive such an impact!

R.I.P. dear little Sapphire, you  fought hard and we will miss you. It is always a sad day when a puppy passes away. Distemper is a horrible disease....she was too young to have been completely vaccinated, but she is a perfect example of why everyone should vaccinate their dog as soon as the vet suggests and make sure NOT to expose unvaccinated puppies to ANY other animals until they are fully vaccinated. 

Well, that is enough for today, thank you for reading, and don't forget, "A rescued pet is love recycled, don't shop, adopt until they all have homes".