A Tragedy that could have been avoided.

It's dog owners like this that give our dogs their bad name and I'm glad that is starting to get recognized by the press. It owners like Deanna Large that take no responsibility for her dogs, let alone their previous actions and can you even imagine her owning 13 of them at one time? Makes me wonder if she would also let them breed, after all, she seemed to think she was above the law and I doubt she took any responsibility at all regarding the dogs.

That's great that she got slapped with jail time, but I would have liked to see a restriction put on her not allowing her to have pets. Three years in jail (if she serves the full term) does not take away the fact that she will be irresponsible in the future. To prevent this from happening again, I would have liked to see that as part of her sentence too. This article is from the Richmond Times.

A pit bull tragedy that could have been avoided

RAY MCALLISTER
TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST
Thursday, March 30, 2006
SPOTSYLVANIA

The first person to be convicted in Virginia of involuntary manslaughter after a dog killed someone was sentenced to three years in prison here yesterday.

Guess what type of dog?

Before pit bull owners go crazy, let us say that, no, not every pit bull is a killer, nor most, nor even more than a relative few. Owners say most pit bulls -- like most Rottweilers -- are terrific, gentle pets, and that's apparently the case.

But put a pit bull with a bad owner, and it can be seriously bad news.

Dorothy Sullivan, described by everyone as an active 82-year-old, was attacked and killed a year ago by three pit bulls while walking her own tiny Shih Tzu, "Buttons," on her property.

Not exactly an even fight.

Dorothy Sullivan and Buttons were buried together.

Sullivan's daughter, Doris Phelps, came upon the scene and couldn't even get to her mother's body because of the dogs.

Phelps breathed heavily and wept often yesterday as the dogs' owner, Deanna H. Large, was sentenced to three years in prison. Afterward, Phelps didn't want to appear before cameras and microphones. "Just been so emotional," she explained.

Someone asked what this meant. "Never give up if something goes wrong," said Phelps, apparently alluding to both the sentence and a change in state law prompted by her mother's death.

Large's relatives also sobbed.

The tragedy didn't need to happen. Testimony showed that Large was warned on several occasions by neighbors and an animal-control officer about her pit bulls, which numbered 13 at one time.

Some of her dogs had killed a kitten. The ones who killed Sullivan already had killed a German shepherd.

Yes, a German shepherd.

The evidence showed that Large did little to restrain the dogs. They often ran free.

"Miss Large has never shown remorse," Spotsylvania County Commonwealth's Attorney Wil- liam Neeley said into a battery of microphones outside the courthouse. Large had contended that the killings were the dogs' doing. "That's why she's in prison for three years." She deserved every minute, Neeley said.

Killings by pit bulls, like those by Rottweilers, are statistically huge.

The American Kennel Club says Rottweilers and three breeds often called pit bulls bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Staffordshire bull terriers -- together account for less than one-half of 1 percent of AKC-registered dogs.

Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported, "Rottweilers and pit bull-type dogs accounted for 67 percent of human [dog bite-related fatalities] in the United States between 1997 and 1998.

"It is extremely unlikely that they accounted for anywhere near 60 percent of dogs in the United States during that same period and, thus, there appears to be a breed-specific problem with fatalities."

The breed-specific problems have had legislators scrambling. Some localities -- and the entire province of Ontario, Canada have tried to ban pit bull and/or Rottweiler ownership. A number of states and localities have stepped up the pressure on all dog owners.

Under a new Virginia law scheduled to go into effect July 1, dog owners could face a felony conviction and up to five years in prison if their running-free dogs seriously attack someone. Under current law, only an actual death can lead to prison time.

Neeley credited Sullivan's family for fighting for the new law. "They did the right thing, and something good came out of it," he said.

Now it's also up to a few bad owners to recognize the potential dangers and do the right thing and keep their dogs under control.

No room for error with the pit bull breeds in Ontario, Canada

Two innocent, friendly pit bull breed dogs were killed today because of Ontario's ruling of Bill 132.

These dogs never bit or as much as growled at anyone. Due to a small incident such as family coming to visit and the nieces and nephews coming in and out of the door, one had forgotten to close the front door.

By the time the open door was noticed and the dogs not in the house, panic set in and out went the search for the bullies, but it was too late. Because these dogs were legally registered, Animal Control contacted the owners and told them they had picked up the dogs. Neither dog was stressed out, nor growled or bit. They were just going for a van ride which didn't upset them.

The owners could not get the dogs back and it went to court and a destroy order was put upon them. The owners were not permitted to see the dogs, plus they had to pay a daily kennel fee until the dogs destroy order was due.

Under the Ontario Pit bull Law, a dog in public without a leash and muzzle is strictly prohibited. There is no margin of error for the pit bull breeds in Ontario reqardless of the dogs nature.

How many innocent dogs must die? Were the owners negligent? They had abided by all the restricions and had them properly registered. A simple incident as a youngster leaving a door open led to this, but you can't blame a youngster. Had the owners had anticipated an open door, they would have put the dogs away free from getting out.

This is what it's come down to. One false move regardless of circumstances leads to death of innocent dogs.
Whn the dogs were first taken away by Animal Control and told they would be destoyed after the court date, I got emailed to see if there was anything they could do.

I wanted to be straight with the people, but I double checked to see if there was some way of saving the dogs. I hoped that perhaps there was an answer I didn't know about. There weren't any and I take this hard as I received the email today with the outcome.

I cried as I read the email. I cried for the dogs and I cried for the hearbroken family that lost their loving companions. It doesn't get easier the more stories you hear about. A few with happy endings, but the majority the same as this.

The law is WRONG! These are not the dogs causing havoc and these are not irresponsible owners. That's why Animal Control was able to phone the family. THIS IS NOT JUSTICE! This is a travisty and just plain murder!

A Great kind of Hurricane

On KPHO Phoenix comes this positive story of Hurricane!

CBS 5 News is tracking the story of a very special dog named "Hurricane."

The pit bull was one of the thousands of animals rescued in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane was taken to a shelter in Sante Fe where he was deemed "vicious," and he came very close to being euthanized. That's when a valley dog trainer stepped in to help and now Hurricane is so well trained, he's on his way to becoming a search and rescue dog.

Please watch the extrodinary video clip of this fantastic dog which is very typical of the Pit bull breeds.

Toddlers Attacked...but where's the dog?

This opinion of this article is not mine, but Christine's that I asked for permission to use. The reason I asked her was to me, her opinion clearly paints a much broader picture of the story than what the press does and she points out some very important observations to consider.
I also saw a white dog being taken away in the news and it does make you wonder. WHY didn't they show the offending dog?

As unfortunate as it is that these children got hurt. It wasn't near the mauling that City TV was touting as "Teeth of Terror". I'm sure MB (Michael Bryant) will have his ugly mug all over the news saying how right he was to ban these dogs. However, DOLA would not have done sweet bugger all in this case as the incident occurred in the home.

The eldest child - 3 yrs. old - was bitten on the back of the leg. The youngest child - 1 yr. old - had a scratch to his face and a cut on his head when the child was knocked over. To me it looks like the younger child wasn't bitten at all but hurt in the excitement and was knocked over.

It was a family gathering. Dogs were supposed to be in the basement. For whatever reason they got out of the basement and there was too much "excitement" and it went from there.

Only 1 dog was involved in the the incident, and it wasn't the white dog shown on tv. The white dog that you saw on tv being hauled away is larger than the other and was being taken away for "observation
overnight".

So if it wasn't the white "pit bull" dog, what kind of dog is the other dog? Is he a pit bull or are they saying he is because he looks like it?

Here's the quote from the article.

Jim Konstandinitis, with Toronto Animal Services, packed up both Buddy, the pit bull who attacked the youngsters, along with a larger, white pit bull.

"Based on what the owner says, it has attacked before," Konstandinitis said. "The dog's probably going to be destroyed. Hopefully the owner will sign it over and make it easier for everybody."

Konstandinitis said police wanted the second dog taken away as well, even though it wasn't involved in biting the children.

"For safety reasons they want to take it in, keep it overnight and see what happens," he said, adding it's not known what sparked the attack.

"It could have been anything -- the child could have poked the dog in the eye, could have grabbed it, could have startled it," Konstandinitis said.

"The pit bull is a great dog, they're great animals, and it's just circumstances that make that react that way."

Christine

Pit bull attacks 2 toddlers

Young boys treated at Sick Kids after dog goes wild

By JONATHAN JENKINS, TORONTO SUN

Two little boys were attacked by the family pit bull yesterday and sent to the Hospital for Sick Children with cuts and bites, while the dog was taken by Animal Services -- likely to be destroyed.

"The kids were lucky," Toronto Police Sgt. Jim Browne said. "It could've been worse."

Browne said the older boy, around age 3, was the most badly hurt, with a bite to the back of his thigh.

The younger child, around 1, suffered a scratch to his face and a cut to his head, possibly from being knocked down by the animal.

Browne said the owner of the pit bull, who was co-operating with police, said he believed the dog became overexcited during a family gathering on Harvie Ave., near Rogers and Caledonia Rds.

'ANXIETY-PROVOKING'

"They try to keep the dog downstairs when the kids are around," Browne said of the dog's owner.

"Everybody was upset. It was very anxiety-provoking for everyone."

Jim Konstandinitis, with Toronto Animal Services, packed up both Buddy, the pit bull who attacked the youngsters, along with a larger, white pit bull.

"Based on what the owner says, it has attacked before," Konstandinitis said. "The dog's probably going to be destroyed. Hopefully the owner will sign it over and make it easier for everybody."

Konstandinitis said police wanted the second dog taken away as well, even though it wasn't involved in biting the children.

"For safety reasons they want to take it in, keep it overnight and see what happens," he said, adding it's not known what sparked the attack.

"It could have been anything -- the child could have poked the dog in the eye, could have grabbed it, could have startled it," Konstandinitis said.

"The pit bull is a great dog, they're great animals, and it's just circumstances that make that react that way."

But neighbour Dave Dickie said both animals are aggressive and rarely muzzled.

"That dog's a psycho," Dickie said. "Every time I walk by here with my baby, I'm scared. They try and jump over the fence and they try to attack everybody that comes by."

Does ban lack teeth?

The Toronto Star has this article posted this morning. It's pretty callus of them to say all the pit bulls will die off ridding the Province of the problem and cost the government nothing to do so. Well SURPRISE to the government when we WIN this!!! Seems the manicipalities didn't read the part where it said the burdon of costs will lay on them. But then again, this law is so vey vague that nobody can make sence of it. Thank you Michael Bryant for being such a twit and writing up a bill you knew nothing about! It's to OUR advantage!!!

Does ban lack teeth?
City says province must pitch in funding for pit-bull rulingSporadic enforcement `best we can do,' councillor says

Mar. 23, 2006. 01:00 AM
PAUL MOLONEY
CITY HALL BUREAU

Toronto will not fully enforce Ontario's pit-bull ban unless the province helps to pay the costs.

The city's budget committee did not support an animal services department request for funds to hire 10 additional animal control officers. The money — $529,600 for the rest of 2006 — would have been used to police the new law.

"This will be a law that is basically enforced sporadically," said Councillor Joe Mihevc, budget committee vice-chair. "That's the best we can do, even as many of us at city council support the law.

" If the province wants a higher standard of enforcement, then we're going to need money to do that."

Under the Dog Owners' Liability Act, passed last August, anyone who owned pit bulls can keep them but the animals have to be neutered and must be leashed and muzzled in public. In addition the dogs can no longer be bred, purchased or imported.

Responding to complaints, animal services has opened investigations into more than 20 cases and in some instances, laid charges, said spokesperson Gil Hardy.

Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's) added that the provincial government is well aware the city doesn't have the money for a more systemic approach to enforcement.

"We haven't had any pushback from them," he said.

A spokesman for the attorney general's ministry said the province expects enforcement costs will be low because people are law-abiding.

"It's our hope that costs will not increase significantly because we expect citizens will comply with the law," said Brendan Crawley.

"They will keep their pit bulls muzzled and leashed, they will get their pit bulls spayed or neutered, and therefore we don't anticipate costs will increase significantly."

He added that the city has dog licence fees and fine revenues to fall back on if needed, but noted that enforcement requirements should decline as pit bulls die of old age.

"Over time, there will be no pit bulls in the province of Ontario," he said. "All existing pit bulls can live out their days but new pit bulls are banned."

The lack of funding for enforcement comes as no surprise to Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby, who is challenging Ontario's law on behalf of dog owners.

"The pit-bull breed ban is not designed to really make Ontario citizens safer," Ruby said.

"It's designed to make the government look good without actually doing anything."

Puppy Immersed in Acid...You can help!

Puppy Immersed in Acid.

JUSTICE FOR MOOIE!

YOU can help!

The Federal Way Police Department (Washington State), under whose jurisdiction this case fell, first passed off the case to King County Animal Control. KCAC cremated the body, basically destroying all the evidence.

Our humane investigators have been on the scene for two days, trying to resurrect this case. When they found stained clothing and rags, allegedly left behind by the potential perpetrator of the crime, in his personal garbage can, our investigators called KCAC to retrieve the evidence (which they did). We next asked why no search warrant had been issued for the potential perpetrator's home or yard? We were told that there was not "probable cause".

We disagree. Although we cannot go into detail to assure that we are not causing damage to a criminal case suffice it to say, there is enough "probable cause" to conduct a search. In fact, it was widely reported in the news that Federal Way Lt. Terry Hock said the officers found a substance in the backyard of the owner's house that could have caused the burns on the dog but they didn't know what it was.

Friday, we contacted the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to ask for their help. They have always been extremely responsive to animal cruelty issues and in fact testify on behalf of animal cruelty bills before the legislature assuring a successful conclusion.

Dan Satterberg, Chief of Staff of the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office contacted the Federal Way Chief of Police. Following their phone call, our Humane Investigator met with Federal Way Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick who insisted that they originally had a "seasoned" homicide detective speak with the alleged person of interest inside his home and "because he let them in" they presumed that all evidence was destroyed if indeed there was evidence to begin with." We're appalled. How can a law enforcement entity "assume" there is no evidence?

The Chief of Police has told the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office that they've passed this case to KCAC and it's up to THEM to get the search warrant.

WHEN WILL PASSING THE BUCK END?

It's imperative that police, KCAC, or WHICHEVER ENTITY TAKES REPONSIBILITY FOR THIS CASE see what's in the cupboards, under the bed, in the drain, in the backyard of this house. This is not only a Felony animal cruelty case but it's also a potential felony drug case, as well.

Enough screw-upsFirst KCAC cremated the body. (KCAC told Dr. Engstrom, the vet who examined and euthanized Mooie, that they would perform a necropsy on her. They never did. Dr. Engrstrom is furious. And so are we.)

Now, the Federal Way P.D. is "assuming" there is no evidence because someone let them inside for an interview? Only moments ago our Humane Investigator was told that "even if they found evidence of this chemical it wouldn't prove anything".

THIS is diligent police work?

Their response to Pasado'sWhen we ask the tough questions of the Federal Way P.D., their response to us is that "we're taking on an adversarial position". We never assume such a position until people aren't doing their job.

Mooie, following euthanasia. The vets at Valley Animal Hospital in Auburn believed she suffered horribly and she would have needed skin grafts over 95% of her body. Letting her go was the most humane thing to do.

According to the veterinarian who euthanized Mooie, she was burned over nearly 98% of her body possibly using muriatic acid, an acid used to clean concrete, and used for meth-amphetamine production.

The puppy desperately tried to lick the acid off its own fur, burning the inside of her mouth.

To read the full story and how you can help, go to 'Justice For Mooie' at Pasado's Safe Haven.

London home to 100's of unlicenced pit bulls

In the London Free Press today was this column. Only last night I spoke to a kid that was under the impression his dog was legally Grandfathered. He told me of other dogs that were the same.

He was walking his dog on a leash, but no muzzle and as he noticed Shasta, he was really impressed and said she was a beautiful dog. He asked if she was spayed and of course I said yes. I asked him if his was and he said no.
I then attempted to educate him of the ban and telling him the risks he was taking. I asked him what he meant his dog was legally grandfathered.

He said the dog was his mothers until he turns 19 as he is only 18 right now. I asked him why didn't his mother have him altered, microchipped and all the other things required for our dogs prior to registering them at the end of the year? He said their old dog had died and the AC had said that the new dog was registered from the old dog.

I explained that, that was not how the process worked. We not only had a specific check list to which we needed documentations from our vet's regarding spay/neuter papers, microchip registration and number, undated varification of vacinations, two photo's of head and side view shots, plus a witnessed report that we had to bring in directly to London Animal Care to register.

I told him of how legal dogs were being targeted, let alone an illegally owned one and explained how if found out, his dog was as good as dead and his mother up on charges and possibly jail time.

The kid didn't seemed concerned and his remark was, "We're going to win this soon anyway."

I explained the case hadn't even started in the courts yet and know knows how long the fight would be. I told him we were also fighting for responsible ownership of all dogs, meaning that his mother and his other friends with dogs that did not abide by the law and bylaw were enfringing against what we were fighting for.

I honestly don't think anything I told him sunk in and I was deeply disturbed knowing there are dogs right in my neighbourhood that at any time could be put down.

Will I call AC about the people? NO! The reason is strickly for the lives of the dogs and I will not be a party to that. I just can't believe the ignorance of so many people that aren't even aware that they are breaking the law and others that are, but are waiting for us to win this case.

I think of all the effort from groups and responsible dog owners, some that do not even own a bullie breed and all the effort we put into fighting to change a law. The money we are trying to gather for our defence. The education we put out and talk to people about. Going to City Hall to make a difference for the dogs and people out their not contributing, but going along for a free ride without as much as abiding by the law. grrrrr....

Personally, I don't give a rats ass what happens to them...but I do care about their dogs and there is nothing I can do about it!

London could be home to hundreds of unlicenced pit bulls
Thu, March 16, 2006
By JOE BELANGER, FREE PRESS CITY HALL REPORTER

Hundreds of unlicensed pit bulls could be roaming London, despite a provincial ban and strict regulations backed by steep fines.

Jay Stanford, the city’s manager of environmental services, said there could be 340 unlicenced pit bulls in the city.
That’s the number of pit-bull owners who haven’t renewed their dog’s licence from last year and face fines of up to $500 under a city bylaw.

“We really don’t know how many are out there, but we know there are 340 owners who haven’t come in for licence renewals,” said Stanford, adding 500 pit bulls are licenced.

“Our plan now is to get back to these folks. We’ve given them a lot of time to register and they’ve had lots of notification. Now it’s a matter of finding out if they need a fine to convince them we’re serious.”

Stanford said the city will crack down on unlicenced dogs at the end of the month with letters, phone calls, visits and, possibly, fines.

He found me...I didn't find him!

This little fellow is a rescue that has been crying out my patio off and on for about a month.

I'd guess him to be about 5 months old, no collar, tags and no signs up to say he's lost. I contacted Animal Care last week to see if a kitten in my area had been phoned in about. There was nothing. I left my name, address and phone number.

The neighbours said they had almost run him over by their car in the parking lot and he comes to different places that have cats, perhaps looking for companionship and food.

His cries would wake me up through the night, and one blistery cold night at 4:30 AM, I brought him in.

Yesterday, March 16th, it became official. I called Animal Control and nobody had called in about him, so I told them I would keep him.

I bought his tags for the year and will take him in to get neutered, all his shots (as I doubt he's ever had any) and have him checked out to see if he may need anything else done.

I didn't want to get too attached to him incase he got called in about, so I never gave him a name. So now the name game will begin.

He's a little scamp, extremely friendly, but was afraid of Shasta at first and expect all dogs. Now the two of them are great friends. Petu gets agitated when he is resting or sleeping and he gets a full body attack from the rear from the kitten being so playful. I try to let Petu handle the situation on his own, but sometimes have to come to his aid.. *giggle*

I've been calling him, 'the Little scamp or brat sometimes, but he follows me around so adoringingly and when he's beside me or on my lap, he's the sweetest little darling.

He's short hair, all white with a gleam of silver through him with a tuff of grey on top of his head.

Well little fella, WELCOME as a new addition to the family! I had to take this picture while he was mostly napping as he's so busy and always in motion curious about EVERYTHING that it's difficult to be quick enough to get a clear shot of him then. LOL

He had no idea what a kitty litter was for, but figured it out quite quickly, and thinks it's the collest invention made for a kitten. He is even learning that he needs to bury his do's after himself. How strange to think this kitten didn't have any of the needed accessaries for a kitten.

When I open the patio door to put Shasta outside, the kitten runs away from the door. I think it's his way of making sure he doesn't have to spend his life out doors again.

It's sad and makes me angry to think that people get a pet just to allow it to fend for itself. They need a law that prevents this sort of thing. Actually they do have Bill C-50, but it has never been enforced. I think once we eliminate BSL, not only from Ontario, but from ALL the countries, it's high time we go after our political parties to start enforcing Bill C-50.

Toronto Lawyer to dispute pit-bull ban

In the Toronto Star today
Toronto lawyer to dispute pit-bull ban
Rulings from an Ohio court to be used in legal challengeTo date nobody has been charged under the new legislation
Mar. 15, 2006. 09:15 AM
ISABEL TEOTONIO

Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby will fight Ontario's pit-bull ban using an Ohio court decision that struck down a similar law in that state.

"It's not often that one gets to start a constitutional challenge here with a little help from our friends in the States, but we thought it significant," he told reporters yesterday at his downtown office.

The March 3 decision by the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals ruled that a Toledo law allowing residents to own only one pit bull, or "vicious" dog, was unconstitutional. The Ontario law is a complete ban.

But Ruby plans to challenge the Ontario legislation using two key rulings from the Ohio decision. First, since pit bulls aren't inherently dangerous it doesn't make sense to have a law to protect people from them. Second, the definition of pit bull is so vague that people may not know if they're breaking the law.

Ruby will square off with Attorney General Michael Bryant in an Ontario Superior Court May 15 to challenge a ban that has drawn immense criticism from pit-bull owners since it came into effect Aug. 29.

When reached yesterday, Valerie Hopper, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Attorney General, would not go into detail about the government's case but said, "our position is that this is constitutional and improves public safety for Ontarians."

Canada's first province-wide ban, the Dog Owner's Liability Act, pertains to any dogs that fall under the definition of "pit bulls," including Staffordshire Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers, as well as dogs that look "substantially similar" to any of the banned breeds.

People who owned pit bulls before the law was introduced can keep them, but the animals have to be neutered and must be on a leash and muzzled in public. All pit bulls born after Nov. 27 have either been shipped out of province or destroyed. Currently, people are not allowed to breed, purchase or import the dogs. Anyone breaking the law faces fines of up to $10,000 for individuals, $60,000 for corporations and six months in jail.

To date, no one has been charged under the new legislation. However, on Monday, a Toronto woman was charged with unlawfully causing bodily harm and common nuisance, a month after her pit bull killed a Shih Tzu dog and attacked his owner. Ruby is going to court on behalf of Catherine Cochrane, a 23-year-old anthropology student from Toronto who wants to breed her two-year-old Staffordshire mix, Chess.
Ruby said yesterday he would introduce evidence from Dr. Timothy Zaharchuk, who was president of the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association when the law was passed.

Zaharchuk argues breed-specific bans don't work, pointing out there are 24 breeds of dogs that are very similar to pit bulls. "Just by looking at a dog you cannot declare it a pit bull — there's no way to verify it genetically," said Zaharchuk.

As in the Ohio case, Ruby said the province's definition of a pit bull is "unconstitutionally vague."

"If you're going to jail as a result of breaching a law, you've got to have the kind of certainty that lets you know whether you're committing an offence."

Dog attack - but it wasn't who you think it was

If only some adults could be as compationate as this child. Biten with a broken nose, yet he does not want the dog that bit him to be put down for it. I'm glad dogs best friends are still kids, because man seems to find any excuse to put them done.














Dog attack victim Dejae Galvin. Picture: Stephen Parker (140306sp1)

Dog attack - but it wasn't who you think it was
15.03.2006 By MEGAN LACEY in Rotorua

Dejae Galvin has grown up around pitbull terriers without so much as a scratch.

But it was a corgi that bit him, leaving him with a suspected broken nose.

He was attacked by the "friendly" pet corgi at his friend's house as he attempted to pat it.

The last thing the 8-year-old Ngongotaha Primary School pupil remembers is seeing blood everywhere, being in pain and covering his face to avoid being bitten again.

His mother Lisa Galvin said the dog's owner was beside herself and took the injured boy to his grandmother, a neighbour, who took him to the doctor with bites to his face and a suspected broken nose.

Ms Galvin said his skin was pulled together with butterfly clips to close holes on each side of his nose.
When he awoke the following morning his face was swollen and he had black eyes.

"He looked like he had been in a car accident or something."

When she took him back to the doctor he was given strong antibiotics and told if he did not improve he would need to be hospitalised and go on an IV drip. If Dejae's nose is broken he will have to wait for the swelling to go down before it can be operated on. Dejae qualified for the Waikato children's athletics championships shotput event at the weekend and is disappointed the injury may prevent him from participating.

His older brother Shalem also qualified for the shotput and discus events.Ms Galvin, who has owned pitbulls for 15 years, said her family did not want the corgi to be put down if it was not normally hostile.

"Dogs can attack for a number of reasons.

"It could have just been a territory thing but I think this particular dog should be tested for being aggressive.

"I just want to make sure it doesn't go on to attack other kids if it's proven to be temperamental."

Ms Galvin said the attack was further proof that all dogs, however loving and loyal they might seem, needed to be treated with caution.

"My kids were born into a family that had American pitbull terriers all their lives. We've never had any problems with our dogs the whole time but we never leave our children unsupervised with any dogs - not even our own.

"Ms Galvin said her children were taught about responsible animal ownership and had attended puppy school with the dogs.

"Although Dejae has learnt a lesson the hard way, children will be children and dogs will be dogs.

"It's the adults who need to take the upper hand and teach both parties how to act responsibly.

"Dejae loves his new dog Lexus and sympathises with the owner of the corgi.

"I don't want the dog to die because it's my friend's dog."I wouldn't like it if Lexus died."

UPDATE: Just an update on this story, Dejae was hospitalised for a week, in a huge amount of pain with drips and needles hanging out of him as the infection raveged his body and the only thing he kept asking was if the dog was ok, he was also given a choice of a teddy bear from the childrens ward and he instantly chose a dog!The dog in question was found to be not normally agressive and will live.

Don't just train the pooch, train the kids

This kind of aticle in the Toronto Globe and Mail is more like we need in educating parents and children. Instead of plastering the news pages with vicious, irresponsible dog attacks, isn't it better to educate the public on the do's and don't. We need more of this kind of educational articles.

Don't just train the pooch, train the kids
A dog may be a man's best friend, but a new study suggests it is not an ideal companion for a young child.
Austrian researchers reviewed the cases of people treated for dog bites at a local hospital over a 10-year period. The results revealed that children under the age of 10 represented a "high risk group" for dog attacks.

"Throughout evolution, dogs have lived in packs with a specific order of dominance. . . . Dogs may regard newborns as subordinate . . . and may feel the need to defend their own position in the pack against this intruder," the researchers at the Medical University of Graz write in the journal Pediatrics.

However, lead researcher Johannes Schalamon, a dog owner himself, says the animal really isn't the one to blame. "In most cases [of attacks], the child interfered with the dog," he said in an e-mail interview. For instance, a child might pull the tail of a dog while it is eating.

He said families should consider not getting a dog until their children are of school age. Usually, kids over 6 can be taught to behave in a way that reduces the chances of a dog attack. As well, older kids tend to be taller than dogs, so they are less likely to be bitten on the head and neck, which can leave a child emotionally and physically scarred for life.

And what if you already have a dog and what to start a family? "I would not necessarily get rid of a dog . . . but one should be aware of the danger," he said. "Do not leave your child alone with a dog, especially if it is the neighbour's dog or the dog of relatives and friends." Although some breeds are more likely than others to attack when provoked, he points out, "any dog may bite at any time."

Stone Age shocker

Scientists have longed believed impacted wisdom teeth are an affliction of modern civilization.

Wisdom teeth are the last molars to develop and they are suppose to pop out, or "erupt," between the ages of 18 and 22. But if there is not enough room for them in the jaw, they get stuck or "impacted" below the surface. Impacted wisdom teeth are so common it has almost become a right of passage to have them extracted.

Scientists believe impacted wisdom teeth result from all the soft and highly processed food we eat. We simply don't have to chew very much any more. And that means the jaw isn't stimulated to grow big enough to hold all our potential teeth, according to some theories. It has also been assumed that people who lived during the Stone Age -- when the human diet was much rougher and required more chewing -- were not afflicted with impacted wisdom teeth.

However, scientists at the Field Museum in Chicago have found impacted wisdom teeth in a 13,000-year-old jaw bone. The jaw was part of a near-complete skeleton unearthed in southwestern France in 1911. The Field Museum acquired the find in 1926 and dubbed the remains "Magdalenian Girl," based on the fact that jaw lacked signs of developed wisdom teeth.

But Robert Martin, the museum's provost of academic affairs, recently re-examined the skeleton and suspected it was really a full-grown woman. The jaw was X-rayed, revealing impacted wisdom teeth, proving his hunch correct.

"As far as we know, this is the earliest recorded case of impacted wisdom teeth," Dr. Martin said.

The discovery suggests that the human diet might have already begun to change to easier-to-digest foods, and they may have been using fire to cook their meals.

"I would see this as possible evidence that cooking was well under way earlier than we thought -- serious cooking, maybe even French cooking," he said with a chuckle.

Genes linked to blindness

U.S. scientists have pinpointed two genes that account for 74 per cent of cases of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most common form of blindness in people over 50.

The genes play a role in regulating the body's immune response to infection. One gene helps to rev up parts of the immune system. The other helps shut off these defences once the infection has been beaten back.

"If the system is well balanced, everything works just fine," said the lead researcher, Rando Allikmets, at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. However, some variation in either of these genes can produce an improper immune response that can harm the eyes.

In particular, the immune system ends up damaging the macula, a sensitive portion in the centre of the retina that is responsible for seeing fine details. The condition results in a gradual loss of sharpness in the centre of the visual field, making it difficult to read, drive or even recognize faces.

The new study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, suggests that variations in these immune-regulating genes account for almost three-quarters of all AMD cases. Dr. Allikmets said the latest findings could eventually lead to treatments for preventing the condition in susceptible individuals, even before it starts.

Code of behaviour when handling a dog

Dogs
Dogs sniff as a means of communication.
Dogs like to chase moving objects.
Dogs run faster than humans.
Screaming may incite predatory behaviour.
The order of precedence needs to be in evidence.
Dogs tend to attack extremities, face and neck.
Lying on the ground provokes attacks
Fighting dogs bite at anything that is near.

Humans
Before petting a dog, let it sniff you.
Do not run past dogs.
Do not try to outrun a dog
Remain calm if a dog approaches
Do not hug or kiss a dog.
If attacked, stand still (feet together) and protect neck and face with arms and hands.
Stand up. If attacked while lying, keep face down and cover ears with hands. Do not move.
Do not try to stop two fighting dogs.

HAND UP! YOU'RE UNDER ARR... HUH?

Living as an owner of a APBT in Ontario, tell me I'm not paranoid!
Shasta usually get's up early to do her quick 'thing' outside in the morning and back to bed we go. I barely wake up for the short time she takes and it's like a vague passing morning tradition that I barely remember.
By the time I was up for the day, I happen to notice an officer standing just outside my apartment by the laneway. He seemed to be looking towards what I thought was my direction. Now that could have been because I stood at the patio doors looking at him...and then I spotted it. Shasta must have taken a poo in the morning and I didn't notice and there it was looking suddenly big too me. Right away, I grapped a baggy, waved to him, yet he kept a serious face and I quickly scooped it up and threw it in the garbage bin. *whew* But he didn't go away.
Right away I wonder why anyone would call the police on Shasta and I? We didn't do anything wrong and have been upholding the law, as crazy as it is.
It was only one poop that I missed, but I got it cleaned up! Why wasn't he leaving and why did he look so damn serious. WHAT DID WE DO???? My heart was pounding hard inside me.
Then I see it's not just one officer but a whole slew of them with multi cars. They even had a Doberman Police Dog with them from the Canine Unit. He was on a leash and I thought how lucky he was he didn't have to be muzzled like Shasta does.
Then it occurs to me, they aren't going to send a squad of policemen and a canine dog for just one poop! *whew* I feel a sence of relief and think something big must have happened in or around my building.
Now nomally, that might cause some concern because whatever went down, you don't normally see about 10 police and a Police Dog looking somewhere around my apartment. I'll have to watch the news tonight to see if it's in there. But relief is what I did feel!
Thank you Michael Bryant for making me so paranoid that seeing police now makes me afraid. Afraid they've come for Shasta and me. Afraid that I missed a poop at the untimely elimination of only perhaps a couple of hours. Relieved it may have 'only' been a murder, or a drug bust, or some other kind of crime, not even thinking of the fear of that alone.
You said you wanted ALL Ontario residence to feel safer. So why do I fear so much because of the breed of dog I own? Could it have anything with allowed entry and seizure? Could it be they don't need reasons to take my Shasta away except by the word of someone? Answer me THAT Mr. Byrant! I fear when I shouldn't fear, but because of your vague law, you never are completely sure if they have found a new way to get rid of our dogs.
I hope they publizise the court hearing on TV when you appear in court. If not, I'm sure the web will be full of you!!! Then I won't fear any longer!

Basketball's James' pit-bull persona well-deserved

It's so good to see some positive reporting by the Toronto Sun. To bad other newspapers wouldn't take this example and write the positive rather than the negative to show the Pit bull Breeds in the right light. There are always two side of the story and I'm glad to see the Toronto Sun take on this position. YEA TORONTO SUN!

Thu, March 9, 2006
James' pit-bull persona well-deserved
By STEVE BUFFERY, TORONTO SUN











Mike James wouldn't mind it at all if you tell him he plays like a dog.
But you'd have to be specific.
Suggest that he plays like a poodle, and you're likely to get one of those looks that could freeze a lava flow.
But mention pit bull and he'll love you forever, perhaps even do one of his famous locker room dances for your entertainment.
Yes, Mike James really loves pit bulls. He has a purebred Albino named Justice at home, whom he absolutely loves - "She's my baby," he says - and he recently bought a 3 1/2-acre plot of land outside of Houston where he is having his dream home built on a compound that will include a kennel. Once everything is constructed - kennel, guest house, swimming pool, practice court - James plans to breed pit bulls, for himself, and to give away to family and friends.

"I raise my dogs to be family dogs, but also as protectors," he said this week. "We're not going to carry guns in my house, so my thing is, if you hop that fence, trying to take what I worked so hard to put together for myself and my family, you have a little surprise waiting for you. You're going to have about six to seven of them jumping on your back."
One reason James loves pit bulls so much, they remind him of himself: Not particularly big, but muscular, quick and energetic. In fact, James sports one of the more unusual tattoos in a game where many, perhaps most, of the participants have them.
There is a large drawing of Jesus Christ on his back, but without a face. And underneath Christ, is a pit bull. At first glance, it seems quite odd, perhaps even blasphemous. But there is a message in the image.
"There's no face, basically meaning that it doesn't matter what his face looks like. It doesn't matter if he's black or white, or if he has long hair or straight hair. The only thing that matters is, he's the son of God," said James. "And the picture of the pit bull underneath that picture, signifies me."
And there is more to it. James considers himself a messenger of Christ, but certainly not one of those who never falls off the straight and narrow, or frowns upon anyone else who does.
"It's basically saying, if you come against me, you're fighting a battle you can't win," he said. "Because Christ has my back. And that's why I got the tattoo. That signifies who I am as a person.
"It looks crazy, but the meaning behind it is deep."
The Raptors are leaning towards trying to sign their pit bull to a new contract this summer. James, who is having a career season since being traded to Toronto for Rafer Alston, loves playing with young talents Chris Bosh and Charlie Villanueva, and everything about his adopted city. Almost everything. The one thing that he has trouble coming to terms with is Toronto's ban on pits. Because of that, he has had to leave Justice at home.
"They're misunderstood. They're the sweetest, most loving dogs in the world," he said, pointing out that pits have a bad rap because people breed them to fight. "You could raise a child to grow up to be a Nazi. I could raise my daughters to grow up to hate all white people, or anybody who is not black. It's how you raise them is how they react to people. You treat them with love, you treat them with care, but you also discipline them and let them know you're not afraid of them, then they're going to always respect you."
Indeed, James said he has no problems allowing Justice to play with his two young daughters.
"My (2-year old) daughter bit my pit bull one time, on the back. And every time (Justice) saw her after that, she would just get up and walk away, like: 'I'm not even going to fool with this little girl no more,'" he said.
After his family and basketball, pit bulls are his life. He relates to them. Guess it takes one to know one.

What good is the Ontario Pit bull Ban doing to stop attacks?

It's making a lot of sense that the Pit bull Ban is not solving the problem of vicious dog attacks, yet Michael Bryant still claims it has. I don't understand why he wants to remain blind to the fact that it's irresponsible owners allowing their dogs at large.
In this news article alone, it states these same two dogs have killed and terrorized the neighborhood. Yet look at the penalty they are asking for these dogs, "What we need is stiffer fines for them."
They never stated how the Pit bull dog fared that was attacked, but had these same two dogs have been of the Pit bull Breeds, they would have been put on a Destroy Order.
And if I haven't repeated myself enough with this statement, where are the irresponsible owners? This terrorizing has been taken place for at least 2 years and yet the owner(s) are still allowing them at large. Why wasn't anything done to the owners from the previous years?
How many articles must we read where prior attacks were made to pets, children or adults, and nothing was done about it? Why do headlines happen after several attacks when more pets have been mauled or killed or in the case of Donna Trempe's daughter, Courtney who was killed by a dog, again not a Pit bull breed?
When owners allow their dogs to roam, especially after they have shown aggressive tendencies, why isn't more being done to get these owners? They are not responsible to have dogs and shouldn't be allowed, since they can not properly maintain, contain and train their dogs responsibly.
I wonder...if they had to 'follow these dogs home', did that mean they weren't licensed? One quick phone call tells you who these dogs belong to and where they live.
Why does our Ontario Health Minister, Michael Bryant not see the real problem here...or is it he does not WANT to view this as a problem? Ask him and he will tell you bite attacks have come down. Well, these victims sure don't think so and statistics show him wrong, yet he keeps denying it.
We have a dog bite problem and that's obvious, but a bandaid solution by banning all Pit bulls is NOT the solution. Going after irresponsible owners of ALL breeds is a good start. Read this story and ask yourself, How is the Pit bull Ban solving dog attacks in Ontario and making it a safer place to live?

Toughen up bylaws Weekend dog attack in Port Colborne leads call for tougher animal control policies
By ALLAN BENNER, Welland Tribune Staff Local News - Tuesday, March 07, 2006 @ 09:00

Eric Arenburg ran outside Saturday to find Freddy, the familyÂ’s five-year-old dog, lying dead where heÂ’d been tied out that morning.The two dogs that had apparently killed the purebred pomeranian stood over his lifeless little body.It was a frantic telephone call from a neighbour across from their Cross Street home that alerted him to the trouble.
She was yelling on the phone, telling me to go out front, the 20-year-old recalled.But by the time he got to Freddys side and chased away the two mixed breed black labs, it was much too late.
He was torn almost in half, Eric told The Tribune. Eric grabbed a baseball bat and chased the dogs around the corner onto McRae Avenue.
He followed them for two blocks onto Johnson Street where they attacked a second dog a little pit bull. While continuing his pursuit of the dogs, Eric yelled to the pit bull owners to call the police.
The dogs led Eric to their home on Johnson Street, but their owner wasn't home. Instead, a neighbour put the dogs in his garage.
Eric loved that dog, he said, but it was even more precious to his mother Edie.
He was my baby, she cried. I know that sounds really silly, but to me that's what he was. Every move I made he was at my heels, as soon as I moved on the couch, he was at my feet. When I got out of bed in the morning, he was right there shaking and waiting for me. He's going to be missed a great deal.
Freddy was tied out that morning just as he had been everyday since since he came to live with the family about four years ago. The family always kept him on his leash, trying to keep him safe. The fact that Freddy died so violently despite their efforts left Edie speechless.
Words can't describe the feeling, she said. It's not the first time the dogs had been terrorizing the neighbourhood.
They have killed at least one other dog that I know of, Edie said. And they attacked my dog two years ago. At that time, she said a friend was walking him along the road when the same two dogs attacked him. She's seen the same two dogs running loose many times since.
When I went over and found out where they were living, three or four of the neighbours came out and were complaining about the dogs too, Eric added.
They couldn't let their dogs out because these dogs would attack them.
As of Monday afternoon, the dogs were being held at the humane society's Port Colborne shelter. And Edie hopes that's where they remain.
They'd better not be set free again, she warned.Welland and District Humane Society manager Ted Bettle said the humane society is limited in determining penalties by municipal bylaws. And they've been lobbying to add some teeth to Port's animal control policies.
In fact, we are in the process of looking at the bylaw structure in Port Colborne to add some severity to it, Bettle said adding the dog attack Saturday will likely help the humane society's efforts to do that.
I think this incident would certainly help that process, he said.Port Colborne's director of community and corporate services, Peter Senese, agreed that the city's animal control bylaws could stand for some improvement.
What they do need are stiffer fines on them, Senese said. Over the next few months we're going to be working with the humane society in reviewing our bylaw. If there's anything there they feel we could provide more to that would help them do their job easier and better, then we would probably look at considering those and bringing any amendments to the bylaw to council at that time.
As of Monday afternoon, investigators still hadn't made contact with the owner. And since the investigation was ongoing Bettle couldn't delve into much more detail such as releasing the name of the dogs owner. Still, Bettle was confident charges would be levied against the owner.
A muzzle order and fines are pending, said Bettle. While dog attacks of that severity don't happen very often, Bettle said it's the same sort of situation that can result in injuries to people especially children who might try to break up the fight.
It's very unfortunate, he said. This is a rarity, and thank God it is, but obviously it happens.
It's ironic that the second dog that was attacked was a pit bull a breed of dog that was the topic of the province's recent viscous dog legislation.
It makes a good point, Bettle said. This legislation should have covered this circumstance as well, not just the breed. That's what we were hoping it would do, but unfortunately the provincial government never followed through with any suggestions from any of the humane society's or the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
For Edie, the tragic loss of her companion is something she never wants to have to bear again. That's it for me, no more pets. I can't do this, she said. I can't go through this again. It's like losing one of my family members. It just breaks your heart.

FACT NOT FEAR stoptheban.ca

FACT NOT FEAR

stoptheban.ca

Together we can STOP Ontario's pitbull ban.

By showing strength in numbers and keeping the fight alive, we can make reversing the pitbull ban an election issue, save pitbulls and fight for our rights.

Visit stoptheban.ca and

REGISTER YOUR OPPOSITIONS.

Make sure your family, friends, neighbours and others who

OPPOSE THE PITBULL BAN

visit the site so they can be counted.

STAND UP NOW FOR PITBULLS.

For dog's sake. For democracy sake.

Don't roll over for BAD LAW.

FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS.

Don't be muzzled,

SPREAD THE WORD.

Stay connected. Stay in touch.

Register your opposition today!

stoptheban.ca

BAN Dog and Cat Fur

I'm sure we've all seen them, but never given a second thought to what they were made of. I personally didn't think they were actually made from real fur and now the thought discusts me. I've bought catnip mice that seem so life like...now I wonder, did they come from man's best friends? A kitty toy made from real kitty? Before I buy another item, I'm going to have to see proof that it's synthetic.
Best Friends Forever:
Ban the Use of Dog and Cat Fur Says the Humane Society of Canada .
“… More than 15 million pets are ‘just one of the family’ in every community across Canada. If through a simple act of kindness, you have been rewarded by a contented purr, the gentle nuzzle of a cold nose, or listened to the gentle beat of their heart, then you know exactly what I’m talking about …” Michael O’Sullivan, Chairman & CEO, The Humane Society of Canada.
December 16, VANCOUVER - With the growing number of fur items being imported from China, The Humane Society of Canada is urging the federal government to following the example of other countries in banning the import of dog and cat fur. In the United States, The Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000 banned such imports with fines as high as $11,580 (US $10,000), and the 25 countries of the European Union are considering passing a similar law. Undercover investigations have documented the cruel slaughter of dogs and cats in China, and a recent report alleges that this practice may also be taking place in the Czech Republic.
Our undercover team purchased these miniature versions of dogs and cats which ranged in price from $2.99 to $7.99 (US $2.58 to US $6.90) and the sellers admitted the goods were imported from China. One store owner told us the items were made from feathers (clearly not the case), and another was vague and evasive about the type of fur used in its manufacture. Dog and cat fur is also used for trim in the manufacture of clothing, scarves, gloves and other accessories.
The willingness of the Chinese Government to distort the truth is once more underscored by the toxic spill that took place on December 13th of this year which affected the environment in China and downstream in Russian and the drinking water for more than 4 million people. For nearly a week after 100 tonnes of deadly benzene and nitrobenzene spilled into the Songhau River which in turn feeds into the Amur River in Russia, Chinese officials lied to their own people about the nature of the disaster.
The Canadian Government’s longstanding defence of Canada’s own fur trade and seal hunt means that politicians and civil servants have been reluctant to clamp down on this trade. China represents a huge consumer market for the business community at large, and as a result, many governments, including Canada, are unwilling to pick a fight with China over issues resulting in suffering for people and animals and damage to the environment.
This reluctance by Canadian politicians to take China to task for its failure to live up to its standing as a member of the international community is even more remarkable in the wake of SARS which was traced back to the horrific conditions in their wildlife markets; and avian bird flu which has also been traced back to the cruelty found in their animal markets. These two diseases alone caused enormous human and animal suffering and resulted in billions of dollars in lost revenues for the Canadian business community.
Government agencies in Canada also routinely fail to enforce the requirement that all imported goods bear labels identifying the country of origin and the materials used in the manufacture of each item. Even when labels are attached to the items exported from China there is no enforcement in that country to ensure that the information is truthful.
Forensic testing to determine the type of fur costs $100 per item (US $86) and there is a three month waiting period to get the results.
For more than 35 years, The Humane Society of Canada has worked in over 95 countries, and it has been our experience that no animal raised in captivity or killed in the wild ever suffers anything except a cruel death. Each year, the fur trade is directly responsible for the slaughter of tens of millions of dogs, cats, rabbits and wildlife.
Here’s how you can help with our consumer awareness campaign Best Friends Forever:
The best way to make sure your hard earned money doesn’t support this cruel trade is to make sure that you and your friends and family don’t buy fur of any kind
Many of these items are for sale in variety stores and import stores which are offering a wide range of other goods for sale. Ask to speak to the store owner or manager and politely tell him/her that until the fur items are removed from their shelves, you and your friends and family will be spending your money someplace else
Provide us with the name, address, telephone number and e mail address of any stores where you see these items for sale, so we can follow up with a letter of our own
Write to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 and tell him to do the right thing and join other civilized countries in passing a law to ban this cruel trade.

CONTACT: Al Hickey or Michael O'Sullivan by toll free 1-800-641-KIND or Michael on his cell phone (416) 876-9685 or at http://www.humanesociety.com/.
[For more than 17 years, Al Hickey was the Chief Executive of the BC SPCA and before that headed up the Alberta and BC Chambers of Commerce, and the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vancouver. He has 6 grandchildren.
A father with two children, and a houseful of dogs and cats, O'Sullivan has worked across Canada and in over 90 countries during the last 35 years helping people, animals and nature.]
The Humane Society of Canada works to protect dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, horses, livestock, lab animals, wildlife and the environment. We carry out hands on programs to help animals and nature, mount rescue operations, expose cruelty through hard hitting undercover investigations, work to pass laws to protect animals, fund non-invasive scientific research, support animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centres and spread the word about how to help animals and nature through humane education.
The Humane Society of Canada depends entirely on donations to support our programs to help animals and the environment. All donations are gratefully acknowledged with a receipt for income tax purposes. If you would like to support our educational campaigns please make a donation here.

There is a Petition at Pitbulljungle Blog where you can add your name. Please show your support against this appalling practice.

London's Bullie Fund Raiser Bowl-A-Thon

We just had our first London Legal Fund Raiser Bowl-A-Thon this past Sat. Feb. 25th and it was a huge success after everything was paid for..Our team, the 'BEND OVER BRYANTS!' received 5 firsts. One was for best team name, 2nd was for best T-Shirts, 3rd was for most pledges raised, and I can't remember the other two, but all had fun. We had raffles, silent auctions, the Save Taco fund, and lots of bullie t-shirts, scarves, pins, magnets, bracelets, etc. and lots of team spirit in the bowling and cheering department.

'BEND OVER BRYANTS!'

I was coach and cheerleader of our group since I couldn't play because of the balls being to heavy for me to pick up. But I made sure everyone on our team saw Michael Bryants face on those pins and told them they had the balls, so go knock him down for all he's worth. The whole place was filled with excitement and enjoyed by everyone. I even had fun pretending the bank machine was the slots and said look at this, I simply put in my card and win money EVERY time!!!

Rogers TV was there video taping and interviewing. I wore Shasta's collar as you can see in the picture, and brought a framed picture of her for luck. After I was interviewed and made sure they took some shots of our team, they told us it would be aired on Monday. This was the very first time I've been interviewed where I wasn't nervous. Shasta has brought me out of sooo many phobias.

When we weren't aired on Monday, I emailed and so did a lot of other people to find out why. We received a lot of excuses, but they were not aware how such friendly spirited people they had met at the Fund Raiser were also used to fighting tooth and nail all the way for the cause. We are programed to be on 5 and 5:30 PM tomorrow.