Positively Pit

It was about -40 C and Noella Mitchell lay helpless on the handicap ramp leading up to her home. She'd soon be staring into the eyes of a pit bull and thinking she was about to die. The 42-year-old woman, who has Graves' disease, which causes muscular weakness, wasn't able to get up.

Her cries for help went unheard, except by Cloe, her son's friend's pit bull, which somehow got out of the house.

"When I saw her I thought I was dead," said Mitchell.

But to Mitchell's surprise, Cloe began licking her face and trying to bring attention to her fall. "She sat there beside me, howling and barking."

At one point the desperate dog tried to pull Mitchell inside. Finally, her son's friend came home.

Ontario has become the first province to ban pit bulls. And Mitchell said she used to lock up the dog, but "I will never lock her up again."

Current pit bull owners will be able to keep their dogs as long as they're neutered, and muzzled and leashed outside.

PIT BULL owner Mandy Holmes is proud as punch of her pooch and she wants everyone to know that he is her hero. The Cobourg woman said her 10-month-old puppy -- a chocolate-coloured American Staffordshire terrier named Chevy -- came to her rescue recently when she fell in her home and knocked herself out.

"I passed out, smashed my head and went into convulsions," the 24-year-old said. "She ran upstairs to get my boyfriend, then sat on my back to keep me warm and was licking my face when I came to."

Holmes, who had been sick with the flu and hadn't been able to keep any food down leading up to the Feb. 15 accident, said she was getting ready for work when she suddenly felt "dizzy" and collapsed at the foot of the stairs, hitting her head on the bottom step.

She said she believes Chevy realized that she was in distress and ran upstairs for help.

"I was laying on the bed when she jumped up on me, barking at me and licking me to get my attention," said Holmes' boyfriend, Jeremy Kelly, 23.

NO BETTER DOG

Kelly followed the dog and found Holmes lying at the bottom of the stairs. He called 911 and Holmes was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. She was released a few hours later with a big bump on her forehead and a possible concussion but no serious injuries.

"I couldn't ask for a better dog," Kelly said.

Tired of all the negative news about the notorious dogs, she decided to share her tale.

Summary of the December, 1997 Dog Fancy magazine: "$30 Million Sniffer Nabs Smugglers"

"Taylor, a 4-year old pit bull mix, shows a real knack for his job. In his first two years on the job, he has sniffed out more than $30 million worth of narcotics...Out of more than 100 dogs in the San Diego [CA, USA] district K-9 unit, Taylor ranks as a top performer."

"He's a little ball of fire" says U.S. Customs officer J.J. Trevino of Popsicle (Receiving a significant Seizure medal in March)

During an arrest two years ago, Buffalo policeman Ron Clark, Jr. opened an abandoned freezer on a known drug dealer's back porch and found a bulging black garbage bag. "I poked my flashlight at it," he recalls, "and it started moving. My worst fear was that it was a baby."
In fact, it was a puppy, a pit bull who would be known as Popsicle and -- in a lovely ironic twist-- would gain fame for sniffing out the kind of bad guy that nearly killed him.

One year ago, Popsicle helped the feds seize 3,075 pounds of cocaine from a pineapple-laden truck at the Mexican border-the biggest drug bust ever at the Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry. "It's astounding the obstacles this dog has overcome," says US Customs Service Commissioner Raymond W. Kelley.

When Popsicle regained his strength, the shelter contacted US Customs canine-enforcement officer Sally Barr. It was a long shot, but maybe he would qualify for the dog training school in Front Royal, VA.

Of 500 dogs Barr has tested in the last three years, only 4 have made the cut. "You want a dog that plays a terrific tug-of-war," says Barr. Popsicle did, and in February 1998 he graduated at the top of his class and became a celebrated alumnus two months later by detecting the record contraband cache under a tractor-trailer.

"You have to imagine him," says US Customs canine handler J.J. Trevino ,"on his hind legs, barking, trying to reach up to the bottom of the truck."

A Pit bull named Blueberry is credited with saving her owner from two armed attackers. Authorities in Indiana, say the dog pounced on the intruders as they opened fire, Blueberrys legs and jaw were broken but she kept up the attack. The intruders fled and at last word, were still on the loose.

Veterinarians at Perdue University were able to patch up Blueberry. They also say her unborn puppies are going to be ok.

Good thing Gaston County, North Carolina doesn't have a ban on pit bulls, or this man wouldn't be alive this morning.

Steve Carpacca, 41, was asleep in his mobile home at 3:15am when his pit bull ran into the bedroom and started barking frantically.

The man awoke to a room filled with smoke and immediately ran outside. When he realized that his dog had not followed him, he rushed back into the blazing trailer, armed with two 5-pound fire extinguishers, but the fire was already out of control.

Four fire departments responded to the call, and it took a total of 15 firefighters to douse the flames. The dog never made it out; fire crews found the little hero's body in the hall just outside Mr. Carpacca's bedroom.

"The dog saved his life, absolutely," said Chief Dicky Harris with the Community Volunteer Fire Department. "If the dog hadn't been in the house, [Mr. Carpacca] would have been overcome by smoke."

It is believed that the fire was caused by an electric heater in the kitchen. Mr. Carpacca never heard any of the smoke detectors sound.

The front page headlines in the May 3rd, 2005 edition of Metro Toronto writes "PRIZED POOCH Hershey, a pit bull who was abused by a breeder and is now a St .John Ambulance therapy dog, gets a hug from Jennifer Waite yesterday after receiving an award from the Toronto Humane Society at a ceremony launching Be Kind to Animal Week.
In Toronto's 24 hours magazine the story goes into more detail with the head lines, "Awards celebrate bond between people and pets"
The article reads, 'When the Kyser family adopted a dog from the Toronto Humane Society, they couldn't have known they'd bring him back one day to receive a metal.
Hershey, a pit bull who was rescued from an abusive breeder received a metal for his work as therapy animals.

When the deadly cottonmouth snake struck out at "her" children, Dixie never hesitated. The dog pushed the children aside, putting her 50-pound body between them and the snake. Dixie saved Frank Humphries, 9, and his 7-year-old twin siblings, Katie and Codi. But the venomous snake inflicted two bites on the face of the 16-month-old dog.

Valerie Humphries of Fayetteville, Ga., -- the children's mother and Dixie's co-owner -- killed the snake with an ax and rushed the dog to veterinarian Francoise Tyler. "Seeing Dixie's unconscious body in the arms of that doctor was one of the worst things I've ever been through," Humphries said. "Dr. Tyler had to keep her for several days, hooked up to intravenous antibiotics."

Then the vet nominated Dixie for the Hero Dog category in a contest sponsored by the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. Dixie won over 300 nominated dogs and this month is being inducted into the Georgia Animal Hall of Fame.

JOHN WAYNE JOINS RECON BATTALION
author: USMC
source: United States Marine Corps

CAMP SCHWAB, Okinawa
Japan -- Rhythmic, booming taps occupy the air of the 5th Force Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division's main office hallway as a large creature makes its way to the Training and Operations Office.

Its body is covered with black, coarse hair on top with a sharp white blotch on its chest. He weighs 95 pounds and exudes confidence.

This animal is known throughout the base as Private First Class "Big Duke Six," 5th Force Reconnaissance Battalion's pit bull mascot.

Duke, respectfully named after John Wayne, is four years old and has been with the unit since May 1999. "We believe he was a Japanese fighting dog before we picked him up at the [kennel]," said Gunnery Sgt. James B.Smith, training chief and caretaker for Duke.

"He was originally the platoon mascot for 1st platoon, Company A. He picks up his official orders as the battalion mascot this week."

The Duke's daily routine is almost equal to a reconnaissance Marine's schedule. "He'll run physical training with us and go the whole three miles," said Smith. "He'll even sit out in front of theoffice and wait for another platoon to run by, [and] chase some units down the road."

With all of the exposure to different Marines each day, Duke tries to mimic humans.

"He'll sit in chairs, thinking he's a person," said Smith. "He even sleeps on a cot at night." With Duke's new billet as battalion mascot, new things await him. "We're building him a six-foot wide, seven-foot tall and eight-foot deep doghouse," said Smith.

"We're even putting a love seat in it which he likes to sit on." Duke may have his comical moments, but still stands as a pillar of pride for the battalion.

"He's a very loyal dog," said Smith. "If you mess with him, he'll align you."

K 9 TO 5 : AT WORK WITH THE SEARCH AND RESCUE PITS
source: Kris Crawford, http://www.forpitssake.org/

It's very late and I climb into bed. A few minutes later, Cheyenne takes her spot at the foot of the bed, then Dakota. We fall fast asleep. Then, at 3:30 in the morning, it happens - beep, beep, beep, beep. It's my pager. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and try to focus on the message scrolling across the screen. "Wilderness Search . . . County # 209. . . Missing Adult Female."

I roll out of bed and call the dispatcher to get the details. It's a 29 year old mother of two named Jennifer that's been missing for 6 days. Dakota is already waiting at the door. I put my uniform on, grab my radio and pack, and Dakota and I are out the door. We arrive at the command post and are given our assignment.

As I unload my dog, one of the Sheriff's deputies says, "Hey, is that a Pit Bull?" "Yes Sir it is," I proudly say with a smile (this happens every time).

"I didn't know they can be search dogs?" he said. I tell him that they are perfect for search work. They are strong and athletic which helps them get through the roughest terrain. They have very good drive which keeps them focused on what they are doing. They can work for hours, and they LOVE people. As Dakota and I are being transported to our search area, I tell him about the time when we were doing a mock search for some boy scouts hiding in a State Park. The two boys were hidden in some bushes about 20 yards on the other side of a barbed wire fence.

Three teams got to search for the boys before it was our turn. All three dogs that went ahead of us (a German Shepherd, Golden Retriever, and a Labrador) stopped at the fence and waited for their handlers to make an opening for them to get through. Then it was Dakota's turn, she caught their scent almost immediately. I saw her running towards the fence. She stopped and tried to find an opening in the fence but couldn't.

Next thing I knew, she pushed her way through that fence to get to the boys. Seventeen stitches later and she wanted to go again! We arrive at our search area and I deploy Dakota. She takes off searching the wind for human scent. "Wow, look at her go!" the Deputy says as he watches her work. After about 45 minutes we start hitting some very steep and rugged terrain with extremely dense brush. I tell the Deputy that I would like to go down and search along the creek. " If you think you can get down there, go ahead, but I know I can't so you are on your own if you do." I wanted to search down by the creek because it had been extremely hot all week and I figured the subject would've tried to find water. So I put Dakota's harness on her, hooked her to my rope and we rappelled down to the water.

The brush was so dense by the side of the creek that we couldn't walk along the sides, so we had to walk in the creek. I was waist high in water and Dakota was swimming in front of me. We went about 80 yards and then I started thinking that it was too hard for someone to get down here, we may as well go back up.

Just then, Dakota takes off down the creek and around a bend. About 3 minutes later she came back alerting that she has found someone! I went around the bend and there, by the side of the creek, is a woman laying on a large rock. She is dead. I call in that we have made a find. I pat Dakota on the head, "Good dog, Dakota..good dog." I am still trembling as I sit there with Dakota. I try not to focus on how awful it was to find the woman that way. With tears in my eyes, I think about the family and how horrible this is for them.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to find her alive, but we did find her. They won't always be wondering where Jennifer is. They now have closure. Still holding Dakota, I think back two years to the day when I went to join the search dog organization.

My dogs were out in the car and it was my turn to introduce myself. "My name is Kris and I have an American Staffordshire Terrier and an American Pit Bull Terrier." Everyone gasped. One woman yelled, "We don't allow Pit Bulls!" Everyone in the room started talking. I told them that I was honestly surprised to get this type of reaction from an organization that is run by "dog people" who should know that a dog's behavior is based on how it is raised, not by what type of breed it is.

The Board called the session to order and they would vote on whether we should be allowed to join. We got in by one vote. The following week we went to our first workout, nobody would hide for us. "The Pit Bull might attack me when she finds me!" Very few people would even talk to me. After a couple weeks of this, I realized I would have to do it on my own.

I also realized that we would have to be 10 times better than everyone else to be considered an equal. I found some people who would work with us. We trained every day. Dakota loved the work. She would go get me her vest every chance she could. In the meantime, we kept showing up to the workouts.

After about 10 months, I found someone at one of the workouts to hide for us. Everyone wanted to watch. I deployed Dakota. They stood there silently as they watched Dakota search for the scent, locate the subject, come back and tell me she had found the subject, and then take me to the subject. "Dang, she's good!" I heard someone say. One of the evaluators even let Dakota play with her dog! From that point on we were accepted.

Becoming a search dog handler takes a lot of hard work. You must be prepared to train in all kinds of weather, day and night. You must go through briars, brambles and terrain a rabbit would avoid. You must attend first aid classes for several hours per week in addition to your dog training schedule. You will work, work harder and then work some more. You must learn to become persistent.

Persistence is an attribute search dog handlers must have. When others are ready to quit on a search, you must carry on until all probable areas have been covered. Even your dog must be persistent and willing to work in the worst weather and terrain. "Quit" is not a word in the search dog handler's vocabulary.

Once operational and ready for actual missions, you will learn that the training was easy compared to the real thing. There is pressure -- lots of it. The family is counting on you; the agency is assessing you; the media is questioning you; the victim is needing you. You are involved in a life or death situation.

The Deputy thanked us and we packed up our gear and headed home. A few days later, I had a few friends over having cake while we were celebrating one of their birthdays. When suddenly . . . beep, beep, beep, beep. "Wilderness Search . . . County # 243 . . . Missing 81Year Old Male Alzheimer's Patient.." I look up and Dakota is waiting by the door. "Good dog, Dakota . . . good dog.

Pit bull a hero in Holly Hill home fire

The dog, who's lived with her more than two years, helped save both Tollison and her sister from a fire that erupted early last Wednesday in her Pine Ridge Road home.

Tollison says she calls Buddy her "56-pound Chihuahua" because he acts more like timid lap dog than a dog that's known as a fighting breed. The morning of the fire, Tollison says, she woke up at 4:30 a.m. to see off Pete Blount, who shares the house with her, as he headed for work. Then she went back to bed.

Barely half an hour later, she says, she awoke and smelled smoke. She quickly explored the house and discovered the fire already ablaze in Blount's bedroom. She ran to wake up her sister, Jane Ellol, who was visiting from Connecticut, and ran outside.

Buddy followed her. Then, Buddy ran back inside and straight to Ellol's bedroom, where she was still struggling to get out. Tollison says Ellol has arthritis and can't move very quickly when she first gets up. Then, she became disoriented in the unfamiliar house, in the smoke.

"He was whining real loud in her room for her. He was with her the whole time. I ran back in and when I got a hold of her, I pulled her out the door. She said she felt like a wet noodle. He came out right behind her," Tollison says.

While she says she doesn't remember exactly what woke her up and saved their lives that morning, she's convinced it was Buddy because there was no other noise in the house.

"He kind of aroused me, that's the only thing I can think of that got me up," she says.

Once he'd gotten the family out, Tollison said, Buddy ran down the road, clearly terrified, and disappeared.

She called Blount, who returned from work as the firemen were dousing the fire in the house and they both frantically looked for Buddy, but they couldn't find him.

About five hours later, she recalls, a sheriff's car approached and she somehow knew Buddy was inside before she could even see the dog.

Volusia County sheriff's deputy Richard Hansard had searched for the dog in the neighborhood and then driven to the Halifax Humane Society to look for the animal. As it happens, someone in the area had picked up Buddy and taken him to the shelter. Because Buddy had the required license and tags, the shelter was able to identify the dog they had in custody and turn him over to Hansard, who took Buddy back home to his very grateful family, Tollison said.

Sheriff's spokesman Gary Davidson said Hansard has been recommended for a citation for going beyond the call of duty in finding and returning Buddy.

Tollison said it will take 10 weeks to make the house livable again. Meanwhile, she's living in an apartment and Buddy is living in an Ormond Beach boarding kennel. And, she says, when they do get back home, Buddy will be treated like the hero she's sure he is.

"I'm going to get him a jeweled collar and just treat him like royalty," she said.

A LITTLE over five years ago, my husband and I heard of this "loser" dog needing a home, loser because he was a pitbull that 'wouldn't fight!' We had two dogs at the time, a Rottie and an Amstaff, so we weren't looking for another dog, but something made us call these people to find out about Norton. The owner said thanks but they'd already found a home for him.

Two days later we got a call from this person saying Norton had been returned and would we like to see him. We loaded our dogs into the car and told ourselves that we were just going to look but it would be a good idea to see if there was a chance all the dogs would get along. I won't go into the horror we saw or the condition that Norton was in but we knew immediately that we couldn't leave this 6-month-old pup there.

His scars weren't just physical, he suffered from severe separation anxiety as well. Norton could not be left alone, he would eat his way out of any enclosure or room he was left in. He had to be with people or he panicked. We were lucky enough to be able to have my husband take him to work every day but on the rare occasion we had to leave him alone he had to be heavily tranquilized. We tried all sorts of training and meds but nothing worked.

We resigned ourselves to the fact that wherever we went, Norton came too, then tragedy struck. Our Amstaff, Hillary, passed away. We were devastated, but it was worse for Norton - he lost a very important member of his pack. The separation anxiety got worse, he followed us everywhere.

Maybe a pup would be good for him and make him feel he had a larger pack to depend on. Little did I know that we would lose our rottie three weeks after our perfect Haley came to live with us. I'm so grateful that we found Haley, she filled my aching heart with love and Norton's life with joy.

You could see the love of life in his eyes for the first time. He had a true companion.

During all of this our city passed a bylaw restricting pitbulls but allowing pedigreed Amstaffs (go figure!). We would be allowed to keep Norton if he could pass a 'Good Citizenship' test (same as a temperament test). Norton may have his problems but temperament isn't one of them, he passed with flying colours, after all, we were there so he felt safe. He was 'grandfathered' and the only restriction is that he had to wear a large tag saying "restricted" on it. Oh, he also had to be neutered and microchipped but we had already done that when we got him.

While I was in the bathroom I was bitten by a spider. I was on medication at the time and it inhibited my body from producing any antihistamines, so I went into anaphylactic shock. My throat closed and I got very light headed, I felt like I was being put under anesethic. I couldn't make it out of the bathroom and I couldn't make a sound. For some unknown reason, Norton got up from his bed in the closet and went over to my sleeping husband and kept pushing him with him nose until Barrie woke up.

When Barrie saw how upset Norton was and that I wasn't there he went looking for me and found me almost unconscious. He called the paramedics and by the time they arrived I had stopped breathing. I spent two days in intensive care and a week at home recovering from a simple non-poisonous bite.

The Toronto Humane Society also honoured him in May, he received another medal and a gift certificate for a month's worth of treats. Of course he shares with Haley, he literally allows her to take food out of his mouth.

As for his breeding, I don't have a pedigree for him so who knows, all I know is that he's my hero and I owe him my life. Time, love, and Haley have done wonders for his separation anxiety, we can now leave him home with Haley for 4 or 5 hours without causing him stress and it's getting longer all the time.

Life without Norton? I don't want to even think about it. When the time comes I'll deal with it the best I can, but until then I spend every day loving him. Everyday is a precious gift he gave me.

Posted on Sat, Nov. 08, 2003
CORAL SPRINGS

A pit bull may have saved a 7-year-old Coral Springs boy from serious injury after two other dogs attacked the boy.

Anthony Romaro got the scare of his life Wednesday night when two Akita dogs, each weighing about 100 pounds, attacked him near his best friend's home in Coral Springs.

But another kind of dog -- a type also known for vicious attacks -- may have saved the boy from more serious injuries.

Witnesses said a 2-year-old pit bull named Missy played the part of hero during the attack.

Missy, witnesses say, pulled the two Akitas -- Cella and Baci -- off Anthony after several struggles during a 15-minute span.

Anthony, a 7-year-old Hunt Elementary School second-grader, is recovering after surgery at Coral Springs Medical Center. The dogs ripped much of Anthony's left ear and bit his skull before Missy fought them off of him, said Anthony's mother, Stephanie McGuire.

Missy suffered scrapes and cuts on the shoulders and buttocks, received a few stitches, and is back home.

''Missy saved the day,'' said her owner, Scott , who asked that The Herald not publish his last name. ``She just went out there and broke the fight up.''

Coral Springs police cited Sandra Ashley, the owner of the Akitas, for not putting a leash on the dogs, not attaching dog tags, not having proper rabies vaccinations and for biting Anthony. The fines are more than $800.

McGuire, who is friends with Ashley, hasn't decided whether to press charges.

The two Akitas are at the Broward County Animal Care and Regulation Division as Coral Springs police complete a dangerous-dog investigation, said animal care spokesman Allan Siegel.

Whether or not Anthony antagonized the dogs, and how the dogs got loose, are among the issues police are investigating.

If the Akitas are found to be dangerous, one of three things could happen, Siegel said. The owner may keep the dogs if she meets certain requirements, such as muzzling them when she leaves the home, and putting a dangerous-dog sign on the property. She may also appeal the decision, or surrender the dogs and have them euthanized.

Police and witnesses said Anthony and some friends were outside Ashley's home when the dogs escaped just before 7 p.m. Wednesday.

''The dogs got out of the house,'' said Sgt. Rich Nicorvo of the Coral Springs Police Department. ``They bit him pretty bad.''

Scott, the pit bull's owner who lives next door, was drinking coffee outside his house when the attack started. He handed another witness a metal pipe to get the Akitas off Anthony.

The unidentified person used the pipe to hit the dogs, but they continued attacking.

''They were really mauling him,'' said Scott, whose son, James, is Anthony's best friend.

Scott then let Missy out of the house to break up the fight. Police did not document any information about the pit bull.

Akitas have been known to attack humans. Last month, doctors euthanized an Akita owned by Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor after the dog bit 15-year-old Jonathon Raof on the arms and legs.

The Akita Club of America Web site states the dogs have ''complex'' personalities and, while intelligent and loyal, can ''exhibit aggressive tendencies,'' though not necessarily toward people.

A three-year-old pit bull named Marley is credited with saving a little girl in Alaska from a house fire in early December.

Marley, a black and white dog who looks like Pete from the Little Rascals television show, grabbed the back of six-year-old Autumn Marley's jacket to drag her out of the burning house.

Autumn alerted her mother who was cooking dinner that the entryway to the house was on fire. Julie Marley then forced open a seldom used back door so she and her two daughters could escape the fire.

As Ms. Marley left the house she turned to see Marley the dog pulling Autumn through the door to safety.

Jennifer Ingram, Marley's guardian, said that, "She's always been an awesome dog, but I didn't know she was capable of doing this." Ingram has raised Marley from a puppy.

Ms. Ingram was out shopping for Christmas presents when the fire broke out and arrived home to find Marley running loose in the midst of all the firefighters and bystanders.

She planned to take Marley to the vet to treat frostbite on her feet from being out in the snow.

Thanks to Autumn and Marley no one was injured in the fire, although the house was a total loss.

The Red Cross set up a place for the Marley family to stay, while Ms. Ingram and Marley the dog are staying with a friend.

Dog holds slaying suspect for police

A pet pit bull pursued a man who allegedly stabbed a woman to death Monday morning and held him by the ankle in a Person Street yard until police arrived, homicide detectives reported.

"The dog deserves a medal," said Capt. Charles T. Fieramusca, chief of the Homicide Bureau. "We'll take any help we can get."

James Webster, 37, of 213 Goodyear Ave. was charged with second-degree murder and weapons possession.

Webster is accused of fatally stabbing his 35 year old girlfriend, Linda Abernathy, who shared the same address on Goodyear, according to police.

The stabbing occurred shortly after midnight in the lower apartment of Ms. Abernathy's daughter-Gaynell Rose, 19, who lives on Person Street.

Ms. Abernathy was taken to Erie County Medical center for treatment of a stab wound to the upper right chest. She was pronounced dead at 12:54 am.

An argument between Webster and Ms. Abernathy sparked the killing and lasted a matter of minutes, witnesses told police.

"It happened very quickly," Fieramusca said. "But once the stabbing occurred, the boyfriend of the daughter let his pit bull loose after the suspect."

Webster had already tried to flee the apartment once, according to police, but the dog grabbed him by the leg and managed to momentarily detain him. "He (Webster) broke free and ran into a nearby yard where the dog caught up with him, grabbed him by the ankle and held him," Fieramusca said.

When Broadway Station Officers Mihael Ty and James Maroney arrived, the pit bull and Ms. Rose's boyfriend were holding Webster.

Police took Webster to Sheehan Memorial Hospital where he was treated for a dog bite to the left ankle. A four inch buck knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered by police in a yard on Persons Street.

Neville

Stouffville, Ontario, Canada (Pit bull Banned Province)

Remember Neville? He PROVED Michael Bryant and the Liberals WRONG!

Ontario lost a hero when they lost Neville. Read the story in the Toronto Sun.

Fri, February 24, 2006

Incredible journey
By THANE BURNETT

Neville was an outlaw. A Canadian with a bad rep, caught on the run and sentenced to death.

This, then, is the reckoning and transformation that followed -- from top on a most-unwanted list to becoming a cop on the front lines of counterterrorism at a U.S. port.

Last summer Neville the pit bull escaped from his Stouffville owners. The tan two-year-old dog was scooped up by a canine patrol and taken to the nearby Georgina animal shelter. Faced with looming anti-pit bull legislation across the province, his owners phoned to say they wouldn't post Neville's bail. He was on his own, though they had to know that decision might have meant an execution.

"But he was a great dog -- a great disposition and extremely playful," recalls shelter supervisor Angie Closs.
He stayed at the shelter for a month, as staff scrambled to find him a place.

What followed was a 4,248- km chain of human kindness, that shuttled -- by hand, by car and by plane -- the convict canine through the U.S.-Canada border and across a country.

The shelter contacted Toronto-based Bullies in Need, a pit bull rescue squad which has organized -- since the province passed its tough legislation on the breed a year ago -- at least a dozen flights of freedom for the much damned dogs. All have come from shelters and faced being put down.

Sharon Hewitt, a co-director of the organization, says Neville's great escape has become pet legend -- proof that a province's outcast can become a nation's hero.

"And there are more like him out there," she says.

Bullies in Need organized a volunteer to drive Neville across the border into Buffalo. There, another local shelter put him up until more volunteers arranged for a flight west.

Strangers bent rules on how long they could keep a stray. They neutered him at their own cost and paid for his flight.

He stayed with a foster family before the mild-mannered mutt was passed over to Diane Jessop, a former animal control officer who runs Lawdogs, a Washington State outfit which finds police work for outcast dogs.

With her help, Neville was deputized by the Washington State Patrol. He now screens more than 300 cars a day on the Washington State Ferry system, looking for explosives.

He's this month's coverboy for a national canine magazine.

He has as many web fan sites as some TV celebrities.

On her own web site, Jessop has a special thanks for Ontario -- "or kicking out such an awesome dog."

She writes: "Neville is now protecting homeland security for America. I'd say the joke is on (Ontario)."

On the line from her home in Olympia, Wash., the 46-year-old dog lover vents: "These bans are modern-day witch hunts. Do you think the most respected law enforcement agency in the state would be working with these dogs, daily around the public, if they were a threat?

"They should be judged by their ability, not the breed."

She recently tried to train a rescued pit bull from B.C., but the pampered West Coast pooch was too laid back to care much about finding contraband or bombs.

But Neville is the perfect cop, and after thousands of dollars worth of training he now wears a silver badge over his heart.

For 17 years, David Dixon was a state trooper, stopping speeders and looking out for drunk drivers. Then about seven months ago he was given a new mandate, and a new partner -- Canada's castoff.

Neville lives with David, his wife and their two other dogs -- Spencer the Lab and Gumby the beagle -- in a splendid home near Seattle. Off-shift, the pit bull has the run of the place and, says David, "lives the life of a king."
While on patrol, sniffing cars for explosives, Neville still believes he's playing -- looking for his favourite ball.
"He's always anxious to go to work," says David, as he prepares to do just that. "He's great with the public, and has the nickname 'Wiggles,' because his tail wags so much that's what his body does."

The regulars on the ferries all know Neville's name. They stop to shake his paw, and most can tell you the story of how the Canuck became an all-American pit bull hero.

"But I do have to say 'eh,' once in awhile to get his attention," the 42-year-old trooper offers.

Told Neville can't possibly know how far he's come -- and the effort it took to take him from death row to an honour roll -- his police handler disagrees.

"I think he's aware of a great deal -- knows where he's come from and likes where he's now at," says David.
They said he was bad to the bone and could never be trusted.

But Neville -- the dog gone good -- proved Ontario wrong.

Neville can also be found on Dogster.

Shasta

How can I not include the dog that gave me back my life again and brought me back to the land of the living.

Prior to Shasta I had so many fears and phobias, not counting painful health conditions after an accident that had broken my neck in 1994. I wasn't living, but merely existing from one day to the next. I was afraid to go outside or talk to strangers. I'd open my door just slightly to make sure nobody was around and then quickly placed my hand into the mailbox, grab the contents and just as quickly close the door shut. My heart pounding so hard, I could feel it right through my head.

I couldn't barely care for myself and eventually got to the point, that I really didn't care. It was too much of an effort and took all the exertion my body could handle. My family tried to encourage me to take a bath and change my clothes. I couldn't tell if a day had passed or two or three weeks. I was exhausted, yet I did nothing. Some of my flares lasted up to 11 months, but to me, I had no idea of time frame and I was a recluse.

Years went on like this. I felt like a heavy burden to my husband who had to pay for all my medication. I felt like a failure to my children as I had always prided myself to be the best mommy ever. I was so independent before the accident and now I couldn't do anything on my own. I couldn't even remember if I had eaten that day or that week.

Time passed, the children now young adults had moved out into lives of their own and the feeling of them not needing me as they used to made me feel even more worthless. My hubby and I were not getting along and I lived surrounded with walls keeping me a prisoner in my own home.

I did something so brave for me at that time and moved into a small apartment alone with my pets that had been part of the family since the children were still very young. They were my family now and I took care of them as if they were my children when they were young, yet when I needed something, I couldn't go or do anything on my own. Friends and the kids offered and helped me, but things didn't get done during times that I was having a 'good' day.

My animal family, now in their 20's were finally leaving me too to their final resting place and I was heartbroken and empty.

Shasta changed all that. She got me slowly out of a couple of my phobias. She slowly got me outside (not very far at first), but gradually we went further and further. I even met strangers and because the talks were about the pup, I found it easier and easier and began to enjoy going out with Shasta and seeing people again. She had gotten me walking further than I had walked in all those years and we even walked to the stores together.

I trained her for my disabilities and she was just as happy to take on a new challenge as I was trying to invent them. She pulled a wagon by summer and a sled by winter and soon we were able to take the garbage out ourselves and even buy a few groceries together. I knew nothing then regarding Service Dogs.

The more people we came across, the more I learnt and found out that people with my conditions use Service Dogs to help make their lives easier. She certainly did that.

I didn't know how to make her into a Service Dog and at that same time, talks of BSL in Ontario was going strong. There didn't seem to be any answers when I contacted the government telling them I had an American Pit bull Terrier that I wanted to get certified.

It took 2 years longer that the answers finally came. Shasta passed her certificates and all the requirements. She now is a 'restricted' Certified Service Dog that has given me more independence that I've had in years. She's the part of me that doesn't work and together we are a team.

Because she is also a PSD dog that Alerts and Responds to my high anxiety to relax me should I take a panic attack, she knows how to calm me down quickly, but because she must wear a muzzle while in public, we are both restricted at that point as she can not do that part of her job with the muzzle on. Those days, we stay close to home rather than risk an attack, but as noted by my doctor, my attacks have decreased significantly with the assurance I have with Shasta by my side.

Hopefully the muzzles will come off and Shasta can do her job exactly as she should. All I know is that she has brought me out of a solitude life and has exposed me to a wonderful, secure and independent lifestyle once again with her at my side.

Chief

CHIEF, a four-year and six-month old American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) owned by Marlon Fronteras saved master’s wife and mother-in-law from a killer instinct of a Philippine Cobra. The Royale Pit Bull Club – Ancient Fraternal Order of the Pit Bulls, Inc. Cagayan de Oro City Chapter owed this dog its existence as he is coined as the “grandfather” of all Pit bulls in the area.

Between 2:00-3:00 in the afternoon, Liberata La Victoria and Maria Victoria Fronteras escaped death from the lethal attack by a cobra (“malaudto” in local dialect) in their house located in Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines.

The cobra entered the house through an unscreened portion of the fence, then to the kitchen where the door was left opened.

“The snake was in front of us maneuvering a deadly attack, and due to fearful reaction, I screamed out loud to ask for help. Chief with his sleeping area under our television set suddenly hurdled the dining table and land on our midst, covering us from the poisonous fangs of the snake.

“He was bitten at the left side of his lower jaw but despite of that he still managed to kill the cobra by biting it hard on the neck and through instinct, lock jawed using his sharp teeth, and slammed the snake repeatedly on the floor until it died

“After killing the cobra, Chief looked tired, fainted and slowly slouched flat on the floor spreading both arms and feet. Due to the proximity of the bite to his brain, the effect of the poisonous venom took only a few minutes. An exclusive Vet for Pit bulls was called up, but unfortunately she advised that it was too late to save the dog.

“I called-up my husband right away, and he (master of Chief) immediately went home to see what happened and he was stunned. The couple’s kids, son and daughter have been greatly affected by the passing out of Chief as they treated him as their “Kuya Chief.”

“He (Chief) lived for a few minutes, and until his last breath…….. waggled his tail and made a farewell gaze to his master who just arrived from work …… and died.”

We may have viewed the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) or otherwise known as “PIT BULL”, as a ferocious dog. A breed strongly discouraged in most countries and banned for their cruel looks and misconceptions created by the media. We never get the chance to know them more.

To think, some of these Hero's are already on the BANNED List and thankfully some escaped Ontario

POSITIVELY PIT

Pit bull a hero in Holly Hill home fire

Dog holds slaying suspect for police

Neville

Stouffville, Ontario, Canada (Pit bull Banned Province)

Remember Neville? He PROVED Michael Bryant and the Liberals WRONG!

Shasta

Chief