Harnessing the power of Pet Connection: Can you help?
By Dr. Tony Johnson
June 30, 2010
I am under two deadlines for this, so I will dispense with my usual shenanigans and get to the point.
About two weeks ago I treated two pit bulls, an intact male and female about 1-2 years old, at Purdue for fight wounds. This was not a “Sick Vick” type of dog fight, just plain old garden variety human stupidity. Their troglodyte owner left them in a cinderblock bunker with no food and water, and they did what animals in dire straits are prone to do: They fought over resources.
The female, whose original name was “Left Eye” has been re-dubbed Rosie for her pinkish nose and gentle disposition. The boy has hung onto his original moniker of Scarface, and after the events of two weeks ago it suits him.
They both needed surgery to repair wounds, and the female of the two had a broken jaw that has to heal on its own due to a lack of funds for strays from the county. (Purdue did all it could to keep costs down and wrote off a large portion of the fees). Luckily they are healing well and eating with no visible lasting after effects.
Here is the urgent part: The local animal control agency, straining under the load of too many housed animals and looking to make room for the inevitable flood of strays after 4th of July wants them moved to the shelter — where they will almost certainly be killed.
I am afraid I don’t have time to dwell on the particular rights or wrongs of how animal control handles traffic, and the honest truth is I don’t really understand it myself. I am only putting out a net and hoping to catch a few kind souls with an extra bedroom who live in the Midwest.
These two dogs, both excellent with people but not to be trusted with other pets, are in imminent danger.
They are in Lafayette, Indiana. If anyone out there within the sound of my typing knows anyone who could house these two beautiful dogs for a few weeks or even adopt them, please contact Monica Alcorn at 765-404-6437. She is in a very difficult situation and needs help as soon as possible.
Monica is even willing to deliver these dogs to fosters or new homes — she told me she has driven dogs as far as New York to get them placed — talk about dedication!
Thank you for all your help. If anyone can assist, please either call Monica or post your ideas in the comments section.
Gina will add pictures to my post as soon as I can get them, but there’s no time to waste for these two. Can you help them out? I just hate to patch up dogs just to lose them, especially when they’re nice dogs who deserve better than they’ve had before I could help them.
Gina update: Top image is Rosie, “after” as in just now. Trust me: You don’t wanna see the “befores,” and thank heavens to Dr. Tony and the team at Purdue for being able to deal with the horrific injuries pets come in with. Monica reports Rosie is feeling much better and is loving being on the bed and getting some sweet attention — neither an experience this dog has had before.
Bottom image is Scarface, after some shaving and treating of new injuries on top of old ones. Dr. T’s assessment is correct: The dogs’ former owner is a troglodyte.
Tony, is it the case that these dogs will fight with one another and should be fostered separately?
Comment by H. Houlahan — June 30, 2010 @ 2:10 pm
I texted him your question. He’s in the final stages of setting up a new ER at Purdue, and the only way to reach him is by Crackberry.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 30, 2010 @ 2:15 pm
Dr. Tony, is there an Interwebs page about these dogs that can be linked on social networking sites? Since I live in Maine, with 6 IGs and one elderly cat, there is little I can do beyond spreading the word about their plight.
Comment by Deb Moulton — June 30, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
More than likely they will not. We have taken many dogs from starvation cases. Dogs fight and tussle regularly for many reasons, but this one time it was over starvation. More than likely all is forgiven.
Sending off to some of my midwest bully contacts.
Comment by Cindy Steinle — June 30, 2010 @ 2:20 pm
Tony, is it the case that these dogs will fight with one another and should be fostered separately?
Comment by H. Houlahan — June 30, 2010
Dr. T says yes, they need to be fostered/adopted separately.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 30, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Re Heather’s question: I’d strongly recommend the dogs be kept apart.
Pit bulls tend to forgive people, and sometimes even other dogs, for a lot. They tend to be less forgiving towards other pit bulls, in my admittedly limited experience. It’s certainly possible to foster, under the same roof, two adult pit bulls that have had a serious fight, but it would take some savvy, and some secure crates and/or kennels. And the dogs might get along OK down the road, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
Topic. I’m sure you’ve done this already, but Facebook is an amazing rescue resource.
Comment by Luisa — June 30, 2010 @ 3:18 pm
D’oh — missed Gina’s post [#6].
Comment by Luisa — June 30, 2010 @ 3:20 pm
Luisa … I posted to my FB page and Dr. B’s (which I’m running while he’s in Europe). And I see a lot of re-posts.
:)
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 30, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
I’m heading to FB now to re-post. Let’s all email or Facebook and get these dogs a foster home NOW.
Comment by ericka — June 30, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
I just went on petfinder.com and looked up ‘pit bulls’ available in that area of Lafayette, Indiana.
This is the best way I know how to find local breed specific rescue groups. There were three rescue groups who had pits up for adoption, so I contacted them to see if they can help. It is after hours now but hopefully someone will call back tomorrow.
crossing my fingers.
Comment by ericka — June 30, 2010 @ 5:52 pm
THANK YOU EVERYONE! I really appreciate the power of the community here to help. I will check in with Monica tomorrow to see how it is going.
Feel free to cut/paste the photos from here to social media outlets. I am going to tweet their plight tonight.
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — June 30, 2010 @ 6:07 pm
I am in Illinois, and was wondering if either dog can be put with another dog? I am on summer break from college, and spend my days training and working with my timid 4 year old beagle, who we brought home from the shelter with severe separation anxiety. I have a little over a month left of summer break, and if you think I can help please feel free to email me.
Comment by Dee — June 30, 2010 @ 7:22 pm
I posted Rosie as the “Adoptable of the Day” over at our blog: http://seaspotrunbeachdogblog......-help.html
Hope they find a home!
Comment by Casey — July 1, 2010 @ 5:12 am
Dee … contact information is in Dr. Tony’s post. Please call with your questions.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 1, 2010 @ 5:15 am
Some day there should be a huge technology upgrade in how missing pets, pets needing rescue, and pets needing transport is handled.
I am working on a web site and from what I have seen it would take just a few weeks for a savvy tech person to create a solid petfinder type database for one of those purposes. There are several sites but most appear to be national and not densely used.
Posting on various social media sites is a big improvement but confusing to track over time.
Comment by Erich Riesenberg — July 1, 2010 @ 5:45 am
Posting also….oddly enough, most of my FB friends are Bully rescues.
If these were wirehairs, I would definitely foster them separately.
Comment by Mary — July 1, 2010 @ 6:28 am
Forgot to add….Dr. Tony, I am sending you a cyber pat on the back for stepping up for these dogs. Good Job!
Comment by Mary — July 1, 2010 @ 6:29 am
With 4 cats who have never lived with dogs, this wouldn’t work. I can only send my thanks and hopes that this has a happy ending. Bless you all for caring so much for these poor dogs. Please let us know.
Comment by dottie — July 1, 2010 @ 6:40 am
I have a vacant kennel.. would take either one.. in Northern CA..experienced with bull breeds
Comment by bestuvall — July 1, 2010 @ 10:46 pm
will pay for transport..
Comment by bestuvall — July 1, 2010 @ 10:47 pm
bestuval … please call the contact person in the post. Dr. Johnson isn’t looking in here much right now: He’s up to his ears putting a new ER unit in at the Purdue veterinary school.
Man’s on overdrive, and that’s the truth!
I hope you can help, and thank you for stepping up.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 2, 2010 @ 5:57 am
Bestuvall -
I echo Gina’s sentiments - thanks very much for stepping up. Please contact Monica for more information and to set up details.
I am going to contact her to see how many responses she has gotten - we will be watching these guys very closely to make sure all goes will with the fostering and or adopting!
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — July 2, 2010 @ 8:45 am
Yay bestuvall!
You are wonderful to make this offer.
Comment by ericka — July 2, 2010 @ 11:24 am