Today our April “Hero of the Month” has been revealed. Coincidentally, this blog post directly relates to our hero Handsome Dan, and too many other dogs like him – pit bull dogs who have had the misfortune of falling into the wrong hands.

Handsome Dan’s story began as one of the dogs in the possession of Michael Vick, the kennel owner, bankroller and participant in what may be the world’s most publicized dog fighting case. Dan’s story continues today as a devoted family pet and spokes-dog for Handsome Dan’s Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs. As everyone probably knows by now, Michael Vick is being given yet another opportunity to earn millions of dollars as a professional football player – this time with the New York Jets. It seems he has his defenders but I am not one of them.

While none of us really knows whether he is or is not remorseful, my concern transcends the issue of dog fighting. The manner in which Vick (and his associates) not only killed, but tortured dogs in the most brutal ways imaginable and laughed about it, speaks to his character or lack thereof. How could he witness such suffering and not comprehend the agony that his dogs experienced? How could anyone do what he did and not know that it is wrong?

Unfortunately, in the world of sports, it seems that integrity and regard for life take a back seat to winning. Very sad in my opinion. There are those who say “get over it.” This article explains why I cannot. http://www.chicagonow.com/raining-cats-dogs/2014/03/michael-vick-why-we-shouldnt-let-it-go/Too many people still believe that pit bulls are inherently dangerous. I believe we need to take a good hard look at ourselves and place the blame (or the credit) where it truly belongs – on the humans who train them. The greed and win at all costs mentality displayed by the Jets, the National Football League and sports in general are not attributes that we as humans should be proud of.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” It seems that as a nation, we have a long way to go.

Planet Bark, 37 Darcy St, West Hartford, CT, is a welcome place for dogs of any breed. Thanks to Melissa Romanaux, Resort Owner, for taking time out of her day to talk with me about our mutual love of dogs and taking me on a guided tour of her state-of-the-art facility!

Q. How long has Planet Bark been in business?
A. It will be ten years this June. I have owned it for about five.

Q. What services do you offer?
A.  Day care, boarding, grooming and training. Boarding includes all day play with the other dogs that come in for day care at no extra charge. We offer group training sessions through Pet Education and Therapy with Audrey Tucker, who was also my mentor. Grooming is by appointment.

Q. What is your background and what led you to Planet Bark?
A.  Prior to coming here, I owned my own business as a painting contractor. My love of dogs led me to Planet Bark. I began by taking classes to become a Certified Trainer through the Animal Behavior College. I was an employee of Planet Bark for about a year before buying the business.

Q.  How many people are on your staff? What training are employees given upon hire?
A.  I currently have seven employees, some full time and some part time. The main qualification is that they must love dogs. New staff members train on-on-one with me or my lead manager. They learn about dog behavior and safety policies and procedures first and are then gradually introduced to working directly with the dogs. Some are also trained to work in the reception area.

Q. How do you test new dogs?
A.  We start by introducing the new dog, one on one, with another dog – both on leashes. We see how the dogs react to one another. If all goes well, the new dog will then meet another dog. We would ease any new dog into a group very slowly. If my own dogs happen to be here, I might use them as test dogs.

Q.  As you know I am writing a book about pit bulls. Unlike some other facilities, pit bulls are welcome guests at Planet Bark. Why is it that you accept all dogs, regardless of breed, and others do not?
A.  I find that each dog has a unique personality and that is the key factor on whether or not I feel a dog will do well here. I have had to turn away dogs of many different breeds because their personalities and behaviors were not conducive to a group situation. I do not discriminate, based on breed – I can’t. Pit bulls can be big and strong but they are treated just like any other big dogs that come in. We have a few pits and pit mixes that are regular clients.

Q.  Do you ever experience breed discrimination from owners of the dogs that use your facility?
A.  We have worked very hard to get past the negative connotations associated with the breed and encourage our clients to do the same. I think perceptions of the breed are improving, especially among younger people. Occasionally, small dog owners will be a little fearful of the large dogs, regardless of breed.

Q. And how do you handle that?

A.  There are separate play areas for large and small dogs, so I can reassure owners that their dogs will be kept in a group of dogs that are similar in size. If there is a frightened or shy dog in the reception area, I will ask the owner to step aside if other dogs come in, and owners coming in to be mindful and to keep their dogs under control.

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?
A.  At Planet Bark, people are in essence entrusting us with their children and we treat the dogs accordingly. We use positive reinforcement methods and time outs and try to redirect any unwanted behavior. Our number one concern is ensuring that the dogs are safe and happy.
If there are two dogs that don’t get along with each other but are good with the other dogs, we will separate them and rotate them in and out of the group. If we notice a change in behavior or if a dog is having a bad day, we will discuss it with the owners to try to find out if there is anything different at home that might be causing the behavior. Communication is always ongoing.
Dogs that board with us are checked every night before bedtime. We check their eyes, ears and look for any scratches, etc. If a dog needs veterinary care for any reason, at any time day or night, I will personally contact the owner and transport the dog wherever it needs to go to receive proper care. We have an emergency hospital right across the street if the situation requires immediate attention.
                                                                                                                 
So, that is Planet Bark, a spotless, modern facility that accepts and embraces all dog breeds. If you are in the area and need a daycare or boarding facility for your dog, or if your dog needs training or grooming, you need look no further. Planet Bark is a one-stop destination for all of your needs.

It was a joy to observe the dogs in attendance. They seemed to truly appreciate their good fortune at being able to spend the day there. They were well cared for and well supervised. It is delightful place that any dog would enjoy.

Again, I thank you Melissa for your time, and especially for making your business a friendly destination for pit bulls and all other dogs as well. We believe as you do that it is the behavior and personality of a dog that matters, not the breed.

My pit bull Mickey will be visiting today for a nail trim. We are proud to support Planet Bark!!

It happens every day. People bring their dogs to shelters for many reasons. Too old, too big, too hyper, moving, allergies, personal problems, pet health and the worst excuse of all in my opinion, new baby. Someone really needs to tell these people that the chances of their dogs being adopted are slim, especially if they are pit bulls or pit mixes. Conservative estimates are that only one in six hundred shelter pits will ever make it out alive. Some people will not care but others may not realize that there are very few true no-kill shelters. These numbers are unacceptable. There must be a better way.

While I try to keep this site positive and uplifting, the sad reality is that for many dogs, pitties in particular, life is anything but. It has taken me a while to write this. First I had to put aside my frustration and my anger toward those people who do not value the lives of their pets and a system that allows healthy, devoted family dogs to be routinely killed. I am still angry and extremely sad, but I am trying very hard to be fair and objective. The truth is there is a big problem with our shelter system and if no one talks about it then things will never change. So, I begin……

For ten days I watched a particular shelter dog and worked hard to find him a home. He was six years old and had lived with the same family for his entire life. A big, older, beautiful pittie who loved to play, offered his paw and sat patiently for treats. He was brought to the shelter because of a new baby in the family. He had lived with adults, children and other animals. When he became an inconvenience he was disposed of like trash.

During his stay at the shelter he became more and more anxious. He seemed to be looking for his family and cried in his cage. He did not do well when they tried to assess his behavior, and was not made available for public adoption. He needed a rescue to save him but without a home for him to go to the rescues’ hands were tied. Although he was healthy when he walked in the door, he quickly got sick at the shelter. He was diagnosed with kennel cough and, instead of treating him, he was immediately placed on the kill list. The next day he was gone. He never stood a chance.

This is the reality for all too many dogs. That same day there were six beautiful dogs, all pitties, killed in just that one shelter. All were failed by the people they loved and a system that is overloaded and underfunded.

To the family of this particular dog, you had months to try to find him a home. You took the easy way out. You left him in a kill shelter with strangers and walked away. He was scared, confused and heartbroken. Maybe you did not mean to hurt him like this, but maybe you should have thought a little more about how he would feel. And maybe you should have asked what would happen to him, or maybe you just did not care. My advice to people like you is, if you cannot commit to a pet then you should not have one. Simple as that.

And to this dog and all the dogs like him, I am so sorry. I know the blame starts with your owners but there is plenty to go around. You never got the chance to meet most of us, but there were many who loved you and tried valiantly to save you, and I believe we would have if only we were given a little more time. It still brings me to tears every time I look at your picture and see your sad face. You looked so defeated and your eyes begged for a second chance. I think you knew, and that is the saddest part of all.  

You were a good boy and humans failed you on so many levels. You deserved better from all of us. Run free, big boy. I pray you are finally at peace.

Last month we celebrated my dog Mickey’s third Rebirth-day (the anniversary of the day he came home). I’m sure he had no idea what was going on but I did try to make the day special for him. I decorated his collar with ribbons, he had a friend sleep over and we spent the day making doggie cookies and birthday cake and then we had a little party. I found some great easy recipes that I am happy to share. Mickey and all of his dog friends give them 4 paws up!

You don’t even need a special occasion to do something special for your dog, but why not whip up a batch of colored icing for special days like St. Patrick’s Day or Easter! These recipes are easy enough to make any time. You can make them exactly as is or add some of your dog’s favorite ingredients. And if your dog has a wheat allergy, rice flour can be substituted in any of these recipes. 

So, just in time for St. Patrick's Day here is an easy cookie recipe, complete with green icing! 

Easy Dog Cookies

2 cups wheat flour                                           1 cup peanut butter (natural, unsalted is best)

1 tablespoon baking powder                      1 cup skim milk

Stir together flour and baking powder and set aside. Mix peanut butter and milk and gradually add the flour mixture until well blended. Turn mixture onto a lightly floured cutting board and knead until smooth. Roll out to about ¼ inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15-20 minutes or until lightly browned. For a sweeter treat you can add a little bit of honey. You can also substitute applesauce or plain yogurt for all or part of the skim milk.

For extra fun, try icing the cookies with this simple recipe. Add a little food coloring for special occasions.

Dog Treat Icing

8 oz. cream cheese                                         2 tablespoons plain yogurt

2 tablespoons honey                                      Approximately 3 tablespoons flour

Mix first 3 ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Add flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it is a good spreading consistency. Experiment with food coloring for different tints to suit the occasion.

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And, if your dog prefers cake, try this:

Doggie Birthday Cake

1 egg                                                                     1/3 cup honey (optional)

¼ cup peanut butter                                       1 cup shredded carrots

¼ cup oil                                                               1 cup whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract                            1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 6 cup pan. Combine first 5 ingredients and blend well. Stir in carrots and mix well. Mix together the flour and baking soda in a small bowl and then fold into the peanut butter mixture. Spoon into pan and bake for about 40 minutes. Cool, remove from pan and serve. If desired you can make a peanut butter icing by mixing some peanut butter with a little water or milk.

Delicious!

They say everything happens for a reason and I have found this to be true many times in my life. It was a series of coincidences that led me to a page on Facebook called Urgent Part 2 – Urgent Death Row Dogs. It started with a popular on-line interactive game through which I connected with a woman from New Jersey, who was friends with another woman who was affiliated with a New Jersey animal rescue group. I had never personally met either of these people.

The Urgent Part 2 page posts daily lists of dogs (and also cats) in the New York City shelters who are at risk of being destroyed. What I saw broke my heart. I wanted to do something but was not ready to adopt another pet at the time. I was told that networking the dogs would help save lives so that is what I did – every single day.

I felt like it wasn’t enough though and, over time, there were several dogs I offered to foster but, each time, I was bypassed in favor of people in closer proximity to New York City. I was fine with that. The dogs were rescued and that is all that mattered to me.

One day I saw a cute hound mix and fell in love with his picture. He had been dumped in the shelter along with another dog. The hound was adopted rather quickly but, because of him, I started looking for the other dog that had come in with him. His “brother” showed up on the urgent list a few days later and was posted for about ten days and still there were no perspective foster or adoptive families for him. The shelter notes said he was very tense and fearful and I tried to put myself in his shoes (or paws, actually). I tried to imagine how he must feel. He had lost his people, his home and now his canine companion. Of course he was afraid.

In what would have been his last hours on earth he was saved – by me (with help from a rescue group). He is now my dog – my first pit bull. He has changed my perceptions and my life and because of him I have become a rescue volunteer and staunch pit bull advocate. If not for him, I would not be writing this post today.

The woman who’s family adopted the hound and I became friends on Facebook. They named him Izzy and we planned to meet one day so the dogs could see each other again. Sadly it was not to be. Recently, Izzy died unexpectedly but I feel it is because of him that my dog Mickey’s life was saved. If I hadn’t seen Izzy first, I would never have been looking for Mickey and he almost certainly would have died at the shelter.

R.I.P. Izzy. Your life mattered to your family and also to me. You were the reason that Mickey is alive today. In essence you saved his life. I am truly sorry I will never be able to personally hug you and properly thank you. Even though we never had the chance to meet, I will never forget you.