Is A Dog The Best Self Protection?

"The lieutenant reminded people to be careful of their surroundings while out walking dogs. He said if you have a permit, carry your gun"

I get frequent inquiries about using dogs for self defense. In this instance, the alleged attackers threatened the dog owner with a gun. There is no dog that can defend against a gun. Even the police are recommending people in his neighborhood, if they have a permit, to carry a gun. These days, dogs are PETS, not for self defense.

Learn to protect YOURSELF. Learn martial arts. Get a gun, and take several professional training courses. Carry a weapon when you are qualified. Install security alarms and cameras. Don’t advertise to criminals that you’d make a good victim. Move to a safer town, don't think you can be Charles Bronson and be a vigilante. Get a better job that pays more money and find a safer life. Stay away from dangerous places and dangerous people, winning is surviving instead of facing off a bad guy and being killed. A dog can’t do any of this for you.

Dogs Allowed At Ball Stadiums?

"Kicking back and watching sport is something best done with your mates. Now, rugby fans have the chance to take their four-legged best friends to Westpac Stadium to support the Wellington Lions as they take on Canterbury in Sunday's Mitre 10 Cup duel. Two aisles will be designated "dog friendly" in the first Bark in the Park event, which will convert a section of the Cake Tin into a Dog Bowl."

I have said there are MANY public places that should allow dogs. Here is another good example. If they can do this in New Zealand, we can do this here. The more we get our dogs out and about, the fewer dog behavior problems at home in in our neighborhoods.

Don't Abandon Your Pets During A Disaster

"Florida authorities may file felony charges against residents who abandoned their pets during Irma

What I can’t understand is why any of those degenerates would tether their pet to something with widespread flooding and 120-mph winds descending. If you’re going to abandon your dog or cat to its fate, let it roam free so that it has a fighting chance to find a safe place to hide. Leaving it out in the elements to wonder where its family went as it’s sheared to pieces by the wind and rain is the cruelest thing you could do."

Yep, there really is no excuse for this kind of thing. People have choices, pets don't.

4-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Dog at Restaurant

"A woman sitting near the family asked if their two daughters would like to pet her dog. The owner walked off, leaving the dog with the girls.The dog then bit four-year-old Lacey Burke on the face. “My daughter was on her knees, petting the dog’s head like the owner had showed, and the dog went at her face”

My personal opinion is that your dog doesn't need to be petted by the kids of strangers. Yes, there is a place for socializing puppies, but after that, it is just a risk that isn't worth taking. Tell your kid to leave the dog alone, and tell strangers that you'd rather not have their kid pet your dog.

Some Theories: My suspicion of what happened... it was a restaurant. Possibly the dog was guarding a piece of food on the ground. Another theory, the dog is in a strange place, and the kid got in the dog's face or touched the dog in a way the dog was uncomfortable with. Not all dogs are as comfortable outside the home as they are at home. You have to supervise all interactions between unknown kids and dogs to monitor the body language and interactions.

Can You Shoot A Dog?

"He said the park does require dogs to be leashed. The gunman's dog was not on a leash, while the pit bulls were both on leashes."

"The gunman had been playing in the park with his own dog, which was off-leash, when the owner of the two pit bulls walked by, said Logan Police Capt. Tyson Budge. It was unclear how the fight between the dogs began, Budge said, but the man tried to stop the attack by pulling out a gun and firing a pair of warning shots into the ground, hoping to scare the pit bulls away. Undeterred by the gunfire, the pit bulls apparently continued to attack and the man then shot one of the pit bulls, the captain said."

As a general rule, if your dog is off leash, and the other dog is on leash, if a fight happens, it is going to be your dog's fault. However, we don't know enough about this story to know what the prosecutor is going to do.

Animal Cruelty Investigation: 50 pets tethered to trees in Florida as Irma approaches

Hurricane is coming... “Even a tiny bit of sand can hurt an animal when it’s traveling through 100-plus mph winds,” Sauve said.

These animals were tied out and abandoned, according to the article... Imagine 100 mph winds, plus 10 feet of flooding.

If what is alleged is true, I'm guessing someone is going to jail...

If You Are In The Dog World, You Should Do Rescue

New Stuff

It's been a couple of years since I blogged. It was time to get some new perspective on the dog world, so I could come back with fresh content. It is about growing.

Blogging is difficult work, to do it year after year. Since we last talked a lot has happened!

2013: I founded Citizens Animal Welfare Society (see and "Like" our Facebook page). The idea was to turn Maricopa into a no kill county.
2015: Citizens Animal Welfare Society bid to privatize MCACC, to turn it into an open admission, no kill shelter. See our CAWS Facebook page.
2016: CAWS held its first public meeting in Tempe, AZ
2016: Our bid for takeover was not accepted, however, we did not give up. After meeting with County officials, we were invited to do demonstration projects for the County to show the way towards a new shelter system. CAWS is now a well respected member of the local animal rescue community. Sam Basso is CEO of CAWS, and has an entire team of professionals working to turn Maricopa into a no kill community. You can search the local media to see some of the things we have been involved with. This is still a very active project.
2017: CAWS continues to be an animal rescue leader in the Phoenix metropolitan area. We have numerous projects and initiatives running. Watch our Facebook page for the latest updates.

I have learned a considerable amount about animal rescue, from the bottom to the top. I'll be posting more of this topic.

It is good to be back

Sam

Recommended Gifts Gadget Toys For Dogs

There are a LOT of ways to make dog ownership easier. Oftentimes I find students using the wrong equipment, or not having any proper equipment or toys. Here is a list of products I recommend for dog owners.

Steroids And Treadmills For Pit Fighting Dogs

Pit dog fighting is a crime. It is cruel, and serves no good purpose. All you need to see is a picture of a dog, that has been chopped up all over its face from fighting another dog to understand it. Or the pictures of the dogs that were further tortured and killed because they didn't win. People who fight dogs should serve harsh and long prison terms, and be fined so much that they are totally broke. They should lose custody of their kids, lose their jobs, and end up living under a bridge for the rest of their lives. And maybe they should get what rapists get from the other prisoners they meet in prison. Yes, I feel that strongly against pit fighting.

"The Keep:" Here is the story of a man who has been arrested for pumping up his dogs with steroids, and forcing them to exercise on treadmills, in order to prepare them to fight. 

This isn't unusual. This same kind of thing was uncovered in Phoenix, AZ by Maricopa County police just yesterday: "They also found steroids and chains hanging from trees, reportedly used to train those animals." 

Labrador Retriever Is The Most Popular Breed In The US

I am a big fan of Labrador Retrievers. I've trained many of them, and you can't get a finer family dog. Social, highly trainable, fun, short coat, moderate exercise demands, and a great reputation (which helps when renting an apartment). They also alert you to strangers at the door, so they make a good watchdog, as well.

Here are the current rankings of most popular breeds in the US

Lost Police Dog Is Found

I have advised a number of dog rescue volunteers to assist them in finding and capturing strays. So, I understand some part of what this lost and found police dog went through. Thankfully, the dog was found and captured.

"Wilmington Police: After missing for nearly 2 months, K-9 Karson found safe"

Using Dogs To Find Agriculture Insect Pests

"The California Department of Food and Agriculture has 13 dog teams checking for illegally shipped agricultural material" such as illegal fruits and vegetables, insect pests, illegal and endangered animals and plants, snakes, and the location of endangered species.

This is a fantastic use of dogs for good purposes.

Why Do Pit Bulls Attack?

Here is my interview on Channel 12, Phoenix AZ, on why pit bulls attack

Dr Sophia Yin's Death

I am sorry to post that Dr. Sophia Yin has passed away. I have followed her work for quite a while and was a quiet fan. Her work was excellent.

Her family has asked for some privacy, which is understandable. Like myself, a lot of people must be asking, "What happened?" Well, we'll find out over time. It really doesn't matter. She helped a lot of people, and did a lot of great work for animals, and she will be remembered fondly by those who followed her.

Save Mickey

If you haven't been following the story of Mickey the pit bull, you should. Bottom line: supervise kids and dogs. Now a kid has had his face mauled terribly, and a dog may be killed for being a dog. In my opinion, both the child and the dog are the victims here.

How To Break Up A Dog Fight

Here is my general game plan for breaking up a dog fight.

2 Pit Bull Attacks

Yesterday, there were 2 dog attacks in the news, one in Gilbert, AZ and the other in Queens, NY. Both stories shared the some elements. First, they both involved "pit bulls". Now, when any of us hear that term, we all should know that could mean just about any kind of mixed bred, or even pure bred, dog. There are 2 types of pit bulls, the pure bred American Pit Bull terrier, or a type of bull breed that could be mixed or pure bred. The media is notorious for mislabeling dogs in the news, but until we hear differently, these were some kind of bull dog. Second, they involved a dog fight. Dogs fight for various reasons, too complicated to list all of them here. A dog fight is a scary thing. Third, someone got in the middle of the fights. In the Gilbert case, a babysitter was injured and a 2 year old child was killed. In the Queens case, a woman was injured. Both women were friends of the other people involved.

There is no safe way to break up a dog fight. I tell that to everyone who asks. One of the first rules, however, is to remove all minor children from the area. I always practice people safety first, then dog safety.

I've been criticized by a friend for posting these articles, saying a dog trainer shouldn't be hurting the pit bulls by linking these articles on Facebook. There is a saying: Don't shoot the messenger. a metaphoric phrase used to describe the act of lashing out at the (blameless) bearer of bad news. The advice "Don't shoot the messenger" was expressed (very obliquely) by Shakespeare in Henry IV, part 2 (1598)[1] and in Antony and Cleopatra: when told Antony has married another, Cleopatra threatens to treat the messenger's eyes as balls, eliciting the response 'gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match'.[2] Prior to that, a related sentiment was expressed in Antigone by Sophocles as "No one loves the messenger who brings bad news".[3] 

On a daily basis, I look for dog news. I stay informed, because animal welfare is my passion. Most of my friends here are also animal advocates, and we all share good and bad dog stories here. We like to be informed.

I have been a responsible dog ownership advocate for 16 years. Most dog attacks could have been prevented. People come to me to ask about aggression prevention, and I stay well informed. Today, the Gilbert story will be national news. Not because of me, but because of the magnitude of the tragedy. If we, as animal advocates, bury our heads in the sand, hoping it will all go away, we'll see breed specific legislation proposed for Arizona. My position is to face the tragedies and see what we can learn from them, and then also to be able to expertly defend why it isn't fundamentally about the breed but how we manage our dogs. In the Gilbert case, going off the news reports and assuming they are accurate, we can summarize the following: a.) the more dogs you have in a home, the greater the chance for a dog fight; b.) we need to be better informed regarding the risks of owning a dog, and the methods for having a dog safely; c.) children must be properly supervised around dogs, and if a dog fight breaks out, the children should be removed first before anything else is done; d.) the more non family humans in a home with multiple dogs increases the stress among any dog pack, and we should exercise heightened awareness in those circumstances; e.) pit bulls are used, and have been used, and selectively bred, to fight other dogs. Knowing this, we need to understand how to properly manage them when living with other pit bulls, otherwise, get some other breed. f.) parents should be more aware of what kind of situation they are putting their kids in. I've read too many stories of kids being attacked by dogs at a friend's house. There were 4 dogs and, I believe, 4 small kids at that home. That is a lot of supervision for just one adult. I worked with 3 year olds back in the 1990's, and just one 3 year old is a handful. 4 small kids is a zoo.

We can't control the media, but we can speak up. But, we can't speak up if we don't know about what is happening, or if we don't know enough about animal behavior and the tendencies for public outrage when a kid is harmed. In Seattle, a child mauling resulted in a horrible new city and statewide dog bite law. We either stay informed and involved, or we'll lose the right to own a dog at all.

Cops Shooting Innocent Dogs

"The 130-pound, 3-year-old Rottweiler named Max was shot to death after he escaped through a window in a parked car and ran over to his master, Leon Rosby, who was being arrested for filming the scene on his phone"

There have been numerous cases of innocent dogs being shot to death by dogs in the news. Way too many.

In most cases, the cops have gotten away with it. In a few, the cops have been sued and had to pay out money.

This has to stop. We all know it is wrong, and they do, too.

This is a country of laws, and at some point, the laws are going to catch up with the police and put them in jail. It's time for dog lovers, and good hearted people, to advocate for laws to severely punish trigger happy police officers and the cities that employ them who are not doing their jobs, but abusing the public trust.

My recommendation: Unlawful shooting of a dog by a police officer: 1 year in prison plus a $100,000 fine. Minimum. Aggravated shooting of a dog: 10 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Further, if you look at this article, the man was arrested for filming the police in public. This is already being addressed in the courts, and the police have been found guilty. We have a 1st Amendment, and it's about time to enforce it. This would be the aggravating factor here in putting every one of these crappy police officers in prison for a very long time. Let them explain themselves to the other prisoners.

The being trained on how to arrest for filming them and getting away with it. they are being instructed to simply say the filming innocent citizen was in the way. You know and I know that won't hold up in front of a jury. Demand a jury trial if this happens to you, and then sue them back into the Stone Age.

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Fourth Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation

Sixth Amendment: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Eighth Amendment: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

Pit Bull Service Dog For PTSD

"Daja Lacey, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, will be united with a therapy dog named Tank — a rescued pit bull that has been specially-trained to help Lacey battle the condition. The match was made by possible by Paws of War, a program started by the Long Island-based organization Guardians of Rescue to help military veterans in need. “PTSD is a real disorder that affects thousands of veterans, both active and inactive, across the country,” Lacey said in a statement. “We are very thankful to Guardians of Rescue for rescuing Tank and many others, and now Tank will help to rescue me.”

Next time someone says that pitbulls need to be eliminated, show them this story. It's all in how you raise them. They are working dogs. Socialize them, professionally train them, and then give them a job. That's what they are good for... whatever you make them to be.

Here's Exhibit A: a pit bull therapy dog for PTSD.