Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Charity


A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM CHARITY & RAINBOW BRIDGE: Hello Rescue Angels: This is Charity. I have been silent for awhile now, but I am still watching here from Rainbow Bridge. Many of you may be familiar with my story, but for those who are not – briefly: I am an American Pit Bull Terrier, bred by someone with very bad intentions. Two of my sisters (Hope & Faith) and I were pulled from our mother as very young puppies. We were sodomized and tortured, then left to die. I am not going into a lot of detail because you can read my story later. My sisters and I went to live at Eagle’s Den Rescue and they continue to fight for us every day with the help of so many wonderful angels on earth. My sisters are there with them. I am not. I watch from Rainbow Bridge. You see, I died when I was six months old from injuries related to abuse. It took numerous surgeries and a lot of love to save Faith & Hope. I saw people unite for me and my sisters and I had such hope that things would finally change. I BELIEVED for the first time that people could not kick and beat us and have no one care. I believed people could not rape and torture us and have no one care… I believed for the first time that my death would not be in vain. And people are still fighting for me … but as I said … my story can be read later. This is the story of another dog named Buddy in a place called Orange County, Florida. And Buddy is a Pit Bull. Looking at Buddy’s life I could ALMOST be jealous because Buddy has a family that loves him dearly. He did not suffer through what my sisters and I did before finding peace. He has never been an aggressive dog and has always been a part of a very loving family. His family and a group called The Lexus Project made a movie about him and his life. Watch it please: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=291184107619965 Sadly, though … Buddy now has a story that is so similar to other dogs who are “our kind” … Pit Bulls. If Buddy were not a Pit Bull, he would most likely still be at home with his family and I would not be writing this… begging you to please stand up for Buddy. If you do not stand up now, Buddy will be seeing me soon here at Rainbow Bridge. Buddy does not deserve that. Buddy did nothing wrong. The county will cite statutes and give a lot of double talk hoping no one will realize that Buddy is in this situation simply because of the size of his head. And what I am asking is that EVERYONE realizes… this SHOULD NOT BE A PIT BULL ISSUE – THIS IS A DOG ISSUE. And it is about whether a dog has the right to defend himself and his person against an attack from another dog. So regardless of how you feel about my BREED, could you forget that for just a moment and look at Buddy’s story? Please put yourself in Buddy’s paws and think what you would do. If someone hurt your child, your mother, your father … someone YOU love … WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Do you have the right to defend those you love? Do you have the right to defend yourself against attack? Do you believe ANY DOG has the right to defend his family without being called aggressive? Here is the story: (PLEASE SHARE IT EVERYWHERE!) Buddy’s Mom has three children: Lauren, Emily and Heather. They are all Buddy’s PEOPLE… his family. They love him and he loves them, just as you love your family members. Buddy needed to go outside for a walk so he could go to the bathroom. It was a little later than he usually went for a walk so, as with all well trained canine family members, he was a bit anxious to get out that door. Lauren put his leash on and was taking him out. She dropped his leash when she got outside the door, and Buddy bounded down the steps to get to the door. A neighbor, Luis, was outside the door with his two dogs: a Sheltie and a Dachshund. Buddy has many canine friends and loves to play. He has NEVER shown any aggression toward another dog or a human. And he was anxious to play with these two. However, Luis let his two dogs off lead and the two rushed at Buddy. They attacked him. Buddy did NOTHING to harm them except try and avoid being hurt. He never attempted to bite back until Lauren approached to try and stop the dogs from attacking Buddy. THE SHELTIE BIT LAUREN! At this point Buddy latched onto the Sheltie and would not let go. He did not FIGHT the dog… and for those who are familiar with my breed you KNOW had he been trying to harm the Sheltie, he would have been very quick about it and would not have been standing still, holding on with his eyes closed… which is exactly what Buddy was doing. And Buddy was STILL under attack by the Dachshund. The little dog was biting Buddy’s rear leg consistently attacking. Emily had arrived by this time and bent down to get the Dachshund away from Buddy. Buddy was clearly terrified as he stood still with his eyes closed. Luis had already been pounding him in the face with his fist as he stood there. Of course Luis was trying to get him to let the Sheltie go, but hitting him in the face with his fist was the worst thing he could have done (aside from attacking one of Buddy’s people). This only served to make Buddy more afraid and he WAS AFRAID to let the Sheltie go. He was afraid for many reasons. Buddy had lived a very loving life and had never known violence. Yet in the span of a few minutes, he had been attacked by two small dogs, his child (to him) had been bitten and he had been beaten in the face by a man’s fist while another dog continued to bite him. Still, he did not make any movement to further harm the Sheltie. He simply stood and held the dog. Yes he was larger than the Sheltie. BUT – if this tells us anything it is that Buddy COULD have killed the smaller dog had that been his intention. Instead, under severe abusive attack and great stress and fear, Buddy showed enormous restraint and behaved well. Once Emily was able to get the Dachshund off of Buddy’s hind leg, Lauren began to stroke the frightened dog’s muzzle and to speak in soothing, loving tones to him. Luis SHOULD HAVE taken his Dachshund and held him, but instead, just as Buddy was letting the Sheltie go, for whatever reason: fear, anger, retaliation… Luis pounded Buddy in the face with his fist yet again. Of course Buddy continued to hold the Sheltie at that point. This is when Mom and Heather (the third daughter) arrived on the scene. Heather (obviously knowing a lot about dogs) grabbed Buddy by the rear legs and pulled. Buddy immediately let the Sheltie go. (OH - IF ONLY LUIS WERE AS SMART AS BUDDY’S FAMILY!). The Sheltie needed a few stitches but was fine other than that. The Sheltie walked away from the scene as did Luis and the Dachshund. Buddy had to be taken and calmed by his family. He was still very frightened and very concerned for his people, especially Lauren. Buddy’s family NEVER intended to cause Luis and his Sheltie problems by reporting a dog bite since they knew the dogs were vaccinated and Lauren was not badly hurt. Their concern was caring for their frightened fur kid and attending to his injuries. After all, he had been bitten by two dogs (even though they were small they still bite) and beaten in the face by a man’s fist. Luis rushed to call animal control because his Sheltie (who had not only initiated the attack against Buddy, but bitten a human) needed stitches. Animal Control arrived on the scene. They put the Sheltie on “home quarantine” for ten days because he had bitten a human (regardless of why they say …we know WHY they put the dog under quarantine!). He has since been released from quarantine and the Sheltie and the Dachshund play happily in the park every day. Animal Control IMMEDIATELY removed Buddy from his loving home and JAILED him. He was declared a DANGEROUS DOG and the sentence is death. They can disguise a few regulations and say Buddy can go home with certain precautions BUT he is a DANGEROUS DOG. And with that label…Buddy CANNOT GO HOME. If he is declared a dangerous dog, his family has nowhere to live. Thus the only alternative is for the county to execute Buddy. Even the Shelter where he is being held has him listed as a FRIENDLY DOG. So what does this mean? He is dangerously friendly? WHAT? Here is the Statute the county is working under. Decide for yourself if Buddy meets the requirements for a dangerous dog based on this statute: “Section 5-32(c)- The division manager shall make an initial determination as to whether there is sufficient cause to classify the dog as dangerous or potentially dangerous. The division manager shall classify any dog as a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog in the event he/she determines that the dog meets the requirements for dangerous or potentially dangerous dog as specified in section 5-29, Orange County Code. A dog shall not be classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous if the threat, injury, or damage was sustained by a person who, at the time, was unlawfully on the property, or while lawfully on the property, tormented, abused or assaulted the animal or its owner or a family member or a guest of the owner. No dog may be classified as dangerous or potentially dangerous if the dog was protecting or defending a human being within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or assault. The division manager shall provide written notice to the owner or keeper of such animal by registered mail, certified hand delivery, or service in conformance with the provisions of F.S. ch. 48, relating to service of process. The written notice shall include the basis for declaring the dog dangerous or potentially dangerous, a description of the dog, and the responsibility of the owner or keeper for maintenance of the dog. If the owner decides to appeal the initial determination of dangerous or potentially dangerous, they may request a hearing before the animal services classification committee to show cause why such dog should not be declared dangerous or potentially dangerous. The request for a hearing must be filed, in writing, with the division manager within seven (7) working days after receipt of written notice of the division manager's determination or action. The written hearing request must briefly state the grounds therefore and list the names and addresses of any witnesses the owner intends to call at the hearing. If the division manager receives a timely written request for a hearing regarding a dangerous or potentially dangerous dog classification, he/she shall immediately refer the request, completed investigation, and initial determination to the classification committee. The classification committee shall schedule a hearing to be held not more than twenty-one (21) working days and no sooner than five (5) working days after the division manager's receipt of the request from the owner.” There are some things you can do if you are as outraged by this as I am. FIRST: Sign the Petition for Buddy’s Immediate Release without the Dangerous Dog Label: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/animal-services-orange-county-orlando-fl-orange-county-clerk-of-courts-orlando-fl/
(I am very upset that there are so FEW signatures on this petition. Every Rescue Angel out there should be signing this petition and should be outraged at what has happened to Buddy. There should be 50,000 signatures by now! Surely it is because you have not heard. I cannot believe that all of you who sent your wonderful love to me and my sisters have forgotten the hatred that causes so much abuse and pain so quickly… so… you MUST not have heard about Buddy. I know you care. I have felt your love. You saved my sisters lives. So PLEASE SHARE THIS and make everyone aware.) Second: LIKE Buddy’s Page on Face Book to show your support and follow the story: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-Free-Buddy/197357333704776 (Last time I checked he had 1681 friends on his page. PLEASE SHOW BUDDY AND HIS FAMILY YOUR LOVE! You cannot help if you do not speak up. You cannot be Buddy’s voice if you are not following his story.) Third: Display Buddy’s Pic Badges that were lovingly made so everyone could show their support for Buddy: http://www.picbadges.com/buddy-needs-to-go-home/2520918/
http://www.picbadges.com/free-buddy/2520904/
(The Pic Badges must have so many people supporting them to be “official” on Face Book and it hurts my heart that SO FEW are supporting my friend Buddy. I KNOW you guys have NOT heard his story…PLEASE make it heard far and wide – in every state, in every country. Buddy has been in jail and away from his family for over a month. Please do not let him die. Do not allow Orange County to make Buddy another statistic. We have enough martyrs… Buddy does not need to be one.) And … THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO: MAKE A NOISE. BE HEARD. BE BUDDY’S VOICE! Here’s something really positive you can do: Please send polite messages to the Orange County, Florida Commissioners and Orange County's Animal Services folks asking them to free Buddy. Thank you! Mayor@OCFL.net, district1@ocfl.net, district2@ocfl.net, district3@ocfl.net, district4@ocfl.net, district5@ocfl.net, district6@ocfl.net, David.Morton@ocfl.net, Robert.Ridgway@ocfl.net, Debra.Villella@ocfl.net, Andy.Melville-Lyon@ocfl.net, Philip.Browder@ocfl.net, Linda.Hepenstal@ocfl.net, Patricia.Porter@ocfl.net, Kathleen.Kennedy@ocfl.net, Dil.Luther@ocfl.net, Mary.Brady@ocfl.net (You can just copy and paste this entire list in an email and tell them POLITELY BUT FIRMLY how you feel. FLOOD THOSE MAIL BOXES. Please write with dignity and respect so they know you are sincere and serious. Do not feed the stereotype that they want to hold up for justification. I know you are angry and hurt as I am. But we can show the same restraint that Buddy showed when he did not destroy the dog that bit him & his human friend. You need to remind these people that it is an election year!) FURTHER: If you know ANYONE in the media ANYWHERE that can help… please get Buddy’s story out there and let everyone know there are lawyers working to free Buddy. Their help is needed. YOUR help is needed. It will cost you nothing to SHARE this story and send email. If you can call someone or email someone and tell them about this…DO IT. All of you ANGELS once told me that you cared. You showed me your love and you made my sisters safe in a very cruel world. I sit here at Rainbow Bridge and I watch so many still in pain. Ace has joined me here…PLEASE DO NOT LET BUDDY COME HERE TOO SOON. Buddy has a family. Help him get home to them. Think of all the times you have signed petitions and shouted your outrage. THIS TIME YOU CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE THAT THE WORLD WILL HEAR! Be the voice I would use if I could… BE BUDDY’S VOICE! PLEASE! When I was there and just a puppy being sodomized and hurt, I did not think anyone cared. Then I knew such wonderful love and support. Your tears brought me to Rainbow Bridge and I have felt your love and concern. I came here knowing my sisters would be safe and I could rest at last because so many loved them. Please help Buddy now. Let him feel your love. He is alone. He is afraid. And he did nothing wrong! Do this for me, for Ace, for Lennox (who knows how it feels to sit in a jail wearing an unfair title), for Patrick (the Miracle Dog), for Hope and Faith … for all the dogs who are hurt every day and tortured because no one knows and they believe no one cares. Do it for all the animals that die every day without a voice! DO NOT LET BUDDY LANGUISH IN JAIL! DO NOT ALLOW HIM TO BE TAKEN FROM HIS FAMILY! DO NOT ALLOW BUDDY TO BE EXECUTED! Thank You All for the wonderful love you have shown me and I still carry in my heart. Please send that love to Buddy now… (And do not forget to THANK The Lexus Project that does such wonderful work for ALL dogs, regardless of breed.) Charity

No comments:

Post a Comment