Please Give Us A Hand Here

[rottcrazed]

Hi All!

I haven't posted here in months, but I thought this would be an important one, so I am back.

In our local newspaper here in Calgary on Thursday, we had a disturbing article come out written by the editor. Myself, some other members of the Rottweiler Club of Canada and a few other people from all over North America have been e-mailing this woman to give her our points of view. That is where I am asking for help. Alll of you that have some factual stats about dog bites, who are breeders, owners of these wonderful dogs need to pipe up and say something to this woman.

Her article can be read here at this link below:

http://www.canoe.ca/Columnists/corbella.html

(I hope you can click on the link, if not PLEASE type it out and read the article, it's worth it)

Her e-mail address is listed at the bottom of the article, PLEASE click it and lets let her know what these dogs are really like!!

Any help here is appreciated!

Kristi Fraser
Akamai Reg'd Rottweilers

[rottcrazed]

This was the e-mail that I sent to her that took me the better part of an hour to do. I have friends here in Calgary collecting factual dog bite stats and so on, hopefully we will be able to present her with that early next week!!


Dear Ms. Corbella:

I often wonder why people take a stand against something they know very little about. I have to wonder just how much you actually understand about canines as a species for you to say in your wonderfully one-sided article about dog breeds that have been labelled aggressive, that you wouldn't care much about a neighbor owning an aggressive Chihuahua. I would venture a bet that after one bite from that medium-sized rat, you would be the first one to write an article about how Chihuahuas on the whole are an aggressive breed and need to be outlawed.

Your article was just the type of thing that we, as responsible dog owners, cringe at the site of. Those of us who happen to own a labelled dog breed (my dogs happen to be Rottweilers) who work with our dogs daily , socializing them constantly, taking many levels of obedience classes, showing and obedience trialling them, health testing them, temperament testing them, take MUCH offence to an article like yours. We spend a big portion of our lives and our savings doing as much as is possible with and for these dogs. We work day in, day out to try to show people that these breeds, in the hands of the right people, are wonderful dogs. ANY dog of ANY breed can and will bite someone if not properly socialized and trained. Even so-called 'excellent family dogs' can bite if provoked. The problem happens when too many people start to think they can make money breeding these 'popular' dog breeds. They sell their puppies to anyone with cash. For those of us that actually care about the futures of our breeds, we take the time and do the background checking into WHY someone wants to buy a dog from us and then make the decision whether or not they will in fact get a dog from us.

A big part of the problem is the backyard breeder who buys a couple of dogs, pumps out puppies and fill our streets with ill-tempered, unhealthy dogs that often barely resemble the breed they are supposed to be. A responsible breeder might have one litter a year, some will have more, but rarely. These dogs are our fur children, they sleep on our beds, live side by side with our kids. They are active in many different performance dog sports to earn titles that take months and years of work to obtain. Our children enter into junior handling competitions with these dogs. Our dogs become our lives, not a means for us to live.

It is a very generalizing statement to say that all of these breeds labelled to be aggressive need to walk the street with muzzles because there are only select few of these dogs that are aggressive. And what about the Chihuahuas and other breeds that are considered non-threatening but that do have a bite history? Do they get the same treatment, or is it just the ones that can actually overpower you that scare you? I was a dog groomer for years and I can tell you from my own experience that the smaller the dog, the more likely it is to bite you. The breed I, personally have been bit by more than any other is the beloved American Cocker Spaniel. Any comments about that breed? Well, I know a person who owns many Cockers and none of her dogs act like any of the dogs I had been bit by and therefore, I do not attach a stigma to her dogs as you have done to mine.

There is a dog show at the Big Four building here in Calgary on November 28, 29, 30. Why don't you come on out and see what different breeds are actually like? Ones that have been socialized and handled and loved and cared for. Sure, some dogs of different breeds will act standoffish, but I doubt you will find that there will be any bite incidents all weekend. In a building full of different breeds of dogs you might actually learn from experienced dog owners/breeders/handlers and breed judges what it actually takes to properly raise a well-mannered, polite dog ....... of any breed.

Sincerely,

Kristi Fraser
Akamai Registered Rottweilers

[LavenderRott]

Excellent letter. Actually, we started our e-mails yesterday when Stubby linked us to the article.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Yup, I'm working on mine now that I had some breathing time last night to cool off....

Brooke

[rottcrazed]

Thanks guys - this is such a big deal to our little rottweiler world up here! There was the incident mentioned in the article about the rott/pit mix that attacked in the past two weeks, but very little was mentioned about the fact that the other three dogs in this man's pack were corgis and a small mix breed. Because the dogs were small they weren't paid any attention. That is what really makes me mad is that that incident was a dog pack attack, not a rott/pit mix attack.

At any rate, we are just FUMING up here (although it is -20 degrees C today).

Thanks again!!

Kristi

[Brooke&Ryan]

As you can read in Stubby's post I was doing my yoga, meditative breathing last night. Argh, that woman ticked me off. I just hate ignorance of any type. Okay, gotta start my deep breathing again....:p

Brooke

[Cassandra]

This is long..I thought you guys might want to read what I had to say to this person:


Hello Licia,

I read your article, dated 11/20/03 in the Calgary Sun, regarding vicious dogs and am responding to your call for a breed specific legislation.

First a few comments:

“Many people will spout off the inane comment that there's no such thing as a bad breed of dog, just bad owners.” – So your saying that Rottweilers are really a bad breed of dog because they are not used as guide dogs? Where is your research?

“Ever wonder why you don't see Rottweilers or pit bulls as seeing eye dogs?” Rottweilers are often used as service dogs. Not every breed of any animal is good for every work. Poodles also do not make good seeing eye (Guide) dogs, neither do almost any of the other 300 breeds of dogs. In fact, mostly Labrador and Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds are used as Guide Dogs. As a child, I was bitten in the chest by a German Shepherd that was being walked on a leash by his owner. I was also bitten in the face by our family pet, the “supposedly” best family dog to own– a Labrador retriever. I still carry the scars from both of these incidents. Those attacks were from the same breed of dogs that are used as Guide dogs. The same type of dog you are qualifying as being the standard for being a good breed of dog according to your example.

So why are those dogs good at what they do as guide dogs? Training. Why was I bit by that same breed of dog? Lack of training.

You go on to state, “There's a very good reason. Because while they might sometimes get their owner safely across the street, they might also be tempted to tear out the throat of a smaller dog crossing at the same time. Or a small child.” I had to laugh at this. Again, you made a statement about that breed and why they are not used as Guides. That is a totally false statement. That is not why you do not see many as guides - and no, they are not tempted to tear the throat out of a small child just because they are a Rottweiler. You don’t see Rotts as guides because mostly retrievers are used for that work as they seem to take to that kind of work. Actually Rotts make good therapy dogs. I have included several articles below that you can read that support that. Dogs are animals. Animals that are not properly trained may act the way you describe, but that is not specific to any breed. Training is an owner’s responsibility that many shirk. If a dog is not properly trained and managed, no matter the breed, then it is possible that anything can happen.

“I wouldn't care one little bit if my next door neighbour owned a vicious Chihuahua (which are about as big as a medium-sized rat).” Well, in answer to that, I would like to present a recent case: From www.Dogbitelaw.com: “The most horrifying example of the lack of breed predictability is the October 2000 death of a 6-week-old baby, which was killed by her family's Pomeranian dog. The average weight of a Pomeranian is about 4 pounds, and they are not thought of as a dangerous breed. Note, however, that they were bred to be watchdogs! The baby's uncle left the infant and the dog on a bed while the uncle prepared her bottle in the kitchen. Upon his return, the dog was mauling the baby, who died shortly afterwards. ("Baby Girl Killed by Family Dog," Los Angeles Times, Monday, October 9, 2000, Home Edition, Metro Section, Page B-5.)”

What bothers me the most is that you used your power as a reporter to publish your view and strongly make a statement, but it seems apparent that you didn’t even research both sides to understand the issue clearly. I thought I would send you a few items to give you the other view of what the Rottweiler is all about.

Here are just a few things I would like you to read. This is just a very small bit of information…I didn’t want to overdo it. If you need any additional clarification about my views, please feel free to respond to me.

You can read the following also at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pets/19990217pets.asp

Rottweilers can be friends, therapy dogs, too

Wednesday, February 17, 1999

By Linda Wilson Fuoco


When Judy Gates saw a big black and tan dog wandering in a North Hills shopping center parking lot on a cold, January night, she was sad. The dog had no collar, its head was hanging down and it had that scared, lost look that tugs at the heartstrings of dog lovers.

Gates hesitated for only a second. Then, in a giant leap of faith, she opened the back door of her car and invited the dog in.

Gates briefly had second thoughts as she was driving to her Cranberry home, for she knew what the dog was. The nearly-100-pound canine was a Rottweiler - a breed sharp of tooth and strong of jaw, a breed that is feared and even hated in many quarters.

"I looked in the rearview mirror and the dog was sitting quietly in the back seat, looking relieved and happy," Gates says one year later.

Gates never found the owner, though she contacted police departments and pursued every avenue she could think of. But that was OK because, Gates relates, "I fell in love with her right away."

So did her two Labrador retrievers, Brittany, 6, and Gypsy, 14.

She named her Carlee, in honor of Carl, the gentle, baby-sitting male Rottweiler featured in the wonderful children's books by Alexandra Day. Gates' veterinarian thinks Carlee is about 3 years old.

I met Carlee recently as she visited patients at UPMC Passavant hospital in McCandless. She calmly walked up to patients in wheelchairs, gazed into their eyes and wagged her stumpy tail when petted. She quietly approached patients in hospital beds, bringing smiles to faces that had been furrowed with anxiety and pain.

One elderly woman tentatively put her hand out to Carlee and said, "Shake!" She crowed with delight when the command was obeyed.

I stooped down to pet her, and Carlee licked my face. I didn't see her lick any patients, but she seemed to know that I welcome this kind of attention. This is one of the nicest dogs I've ever met. It breaks my heart to know that many, many people - including elected officials - think that all Rottweilers should be banned.

Carlee is not an aberration. Rottweilers regularly rack up high scores in obedience trials. They are often used as service dogs for people in wheelchairs. They do stellar work for police departments; the same dogs that attack "bad guys" gently meet and greet schoolchildren in "Officer Friendly" programs. And they are loving, devoted pets for many, many families.

Rottweilers are so good at these things because they are smart, versatile, highly trainable, loyal, loving, brave and oh-so-willing to please the people they love. But in the hands of the wrong people, a Rottweiler or a big, powerful dog of any breed is an absolute menace. Don't blame or ban an entire breed.

Perhaps you've heard that Rottweilers are vicious toward other dogs. You should see Carlee with her therapy co-workers - Oliver, a Newfoundland owned by Mary O'Day of Franklin Park and Cali, a Labrador retriever owned by Meg Yates of Cranberry. Oliver and Cali are just as wonderful as Carlee, but people usually aren't surprised to meet a "nice" Newf or a lovable Lab.

Gates, a lifelong Lab owner, says she has always admired therapy dogs. She always thought her own pets were a bit too exuberant for therapy work. Until she rescued Carlee.

Blessed with the perfect therapy dog temperament, Carlee functions as an ambassador for her bedeviled breed.

"My mission is to defend this breed," Gates said. "By taking Carlee to hospitals and nursing homes, I can show everyone that this is a really good breed."

As a little extra insurance, Gates took Carlee to the Paws-Itive Academy training facility in Crafton. On her very first try, Carlee passed the therapy dog certification test. It includes greeting strangers - human and canine - with no show of fear, aggression or boisterous affection.

"I gave a speech about Carlee and Rottweilers in Toastmasters. People said they had no idea that some breeds are so threatened."

So kudos to UPMC for inviting Carlee and other therapy dogs into medical facilities. And kudos to owners like Gates, O'Day and Yates for finding time in their busy schedules to share their wonderful dogs with patients who need a morale boost. Gates works at Passavant as a clinical dietitian by day, and a volunteer by night.

As for Carlee,with a nod to Alexandra Day who always ends her books with: "Good dog, Carl!",I'll end this column with "Good dog, Carlee!"

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This story is from the book, "Angel Animals" by Stephanie Laland - I also saw this recreated on TV, but can’t remember the TV show it was on..

Kathie Vaughan was driving the used truck she had purchased that morning when it suddenly began to fishtail. She finally managed to bring the vehicle to a stop with a loud screech. But her troubles had just begun. The cabin interior was filling fast with noxious fumes and black smoke. Most people could have simply jumped out of the vehicle, but Kathie is a paraplegic - paralyzed from the waist down. Her truck was on fire and she knew she could be blown up at any moment.

Kathie shoved her Rottweiler, Eve, out of the door, along with her wheelchair. But due to the thick black smoke, she could not find the wheels to the chair. Panic overwhelmed her. She had to get out immediately, before the truck exploded.

In danger of blacking out, Kathie suddenly felt Eve, refusing to desert her, grab her leg with her jaws. Eve firmly grasped Kathie by the ankle and dragged her ten feet to safety. Then the truck burst into flames. Ignoring the terrifying fire, Eve dragged Kathie to a nearby ditch.

A police car arrived on the the scene. "You've got to get further away!" the policeman shouted down to Kathie. The truck was on fire and the flames were approaching the gas tank; there was danger of a terrific explosion.

Kathie struggle to pull herself away from the truck and towards the police car. Her head and body ached with pain and she found she could hardly move. Eve bent close to her human friend, offering Kathie her collar. Then Kathie held tight as the determined dog dragged her forty feet to safety.

The firemen eventually extinguished the blazed. Eve was awarded the prestigious Stillman Award for bravery

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From: http://www.deltasociety.org/
This is a center for Human/Animal health connection

Randi Bolton is the Colorado Springs Team Lead for the Denver Area Pet Partners®. She graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and received her MBA from the University of Louisville. She currently works for a local software company in the Denver area.

While showing her then 18 month old female Rottweiler, Rosie, in obedience, Randi realized her dog had a special knack for making people feel good. Rosie was drawn to a young boy confined to a wheelchair. The boy was clumsily petting Rosie, pulling her ears and tongue and Rosie was loving it! The boy’s mother said she had never seen her son react so wonderfully with a dog. She suggested Randi contact the Delta Society and look into their animal-assisted activity/therapy program. Within 6 months, Rand and Rosie became a certified Pet Partner® and began visiting in nursing homes and hospitals. In addition to training Rosie for obedience and agility, she is also training her Rottweiler puppy, Ripley, for confirmation.

Randi is licensed with the Delta Society as an instructor and animal evaluator in their Pet Partners® program. She is very involved in expanding the awareness of the therapeutic benefits of animals and in helping others becoming successful Pet Partners. Randi is actively involved in animal-assisted activity/therapy with her Pet Partner, Rosie and will soon be with her other dog, Ripley.

More on Rosie: http://www.denverpetpartners.org/Tea...osie_story.htm

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Check out this site:
http://www.topdogusa.org/index.htm

TOP DOG is a Tucson-based nonprofit organization which teaches people who have a physical disability to train their own dogs to help them.

Of the 72 teams listed on their site, on this page: http://www.topdogusa.org/teams.html , I counted six Rottweilers about 23 Retrievers about 14 Shepherds.

================================================== ====


Want to see other good things this wonderful breed has done for humans with disabilities?
Check out: http://joella.holyroller.org/

This person loves her service dog so much that she has an entire site set up to let the world know what a wonderful thing this animal has done for her. Look at the pictures here: http://joella.holyroller.org/photos.htm

================================================== ====

I have in the past and currently own a Rottweiler. I have never been bitten nor have they ever bitten anyone. My dog is a trained, well-mannered, family dog. I have never had an animal as loving, and gentle as these dogs have been. I plan to continue owning, loving, and enjoying this special, intelligent breed. It’s a shame that all you know is such bad experiences with them. Maybe if you tried researching more and personally visited a breeder with good stock and ethical standards, or visited a service dog organization, you would have a different viewpoint.

The problem I see with people that do not understand fully and don’t bother to research is a tendency to react and want to fix the symptom and not the cause. Breed specific legislation harms more in the end than it helps. It attacks the ones that love the breed and abide by the laws and train their animals, not the ones that caused the incidents that you cited. Stop the back yard breeders. Stop the puppy mills. That is where it all starts and where it should end. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest some other excellent ways to help fix the cause at it’s root: programs promoting responsible dog ownership; training programs to increase desired canine behavior; programs to teach children how to act around dogs; enhanced animal control programs; and education for veterinarians and the general public.

You seem so passionate about your feelings and ideals in this article. What a powerful thing it would be if you could put your passion into stopping those puppy mills and poor breeding practices and supporting the education of the public and programs to promote responsible dog ownership.

I listened to you. Thanks for listening to me.

[rottcrazed]

EXCELLENT! THANKS FOR THE RESPONSE!!!

Kristi

[Cassandra]

Thanks to you for starting this thread Rottcrazed!

If we can stop people before they get a foothold, educate them, and get them pointed in the right direction, maybe we can make a real difference.

And if they don't listen...spank em real hard in the process! Maybe this girl will think twice next time she opens her mouth without having the facts first.

[Rocky's_mom]

Ok, I know that this is serious. BUT, I have a stupid moment that I pulled-I pull those ALOT!

I was reading this and pulled up the article-well, duh! It changed! I thought it was about weed....then I started reading what rottcrazed had written. I was like, where in the world did she come up with rott mixing with weed? Our dogs are smokin weed behind our backs! Then, duh, I realized that the article changes. LOL you would never think I was brunette hun? :D

[my2rotties]

Darned it, I missed the article too. I also live in Calgary, and totally missed all of this hoopla. Where was I, on Mars?

The author or this story is notorious for writing hurtful and demeaning articles about whatever she is ranting about from week to week. If I remember correctly, she has ranted about Rotties and Pit Bulls before. If anyone hears a response from her, it will surly be one sided and heroic on her behalf.

It is people like her that made the city decide to not adopt Pit Bulls out from animal control. They get destroyed if not claimed. They were tellingme that Rotties are being looked at, and they are already not being adopted due to people's fear of them.

I have spent more then 12 years getting my Rotties out there, and showing people how great they really are with the right owner. One article from a media person seems to take it all away from me. When certains breeds of dogs do positive things, it never gets noticed.

[rottcrazed]

Diana,

I have a friend who still has the article cut out of the paper and when she gets it all typed out, I will forward it on to you.

Our dear Ms. Corbella also printed some of the responses that she got from people all over North America in the Sun the following week after the original article was printed.

Still, nothing else has been said, but I will get the article to you once I have it in my hands!!

Kristi

[my2rotties]

Thanks Kristy. I was wondering what was going on since the online Calgary Sun was asking if certain breeds should not be allowed in the city for a poll they had. 75% of the people thought certain should not be allowed in the city.

Ms. Corbella has infuriated me with many of the articles she has written. I notice she never really has anything nice to say about anybody. She is very one sided and opinionated to say the least. I think she gets people mad with things like this for her own personal response ratings in regards to what she writes. You know darned well she was snickering to herself about the "bleeding heart" dog people that would be writing to defend their pets.

I can't wait to see what she wrote... thanks for offering to send it. We really need to stand together on things like this.