The Wiggle Butt Gazette

It is now halfway through the new year. As always, our rescue is bursting at the seams and we have plenty of tales to tell. Thank you to all who subscribed. We hope you enjoy the new version of "The Wiggle Butt Gazette."

All of the stories listed in the index can be found by scrolling down the page.

: Ohio BSL HB 568 Statewide Ban Alert

: Wiggle Butt of the Month: Romeo

: Adopter of the month: Sara Rose Rayne

: A Pit Bull Hero: Lucky's Story

If you enjoy reading "The Wiggle Butt Gazette" please stop by the "How You Can Help" page  (link located above) and support our rescue. Thank you, Christine Mikulski.

Information from www.animallawcoalition.com

Original report: Ohio State Representative Tyrone Yates has proposed a bill today that would prohibit the ownership of pit bulls in the state of Ohio. The bill requires all owners to surrender their "pit bulls" within 90 days of the effective date of the proposed law. The bill is unequivocal that the dog warden "shall" euthanize all pit bulls within 10 days of their surrender.

Also under this proposal a dog warden or other officer who has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, may apply for a search warrant. With the search warrant the officer will have the authority to seize the pit bull dog and surrender it to the dog warden to be killed.

Under current Ohio law a vicious dog is defined to include pit bulls regardless of their temperament or behavior, but there is no statewide prohibition on owning and keeping these dogs. The Ohio Supreme Court has upheld Ohio's current law. Click here for more on that. A bill pending in the Ohio legislature, H.B. 366, would repeal the state law that defines vicious dog to include pit bulls. Click here for more on that bill.

Please take the time to follow the link below for more information and write a polite letter to the Ohio representatives and tell them to vote NO on H.B. 568.

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/breed-bans/article/524

If this law passes thousands of dogs will die.

This is not just an issue for Pit Bull owners and Ohio residents. If the state of Ohio bans Pit Bulls there is no guarentee your state won't follow their lead.

Please speak out today. If you wait to see what happens or let this go it may be too late.

I VOTE FOR MY , PIT BULL! Bumper Sticker by HeartsOfGold
Get this custom bumpersticker at Zazzle

Breed Specific Laws are the Pits! Bumper Sticker by HeartsOfGold
Get this custom bumpersticker at Zazzle

ROMEO 

Romeo is approximately six months old now and is one big goofy, happy boy! He ADORES his foster siblings, romping around the yard, playing fetch, and is trying to figure out how to catch the Frisbee. He is a lovebug, very generous with his kisses. He will talk to you and let you know when he needs to go out, but is still working on perfecting his manners. He does have a bit of a shoe fetish, so you have to be careful about leaving shoes out!

For more information on Romeo or on how to apply to adopt him follow the link below to his petfinder page.

http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9590991

Pictured Above KARA

Pictured Above: Kara

 Above 2 Pictures: Kara and Tucker

 Pictured Above: LUCKY AT THE VET AFTER BEING HIT BY THE SEMI

True heroism is remarkably sober, very un-dramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.--Arthur Ashe ("Points to Ponder" Reader's Digest, Aug. 1994)

Recently it occurred to me that a true pit bull hero is not always a pit bull, sometimes it is the people who pull together to save them.

I recently heard the most wonderful story of love, compassion and heroism about a group of strangers who came together to save a dog that had been hit by an eighteen wheeler and was left for dead on the side of the road. This is the story of Lucky the pit bull.

A pit bull lays injured on the side of the road just outside of Memphis, TN. He had been hit by an eighteen wheeler and (as for most pit bulls) the chances that anyone would care enough to stop and help him were slim. But he was one of the lucky few. Nancy Cummings happened to be driving down that same road, stopped her car, picked him up and took him to her vet and even paid for it. Amazingly enough he had no broken bones and was ready for rescue. Nancy then proceeded to contact Donna Velez of Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue who posted (now named) Lucky on a national Pit Bull rescue list called the Pit Bull Crusaders in hopes that somebody would have the means to take Lucky into their rescue.

It was not long before Melissa Sanders of Low Country Pit Bull Rescue came across Lucky’s story on the Pit Bull Crusaders list and knew she had to do something to help. This was, after all, a pit bull that had already beaten all the odds and he deserved a second chance at life. Melissa had just taken on a foster home who only wanted to foster puppies, but when they read Lucky’s story they were so touched they decided to foster Lucky for the rescue.

Lucky was safe, but still had a long way to go to get to his new rescue and foster home. A transport needed to be organized that would take Lucky over 700 miles from Memphis, TN all the way to Charleston, SC. This transport was long and consisted of many “legs” and would take the help of many volunteers to drive them (legs are short driving distances, usually an hour or so, each driven by a different volunteer along the route from point a to b). In the end, the transport filled and Lucky made it to his new foster home in South Carolina.

Since arriving in South Carolina Lucky has been adopted to a forever home. His new mommy took him on a foster-to-adopt contract a few weeks ago and is 100%, hands down, in love.  She's a vet tech and Lucky is now the new vet clinic mascot.

Lucky is only one of many pit bulls in the United States that was saved by an every day pit bull hero. These heroes are people who are running rescues, volunteering at shelters, fostering dogs, stopping on the side of the road to save a lost or injured dog and donating their time and money even when they don’t have it to give (just to name a few). These heroes will never be acknowledged with a plaque or given a medal at a ceremony. They will rarely hear the words thank you and will never get national recognition for their good deeds on the news or in the paper. Real heroes don’t do it for these reasons. They do it for the wag of a tail and a lick on the cheek, for a look in the eyes of a dog who has known nothing but pain and suffering that says “thank you” for helping me. They do it simply for the thousands of dogs who can’t speak for themselves or cry out for help when they need it. I dedicate the story of Lucky and all who saved him to you, the unspoken heroes of the world. Thank you for all that you do.

COMMENTS FROM LUCKY’S HEROES:

Please note that some of the people who were involved in Lucky’s transport had never met a pit bull before this. See how Lucky touched their lives.

LUCKY’S RESCUE

Since arriving in Charleston, he's had some x-rays to make sure he didn't have any broken ribs, which came out fine.  But, he's at the vet today due to spontaneous nosebleeds all weekend.  The vets can't find a definite reason for his nosebleeds, and so we're trying to raise some funds to do extensive blood work, including some sort of clotting test to test for a possible blood clotting disorder.  No matter what health problems arise, he is still the absolute sweetest boy ever!!!  Several of the people he has come into contact with have told me that he is truly the sweetest Pit they have ever encountered.  Today, when the vet called me to update their findings, she said everyone there was having a good chuckle - Lucky was put in a kennel right next to a Chihuahua and on the Chi's cage has a big "Warning - Biter" sign, and there's this Pit Bull with a huge head and his ears chopped off, looking all foreboding, with his butt wiggling, giving kisses, next to this biting Chi...  They said it was the funniest sight and a good example of the honest truth about Pits.  Lucky is so much of an inspiration to the people at the vet clinic that the vet who saw him today (they rotate) said he just put more faith in her that she will have a Pit eventually, because she has fallen in love with their wonderful temperaments.  I have been absolutely amazed at how much they love him there.  They were actually happy that he has to stay all day at the clinic because I can't pick him up until after work, so they get to play with him all day.  What a happy boy!!

Here's another cute addition...  a girl who has a Pit locally saw Lucky's story and printed out a beautiful picture of her blue Pittie, Lincoln, on a little note card that says "Welcome to Charleston Lucky!  Love, Lincoln"  .. It was so adorable.. She put a $25 Pet Smart gift card in with it for Lucky and didn't include a return address or anything - I knew who it was though, no one has a gorgeous Pittie named Lincoln but her!  Just another angel of his.  =)

Melissa Sanders

Low Country Pit Bull Rescue

TRANSPORT

My name is Herbanna Dickinson and I had the pleasure of being a part of Lucky's transport.  I have to tell you that I was a little apprehensive at first, because I had never been around a Pit Bull dog prior to this transport.  I could not have chosen a better "first experience" with the breed. Lucky is truly a sweet doggie and passenger.  He just chilled and answered every question I asked him - ha! ha!
 
Herbanna Dickinson
Knoxville, TN

TRANSPORT

Even though I had a full house at the time Gina called, I couldn't turn her down in her quest to help Lucky on his way to a new home.  I generally end up rescuing small dogs so imagine my hesitation when coming face to face with a pit bull, healing scars and all.  All my fears were gone the minute he came out and leaned against my leg.  It was worth all the shuffling necessary to find him a place to spend a good night on his journey.  At the time I had a mama beagle with 5 puppies (1 week old) and a parvo recuperating foster upstairs, not including my own two dogs. 

Lucky spent a safe night in my downstairs bathroom.  Imagine my neighbors surprise when I took him on his morning walk before transport, it was priceless.  He helped change my view on pits for the better...

Keep up the good work. 

Beth Schultheis

TRANSPORT

My name is Joan Vogt.

I helped with Lucky's transport, picking him up at Hartford, TN and taking him to Asheville, NC (which is where I live) to hand off to Joey to take on to Spartanburg, SC.

Lucky was such a sweetie!  He gave me a "hug" when I first met him and then, again, just before I handed him off to Joey!  What a good boy!!

He was VERY strong.  The place where I met Joey to hand Lucky off to her is the emergency animal hospital for the region; he could hear other dogs barking, and some of the daycare doggies made an appearance while we were there waiting--those drew his attention, as well.  He would stand up on his hind legs and pull, and it took all I could muster to keep him in check!  I was amazed with the tugging he was doing that he wasn't choking himself!

I am so glad to have had a small part in his rescue and hope he has a very happy life.

FOSTER HOME

Hello...

        My name is Sarah Kennedy and my husband Michael Kennedy and I are Lucky's foster home until he finds a forever home. Taking in a foster dog I really didn't want an adult dog but once I heard his story I really wanted to help him. Lucky is such a great dog and adds a lot of personality to my home! He can be a lot to handle at times but he is learning rather quickly because he is so smart. If I didn't have two adult dogs of my own I would keep him in a heart beat because he is such a sweetie and great with my 11 month old daughter, my dogs and just everyone that meets him.

Sarah Kennedy

LUCKY’S ADOPTER

Lucky officially came into my life on May 4, 2008. I owned a Pit 2 years ago who now lives with her daddy, and I fell in love with this goofy, playful, loyal and all too often misunderstood breed. I was fostering a pit mix from school who we eventually lost to osteosarcoma, and after his death, I mentioned that while I didn't want another dog to replace him, I'd really like to be able to help another dog, specifically a pit or pit mix. A friend of mine told me about Low Country Pit Bull Rescue, and I started looking at the pictures of all the adorable dogs and I knew I really wanted to help in some way. Of all the dogs, I kept going back to one named Lucky. His bio mentioned that he was rescued after a good Samaritan saw him get hit by an 18-wheeler! and I thought, "Wow, I guess his name really fits!" In all his pictures he looked like the typical silly Pit-curled up on a chair, playing with his toys. I didn't expect to be able to adopt him, but I was really excited to get an email from Melissa Sanders saying she'd like to meet me and bring Lucky. We discussed a foster to adopt option because I also have a beagle-Chihuahua mix and I was concerned they wouldn't get along. So Lucky entered our world. He had some separation anxiety at first and would bark at the top of his lungs when I left for work. He also thought it was really funny to race away from me in the mornings when I tried to get him to go in his crate so I could go to work. He got so excited that his feet spun on the floor and he fell down, then jumped up and I swear, laughed at himself. It wasn't long at all before he was playing with my other dog, jogging down the road with me, and of course, sleeping in the bed. I'm very glad I upgraded to a double bed because while my little dog sleeps quietly at the foot, Lucky sleeps on top of me, or tries to push me off of my own bed! He races and runs and constantly makes me laugh with his goofiness. After being part of our lives for the past 3 weeks, I can't imagine it without him.

Melissa C.

It took several heroes to make Lucky's new life come together.

Nancy Cummings (Lucky's savior) - picked Lucky up off the street and paid for his vetting
Donna Velez - Hearts of Gold Pit Rescue, networked to find Lucky a rescue

Melissa Sanders - Low Country Pit Bull Rescue, took Lucky into her rescue
Judy Bond - graciously donated his neuter

Lucky's Transporters:

Gina Austin arranged to get him from Memphis all the way to Knoxville
Beth Schultheis kept him overnight
Herbanna Dickenson drove a leg of the transport
Joan Vogt drove a leg of the transport
Joey Avellino drove a leg of the transport
Carolyn Kearse drove two legs of the transport

Lucky's Foster Mom:

Sarah Sublett

Lucky’s New Home:

Melissa C.- She adopted Lucky and gave him the home he always deserved!

Lucky's Vet Clinic:

Ohlandt Vet Clinic - Dr. Roumillat and Dr. Bradenberg - thank you for taking excellent care of Lucky!

Thank you to all of you. You truly are Pit Bull heroes!

By: Christine Mikulski

7 Pictures Above: LUCKY THROUGHOUT HIS "ADVENTURE"

4 Pictures Above: LUCKY AND MELISSA FROM LOW COUNTRY PIT RESCUE

Above: LUCKY DURING HIS TRANSPORT