Comments on: Tuesdays With Murray: Chapter 118 (Oreo’s Law.)

By: kari

kari — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:58:51 +0000

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary was one of the no-kill shelters that took several of the Michael Vick dogs. These were all dogs that the Human Society sentenced to death. Best Friends believes that animals can be rehabilitated, but it does take a lot of time, patience, and sadly money. I hope the law passes and that more people will realize that its humans that traumatize the animals and humans that need to step up and help them.

My sister works daily with some of these dogs that have been deemed unable to be in contact with people and have had them eat out of her hand. You never know how much someone can change until you give them that second chance. Very sad story and hopefully there will be less of them in the future. And just a shout out – you can watch more about Best Friends on the National Geo. Channel and the show Dog Town. Thanks for the post.

By: wendyr

wendyr — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:06:02 +0000

I don’t know what to say. I am quite emotional right now anyway, and this just added to it.

If there are people willing to help the animals, they should be helped. My husband and I took in three feral kittens a few years ago, and it breaks my heart that Oreo was not given that second chance.

By: mihow

mihow — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:42:21 +0000

Kizz: I am so sorry to read about your pup. Letting go of a pet is terribly difficult. I’m sorry.

I agree entirely with what you just wrote. I wish i had written it myself.

Thank you, everyone, for all your help. I do hope this gets passed.

By: heathercoo

heathercoo — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:41:06 +0000

Thank you Michele for writing this. You have no idea how much this means to me. I am the owner of a pit bull that was due to be uthanized but by the grace of something found her way into a local foundation that specializes in fostering/adopting pit bulls and bully breeds.

I will support this 100% and I am emailing your post to San Fransico’s Bad Rap organization. They are one of the amazing organizations who stepped up to rehabilitate the Michael Vick dogs. You can’t find a more powerful message than what those dogs went through and still came out to be amazing and fully adoptable dogs.

Jonathan, I ask you to go to http://www.badrap.org and see the actual story for yourself in regards to the rehabed Vick dogs before you consider the dog being unrehabable.

By: Kizz

Kizz — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:39:30 +0000

I’ve had a lot of trouble following this story since my own dog passed away so recently. Almost none of the Michael Vick rescued dogs were euthanized. Even the ones who weren’t adoptable were given an opportunity to live out their natural lives. It seems as though, with Oreo’s notoriety and the support being offered, more time could have been taken to fully evaluate her. So I really don’t think the ASPCA was doing the most responsible thing. They were doing something that might be right and they were doing it in a way that completely erased all possibility they would be held responsible for any future incidents. I think Oreo deserved better. Thanks for pointing out the legislation.

By: originalpenguin

originalpenguin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:34:11 +0000

The ASPCA does amazing things and I have so much admiration for their efforts. However, they take care of all kinds of animals, in all conditions. It seems clear to me that they can’t specialize in rehabilitating aggressive or traumatized dogs. I absolutely believe that an organization which does focus on this aspect of dog rescue should be allowed to continue the rehab effort on a dead-end case like Oreo. As for the safety issue, if an organization that does specialize in aggressive dogs is able to get that dog to a point where it’s adoptable, the potential adoptors also know they will be working with a special dog. They won’t adopt out that sort of dog to someone unprepared or unsuited for it’s disposition. It’s also possible that one of the organization’s handlers could foster the dog indefinitely, if it can’t be fully rehabilitated. That’s actually quite common.
The reality that the pit bull breed is facing is a really harsh one, so many of them are in shelters and thousands are euthanized. I think this subject is a particularly sore one because we as humans have caused this crisis. It spotlights the cruel, irresponsible, and lazy choices that have led to their plight. I am more concerned for the safety of the community harboring people capable of throwing a dog out of a six-story window. Those are the true criminal menaces in this case, and I shudder to think what else they are capable of.

By: Empty Cages Collective

Empty Cages Collective — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:59:58 +0000

Jonathan, the issue isn’t about attacking the ASPCA specifically.

The issue is that abused, ill (but treatable) animals, or healthy animals should be transferred to a legitimate animal rescue who is willing to accept them/treat them/attempt rehabilitation on them if the only alternative is killing them.

Is it any surprise that a dog thrown from a roof by humans would show some aggression towards humans? Oreo was young and the possibilities for rehabilitation was promising. Those who are abused deserve second, third and forth chances. The ASPCA isn’t the end all and be all of animal rescue. Perhaps Pets Alive would have succeeded where the ASPCA failed. Oreo deserved the consideration of trying.

By: houpley

houpley — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:12:56 +0000

Consider it done. (http://houpley.blogspot.com/2009/12/oreo.html)
Our family just adopted another rescue and it breaks my heart not to be able to save every one of them. Thank you for your words – you speak for those who can’t.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:16:46 +0000

I do support the spirit of this law.

But I think its important to note that , in this case , the ASPCA didn’t just say “Hey, no one wants this dog – let’s euthanize her.” The ASPCA workers — who try to save thousands of pets each week — deemed her to be unsafe and un-rehabilitatable. Multiple workers agreed that she was unpredictable and too aggressive, and she turned on her handler of several months.

While it would have been great if they did turn over this dog to another shelter, what would have happened when that dog attacks people next ?

I’m not trying to attack the law, I’m just trying to illustrate that people have been deriding the ASPCA on this — but it seems to me like they did the most responsible thing, not the least responsible.

By: Jerilyn

Jerilyn — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:47:38 +0000

I have three dogs, all due to be put down for one reason or another before they found their way to me. They are amazing creatures, each with their own personalities and quirks, and it took a lot of hard work to get them where they are today. I have a lot of love for dogs that need a second chance.

I don’t live in New York, but I do have dog-lovin’ friends there. I’ll let them know.

By: minxlj

minxlj — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:38:45 +0000

Do the ASPCA have any contact info to forward an official complaint? Is there an independent body in the US you can lodge a complaint with? I can’t believe they were so damn arrogant when other specialists offered to help. This kind of thing really boils my blood – yet aggressive humans get a second chance! Nobody would think twice about giving a violent, aggressive child a chance – but animals have to suffer?? I’m damn sick of this selfish, ignorant attitude :(