ELDERBULLS

The Power of the Elderbull

2011-07-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

- Alfred Tennyson, "Ulysses" (1842)

I am old.

Time has taken away my strength. Gray fur covers muscles that used to bulge. Stubby nubs rest in gums that once housed white teeth. A silver muzzle casts a shadow on my broad jawline. Caloused skin covers old scars. Arthritic elbows offset my barrel-chested stance.

But do not pity me.

I am no longer defined by my physical self, so eyes that were once fearful now look at me with compassion.

I can no longer breed, so minds that were once greedy now look at me with indifference.

I can no longer fight, so hands that were once malevolent no longer seek to exploit me.

Do not pity me.

For I, as an Elderbull, have a unique role to play.

Though time has made me fragile and weak, time has also given me a gift to reach hearts and minds that were once frozen by fear or ill-will.

Until we see the day where no dog is judged his or her physical appearance, let us not underestimate the capacity for Elderbulls to tread where younger dogs cannot yet go.

Let us view our age not as a weakness, but as an opportunity.

Let us not underestimate the power of the Elderbull.

For even though we may need to be carried, we will plow the way for all dogs to be treated fairly.

Save a life. Open a heart. Change a culture. Adopt an Elderbull.

What's in a Name?: Pit Bulls and Senior Citizens

2011-06-24T09:23:00.000-07:00

In Shakespeare's play, "Romeo & Juliet," two star-crossed lovers fall in love, but they belong to two fueding families and are prohibited from being together because of their last names, Montague and Capulet.

Reflecting on the absurdity of denying their love because of the baggage associated with the warring families, Juliet asks, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

In the end, Romeo and Juliet kill themselves so they could be together in the afterlife, rather than live apart in this world.

How often are dogs killed because someone labeled, or named, them a "pit bull?" In areas with breed-specific legislation that bans their existence, it happens every day. In other areas where shelters/rescue groups place "special" adoption restrictions on dogs they label as pit bulls, countless dogs are killed instead of being adopted out to families who don't meet their "special" requirements. While some manage to get out, many other pit bulls die because there is no space.

ALL BECAUSE OF A NAME.

So, to quote Juliet, "What's in a name?"

First let's look at a group that has nothing to do with dogs: senior citizens.

In the United States people are labeled as "senior citizens" in a variety of contexts, and the opportunities and treatment afforded to them varies depending on when that label is affixed and when it is not.

Is there a consistent definition of "senior citizen?" The answer is no.

Below is a list of organizations that offer or restrict opportunities (e.g., discounts, entitlement benefits) based on a person's age; the number is the age at which that organization considers someone to be a "senior citizen."

In one day, the same individual can go shopping for clothes, eat food, watch a movie, rent a car, apply for retirement benefits, and adopt a dog....and at some places she's defined as a "senior citizen," but at others she is not.

Same person, different contexts, different definitions.

I asked my Facebook friends, "At what age do you define a person as a senior citizen?"

The answers varied significantly and included: 65, 72, 70, 65 or 62, 60, 50, or 80.

So what about pit bulls? Is there a clear and consistent definition for a what a pit bull is?

The answer is no. Again, it depends on who is defining him, in what context he is being defined, and where the dog is located.

I'll use myself as an example -- that's me, Sarge, pictured below.

(Photo by Jennie Ruff)

Am I a "pit bull?" Depends on where I am, who is asking, and why.

If I am with The Real Pit Bull (a rescue, education, and advocacy group): NO, I am not a pit bull because they define them as purebred American Pit Bull Terriers.

If I am with the American Kennel Club: NO, I am just a mixed-breed dog because they only recognize purebred American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers (but not American Pit Bull Terriers); futhermore, they do not recognize the term "pit bull" as a breed.

If I am with the United Kennel Club: NO, I am just a mixed-breed dog because they only recognize purebred American Pit Bull Terriers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers (but not American Staffordshire Terriers); furthermore, they do not recognize the term "pit bull" as a breed.

If I am in the City of Boston: YES, I am a pit bull because they define them as any/all dogs who "displays the majority of [physical] characteristics" of an "American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or any dog exhibiting those distinguishable [physical] characteristics." [Note: Boston has BSL, so I am required to be muzzled if I enter the City of Boston because I "pose a significant threat to the health, welfare, and safety of the residents and visitors to the City of Boston.]

If I am at any PetSmart Hotel or Doggie Day Camp in the United States: YES, I am a pit bull because they define them as part of the "bully breed classification," which they define as "American Pit Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, OR mixed breeds that have the appearance or characteristics of [at least] ONE of these breeds." [NOTE: As a result, I am banned from coming to PetSmart Hotels or Doggie Day Camps "for the safety of all animals and associates."]

If I am in Omaha, Nebraska: YES, I am a pit bull because they define them as "any dog that is an American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentina, Presa Canario, Cane Corso, American Bulldog, or any dog displaying the majority of physical traits of any one or more of these breeds."

If I am in the Pennsylvania SPCA shelter (where I was adopted from): YES, I am a pit bull because the person who made my kennel card listed me as a "pit bull terrier mix" based on my physical appearance.

If I am on the MARS Wisdom Panel DNA website: NO, I am not a pit bull because "due to the genetic diversity of this group, we cannot build a DNA profile for the pit bull."

[Note: According to my MARS Wisdom Panel DNA test, I am a mixed-breed dog with significant traces of Boxer, Boston Terrier, and American Staffordshire Terrier.]

I could go on and on citing examples from cities (especially those with BSL), shelters, rescue groups, businesses, etc, and come up with different answers for each one.

Same dog, different contexts, different definitions.

In 2011, A pit bull is whatever anyone says it is, whether we like it or not.

So what's really in a name?

Many people define things according to the behaviors they associate with the name, or label.

When my Facebook friends listed their definitions of "senior citizen," many of them listed behaviors. These included: when they start thinking of themselves as knowing it all; when they want to retire; when they want senior discounts; when they start feeling old; when you go into a nursing home; when they can no longer do every day things for themselves; when they feel stiff; when they forget things; or when they stop looking toward the future and focus only on the past.
Whether my friends realize it or not, all of these behaviors are based on stereotypes.

While there are certainly individuals who REALLY DO exhibit these behaviors, my friends might be surprised to learn the following stats about people age 65+ in the United States (current as of 2009, compiled by the US Administration on Aging) :

* 97% of seniors live in the community (in a house, apartment, etc); only 3 % live in an institutional setting (i.e., nursing home, hospital, jail).

* 75% of seniors living in the community do NOT require extra help with activities of daily living (i.e., "every day things" like bathing, eating, dressing, grooming, using the toilet).

* 41.6% of seniors living in the community assessed their health as "excellent" or "very good" (compared to 64.5% of people age 18 to 64).

* 87.5% of seniors DO NOT have Alzheimer's disease (which causes memory impairment).

Therefore, the majority of people age 65+ do not meet the criteria by which some people define "senior citizens."

What about pit bulls? Can we compile accurate statistics about pit bull behaviors, which could help us predict behavior of individual dogs who look a certain way?

No, we cannot.

The above statistics are based on individuals with documented dates of birth. The sample population only included people aged 65 and older (as of 2009) and was large enough to reflect the population as a whole, so researchers could accurately extrapolate from their sample to the entire 65+ population in the US.

With pit bull dogs in 2011, there is no way to gather a sample population that reflects the behavior of all dogs labeled as pit bulls.

Everyone defines them differently, so we'd be comparing apples to oranges. Although we could limit ourselves, for example, to American Pit Bull Terriers who are registered with the UKC, those dogs are not representative of all dogs labeled as "pit bulls" throughout the country. And it's highly likely that purebred American Pit Bull Terriers exist who are not registered or do not have any pedigree papers.

So why do communities with BSL define "pit bulls" by expected behaviors (dangerous, vicious, and threatening to society)?

Why do shelters and rescue groups believe they can predict how a pit bull (according their definition) will behave, and restrict adoptions accordingly?

It's all because of stereotypes.

We cannot allow stereotypes about groups to predict the behavior of every individual in that category, whether we're talking about senior citizens or pit bulls or any other group who has been labeled.

I hope you'll consider this next time a dog's life depends on the name assigned to his appearance. No dog should have to join Romeo and Juliet in the afterlife just because the rest of the world couldn't get past a label, or because the shelter/rescue worker was too lazy to get to know the individual dog in front of him.

The Mad Dog/Pit Bull Fallacy of 1925 and 2011

2011-06-22T10:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday on Facebook I promised to send my trading card (shown below) to every person who correctly filled in the blanks to the following excerpts from newspaper articles:

"I've come across more than 500 _____. As I told you people last year, I have been bitten twice by _____."

"Not one _____ scare in thousands has a real _____ behind it."

"In one Western city, in a _____ scare, valiant cops would walk along the sidewalk and shoot dogs as they lay asleep on their masters' doorsteps."

ALMOST EVERY PERSON GUESSED "PIT BULL." A few people guessed Dobermans. One person said Golden Retriever.

All OF THEM WERE WRONG. (One person guessed correctly, but it was on her second try).

The answer was: "mad dog," a label used to describe a dog with rabies. The newspaper excerpts were from 1925 (shown below).

"I've come across more than 500 cases of so-called mad dogs. As I told you people last year, I have been bitten twice by so-called mad dogs."

"Not one mad dog scare in thousands has a real mad dog behind it."

"In one Western city, in a mad dog scare, valiant cops would walk along the sidewalk and shoot dogs as they lay asleep on their masters' doorsteps."

* It's important to note that while cases of rabies were higher in 1925 than they are today, those cases were still extremely rare, in comparison to the total population of both dogs and humans.

What is most interesting to me is that BREEDS or GROUPS of dogs were not the only subjects of fear in the past. As the above example illustrates, any dog -- regardless of breed, shape, size, or appearance -- can fall victim to hysteria.

In other words, THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT BREED; it's about the POWER OF FEAR to trump reason and hold ANY AND ALL DOGS captive, often with deadly consequences.

Therefore, in our attempts to advocate for and celebrate pit bulls, we must stop placing emphasis on BREED, as breed (or, in most cases, presumed breed or mix of breeds) did not make pit bulls deviant to begin with. FEAR made them deviant.

Take the following example from a 1925 newspaper article (shown below) about the mad dog scare, "Why Be Afraid of Dogs?"

"A poor harmless street dog gets a fit or is stoned by boys till it's in panic. It snaps at someone. Fear does the rest. The whole town is scared stiff. For weeks, every dog that is off its feed or dumpy or sick or unhappy gets shot as a mad dog. Every dog has to wear a muzzle or be chained up or kept indoors."

Wait! This is starting to sound like towns in 2011 that have breed-specific legislation!

Here's how that same article would read today if we substituted "pit bull" for "mad dog":

"A poor harmless dog gets neglected/abused or is exploited by boys till it's in a fit. It bites someone. Fear does the rest. The whole town is scared stiff. For weeks, every dog that has short fur or a seemingly muscular build or blocky-shaped head gets impounded and killed for being a pit bull. In areas that don't have outright pit bulls bans, but have other forms of breed-specific legislation, every pit bull dog has to wear a muzzle or be kept in special enclosures and carry exhorbitant amounts of insurance."

A few more examples of how "mad dog" and "pit bull" (and the years 1925 and 2011) could be interchanged. These are excerpts from a 1925 article on "mad dogs," but I inserted "pit bull" after each reference to illustrate my point.

"But just take a look at any of the mad dog/pit bull scares that are forever bobbing up, in town after town. When the scare has subsided, what do you find? You read that a lot of harmless and friendly pet dogs have been massacred as a safeguard to the community and that the epidemic is at end. 'At an end!' It never was at a beginning, except in the scared brains of a lot of cowards or of people who don't know the truth."

"Use your own brain, for half a minute. You speak as if every mad dog/pit bull starts out to bite every other dog and every human....That is the customary idea. It's silly."

"A dog gets lost on a crowded street. He runs up and down, getting more and more scared and confused every minute. Maybe some kids get to chasing him or stoning him. He foams at the mouth. He's so scared he thinks everyone is an enemy. He gets to snapping [biting]. Then goes up the good old yell of 'Mad dog/pit bull' again."

Whereas in 1925 any dog who "snapped" (i.e., bites) was labeled a "mad dog," such is the case in 2011 for "pit bulls."

BOTTOM LINE: Fear has the power to make ANY dog a deviant. It's not the breed we should be focusing on. It's the fear. Fear can lead the hysteria for dogs of any breed, type, shape, size, age, or color.

Therefore, animal advocates, in our attempts to advocate for pit bulls, it's time we stop keeping the focus on breed and start putting the emphasis back on the root of the problem: FEAR.

PS: I'm happy to send my trading card to anyone who wants one! Please send me an email (elderbulls@gmail.com) with your name and mailing address.

Part Two: With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

2011-06-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

There's an old fable about a man in Persia who sat at a city gate and saw the Plague entering the city. He asked the Plague how many it was going to kill. The Plague answered, "I'm going to kill 300." A month later, as the Plague was leaving the city, the man met it again and he said to it, "You lied. You told me you'd kill only 300, but 9,000 are dead." The Plague answered, "I did not lie. I killed only 300. My twin-brother, Fear, killed the rest."

This fable is an all-too-familiar reality for some pit bull dogs.

In the past (and in a dwindling number of places at present), breed-specific legislation (BSL) is what plagued the pit bull dogs. But times are changing. More and more cities are ditching their discriminatory and ineffective laws that target dogs based on physical appearance without addressing the dogs who pose a real threat to society, on a case-by-case basis. A few days ago, on June 17, 2011, Cumberland County (in Canada) dropped their BSL in favor of breed-neutral laws that focused on dangerous dogs'/reckless owners' behaviors, rather than dogs' physical appearances. Animal Control Officer Darby Arseneault noted, "From what I understand, a lot of communities are moving in this direction." For examples of those communities, click here.

So if the tides are turning and politicians are learning that a dog's physical appearance does not make him inherently dangerous, then what else is holding the pit bulls back?

It's the fear-based language, policies, and practices of shelters, rescue groups, and advocates who consider themselves "friends of the pit bulls" that inadvertently continue to place us in an "other" category of dog.

Below are a few examples of how some "friends of the pit bulls" have recently used fear-based rhetoric to describe the dogs, either intentionally or [hopefully] not:

- Missouri Pit Bull Rescue says pit bulls are "the ultimate canine gladiator" and has "a firm no same-sex placement policy." (Thank goodness my bro Junior didn't wind up there, or he would never have made it home to me!)

- The ASPCA says pit bulls "may have little control over their behavior," they "tend to bite harder in play than other breeds," and they "require a degree of special treatment."

- PETA says "preventing more pit bulls from being born" is the only way "to help prevent tragic attacks."

- Pit Bull Rescue Central says pit bulls "have superior physical and mental characteristics," including a "high tolerance for pain."

- A pit bull rescue group near Baltimore, Maryland told Fox news that perhaps cities should "maybe put something out there that you should have to have a license to own X amount of breeds. I mean, that I think would be fine, too, because somebody, somewhere with authority is screening the people that are walking these dogs around that are capable of doing things that are powerful."

- Not limited to pit bulls but disproportionately targeting them, the San Francisco SPCA states, "The San Francisco SPCA uses a '50%' rule in its adoption policy - the smaller of two dogs must be at least half the weight of the larger dog." (My family is lucky we don't live in San Fran, or Junior and I would have break up with our girlfriend, Mary Todd Lincoln, who is a rather portly Pug but still checks in at slightly less than half our weights.)

- In 2010 an anti-dogfighting advocate in Philadelphia told a major newspaper, "Fighting dogs are not hard to spot. They will bark or lunge at other dogs. [Pit bulls] kept with big collars or pit bulls with clipped ears most likely are being used as fighters. They can be seen all over the city. Dogfighting is a big problem in Philadelphia." (With three cropped-earred pit bulls, two of whom wear huge collars, you can imagine how my family felt when this was published! Are Mom & Dad fighting dogs while I'm asleep?! According to our "friend," they most likely are.)

- When interviewed for a story on a dead raccoon found hanging from a tree in Philadelphia, the Cumberland County SPCA (located an hour away) seized the opportunity to put locals on high alert for dogfighting. (Did the "fighting pit bulls" use the raccoon as bait?!)

As I've said before, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

How is it that politicians, who have no vested interest in sugar-coating pit bulls, are understanding that dogs need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, yet the "friends of the pit bulls" still insist on placing ALL of us in a category of dog requiring "special" treatment? How is it that these "friends" don't recognize that by making us "special" they inadvertently cause us to be feared and demonized?

How is it that more and more cities realize that they can't predict a dog's behavior based on generalizations about physical appearances, yet some "friends of the pit bulls" still adhere to blanket adoption policies that presume all dogs who look a certain way will behave the same way, too?

BOTTOM LINE: BSL was the Plague that killed pit bull dogs in those areas. It's twin-brother Fear -- manifesting himself in too many shelters, rescue groups, and advocates -- is what continues to kill the rest.

The History of the Pit Bull: Santa Claus Was a Dogfighter

2011-06-15T10:10:00.000-07:00

"PIT BULLS WERE HISTORICALLY BRED AND USED FOR FIGHTING."

We hear this over and over from politicians looking to pass breed-discriminatory legislation (BSL) to ban pit bulls, and from sensationalist media reporters looking to add shock-value to a news story. The phrase also shows up in almost every piece of legislation banning pit bulls.

But we also hear it from pit bull advocates, rescue groups, and shelter workers.

They say that "the history of the pit bull" requires us to take special precautions when adopting out pit bulls (if they'll even adopt them out), and to make adopters jump through extra hoops to protect the pit bulls from their own special powers. One pit bull rescue in the Midwest even describes pit bulls as "the ultimate canine gladiators" and warns potential adopters that without extensive "knowledge of the breed" and its "superior and specific fighting abilities," the dogs will "become more problems than fun," "destructive and difficult to handle," and "can chew you out of your house!" After all, they say, "there is nothing a Pit Bull cannot do."

The result?

By scaring away or rejecting any adopter who isn't himself a "gladiator" in the market for a mythical beast with supernatural powers, pit bull dogs are killed every day because no one could possibly be skilled enough to adopt one.

After all, "the history of the pit bull" has proven that these dogs are, in fact, unlike any other dog, and it takes a VERY special kind of warrior to own one.

But is that really the only thing history has showed us?

Today I found a 1933 issue of The Times-Picayune from New Orleans, Louisiana. Back then, the newspaper had a kids' section called "The Young People's Paper," where kids could letters to a fictitious "Aunt Jane," and Aunt Jane would print their letters along with her responses.

On January 1, 1933, a little girl from New Orleans wrote a letter on behalf of her beloved pet dog named Bullie.....who happened to be a pit bull! She talks about her pit bull's dog friends. And she even describes the Christmas presents that Santa Claus brought to her pit bull (which begs the question......was Santa fighting dogs? Oh, Santa! Please, don't tell me Rudolph was a bait reindeer!).

Since the photo is so small, I transcribed her letter for everyone to read (see below).

Why do I love this? Because it illustrates "the history of the pit bull" that got left out of the conversation. Pit bulls were/are/will be cherished family pets, even though a small minority of the dogs were/are/will be exploited for dogfighting and become victims of cruelty at the hands of human beings.

Whether you're a politician looking to ban pit bulls or a pit bull advocate trying to get them adopted, may you never forget that the history of the pit bull is as diverse as the dogs themselves. And may animal advocates never again cause a homeless dog to be killed because of their narrow version of "the history of the pit bull."

Dear Aunt Jane:

Bow-wow! Woof-woof! Oh, I did not mean to frighten you, Aunt Jane, but may dogs become members of your club? Yes? Oh, how proud I am! And do you send dogs club pins? I suppose it seems funny that I should be able to wear it, but that jolly old man whom they call Santa Claus may bring me a collar and a chain for Christmas, so you see I could wear it on that. Then, when I go to see some of my dog friends, I will be ever so proud to say I belong to Aunt Jane's Letter Club, and of course, they would see my club pin, which I'm sure they would like.

I think now it is about time to describe myself. I am a pit bull, and my name is Bullie. I have what my mistress calls lovely fur. It is brown, black and white. My ears stick straight up in the air. I don't suppose that anyone likes naughty dogs, but if I do have to say so myself, I am a very naughty one sometimes. I bark and bark until someone has to call me to stop. Don't you know that for dogs, barking is a pleasure as singing is to people?

Let me tell you one of my adventures.

Now I am quite a large dog, but when I was a puppy, I was so small that you could stick me in your coat pocket. I was taken out in a very large thing called an automobile, and where do you think we rode to? Right straight to Audubon Park. Of course, dogs are not allowed in the park, but I was allowed to play on the outer edge in the grass. I played ball and played with sticks. Don't you think that's an adventure for a little dog, Aunt Jane?

Well, I must run away and bark a little while now. I will close hoping to become a dog member of your club. Please tell all the dog cousins who have pets to write to 'BULLIE,' care of Elizabeth Irons, 4521 Perrier, New Orleans.

Pit Bull Dogs of the Past, Present, and Future

2011-06-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

My humans did some shopping this weekend throughout upstate New York. They thought they left us dogs at home, but images of pit bulls kept popping up everywhere they went -- from chain stores like Old Navy to fancy home furnishing boutiques and several antique shops (they ran into former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer at one of them!).

Seems like everywhere you turn these days, a pit bull dog is looking back at ya! Mom snapped the following pictures to prove that pit bull dogs are an undeniable part of our culture and community, whether we're reminiscing about pit bull dogs from long ago or celebrating the pit bull dogs of today.

Makes you wonder: If pit bull dogs are so much a part of society, why would some shelters and rescue groups make it so hard to adopt them? Perhaps they need to get out more.

And if you find yourself thinking, "Hey, that's not a pit bull dog!" then please remember that somewhere, someplace, someone else thought it was. And if that dog were real and found itself in a shelter, we'd better hope it weren't one with discriminatory or outdated adoption policies against dogs who look a certain way.

From the Old Navy kids section in Kingston, NY (on sale for $5 -- woohoo!)

Spuds McKenzie coin bank at an antique store in Stanfordville, NY

Mom bought Spuds, along with his two friends. The feller in the back reminder her of me and my brother Junior!

Pit bull dog portrait in a fancy schmancy home furnishings store in Hudson, NY. Love me some brindle!

Coffee table book (appropriately titled "Dogs,"published 2007) in the same fancy schmancy store......it now lives in our not-so-fancy-schmancy home!

Off to buy dog food at "Dogs of Hudson" -- Mom and Dad were googly-eyed when they spotted this doggie in the window!

Doggie doorstop at a home design/art gallery in Hudson.

Mom was tempted to buy this piece she saw in a window display (at the same store), but we don't follow those rules at our house!

Old bull dog print from an antique store that smelled like an attic.

That store had a collection of customers' dogs by the register. That white feller in the top left looks awfuly handsome!

Vintage toy from the 1940s featuring "G.I. Joe and his K-9 Pups." The pup on the left tried talking Mom into buying this toy, but she learned it cost $225 and went on her merry little way.

This German kids toy (Flippo by Guntherman) also caught her eye. Skunked again! It cost $270. That's a lot of kibble.

Leaping back into modernity, Mom & Dad wandered into a boutique that sold pretty-looking soaps and other things that are so nice, you'd be afraid to actually use them. Wadda ya know! Among the floral themes was a.....Bull Terrier!

This old guy almost came home to live with us. He was at an antique store and seemed like a nice catch, until Mom & Dad remembered my sister Fannie's fear of statues (ask them about the time they took Fannie to the Unviersity of Georgia and she freaked at all the bulldog statues......).

Up there with the other dogs (in the same antique store) was the fella on the right, a cast iron door stop from a time when milk was still delivered to your doorstep. He was a handsome little booger, and Mom might save up her allowance to "adopt" him. She's a sucker for pit bull dogs with cropped ears.

On their way home, Mom and Dad stopped in a cafe on Warren Street in Hudson to get a sugar fix. And wouldn't ya know it, right on cue, this pretty lil' thing was outside waiting to greet them! Her name was Allie and she's 6 years old. Her Dad adopted Allie when she was 2.

And there ya have it.......pit bull dogs always were/currently are/always will be a cherished part of our society!

PS: In the future, when that Old Navy kids shirt ends up in a vintage store 50 years from now (probably selling for $200), you remember where you saw it first: "ELDERBULLS!!"

A Month of Famous Firsts...from the First Ladies!

2011-06-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

All across the USA, the past 30 days have been full of FIRSTS! So my housemates, "The FIRST Ladies" -- Mary Todd Lincoln (left), Nancy Reagan (middle), and Martha Washington (right) -- asked if they could write a guest blog post.

This, too, will be a FIRST, so here goes nothing.....

(Left to right: Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan, Martha Washington)

Our Fellow Americans:

It is with great pride that we celebrate the following "FIRSTS" that haven taken place throughout our great nation over the past 30 days. Each one brings us closer to our vision of creating safe & humane communities for all: one nation, under Dog, with liberty and justice for all.

Travel with us as we celebrate these milestones.

In Dog We Trust,

Mary Todd Lincoln, Nancy Reagan, and Martha Washington
June 7, 2011

Washington, DC: We begin in our nation's capitol, where Tank was the FIRST pit bull dog to be released to a rescue group from a rural animal control shelter in South Carolina. Tank was quickly adopted (his foster Mom said it happened "in the blink of an eye!") and he now lives in a loving forever home in Washington, DC.

(Tank)

Cleveland, Ohio: Next we travel North to Cleveland, Ohio, to the folks at the Cleveland Animal Protective League (CAPL). In May 2011, thanks to a new-and-improved adoption policy, Joliette became the FIRST pit bull dog to be adopted from CAPL in 25 years! With a fair and progressive policy in place that views each dog as an individual instead of a stereotype, we're sure Miss Joliette will be the FIRST of many, many pit bull dogs to find loving homes!

(Joliette, adopted from Cleveland Animal Protection League)

Cleveland, Ohio: Speaking of Cleveland, have you heard? On June 6, 2011, the Cleveland City Council voted to drop its discriminatory and ineffective vicious dog laws that targeted "pit bulls" based soley on physical appearance! As Councilman Matt Zone, who introduced the legislation, told Fox 8, "The breed of a dog is not an indicator of its personality. These revisions shift the focus from the type of dog, to its behavior and neglectful actions of its owner." John Baird, Chief Animal Control Officer for the City of Cleveland added, "There are many responsible owners with good pit bulls. In my years of experience, it has become more difficult to identify, with certainty, if a dog is indeed a pit bull." Right on, Officer Baird! For the FIRST time ever, Cleveland is on the road to becoming a safe & humane community! PS: Kudos to the National Canine Research Council for providing this poster (also below) to the folks in Cleveland, which undoubtably helped with the process!

Dutchess County, New York: Head East as we visit Dutchess County, New York, two hours outside of New York City. With support from Animal Farm Foundation, a local library in Stanfordville started their FIRST ever "Read to the Dogs" program that featured local pit bull dogs! Our brother Sarge the Elderbull was the FIRST to volunteer, followed by McCoy (top) and then me, Martha Washington (bottom)!

(McCoy)

(Martha Washington)

Stanfordville, New York: Also in Stanfordville, Mojo (left), Sarge (middle), and Hector (right) were the FIRST pit bull dogs to march in the town's annual Memorial Day Parade! They also made two movies about their experience: click here to watch the first movie, and click here to watch the second.

(Mojo, Sarge, and Hector)

Newark, New Jersey: Headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, Prudential Financial - a financial services company with approximately $784 billion of assets under management - featured their FIRST pit bull dog in their new commercial, which aired June 2011: click here to view the commercial. Prudential joined the ranks of other companies, from Fortune 500s to local businesses, who use pit bull eye candy to promote their products and services. To celebrate how mainstream society has embraced pit bull dogs as America's family pets, Sarge the Elderbull created the FIRST compilation of pit bull dogs in 21st-century advertising campaigns: click here to see it!

Jefferson County, Ohio: Traveling back to Ohio, a Grand Jury charged a Jefferson County man named Sherman Bell with three felony counts of dogfighting after a nine-month investigation and joint legal action by the Humane Society of the United States and the Jefferson County Humane Society. Thanks to a unique provision in Ohio law, which allows local humane societies to bring criminal charges against animal abusers, this was the FIRST time Ohio's special prosecution statute has been applied to dogfighting. In 2010, more than 200 dogs were seized from Bell's propety, evaluated as individuals, and given the opportunity to be adopted or sent to rescue groups. To read the full press release, click here.

Do you have any famous FIRSTS we should celebrate? Email them to elderbulls@gmail.com or post them on Facebook at Sarge Wolf-Stringer.

21st Century Pit Bull Dogs in Advertising

2011-06-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

We always hear about the good old days, when pit bull dogs were used in mainstream marketing & advertising. Buster Brown? The RCA dog? We love the vintage ads from way back when!

But what about pit bull dogs today?

You may be surprised to learn how many mainstream companies in the 21st century use pit bull dogs to promote their products and services.

Let's continue to celebrate the glory days of pit bull dogs of yore. But let's ALSO celebrate the positive images of pit bull dogs today!

After all, there is plenty to cheer about!

Here are some examples I pulled from the past few years. Enjoy!

Hyundai:

Molly Mutt: the Dog Bed Duvet Company: click here to view their website.

American Idol Crystal Bowersox (for her album, "Farmers Daughter):

Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health: click here to view the website.

KV Vet Supply:

Trupanion Pet Insurance:

Plugg Jeans Co. (sold at J.C. Penny):

Kroger Grocery Store:

Woodland Series Dog Beds:

Milk-Bone Dog Biscuits:

'Lucky' Magazine (April 2011, p. 153):

Bi-Mart:

Old Navy: click here to view commercial.

Eleanor's Kitchen in Phoenixville, PA:

Free People Clothing Boutique: click here to view website/catalog.

In the Company of Dogs: click here to view website/catalog.

SKETCHERS Shoes:

Amazon Kindle: click here for commercial.

Boyds Philadelphia: click here for website.

To view the complete "BOYDS Spring/Summer 2011 Magazine" (featuring numerous pit bull dogs), click here and flip to pages 108 to 118.

Doctors Foster & Smith Pet Supplies:

Scotch (3M) Lint Removal Products: click here for website.

Ruff Wear Performance Dog Gear: click here for website.

Rachel Ray's Nutrish Dog Food: click here for website.

Prudential: click here to watch commercial.

Blackberry: click here to watch commercial.

Lowe's Home Improvement: click here for website.

(This is from a Lowe's commercial that aired on tv in March 2011, but I can't find the link!)

Sally Loo's Wholesome Cafe in San Luis Obispo, California: click here for website.
Lagunitas Brewing Company: click here for website.

Fetch Bar & Grill in New York City: click here.

Do you have an example of a pit bull dog in 21st century advertising/marketing? Please share it with the Sarge-ster by emailing me (elderbulls@gmail.com) or posting it on my Facebook page (my profile is Sarge Wolf-Stringer). Gracias!

Reefer Madness.....Animal Welfare Style

2011-06-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

[NOTE: Please read disclaimer* at the end of this post.]

Dear Animal Rescuers:

If someone tells you he/she wants to adopt a pit bull from your shelter or rescue, you must take EXTRA precaution. Why? Because CRIMINALS are out there (in the trees?) waiting to get their hands on our dogs. It's up to you, animal shelters and rescues, to protect the pit bulls from these dogfighters, who are lurking in the parking lots and at adoption events just ITCHING to get their hands on the dogs.

They are going to use them for fighting. The shelters'/rescues' websites even said so: pit bulls were historically bred and continue to be bred primarily for fighting. Or maybe as bait? Oh, those bait dogs....I saw 87 posts on Facebook yesterday of bait dogs in shelters. They're everywhere. Haven't you seen them? They're the pit bulls with scars. Or other wounds. Or just shy. EVERYWHERE!

DANGER!

If we're not EXTRA careful, the homeless pit bulls waiting in shelters or rescue groups will fall into the hands of these violent criminals. We MUST screen our pit bull adopters FBI-style to catch them in the act. Pull out all the tricks: home checks, criminal background checks, photographic evidence of their so-called "homes." They may present as nice people (and their veterinarians and employers may claim they're upstanding citizens), but have you actually LOOKED in their closets? Who knows what you might find.....rape stands, steroids, fight records. Don't let your guard down.

No one is safe. Just look at the news.

In my hometown of Philadelphia this week, a pit bull dog from a dogfighting ring was hung from a tree and left for dead.

Not surprising, right? Because Philly is the dogfighting capital. Of the universe. Animal Planet told me so. (Or was it Chicago? Or Los Angeles? Shoot, I can't remember....)

It's sick what people will do to these dogs if we -- if YOU! -- don't protect them! You know, keep them out of "the wrong hands" and all.

Just look at what will happen.......

"A Man Discovered What Appeared to Be a Small Pit Bull Hanging From a Tree in Philadelphia"

But wait, what's that??? The media spoke too soon??? We're not actually sure what breed of dog it was???

Well certainly it MUST have been a pit bull, right? Of course it was!

And obviously it was part of a dogfighting ring!

I bet it was a bait dog.....definitely a bait dog. You know what? I bet Michael Vick was behind this.

Oh, shoot. There's more? The PSPCA did a necropsy on the fighting pit bull? And they determined it was......

A RACCOON???????

(Click on photo for full story - and note the highlighted parts)

But....but.....but.....certainly this had SOMETHING to do with dogfighting, right?

Let's ask an "expert" -- someone who works at an animal shelter:

(Again, click on photo for full story)

Huh.

So a dead raccoon turns up in a tree in Philadelphia, and the people in Cumberland County, New Jersey -- a town located over an hour from Philly -- are put on high alert for dogfighting?

And better yet, the Cumberland SPCA is faced with a "pervasive problem" of pit bulls who were "continually bred to bring out their worst traits".....as evidenced from the dead raccoon found hanging from a tree in another state?

As a pit bull dog who actually did spend the first 14 years of my life with a convicted animal abuser, I'm constantly amazed that any of us make it out of animal shelters/rescues alive. With all the tall tales the "dog advocates" spin about us, quite frankly I'm afraid I'm going to attack myself in my sleep.

Or if I don't, my owners certainly will.

After all, they never had a "home check" (!).

From,

Sarge the Elderbull

*In case you can't tell, the Sarge-ster is being sarcastic. But seriously, humans, can you please stop it with the hysteria? We dogs deserve better than fear-based approaches to "saving" us. Thank you.

Survivors, Friends, and Healers

2011-05-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "SURVIVOR" as follows:

SURVIVOR (noun): A person who copes well with the difficulties in his life.

I am a SURVIVOR. I endured 14 years of abuse before the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) rescued me from a person who abused animals. In 2008/2009 I spent five months healing at the PSPCA, and then I was adopted into a loving forever home, where I could enjoy life as a family member who was loved and respected.

The boys at the "Kids in Transition" (KIT) Program are SURVIVORS, too. The KIT Program is located in Camden, New Jersey, and provides specialty residential treatment for adolescent boys age 13 to 17 who face complex emotional and behavioral challenges. The boys have suffered from traumatic physical or emotional abuse and come to KIT to heal.

WE ARE SURVIVORS.

And we are friends. I've had the honor of visiting the KIT boys on several occasions. One time I brought along my pal Hector, another SURVIVOR of abuse. Hector is friends with the KIT boys, too. My Mom works for Animal Farm Foundation, and they've supported our visits to KIT. So Animal Farm Foundation is friends with the KIT boys as well.

Yesterday I received a VERY special gift from the KIT boys, which I want to share as a reminder that we are SURVIVORS, friends, and partners in the effort to build safe and humane communities. These posters mean the world to me, and I'm so grateful for the effort and heart that went into making them!

"TOP TEN FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT SARGE VISITING THE KIT PROGRAM"

By Hamid C., 17 years old, Camden, NJ

(1) I am glad that Sarge is still alive.

(2) Sarge did not deserve to get abused.

(3) Sarge was a quiet dog when he was at KIT.

(4) He is not an aggressive dog, he is a kind and sweet dog.

(5) I think Sarge was everybody's friend in KIT.

(6) Everybody in KIT loves Sarge and he loves us, too.

(7) Sarge is one of the best dogs I ever met and he is also a brave dog.

(8) Sarge is a big-hearted dog and everybody should love him.

(9) I like the way Sarge was smiling at the kids and even me.

(10) Me and Sarge is mostly alike because me and him can get along with people right away, and another thing is me and him used to be in multiple homes.

"CAMDEN LOVES ANIMAL FARM FOUNDATION (AFF) -- HOW AFF HAS HELPED CAMDEN"

By the KIT Program, Camden, NJ

(1) Taught teenagers the misconceptions about pit bulls.

(2) Helped children build empathy.

(3) Helped teenage SURVIVORS of trauma heal by spending time with AFF ambassadors, Sarge and Hector.

(4) Educated youth about animal abuse by providing The Lost Dogs book to teens and coordinating a visit to meet the author.

(5) AFF inspired community service among teenage boys in a treatment program -- they now volunteer weekly!

With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

2011-05-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

I love history.

Maybe it’s because I’m old (16.75 years!). Maybe it’s because my Dad studied history in college. Or maybe it’s because I giggle when the History Channel comes on TV and Mary Todd Lincoln charges the screen when she hears aircraft (fact).

But there are certain “histories” that I don’t love.

“Historically, pit bulls were bred for fighting.”

We hear this over and over and over again as justification for the different treatment of pit bull dogs. It ranges from the obvious (e.g., “breed” bans, flawed dangerous dog laws, discriminatory insurance companies) to more subtle cases (e.g., shelters who won’t adopt out pit bulls, agencies who require special adoption contracts and/or procedures, therapy dog programs who won’t allow pit bull dogs to participate).

Below are some examples of how “the history of the pit bull” (and the seemingly inevitable conclusion that can be drawn from it) is used to justify discrimination against the dogs in our presence today:

So where is all this coming from? I assumed it was dog fighters. Certainly, there is ample historical evidence of American Pit Bull Terriers being used for fighting and, sadly, no one can deny that, nor can they deny that some dogs today suffer at the hands of criminals.

But below is what renowned American Pit Bull Terrier breeder and former dog fighter Louis Colby said:

"If you mated two champion dogs and harvested a litter of 12 pups, there might be one champion in the group."

(It’s worth noting that “gameness” in the fighting pit and aggression toward dogs are NOT the same thing. But that’s another blog post that would best be written by a dog behaviorist, not the Sarge-ster.)

So if the odds of producing a champion fighting dog are, at best, 1-in-12, then why are we focused on the 0.8% of dogs who might excel in a fighting pit to describe the history of American Pit Bull Terriers – let alone all “pit bull” dogs – today?

Good question.

These days, it seems as though the pit bull advocates themselves are one of the primary sources of this information and hysteria.

I did a Google search of the definition of "pit bull" and "fight" and "rescue." Here’s what I found:

(A high pain tolerance? Rubbish! No science has ever validated that claim, most often used by abusers to justify that pit bulls actually LIKE fighting.)

You can see why the Sarge-ster got confused. Let’s consider for a moment the unintended assumptions embedded in the dog advocates' arguments, which fuels the fire of fear and hysteria (and worse....):

(1) Were all, or even the majority, of American Pit Bull Terriers used for fighting? Or were some of them kept as companion animals, working dogs, or other purposes?

(2) Of the dogs who were intentionally bred for fighting, were ALL of them “successful” as "fighters"?

(3) Most importantly (!) , should we be afraid of "fighting dogs" and condemn them to death, or has experience shown that many victims of cruelty have gone on to be cherished family pets -- and in some instances, members of multi-dog households, or even therapy dogs?

IT'S TIME THAT DOG ADVOCATES STOP INADVERTENTLY USING HYSTERIA AND FEAR TO "DEFEND" THE DOGS.

Our inclination to protect the dogs put us all on the same team. But it's time that we realize how some of our words are being used to discriminate against the dogs in our presence today.

More and more, we are seeing mainstream dog owners understanding that regardless of breed or mix of breeds, every dog is an individual. We cannot know or predict anything about how an individual dog will behave based on looks alone. So why rely on old tales from days of yore to describe the dogs in our care today?

Certainly some will argue that such an approach is "naive," or "pollyanna," or "denying the 'traits' that make Pit Bulls' the dogs that they are."

My mind was blown after reading Janis Bradley's article in "The Bark" on breeds and behavior. And I quote:

“If you take more complex behaviors that are actually selected against in the wild, like compulsively fighting other dogs and failing to respond to the doggy body language equivalent of ‘crying uncle,’ for example, your odds of reliably producing the behavior through artificial selection go down dramatically. This explains how so many of the so-called ‘game-bred’ dogs from fight busts (like the ones rescued from Michael Vick’s fighting operation) have gone on to live companionably with other dogs as relative couch potatoes in normal homes.”

As my friend Jim Gorant explained in his book, The Lost Dogs:

“In truth, the pit bull was simply a dog, imbued with all the positive and negative attributes of its kind. Just like any dog, pit bulls could be sweet, friendly, and loving, and they could also be unruly, ill-manned, and prone to doing incredibly stupid things by human standards.”

Last, but not least, I want to close with a quote from someone I've never met, but has been a relentless advocate for the equal treatment of all shelter animals who are the victims of a failed relationship with the humans who domesticated them:

“The past provides lessons on how to harness what is best in humans, as well as how to overcome what is worst, such as the habit of allowing our limited experiences to validate false and misleading dogmas that justify oppression as the inevitable, or natural, state of the world.” - Jennifer Winograd

It's time we stop using the boasts of criminals and the assertions of those "experts" or advocates who believe or embrace them to defend -- and, in essence, to oppress -- the dogs who deserve our unbiased support today.

"ELDERBULLS: The Movie"

2011-05-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Turn up your speakers, grab some popcorn, and tune in to "ELDERBULLS: The Movie," released May 2011.

They're old! They're gold! And they're paving the way for all "pit bull" dogs, one gray muzzle at a time!

Click here to watch: "ELDERBULLS: The Movie"

Trick Questions

2011-01-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

I love trick questions. Adore them. They keep people on their toes.

Here's a good one: AM I A PIT BULL????

The answer = yes and no.

(Still there?)

Yes, I was labeled as a pit bull by the shelter because of the way I look. Let's face it, I'm not a Pug or a Shih Tzu. I have short fur, a big (ish) head, I'm larger-than-most-lap-dogs-but-not-quite-a-Great-Dane, and Michael Phelps envies my broad shoulders. Oh, and I found myself in an urban animal shelter. And I was seized from an animal cruelty case.

So I'm a pit bull, right? Well, I AM one of the many, many, many.....many..... shelter dogs who don't come with pedigrees and don't have AKC (or UKC or any KC....) paperwork. When the kennel worker greeted me upon arrival (along with ~30 other dogs who arrived that afternoon), I had to be categorized in the shelter's database. That database does not like ambiguity, so that person had to pick a primary breed. Just saying I'm a "brown male 60-pound dog" was NOT an option. I had to be labeled.

I was labeled as a pit bull. No surprise there. Haven't we all heard that 50%....or maybe 65%....or was it 75%....no, it was 90% (??)....of shelter dogs are pit bulls?

But wait...am I REALLY a pit bull?

Not if you mean that I have AKC papers proving I'm a purebred American Staffordshire Terrier, or UKC papers saying I'm a purebred American Pit Bull Terrier. [Confused? You're not alone.....but that's another blog post!]

I'm just a d-o-g. A mutt. A mixed breed dog. A dog of unknown origins.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

That means:

* I am NOT a "breed ambassador."
* I do NOT act in a way that's "typical for my breed" or "conforms to my breed standard."
* There are NO "breed traits" or "breed characteristics" that apply to me.

But am I proud to be called a pit bull? HECK YES! Dogs labeled as "pit bulls" or "pit bull mixes" constitute such a wide range of dogs, each with his/her individual personalities and strengths. Pit bull ain't a dirty word! In fact, I quite like it!

And now for the MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION:

Does the fact that I was labeled as a "pit bull" tell you anything about me as an individual dog?

HECK NO!

All that label tells you is how-the-shelter-worker-who-was-working-when-I-came-into-the-shelter-thought-I-looked-when-she-was-forced-to-select-a-breed-from-the-drop-down-menu.

And that's about it. Really. Don't believe me? Read up: http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/canines-issues/breed-identification/

So, now that we know my physical appearance tells you nothing about me as an individual dog........

Should shelters or rescues make special adoption policies for me?

NO!

Should I be considered inherently "vicious" or "dangerous" in certain parts of the country?

NO!

Should my family (and I) be denied rental houses?

NO!

Should I automatically be rejected from doggie day care?

NO!

Should only "experienced owners" be allowed to adopt me?

NO!

Should households with small dogs or cats automatically be denied the opportunity to adopt me?

NO!

Should everything I do be interpreted a "pit bull behavior"?

NO!

You get the picture.

I am Sarge. I am a pit bull and I am a dog. And it's very nice to meet you! Now, I must go snuggle with my girlfriend.

Doggie Secrets REVEALED!

2010-12-29T12:26:00.001-08:00

I’m a dog. Aint no doubt about it. And if you’re reading this, then you’re probably a human.

From a dog to a human, I want to let you in on some secrets we dogs have kept to ourselves…….until now.

DOG SECRET #1:

We don’t like it when people or organizations assign breed labels to us unless our ancestry is known. It causes us to have an identity crisis when humans expect us to act a certain way just because some shelter worker was forced to select a breed in the drop-down box on Petfinder! Humans are skilled at many things, but NO human is capable of knowing a dog’s breed/mix of breeds just by looking at him. Really, it’s true, and I have the proof: click here! More important, NO human can accurately predict how an individual dog will behave based solely on his physical appearance. Don't belive me? Click here. Besides, more than 50% of dogs in the US are estimated to be mixed breeds, so why not ditch these silly labeling systems and get to know each dog as an individual……even if that means referring to us as just (gasp!) dogs! For more food for thought, click here.

Note: Assigning a breed and then adding the word “mix” still confuses the heck out of everyone. If you insist on labeling us, then go with the only science-based, time-tested, 100% accurate label that works: “d-o-g.” You will never go wrong, I promise!

DOG SECRET #2:

Junior, Martha Washington, and I are not “BREED ambassadors.” Why? Please refer back to DOG SECRET #1. Junior, Martha Washington, and I are mixed breed dogs, so we don’t know what breed you’re referring to!! Do we love being called pit bulls? HECK YES!!! Of course, some people/groups believe that only purebred American Pit Bull Terriers should be called “pit bulls,” but we dogs don’t have control over what people call us or the way things have evolved over time. So we proudly embrace being called pit bulls……we just can’t take credit for being “breed ambassadors!”

DOG SECRET #3:

This one’s important and lately I’m seeing a lot humans who have not heard this secret yet, so listen up: dogs DO NOT like it when humans spew hatred or threaten to use violence against people they dislike, even when those people are convicted animal abusers. Let’s be honest, some dogs (like me, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Nancy Reagan) have every right to be angry and want revenge for the horrible acts committed against us. But it upsets us when people are angry, it scares us when people want to hurt each other, and it confuses us when people would advocate for violence and hatred…..in our name! It’s a disservice to all dogs and all of mankind when humans employ the same techniques they’re supposedly advocating against. By the way, you know what hurts us dogs the most? When people post photoshopped pictures of dogs attacking animal abusers or when people say dogs would take pleasure in hurting animal abusers. Please!!! That is NOT who we are, nor would our parents EVER allow us to do such a thing! If I see this happen one more time, I’m going to…….well, I’m not going to do anything because I’m a dog and I live in the moment and don’t make moral judgments. But you get the point.

Thanks for listening!

Love,

Sarge the Elderbull

PS: We dogs give you permission to share our secrets, so go ahead and spill the beans!!

PPS: None of these are actually secrets :) Ha ha, made ya look!!

The Circle of Humanity

2010-12-28T12:52:00.000-08:00

My Mom is a geriatric social worker who helps caregivers taking care of homebound elders. The caregivers are often the adult son or daughter of an elderly person and they provide daily hands-on care in the elder’s own home.

This morning my Mom was visiting an 91-year-old man and his adult son who serves as the primary caregiver. The father lives alone in the house he purchased for his family in the 1960s. He suffers from hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes and is diagnosed with dementia (type unknown). He is bladder and bowel incontinent so he wears adult diapers. He can’t support himself in the shower, so he gets sponge-baths every other day. He spends his days in a specialized recliner and spends his nights in a rented hospital bed, which is lined with special pads to absorb urine or feces in case his diaper leaks. He has an elevated bedside table where he keeps a glass of water, his pill box, the television remote, and a phone. His room has one window, which looks out on his street in a crime-ridden section of West Philadelphia. His wife died several years ago after a long battle with cancer. She died alone in a nursing home. His son promised that he’d never place his father in a home – not after everything his mother went through.

The elder’s son is a 63-year-old divorced male who is his father’s only remaining child. His siblings have all either died or lost contact with the family. He lives five minutes from his father in a rented studio apartment. Until recently, he worked full-time and would visit his father on the way to work, then again on the way home. In the mornings he helps his father out of bed and into his chair, dresses him, cooks him breakfast (Cream of Wheat), and takes his morning pills from the pillbox for his father to swallow. In the evenings, he cooks his father dinner (pureed food required), gives him a sponge bath, changes him into pajamas, lays fresh pads on the hospital bed, and helps his father transfer into it. Once his father is asleep, he has time to wash the dishes, do the laundry, take out the trash, and pay his father’s bills. Then he heads home to his empty studio apartment.

This routine changed a few months ago when the son was convicted of drunk driving (not the first offense) and sentenced to house arrest. He lost his job and had to forfeit his license. He now wears an ankle bracelet to track his whereabouts at all times. With Mom’s help, he got special permission to leave his house every day in order to take care of his father. He has to walk there and come straight back. He’s no longer allowed to do his father’s shopping, so he pays a neighbor to pick up Cream of Wheat, diapers, and other necessities for him.

This morning when Mom was visiting them at the father’s house, she watched the son as he spoon-fed his father Cream of Wheat, like he does every morning. This time the son was wearing an ankle bracelet, too. It stuck out from underneath his sweat pants. It was bigger than Mom expected. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen someone wearing an ankle bracelet, but it was the first time she knew the person wearing it. Maybe that made it more noticeable. She watched as the son – a convicted criminal – spoon-fed his father, just like he’d done every morning and night since his father became ill. A criminal, feeding Cream of Wheat to his elderly father to whom he promised to never place in a nursing home. Not after everything his mother went through.

At the end of her visit Mom told the son that she recently accepted a new job, so his case would be transitioned to new social worker. The son congratulated her, upset to see her go but happy for her new opportunities. He told her she’s lucky to find work in this economy. He didn’t mention how hard it was when you’re on house arrest, too. But his eyes said it for him. He asked where she’d be living and she told him New York State. He said he heard it’s beautiful up there and he’s always wanted to see it. He didn’t mention that he couldn’t because he’s on house arrest. Nor did he mention that he couldn’t travel anyway because his father needed him there. But his eyes said it for him.

Mom said goodbye and wished the son good luck and good health. She told him his father was very lucky to have him -- not everyone would make these sacrifices, even if it’s their own family. He said he’s just grateful the judge allowed him to serve his sentence at home. If he had not, his father would have suffered the same fate as his mother did several years ago – dying alone in a nursing home.

Before turning to leave, Mom caught one more glimpse at the son’s ankle bracelet.

What was once symbolic of a criminal act suddenly represented the son’s selfless commitment to his father as well. As long as that bracelet stayed on his ankle, he could honor his promise to his father. That round piece of plastic and metal symbolized both guilt and compassion.

As Mom drove away she thought of a quote from The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates: “Even the worst decisions we make don’t necessarily remove us from the circle of humanity.”

Top 10 Quotes I 'Heard' in 2010

2010-12-23T10:27:00.000-08:00

I am deaf as a doorknob, but I heard people say some amazing and thought-provoking things in 2010. So, my friends, I present you with:

“SARGE THE ELDERBULL'S TOP 10 QUOTES 'HEARD' IN 2010"

#10: Jim Gorant, Senior Editor at Sports Illustrated and author of The Lost Dogs: Michael Vick’s Dogs and Their Tail of Rescue and Redemption: “It should not be surprising that so many of them [Vick’s dogs] seem to have failed [at fighting]. One experienced law officer estimates that 80 percent of the dogs, even those raised in a professional fighting operation, won’t even scratch. That is, they won’t even cross the line and engage with the other dog….. Some dogs can be raised in the harshest way possible and still have nothing but happiness and companionship to share with the world.”

#9: Stacey Coleman, Executive Director of Animal Farm Foundation: “People have chosen to believe what they hear [about pit bulls]…They take the criminals’ word for it. The criminals have told us that pit bull dogs are aggressive and mean. Of course they’re going to say that! They’re not going to admit that their dog is really like this [Yukon, pit bull rescued in 2010 from alleged dog fighter in Ohio, now a certified therapy dog]. It’s time for everybody to just step back and get to know the dogs like Yukon and let them teach us what they really are.” (For the complete interview, click here: All For Animals)

#8: Mary Todd Lincoln (center), upon hearing that her two boyfriends (me and Junior) are pit bulls: “Oh, Sarge! Oh, Junior! Shakespeare's Juliet asked Romeo, 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.' Call yourselves what you want, but a pit bull by any other name would be just as sweet!"

#7: Jim Gorant on Marthina McClay, CPDT, President/Founder of “Our Pack Pit Bull Rescue”: “She began seeking them [pit bulls] out when she went to shelters, and she noticed a trend. When pit bulls were evaluated for adoptability, the attendants usually went in expecting a problem. When someone’s looking for a problem, he usually finds one.”

#6: Junior, my brother, adopted from the Philadelphia Animal Care & Control Team shelter: “Labels are for clothing, not for dogs!”

#5: Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO of The Humane Society of the United States: “Where the human-animal bond has been broken, we want it to be restored…We must be open to the possibility that rehabilitation is possible, and faithful to our hope that people can change. When that rehabilitation succeeds, it’s to the good for all involved – people and animals alike.”

#4: Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates: “Even the worst decisions we make don’t necessarily remove us from the circle of humanity.”

#3: Teenage boy (name withheld) I met at a group therapy session for boys who were abused: “Thank you for coming….I learned from your visit that kids or adults can change.”

#2: Bill Bruce, Director of Calgary Animal Services & By-Law Services: “In North America, the vast majority of animals that fill our shelters or end up on our streets have arrived at that situation because a human relationship failed them. The solution lies in responsible pet ownership and responsive animal services – not animal control and not building more shelters to fill.” (For full article, click here: Viewpoint)

#1: Sarge the Elderbull, on the eve of my 16th birthday: “We’re gonna party like it’s 1994!”

TEAM SARGE

2010-12-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

Want to look good, do good, and feel good all at once? Order a "TEAM SARGE" shirt!

All proceeds benefit "The Sarge Fund" at the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE: http://www.vendio.com/stores/PhillyPAWS/item//sarge-t-shirt/lid=8068196

ABOUT THE SARGE FUND:

Thanks to private donations and a grant from the Animal Farm Foundation, PAWS launched "The Sarge Fund" in 2010 to celebrate and serve the City of Philadelphia’s pit bull population. "The Sarge Fund" enables dogs identified as pit bulls or pit bull mixes to receive heavily subsidized spay/neuter surgeries at PAWS’ Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic, thus promoting a lifetime of health, companionship, and responsible pet ownership.

Since one in four people in Philadelphia lives below the poverty line, PAWS is committed to helping pit bull owners - and all pet owners - obtain affordable and accessible health care for their pets. Doing so allows pets to remain beloved family members, helps reduce the homeless animal population, and limits the number of pets killed in city shelters simply because they do not have homes.

Donations to "The Sarge Fund" also enable PAWS to host monthly Community Pet Days in under-served neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. At Community Pet Days, dog and cat owners can receive low-cost vaccinations, low-cost microchips, and information about low-cost spay/neuter services.

With financial support from "The Sarge Fund," dogs identified as pit bulls and pit bull mixes can receive FREE microchips at Community Pet Days and their owners can obtain vouchers for $40 spay/neuter surgeries at PAWS’ clinic. Volunteers also distribute free leashes and collars to pet owners in need (or in exchange for ropes, belts, chains, and other items used for dogs) and provide tips on reward-based training and responsible dog ownership. Click here for a recap of our first Community Pet Day, held on September 18 in Frankford’s Overington Park.

Donations to "The Sarge Fund" enable PAWS to provide affordable and accessible animal health care services to Philadelphia’s pet owners, especially those who own pit bulls and pit bull mixes. They also enable us to promote responsible dog ownership and to celebrate dogs identified as pit bulls. This proactive, community-based approach (based on best practices across the country) will reduce the number of unwanted or stray animals pouring into shelters, which brings PAWS closer to its goal of making Philadelphia a no-kill city.

Here are some of the ways your donations to "The Sarge Fund" will be used:

$10 pays for one microchip (including registration)
$25 pays for one round of vaccinations
$50 pays for one spay/neuter surgery
$100 provides clinical evaluation and care for an animal with a common, treatable illness

What are you waiting for? Buy a "TEAM SARGE" shirt and support a Philly pit bull in need! All the cool humans are wearing them :)

PS: Donations to "The Sarge Fund" are always appreciated. To donate, click here: www.phillypaws.org/sargefund

We're Gonna Party Like It's 1994!!

2010-08-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

On September 25, 2010, I'm turning 16 years old......so we're gonna party like it's 1994 at my "Sweet Sixteen" birthday party!!!!

Everyone is invited, including kiddies and dogs! There'll be vegan BBQ (courtesy of the Peace Advocacy Network)! There'll be cake (for dogs and people)!! There'll be games!! There'll be music!! There'll be tables with cool info!!

And best of all.....there'll be adoptable doggies who are looking for homes!

I'll also be honoring some special friends and organizations who have helped give me the life I deserve to live. Hey, I didn't reach this point without some special people looking out for me! What better way to celebrate my "Sweet Sixteen" than by saying thank you :)

And you know what will make this party extra sweet? My buddies at Rescue Chocolate are coming all the way from New York City to celebrate with me!!

So get your party pants on and get ready for some fun! I spent my first 14 birthdays with an animal abuser, so I've got a LOT of fun to get out of my system!

Love,

Sarge the Elderbull

PS: Rumor has it that my girlfriend, Mary Todd Lincoln (the elderpug) wants to jump out of my birthday cake.

PPS: I've also heard rumblings of my parents trading in my wagon for a sports car?!!? I hope it's red. Red is definitely my color :)

Salsa, Anyone?

2010-07-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm so happy to be an Elderbull, I can't help but dance! Especially when there's salsa music playing!

Sarge Goes to School Again

2010-07-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Just before school let out for the summer, I visited three classes at Bala Cynwyd Middle School (outside of Philadelphia) for a series of humane education visits. The students wanted to learn about dogs labeled as pit bulls, and I was happy to share my "Elderbull" wisdom with them!

During our conversation, someone brought up the topic of dog bites and talked about what she'd heard from the media about pit bulls. I decided to use this opportunity to debunk some of the claims put forth by so-called "experts."

We've all heard it before: pit bulls have a unique ability to clamp down with their front teeth and grind/chew with their back teeth, thanks to some special jaw structure that enables them to cause far more damage than other "normal" dogs.

Baloney!!

As Karen Delise wrote in The Pit Bull Placebo: The Myths, Media, and Politics Surrounding Canine Aggression: "The grinding/chewing jaw capability is just another of the many myths which surrounded the Bulldog a century ago, and which has carried over into the new Pit bull mythology. Neither Bulldogs, Pit bulls, nor any other breed of dog have a jaw structure that would allow for gripping with their front canine teeth and simultaneously grinding or chewing with their back molar teeth."

To demonstrate just how difficult this would be, I had the students try it themselves. It didn't take long to realize how silly this claim is!

Thank you to my friends at Peace for Puppies for organizing these visits -- and for everything you do for dogs and the people who love them!

I Love a Parade!

2010-07-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

I love a parade!!! On May 31, 2010, I marched in the Radnor Memorial Day Parade (outside of Philadelphia) with my friends from Pals for Life, the therapy dog group with whom I volunteer.

Oh boy, did we have fun!!! I'm deaf so I couldn't hear anything, but I'm told that people were cheering for me all along the parade route!

I was so proud to march with my fellow therapy dogs in the parade. Here are the greyhounds, who led the way.

My Mom decorated my wagon to look like a parade float, complete with gold letters that spelled out "Sarge the Pit Bull."

My Mom also found a festive "Uncle Sam" hat for me to wear. Aren't I a good sport?!

One of my fellow therapy dogs decided to hop in my float and hitch a ride. I'm not one to turn away a pretty lady, so I invited her on board!

I can't wait to "march" again next year!

Mayor Nutter Goes to the Dogs

2010-07-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

On May 22, 1010, Mayor of Philadelphia Michael Nutter named me the "2010 Humane Educator of the Year!" I was the first Pit Bull to be recognized by the Mayor for my work to create safe and humane communities in Philadelphia!! I received my award at Citizens for a No-Kill Philadelphia's "Super Adoption Day."

My parents carried me onto the stage, where I was joined by my old friend Hector the Pit Bull, who traveled all the way from Animal Farm Foundation in New York to celebrate with me!

Here's my plaque, which reads: " To Sarge: For his kind and caring spirit and his significant contributions to educating the people of Philadelphia about animal welfare."

Although my name was on the plaque, this award was really for ALL THE DOGS who work so hard to change minds and open hearts.

Here are some fun paparazzi shots from this special day!!

Hector with his Dad (Roo Yori) and Mayor Nutter

Carla Lou with her Mom ("Little Darling" of Pinups for Pitbulls) and Mayor Nutter

Hector and Martha Washington (my sister!)

Arlene and her foster dog, Sienna (who has since been adopted!!)

Lily, me, and Hector: all certified therapy dogs!!

"The Three Amigos": Carla Lou, me, and Hector

PS: Did you know that Carla Lou, Martha Washington, and Sienna are all Elderbulls like me?!?! Let's hear it for those Golden Girls!!!

Barking Beauty!

2010-05-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

FACT: Beauty knows no limits, whether it's age, physical abilities, or appearance. Don't believe me? Well on May 16, 2010, I was crowned the "2010 Philadelphia Barking Beauty!"

Yep, you heard me -- I won a beauty pageant at the age of 15 1/2 years old!

When "The Philly Dog" posted that "The Barking Beauty Pageant" (which benefitted the Morris Animal Refuge) would be returning to Philadelphia, Mom signed me up right away! After all, I have all the qualities that a beauty queen (or king?) should possess: grace, style, poise, congeniality, and talent, and I coudn't be any more beautiful if I tried.

To top it off, neither a pit bull nor an older dog had ever been crowned Philadelphia's "Barking Beauty," so I just HAD to enter.

My Mom spent several days stitching up custom-designs for the "active wear" and "glamour wear" portions of the competition (we'll get to the "talent" competition in a second). Have you ever tried finding pageant wear to fit a 63-pound Elderbull with a 22-inch neck and shoulders broad enough to make Michael Phelps jealous? Yeah, it aint easy. So we opted for a custom design.

For the "active wear" competition, I sported a tailored Tommy Bahama button-down with mirrored aviators (and Croakies, of course).

For the formal wear, I sported a tuxedo inspired by the infamous Chris Farley/Patrick Swayze Chippendales skit on Saturday Night Live. Did I mention I also have a great sense of humor? It comes with age.

Last, but not least, there was the "talent" competition.......and this is where I have to brag a little. Picture my Mom and I up on the stage, in front of a packed audience, with a row full of judges scoring our every move. The announcer calls us forward to present my talent. The pressure was building.

"Sarge's talent," my Mom announced, "is being alive!"

The crowd went WILD!!!

"He spent the first 14 years of his life living with a person who abused animals in Philadelphia," she explained. "After we adopted him just 15 months ago, Sarge became a certified therapy dog with Pals for Life, and he's been volunteering at nursing homes, hospitals, and schools ever since!"

The top three finalists were selected by the judges, and then the winner was chosen by audience applause. I'm deaf as a doorknob so I couldn't hear the cheering, but Mom tells me it was a clear victory: I was the new Barking Beauty!!!

(This article ran in Metro newspaper on May 17, 2010)

Here I am with 2009's winner, Guido the Chihuahua, who graciously handed over his crown -- and took time to pose on top of my head! Guido is one SUPER cool little dude. I can see us being great friends!!!

The Barking Beauty Pageant was SO much fun, and I highly recommend that every dog enter a pageant at some point in their lives -- especially when the proceeds go to local animal shelters!

It felt fantastic to receive a crown, a sash, a complimentary photo shoot, and tons of gifts, including a custom-made doggie bed from "Girl.Bike.Dog".

But you know what felt even better? Knowing that I opened a room full of hearts and minds to Elderbulls like me!!

This is me with the pageant organizer and her beautiful Yorkie (I had my eyes on this pretty little lady since I walked in the door!).

Like all beauty queens do, I want to congratulate all the competitors for a wonderful showing. Every one of us -- young and old, big and small, purebred and mixed breed -- could have worn the crown well. I promise to make you all proud as I carry out my reign!

I want to especially congratulate the First Runner Up, Miss Sweet Pea, who lives with a buddy of mine named Lauren (pictured below). Not only is Sweet Pea an awesome pittie, but she's a hard-working gal, too.......she and Lauren volunteer with "Pinups for Pitbulls" on behalf of dogs like us! Keep up the great work, ladies!

I'll see you all next year at the 2011 Barking Beaty Pageant!! Be sure to visit http://www.thebarkingbeauty.com/ for details!!

Love,

Sarge the Barking Beauty

PS: Ohhhh!!! I almost forgot the best part!!! My Mom and I got to appear live on NBC for an interview about my big win!!

CLICK HERE to watch our live interview on NBC: "NBC Philadelphia: The Barking Beauty Pageant."

And just for kicks, here's a picture of me posing with the NBC peacock. Haha!!

The Dog That Ate Philadelphia

2010-05-23T17:32:00.001-07:00

My sister, an 8-year-old pit bull named Martha Washington, makes me laugh so much.....and apparently others find her funny, too!

Martha Washington and I were recently featured on OhMiDog!, a blog by Pulitzer Prize winner and former Baltimore Sun reporter John Woestendiek.

Click here to see what Martha did to deserve this fame: "The Dog That Ate Philadelphia."

Note: No humans were actually consumed in the making of this story.

Sarge Goes to New Jersey!

2010-05-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

Until recently all of my therapy dog visits have been in Pennsylvania, but last week I expanded my horizons to the great state of New Jersey! I paid a visit with Pals for Life to Ms. Dudzinski's "First Step" Kindergarten class at New Albany Elementary School in Cinnaminson.

The "First Step" program supports children with special needs, including those who fall along the autism spectrum. Ms. Dudzinski's students practiced their language skills by asking my Dad questions about me.

My Dad also taught them how to approach a dog and invited them to do trial runs on us. The students also practiced their fine motor skills by brushing me, petting me, and feeding me treats (which I loved!).

I enjoyed spending the afternoon with these wonderful children and their dedicated teacher. I hope to visit again soon!

PS: This little boy and I had something in common: we're both missing a bottom tooth!

Sarge Goes to a Law Firm

2010-05-23T16:43:00.000-07:00

My friend Jen works at a law firm in Philadelphia, and she's also a huge animal lover and dedicated shelter volunteer. When she invited me to have lunch in the conference room with her colleagues I jumped at the invitation! My Dad carried me down Broad Street to the office building, where Jen greeted me with a big kiss.

Then it was up to the conference room, where there were tons of toys and treats with my name on them...literally! I was so touched that all these people, who had never met me before, were so nice!

I showed the lawyers that negative stereotypes about pit bull type dogs are a bunch of nonsense; and in return, the legal folks showed me that negative stereotypes surrounding their profession don't always hold true either!

Just like any smart professional, I gave everyone my business card before I left. Thank you, Auntie Jen, for a wonderful afternoon!

Congrats to the Eldergrads!

2010-05-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

It’s mid-May and graduation season is in full swing! Everywhere you look, students are receiving their diplomas, commencing the next stage of opportunity and growth. However, these new grads aren’t ALL spring chickens. Around the country, elders – both human and canine – are proving that age is no deterrent for education and development.

Yours truly is just one example: I was 14.5 years old when I became certified as a therapy dog with Pals for Life, and I was 15 years old when I became started working as a humane educator.

This leads me to the first “Eldergrad” I want to recognize: my sister, Martha Washington, an 8.5-year-old Pit Bull who’s debunking the myth that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” Martha graduated this week from “Basic Manners” class at Opportunity Barks with an army of new tricks! The oldest dog in the class by at least 5 years, she mastered “sit,” “stay,” “come,” and “down” at rocket speed. And she’s not resting on her laurels: Martha is already training to become a certified therapy dog with Pals for Life! I have no doubt we’ll be doing visits together in the near future.

Martha is in great physical shape (she ran 8 miles with our Dad last month!), but I’m not as lucky. At nearly 16 years of age, I have severe arthritis that makes walking nearly impossible. However, I don’t let this stop me from doing therapy dog visits or volunteering as a humane educator.

The second “Eldergrad” I want to recognize didn’t let physical ailments stand in the way either. Lorene Rocker (shown below), an 80-year-old from Oklahoma, graduated this month from East Central University with a bachelor’s degree in counseling (click here for the full story)! Four years ago Lorene enrolled in college, but she had to miss a semester of classes her sophomore year because of blood clots in her lungs. She also has trouble walking long distances, which made it difficult to navigate a large campus. Yet Lorene persisted and she became the first person in her family to receive a college degree.

Lorene will now work as a counselor, helping older adults undergoing rehabilitation for addictions. Unlike younger graduates, Lorene’s age uniquely positions her to work with the older population she intends to serve. “I want to counsel people with addictions, but I really enjoy working with my age group because I understand them so well,” she said.

Reading Lorene’s quote reminds me of a therapy dog visit I did last winter, where my age was an asset rather than a handicap. I was visiting an elder who suffered from severe arthritis and could barely walk. When my Mom told her I also suffered from severe arthritis, the elder said she “knows firsthand how hard it is to get around with arthritis,” which made my visit “even more special.”

The third “Eldergrad” I want to recognize is Alice Thomas (shown above), of California (click here for the full story). At 79 years old, Alice recently became the oldest graduate to earn a law degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Alice said part of the reason she attended law school was disgust over media portrayals of older adults as “doddering fools.”

As a dog labeled as a pit bull, I can relate to feeling disgusted with the negative stereotypes perpetuated by the media! Yes, Alice is indeed a doddering fool. And I am a blood-thirsty killer. (Of course, I’m not just a pit bull, but an older dog, too -- so I guess that makes me a doddering killer?) I became a therapy dog and a humane educator partly to counteract the negative images of pit bulls in the media. Through my actions and my accomplishments, I’m showing the world that every dog (just like every older adult) should be treated as a individual and not judged by myths and misinformation.

The list of “Eldergrads” could go on and on, so I’ll close by saying CONGRATULATIONS to my fellow elders, both canine and human!

And I’ll leave you with a Betty Friedan quote that inspires me to keep on keeping on:

“Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

From,

Sarge the Elderbull

PS: My Dad is graduating from Brooklyn Law School this month......although he's not exactly an "Eldergrad," I'm quite proud of his accomplishments, too! Good job, Dad!

Busy Week for the Elderbull

2010-05-13T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hello, friends!! It’s been a busy week for this Elderbull, I’ve been working very, very hard!

Lucky for me, my Dad is home from law school now (woohoo!!), so he and I have been doing some serious father/son bonding. Last week my Dad and I volunteered at two elementary schools in Delaware County through Pals for Life’s “Read-to-the-Dogs” program. First I went to Sabold Elementary School in Springfield, PA, to visit with the first-graders.

The funniest thing happened….when my Dad introduced me to the class and said that I’ve been on TV before (Fox, Animal Planet), a little girl in the back row yelled out, “I KNOW HIM!!!” Next thing you know, all the kids were calling out, “Me, too!” and “So do I!” We’ll never know if they were kidding or not, but it sure felt great to be a celebrity! Oh, what I’d do to be on Nickelodeon some day!!

Later in the week, my Dad and I visited Scenic Hills Elementary, also in Springfield, for another “Read-to-the-Dogs” session. This time I brought my business cards and gave one to each kid who read me a story. I love keeping in touch!

After my visit, Dad let me do some dancing in the parking lot…..sometimes I’m so happy to be alive and be loved, I can’t help but dance! I wonder if anyone saw me??

On Tuesday, my Mom and Dad took me on a special visit to Disston Hamilton Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia. One of my friends on Facebook teaches 4th grade there and after seeing my blog/Facebook, she asked me to visit her students to share my story.

I’m so glad this teacher took the initiative because it was a fantastic visit! I got to meet all the 4th grade classes and made dozens of new friends!! The students asked me questions, pet me, told me about their pets, and learned about responsible pet ownership & safety tips.

I also told the kids that they can be heroes for dogs, which sparked their interest. There was a recent case, right near their school, a 33-year-old man set a pit bull puppy on fire; a kid reported this to his school counselor, and the puppy was saved…….all because a kid spoke up!

Before I left, I let everyone pet me and I gave out my business cards – and I’ve been keeping in touch with the students over email! One of them emailed me to say “thanks” for teaching her that dogs can go to school, and now she wants to take her dog to training classes. Pretty cool!

That's all for now -- stay tuned for a post about the beauty pageant I'm competing in this weekend!!!!

Love,

Sarge the Elderbull

PS: I'm serious about the email thing......drop me a line anytime at elderbulls@gmail.com!

The Blind Man & the Elderbull

2010-05-04T14:58:00.001-07:00

Today my Dad took me on a therapy dog visit to Fair Acres Geriatric Center in Media, PA. Fair Acres is a long-term care facility for older adults, many of whom require skilled nursing care 24/7.

One of the residents I met was a blind elder who sat in a wheelchair parked in the day room. My Dad carried me over and laid me down next to his chair to visit.

The elder could not see me, so he knew nothing about my physical appearance or the breed the shelter labeled me as. He smiled as he pet me, saying how nice and gentle I was. I sat next to his wheelchair the entire time, giving and receiving love. The room was filled with movement and sounds, but he and I were in our own world together.

Eventually I shifted positions, so the elder began petting my shoulders. He noticed how broad they were, so disproportionate to my body. He felt the golf-ball-size bump on my back, the uneven shapes of my ears, and the scratch-marks along my head and limbs where the hair no longer grows.

He asked my Dad what happened to me, why did I feel this way?

My Dad explained that these were external injuries from my former life when I was abused and exploited.

Still, the elder pet me as I sat next to his wheelchair, both of us giving and receiving love.

“What kind of dog is he?” asked the elder.

“He's an elderbull,” said my Dad.

“Well, he’s a good dog,” the elder replied. “I can tell he has a kind soul.”

My experience today reminds of the tale, “The Blind Men & the Elephant.” (Yes, we dogs have heard this one, too.) In various versions of the tale, a group of blind men touch an elephant to learn what it’s like. Each one touches a different part and learns they are in complete disagreement. The man who felt the head said an elephant is “like a pot.” The man who felt the ear said an elephant is “like a basket.” The man who felt the foot said it’s “like a pillar.” None could agree, yet each man was convinced he knew the truth.

Imagine if the elder I met today had only felt my shoulders? Imagine if he only felt my scratch-marks? Or just the bump on my shoulder? Imagine if he had not spent time with me – giving and receiving love – to know that I’m more than my external scars? To learn that as a whole, I’m just a gentle, loving dog with a kind soul?

Too often people look at victims of abuse and only see a part of us: they see our scars, but not our hearts.

And too often people look at dogs and only see labels: they see the stereotypes, but not the individual dog.

My Mom likes to say that there’s a lot we can learn from our elders, both human and canine. I bet my Mom is proud of what the blind elder and I taught each other today.

My Business Card....Hot Off the Press

2010-05-02T18:01:00.001-07:00

In case you want to reach me, here's my business card....hot off the press!

Sarge Receives "TOP HAT AWARD" from Pals for Life

2010-05-02T15:32:00.001-07:00

Today my Mom and I received a "TOP HAT AWARD" from Pals for Life for recruiting so many new volunteers to the therapy dog program!

Being a therapy dog with Pals for Life gives me the opportunity to love and to be loved. It's only natural that I'd want to recruit my friends (both humans and animals) to join me!

Pals for Life is a non-profit organization in Wayne, PA (outside of Philadelphia), dedicated to providing companion animal and humane education programs to people who need love, friendship, and something to hug. They've been serving the Delaware Valley Region since 1985.

If you're interested in volunteering with your pet, visit the Pals for Life website at www.palsforlife.org. Tell 'em Sarge sent you!

PS: To say "thank you" to Pals for Life for giving me the opportunity to love and be loved, I gave a rose to the two amazing women, Paula and Kristen, who work tirelessly to run the program. They are simply the best!

Read to the Dogs

2010-05-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I visited Primos Library in Upper Darby, PA, to volunteer for the "Read-to-the-Dogs" program. I'm a therapy dog with Pals for Life, so I get to do cool things like this with kiddies!

In the "Read-to-the-Dogs" program, elementary school children practice their reading skills by reading to specially trained dogs (like me!) and their handlers. Experience has shown that when dogs serve as "listeners," kids are more likely to read aloud, show increased confidence with their reading abilities, and are likely to continue to practice reading with their dogs at home.

For many kids, reading to a dog is less intimidating than reading to another person. Dogs do not judge you, make fun of you, or criticize your mistakes. And even the mere presence of a dog can help reduce anxiety, which helps young readers to learn in a relaxing, positive environment.

This program is especially great for me because the kids always ask questions. They want to know where I came from, how old I am, and what I'm like at home. They also ask about my goofy ears, the giant bump on my shoulder, and my big, broad shoulders (in the photo below, Mom is explaining my infamous bump, which the girls were asking about). So in addition to practicing reading, the kids get to practice compassion and understanding.

I love making new friends through the "Read-to-the-Dogs" program. Are you interested in volunteering, too? If you live in the Philadelphia area, check out Pals for Life, the group I volunteer with. They work with libraries throughout Delaware County. Hope to see you at the next visit!

PS: Nobody knows I'm deaf as a doorknob.....I'm still a fantastic "listener" and I'm even better with keeping eye contact!

Sarge Goes to Work

2010-05-02T13:34:00.001-07:00

My Dad and I picked up Mom from work and I got to meet some of her coworkers. They hear about me alllllllll the time, so I was overdue for a face-to-face visit. Mom keeps pictures of me at her desk so people will ask about me, and then she gets to share my story with them. People often ask her about Pit Bulls and the negative things they've heard about them from the media. Mom takes advantage of these opportunities to dispel Pit Bulls myths and to address the so-called "dog bite epidemic." Mom loves to share this link to the Animal Farm Foundation's website: "Armed with Information."

At the end of the day, however, the fastest way to win hearts and open minds is by meeting me in person.....which is why I'm always eager to meet new friends, like the ladies pictured below.

If only every day were "Bring Your Dog to Work" day, the world would be a better place!

Lending a Voice

2010-04-29T13:48:00.001-07:00

My Mom is a geriatric social worker and advocates for elders in need, especially those with impaired mental and/or physical health. She chose this field in 2004, in the midst of her Grammy’s long, slow battle against Alzheimer’s disease. My Mom wanted to lend her voice to people like Grammy, who couldn’t speak for themselves.

Grammy was a strong woman who spent her life caring for others, but as the Alzheimer’s took over Grammy became entirely dependent on those same people. Towards the end, she could no longer say she was thirsty, had to use the bathroom, was in pain, or was frightened. Grammy relied on her family to speak for her – to notice when she looked uncomfortable, tired, hungry, or scared.

Fast forward to February 2009, when my Mom brought me – a 15 year old Pit Bull – home from the Pennsylvania SPCA. My Mom didn’t realize it at the time, but she became my voice. I was the elder, literally and figuratively, who could not advocate for myself. I needed someone to notice when I looked uncomfortable, tired, hungry, or scared.

Whether my Mom is advocating for elders with Alzheimer’s or for older dogs like me, her message is exactly the same: we must lend our voices to those who can’t speak for themselves.

Grammy lost her battle with Alzheimer’s disease in October 2006. But I’m helping my Mom ensure that Grammy’s voice is still heard. How? By visiting elders at nursing homes and rehab centers through a program called “Pals for Life,” which I got certified for in spring 2009. Mom and I visit elders throughout Philadelphia so they can pet me, rub my belly, scratch my head, and give me treats.

It’s my way of telling them that someone is listening. Besides, compassion can be communicated without any words at all….and who better to communicate compassion than a 15.5 year old Pit Bull like me?

Love, Sarge

I am Sarge

2010-04-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Many people assume that dogs who were victims of cruelty cannot live with other dogs. I think that's a bunch of rubbish. Every dog is an individual, so every dog should be viewed accordingly.

I share my home with five other dogs: Fannie (a female Rottie mix, ~8 years old), Captain (a male pug mix, ~4 years old), Nancy Reagan (a female Cocker Spaniel, ~4 years old), Mary Todd Lincoln (a female pug, ~ 9 years old), and Martha Washington (a female pit bull, 8 years old). All of them were adopted from shelters and ALL of them are spayed/neutered.

Of course, not every dog feels the same way. But that is not a function of the dog's breed, age, or past experience. So when people ask me, "Can pit bulls/shetler dogs/victims of cruelty live with other dogs?," my answer is always the same: go ask that particular dog!

Society likes quick answers. We like to label and generalize groups because it's faster than getting to know the individual. But just like snowflakes, no two dogs are alike.

I am Sarge. I am an individual. I am not a label. I am not a stereotype. I am not my abuser. I am not the crimes committed against me. I am not my breed (whatever my breed is!). I am not my age.

I am Sarge. And it's nice to meet you!

(Martha Washington was jogging with her Dad when this picture was taken, so just picture her in the background, will ya?)

Happy "Re-Birthday" to Me!

2010-04-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

On February 26, 2009, I celebrated my "re-birthday" by going home to my new Mom and Dad! After spending the first 14 years of my life with an animal abuser, and after spending six long months at the Pennsylvania SPCA shelter, I would finally get a chance to be a dog!

One of the shelter staff, Victor, told my Mom that I came out of protective custody and could now be adopted or fostered. Victor knew that Mom was a sucker for the older dogs, and she had befriended me during my stay at the shelter. It took about 5 minutes (and a phone call to Dad!) for Mom to decide I should come home with her!

Who knows what would have happened to me otherwise. Since I was 14 years old and came from a cruelty case, a lot of potential adopters might have overlooked me. I think it was fate that Victor told Mom I was ready for adoption at that moment.

My Mom and one of the shelter staff gave me a warm bath, washed the "shelter grime" off me, and treated me to a pedicure (my toenails were so long!). Then the vet examined me and gave Mom my medications. I have bad arthritis and some leftover injuries from my past life, so I take Rimadyl to keep the pain at bay. My Mom signed the paperwork and next thing I know, I'm in the car on my way to a new home!

Mom said she's eternally grateful to Duran, a staff member at the PSPCA, for carrying me out to her car that night. I can't walk very far because of my arthritis and Mom hadn't yet built up her arm muscles to carry me, like she does now. So Duran lugged all 62 pounds of me to the car and sent me on my way! Thanks, Duran!

(Hey, those aren't paw prints!)

My Time in the Shelter

2010-04-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Since I was seized through an animal cruelty case, I had to stay in protective custody while the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office prosecuted my former owner. That meant I had to stay at the Pennsylvania SPCA shelter (in Philadelphia) from September 2008 to February 2009, when I went home to my new Mom and Dad). The law prohibited me from being adopted while I was in protective custody, so I had no choice but to stay there.

The shelter staff and volunteers took excellent care of me, but no dog wants to live at a shelter, especially after coming out of a horrible situation to begin with.

Don't I look sad and lonely? People would toss treats in my kennel, but I usually ignored them. It was also hard for people to walk me because I moved so slowly, and once I was outside, I refused to come back in.

Thank goodness for my Kuranda bed, which kept my aching bones off the hard floor. (By the way, did you know you can donate a Kuranda bed to a shelter dog? We REALLY appreciate having them, and so the shelters.)

Here I am on Christmas Day 2008, eating my holiday meal of chicken and rice. I love chicken, and I appreciated all the extra attention I got on Christmas Day. It meant so much that the staff and volunteers spent their holiday taking care of me and the other shelter animals.

Have you considered volunteering at your local shelter? The shelter animals will thank you!

Where Did I Come From?

2010-04-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked me, "What's your story? Where did you come from?"

Like most dogs, I like to live in the present, not the past.

But for the Curious Georges who are wondering how my second chance at life came about, here's a short media clip from ABC 6 that recounts my rescue: "Dogs Seized at Urban Puppy Mill."

And for those who are wondering what it was like arriving at the Pennsylvania SPCA, here's a video made by ZooToo that describes how a very special Forensic Veterinarian used her skills to make guesses about my past: "Forensic Vet Now on Animal Cruelty Cases."

For all you Animal Planet fans, you can see me on Season One, Episode 14, of "Animal Cops: Philadelphia." My mom is still trying to upload the video clip of me being carried out of my old house, but for now, here's a picture of it.

From,

Sarge the Pit Bull

Welcome to "Elderbulls"

2010-04-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Hello! My name is Sarge and I'm a 15 year old pit bull. In September 2008 at the age of 14, I was rescued from a person who abused animals in Philadelphia. Humane law enforcement officers from the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) saved me and 30 of my friends, and they brought us to the PSPCA shelter (350 E. Erie Avenue in Philadelphia) where we spent half a year in protective custody, waiting for our abuser to stand trial. I don't like to talk about my past, as my external scars and injuries tell some very sad stories. But these marks are all external: on the inside, I'm the happiest, most forgiving, peaceful dog you'll ever meet! From the moment I was rescued, I did not require a minute of rehabilitation; rather, I just needed a chance to be a dog and experience love and respect.

In February 2009, after I got neutered (woohoo!), my new Mom and Dad brought me home as a "foster dog" to live with their four other other adopted dogs: Fannie, Captain, Nancy Reagan, and Mary Todd Lincoln (also from the PSPCA). From the second I came home, we were one big happy family. No one thought I'd last long, given my age and the abuse I suffered, but I sure showed them! Mom and Dad made our relationship permanent and officially adopted me, and here I am 14 months later, still going strong!

I've done some amazing things since I came home. In April 2009 I got certified with Pals for Life to visit people in nursing homes, rehab centers, and libraries (or any place where I can spread cheer!). In November 2009 I began doing humane education and I visit schools throughout the Philadelphia regions to teach kids about responsible pet ownership.

I "speak" frequently at community events to educate people about dogs like me and to share factual information about pit bull type dogs, victims of animal abuse, and the importance of creating safe and humane communities. I also challenge people to think of aging not as a disease, but as a new life stage with new opportunities. Just because I'm old doesn't mean I'm useless! As you'll see, I've accomplished many things in this past year of my life, and I've contributed so much to society.

It's important for me to share my story as widely as possible so that dogs can be viewed as individuals, rather than the product of stereotypes, fear, and hatred. Many pit bull type dogs and/or victims of cruelty are discriminated against and mislabeled as "inherently dangerous," "too far gone," or "not capable of being pets." Sadly, in cities throughout the U.S., dogs like me are killed every day as result. In some places, there is breed-specific legislation (i.e., breed bans) that prevents people from owning us, regardless of what who we are as individual dogs. I was one of the lucky dogs who got a second chance, so I am using this chance to prevent other dogs from suffering in the future. I also want people to drop their misconceptions about older dogs and to embrace us as valuable members of society.

I also share my story so that more people can experience the joy that dogs like me can share. There are many people who feel strongly that animal abuse (especially dog fighting) is wrong and sympathize with the victims. But many of these people have not yet opened their hearts and their homes to having pit bulls as pets. I feel sorry for these people, who are really missing out! We pit bulls don't want your sympathy -- we want to be your pet! We want to lick your face to wake you up in the morning. We want to help you train for marathons by being your jogging partner. We want to rest our heads on your lap when you're crying. And we want to sit attentively while we pose for family pictures.

As I said before, I'm 15 1/2 years old and I was rescued from my abuser at the age of 14. I have every right to be angry and I have certainly earned the right to kick back and enjoy retirement. But anger and complacency are not in my nature. Instead, I want to use my second chance to educate, enlighten, and endear. My bones might be old and my muzzle might be grey, but there's too much wisdom and love inside of me to sleep through my "golden years."

As the late feminist Betty Friedan once said, "Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength."

I hope you enjoy hearing my stories.

With lots of love,

Sarge the Elderbull

ELDERBULLS

TAGS

The Power of the Elderbull

What's in a Name?: Pit Bulls and Senior Citizens

The Mad Dog/Pit Bull Fallacy of 1925 and 2011

Part Two: With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

The History of the Pit Bull: Santa Claus Was a Dogfighter

Pit Bull Dogs of the Past, Present, and Future

A Month of Famous Firsts...from the First Ladies!

21st Century Pit Bull Dogs in Advertising

Reefer Madness.....Animal Welfare Style

Survivors, Friends, and Healers

With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies?

"ELDERBULLS: The Movie"

Trick Questions

Doggie Secrets REVEALED!

The Circle of Humanity

Top 10 Quotes I 'Heard' in 2010

TEAM SARGE

We're Gonna Party Like It's 1994!!

Salsa, Anyone?

Sarge Goes to School Again

I Love a Parade!

Mayor Nutter Goes to the Dogs

Barking Beauty!

The Dog That Ate Philadelphia

Sarge Goes to New Jersey!

Sarge Goes to a Law Firm

Congrats to the Eldergrads!

Busy Week for the Elderbull

The Blind Man & the Elderbull

My Business Card....Hot Off the Press

Sarge Receives "TOP HAT AWARD" from Pals for Life

Read to the Dogs

Sarge Goes to Work

Lending a Voice

I am Sarge

Happy "Re-Birthday" to Me!

My Time in the Shelter

Where Did I Come From?

Welcome to "Elderbulls"