Recue or Rogue?

My career in Animal Control has allowed me to work with many different agencies and groups over the years:  the FBI, Homeland Security, IRS, DEA, ATF, State Police, several county sheriff departments, and our local police department. 

I have received training in constitutional law, and am familiar with the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.  This amendment provides, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation….”.  I have prepared several affidavits to request search warrants and have found that judges take the Fourth Amendment very seriously.  

I point this out as a preface to the conversation documented below.  This is a paraphrase of an actual phone conversation I had with a volunteer from a rescue group.  The names of the street and the rescue group have been changed.

Rescue Volunteer: “Hello Officer.  I just wanted to let you know that I’m coming to your city to remove an abused dog from XYZ St.”
Animal Control Officer: “What is the alleged abuse?  And which agency are you working for?”
Volunteer: “I’m not sure what the abuse is, but my director said the dog needs to be removed.  I volunteer for Plain Old Recue Society.”
Officer: “Are you a state certified cruelty investigator or police officer?”
Volunteer: “No.  I’m just trying to help.  The dog has to be saved!”
Officer: “I am an Animal Control Officer for the city.  We conduct our own investigations and have the legal authority to impound an animal in need.  You have no authority to enter the property of the dog owner and likewise remove the dog.  I have your name, your phone number, the name of the rescue group, and the address you are traveling to.  I highly suggest that you allow us to conduct the investigation, and take the appropriate action.  Do you really want to risk being attacked or shot?  Do you want to risk being arrested for trespassing, and attempted theft?”

I went on to explain to the volunteer that I was familiar with the address, and had performed an investigation two days prior to her phone call.  The pet owner was in full compliance with all state and municipal codes.  The volunteer thanked me, but I could tell by the tone of voice that they were disappointed.  I truly admire the dedication and passion of rescue volunteers.  Without their love of animals, and desire to help, many of our furry friends would have no hope.
You might be asking yourself what you can do to have an impact on the wellbeing of animals in your community, outside of the animals you currently foster and rescue.  These are my suggestions:
 1)  Learn which agencies are responsible for animal cruelty investigation in your area.  Get to know the directors, managers, and officers of that agency.  If you see abuse, report it, and let the agency know you would like a courtesy call to keep you informed.  
2)  Familiarize yourself with the local codes, and state laws pertaining to animal husbandry.  
3)  Attend training to become a certified cruelty investigator.
4)  Get involved with the local city councils and county boards that vote on the ordinances in your community.  Most boards are required to hold public hearings about proposed laws.  This is your opportunity to express concerns in favor of, or in opposition to, the laws.
5)  Get to know your state legislators.  Let them know how you feel about proposed animal legislation, and give them suggestions for fine tuning current laws to improve their efficacy.  I know firsthand that many state laws get passed that make the public believe incredible strides have been made to protect animals, but a close examination of the law reveals it to be no more than “feel good” legislation.
Do not be discouraged!  Together we can make your community, your state, and our country a safe haven for animals!

Edited by Julie Bradford

Am I a 'Bulldog Widow'?

In the United States a common phase used to describe a spouse whose husband spends the majority of his free time totally engrossed in football [American Football, not Soccer], is a 'football widow'.

I can really relate to those families whose menfolk are so obsessed with these games. I am the spouse of a passionate Bulldog Collector. I am not sure what to call myself. Any suggestions?

NOTE FROM Eiffion Ashdown: Good day folks I hope you're well and safe. I thought it would be interesting to get a fresh perspective from my wife Debbie.

Q: What are your thoughts on the collection?
A. This Bulldog collection is a good hobby for my hubby. It takes his mind off a lot of things. There are different pieces from all over the world, not just ornaments, but pictures, plates, novelty items and pieces I have not even heard of. Now Eiffion's head is full of knowledge regarding his passion for which "THE GIRLS", as he calls me and our daughter, are immensely proud of what he has achieved.

Q. Do you have any favorites, or pieces you do detest?
A. My favorite piece is the Amari piece. It is my favorite because of the floral design. It is also has a cute face. It's not plain, it's just decorated enough to give it a lovely design.  I do have a few others but this one really captures my eye.

Q. Has your view of my passion to collect changed at all since I started all this?
A. Yes, I'm much more supportive now that I see the bigger picture. I just wish we had more room for them! The collection has grown immensely over the last couple of years. It was started for our daughter. I know she will appreciate it all when she's older. I wish we had a spare room for the collection to be in, that way I would not lose more space in my front room.  He has been hinting at me for "just one more cabinet". WE HAVE NO ROOM!!!!

Q. As a long suffering wife to a collector, do you have any advice to other collector's spouses?
A. Make sure you have plenty of room!  It is best to use display cabinets with doors to protect the pieces, [Remember someone will need to dust them].  You will need a system! Just try and remember each piece you have and a description of it when you have hundreds! Try and buy perfect non-broken pieces as Eiffion has mentioned.  It's these unspoiled pieces that are what high end collectors will be wanting, if and when they are sold. I would also say, do not get roped into cleaning the silver, it takes hours!

Q. Finally, what are your views on Bulldogs in general?

 A, Bulldogs are cute, stubborn, very lazy, child-like, likes any food, etc.  My heart is now drawn to this breed. They give you a sense of purpose and responsibility I've not found in other breeds we have had in the past. I feel like we learned a lot having Scruffy-Louise, which has made taking on Wiggles seem easier as we have had that past experience to draw upon when needed.  After seeing a beautiful puppy this past week, I would love another, but we cannot as it's not fair for Wiggles who enjoys just her own company. I find Wiggles easy to manage at times and walks side by side off the lead. She's too heavy to lift on the bed, but that's okay.  I'm proud of getting her to change her toilet habits without training. Poor Eiffion, she really is a ladies bulldog.

Debbie closes with this:  "Thank you for reading my bloggy thing. It's not as weird jotting something down as I first thought. I want to ask those that see my Eiffion's dream and his passion, to show your support by engaging in his social media. Your sharing, liking and generally helping him to get his website established is wonderful. Eiffion pays for his site. He only wants others to see and to be inspired, which shows me his heart is big.  I just don't like seeing him down when he feels he's doing all this on his own. To you people out there that do engage, help and encourage Eiffion's venture, I thank you on behalf of Eiffion, Wiggles and, of course, his GIRLS!!!

 NOTE FROM Eiffion Ashdown:
Thank you very much Debs. I've only been asking for the past two months [for this interview].  I would like to end by saying I really wish to thank Debbie, sincerely for putting up with me, my illness and the collection that's slowly engulfing our apartment.  I believe I wouldn't be half the man I am today without the support of this wonderful, generous person, that for some reason loves me even though I drive her mad!!!! To all, I hope you had a nice bank holiday [A bank holiday is a public holiday in the United Kingdom]. Until next time happy collecting.

Edited by Jan Mitchell

NOTE FROM Gill Sinclar. This is a story of one woman's utter devotion to animals, all animals, but this story is mainly about dogs.

Not Bostons, but an inspirational story about a very special lady, Jacquie Leigh Stobbart . She lives in Cumbria , England. Here is her story.

 At age nine I said I was not going to eat animals again and never have. I have always had a natural affinity with animals. Always loved them and got on with them so much better than people. So much so, I think I was one in a past life! I have always seen them as equals, if not better.  I think I have been put on this planet to be a voice for the voiceless and I have got a big mouth!! So if you would not do it to a human, do not do it to an animal. 

At age fourteen I insisted I had to volunteer at the local rescue kennels. An adult had to come with me until I was sixteen, my long suffering mother volunteered for the job!

I volunteered there for twenty-one years. I grew up there, it was my life. Nothing made me happier than caring for the dogs and helping to re-home them.

I got my rescue dog Frankie from the local pound.  He was six weeks old and on death row.  It broke my heart when I lost him, he was nearly seventeen.

The local rescue I volunteered at had a strict no-kill policy. We took dogs with all sorts of issues. If they couldn't be re-homed, they were loved and stayed with us.

Kaiser came into the kennels, age three. He had been chained up outside a house his whole life. He was thrown in pits to fight. He was kicked, beaten, they even filed his teeth down so he would have a disadvantage in the fights. They also hit him with chains if he did not perform. He had many scars, a broken tail and jaw. He was scared and did not trust people, understandably. I was instantly drawn to helping him.

To me that is what rescue is about, righting the wrongs that other humans have inflicted. We slowly got to know each other. We developed a special bond. He was my favorite! I could not take him home. I still had Frankie and was living with parents. My mam came to help me at kennels and eventually Kaiser got to know, trust and love her too. He has been left with serious issues with people after extreme cruelty. It was an ex-armed force nut job that had Kaiser and he did a good job on Kaiser too. Kaiser loved many of the volunteers, but never took to some. He was okay with other dogs, if they left him alone. There were 'incidents' in kennels down to some people not understanding him or how to handle him. Some said he was damaged and could never be re-homed.

When I lost my Frankie I was devastated. I had to take two weeks off work and could not speak to anyone. during this time, I had been living with my fiance, but we split up and I was back with my parents.

When Milo came into the kennels he was three and a half years old.  I fell in love and rescued him. He had had three homes, each time dumped for not liking dogs and cats. He adored all people. I still could not re-home Kaiser, as he had to be with a single person living on their own as he forms a strong bond to one and displays protective jealousy.

As the years went on the volunteers knew Kaiser as 'my dog'. I would take him to the beach and pet shop every weekend.  I visited him all the time. There was no electric at the kennels, no heat or light. I put battery lights and a radio in Kaiser's kennel along with luxury beds, quilts, toys etc. I would lock myself in the kennels at night and lie on his kennel floor holding his paw until he went to sleep.

The kennels were always ran by like minded people, but some came and went that wanted Kaiser put to sleep. Battles were fought and won to keep him safe.

Until new people started saying that the long stayers were 'blocking kennels' and should be put to sleep. This filled me with utter panic, like somebody had stabbed me in my heart - my babies!!! No way!! The long term, like minded volunteers, chair and vice chair fought hard to stop this, we were committee members now too. It got worse and there was a big fall out over a staff.  The new people wanted to kill. It turned very nasty. The new people out voted me other committee members and the chair and voted to ban us.

That nearly killed me after working there twenty-one years. I had to get my Kaiser out asap. He was not safe there any longer. When I got a pay raise at work, I bought my flat [apartment] and set out to keep him and Milo apart. I had introduced Kaiser to our dog walker Andy.  Every week for months, while Kaiser was still in the kennels Andy would walk him, until he eventually trusted him.  Then I adopted Kaiser. Me and mam [mother] tried to introduce them [Kaiser and Milo] for six months. They were never going to get on. They would have killed each other. So they never meet! [in the same space].

Daily life is a military operation! When I am at work I get up at 4:30 am to walk and feed them. Milo goes to mam [mother] and dads for the day. I pay Andy our dog walker to come to Kaiser at my flat [apartment] a few times a day.

In the evening I divide my time with them. Milo sleeps with me and Kaiser has his own luxury bedroom. I have a two-way monitor where I can see and talk to him.

When I am off at work, I have a two-way monitor at my flat and one at mam and dads.

I have volunteered at a new rescue for the last few years, as much as I can with the little free time I have. I have had to stay single and do not see friends as much because of Kaiser's issues. I can not go on holiday with Milo anymore either. Lots of people think I am mad, but they [the dogs] are my family.

Shortly after I rescued Milo, he was in extreme pain and became paralyzed.
He had to be rushed to a specialist hospital and had a major two-and-a-half-hour spinal surgery. Then he had to stay there three nights.

I felt like I had my right hand cut off! I then had to give him physio and massage a few times a day. I had to express his bladder, teach him to walk in a sling, take him to the hydro pool a few times a week. And even slept in a cage with him - That all had to be done for months, until he slowly began to walk and wee again. He is a walking/running miracle!! All that happened again a year and a half later. He has disc problems.

BOSTON TERRIER NETWORK: 

Gill Sinclair who brought this passionate story to our attention, is a wonderful lady who also lives in the United Kingdom. She has been very involved for years in saving shelter animals. She lives in Folkstone UK.  Gill is the founder of For The Love of Bostons Auction Group, a very successful online auction here in the US, This three year old auction holds monthly auctions in support of Boston Terrier Rescues. Due to Gill reaching out to us, over three years ago, this auction has raised over $125,000. One hundred percent of the money this auction has raised has gone directly to many different Boston Terrier Rescues. I just could not pass up this opportunity to mention how this auction has become so important to our Boston Rescue's, that the waiting list to participate is almost a year out.  Her selection of our US based administrator Marilyn Holzerland to manage the admin team was one of the best decisions, contributing to our continued success. (Disclosure: I am one of the founding members of this team). 

UPDATED May 2016 According to Marilyn we underestimated the amount raised for the rescues

Marilyn Morgan Holzerland   "$229,238 made to date on the For the Love of Bostons Auction Groups monthly rescues!"

Edited by Julie Bradford