Last week I read a story at HuffPo about Oreo, a 1yo pit bull mix that had been tossed off of a roof in New York. The ASPCA had decided to put her down because of her unpredictable behaviour around humans and other dogs. Hundreds of individuals and animal rescue groups disagreed with that decision and sought other options. Friday ASPCA New York euthanized Oreo saying that she was not capable of being rehabilitated. The comments to the HuffPo piece yesterday cover both sides of the issue. I’m thinking that if many of the dogs rescued from the dog fighting ring funded by Michael Vick could be rehabilitated why not this 1yo animal. Is ASPCA New York so all knowing that they’re not willing to give qualified people a chance with animals they deem unfit?

The number of animals euthanized by shelters in this country is a disgrace. That guardians of animals are so irresponsible that their animals end up in mass graves somewhere is an even greater disgrace.

I was going to the convenience store down the block from work last week and there was a nice convertible parked in front. In the passenger seat was a beautiful brown and white pit bull. She watched me approach and when I said, "Hi, baby" she got all happy, tail wagging, no barking. Her guardian came out just then and we started talking. Honey is a purebred Staffordshire Pit Bull and is great around strangers as I easily found out. It seems that pit bull mixes are the ones we hear about most and it’s the guardians who are mostly responsible for the horror stories we hear. The macho factor. There’s a school just down the street from work and I see parents walking to pick up their kids every day. Some bring their dogs with them and a few are pit bulls. These dogs certainly don’t have a problem with either adults or children. Just happy puppers glad for all the attention they get. I haven’t had a dog since I was a kid but have known dog owners all my life. The one thing they’ve all agreed on is that an animal’s behaviour is molded by their owner.

The Pinellas County SPCA has had to review their procedures after a number of dog owners had their animals put down before they were notified that the SPCA even had their animals. One dog had been picked up running loose and turned over to the SPCA. The dog had a collar and tags. The owner had called the SPCA to see if their dog had been found and was told no. The next day the SPCA called the owner saying they had the animal and that he could be picked up. When the owners arrived to pick up the dog they found the animal had been put down the previous evening. The hue and cry by this owner brought people who had suffered the same fate out of the woodwork. An announcement that SPCA was reviewing its procedures followed.

Be sure you have your animals microchiped. It just might save a life, although as we see there are no guarantees.

Two more broken bowls as Nagi, the Prince of Darkness, and his running mate of the moment continue to tear the house up. Last night Gabby got up on the counter and pulled half of my turkey sub onto the floor. I had just gotten the damn thing. He pulled it out of the paper wrapper and, I guess, jumped down with it. I hadn’t been out of the kitchen 5 minutes. Came back in and he and Igraine come flying out of the kitchen. There on the floor in front of the fridge is half my sub. Much shouting and threats filled the air. Fifteen minutes later Gabby was settled in next to his brother Shiimsa in front of me, under the coffee table, looking all innocent an’ shit. Little devil.

No lolcats this week. Oreo’s story took me out of the mood. RIP Oreo. I think you could have gotten a better deal.