End of a long journey former ‘bait dog’ Pokey adjusting to people, pets in foster home
By RICHARD DYMOND - rdymond@bradenton.com
EAST MANATEE — One day, more than a year ago, a skinny, frightened pit bull tip-toed out of the woods behind the 12 Oaks Plaza at State Road 70 and Interstate 75 and froze under the gaze of a hairdresser on her break from nearby Supercuts. Who knows why, but at that very moment a connection was forged between the skittish 2-year-old dog — eventually named Poke — and Kristen Pondillo, the hairdresser.
Try as she might, Pondillo and others could not get close enough to Poke to capture her so she could get medical care. When anyone got close in fact, Poke would run back into the woods where, it is assumed, she lived a homeless existence, hidden under trees, nursing her wounds from abuse.
Undeterred, Pondillo and her fellow cosmetologists at Supercuts, including Caroline Nylan, Carolyn Bologna and Angela Cedeno, fed Poke dry food daily out of a Tupperware bowl in the hope that one day the dog would surrender to compassionate humans. The signal for feeding was a whistle from Pondillo and the dog would poke its head out of the woods and come running, thereby earning her name. It got to the point where Poke would take food from Pondillo’s hand. But the dog still would not let the hairdresser pet her.
On holidays, when the shop was closed, Pondillo came to the woods, whistled, and Poke came running to get fed. The women of Supercuts, who fed the dog on Pondillo’s days off, called many animal services and organizations, but because Poke was so skittish, no one felt comfortable helping.
But Pondillo didn’t give up.
She enlisted Manatee Sheriff’s Office Deputy Tim Eason, who routinely handles animal cases. Numerous times, Eason tried to shoot a dart with a tranquilizer into Poke, but every time he pulled up in his car, the dog sensed something was different and ran into the woods.
One day, six months ago, Poke came out of the woods with her collar completely imbedded in her neck. Her neck was split open. A sense of urgency gripped Pondillo and a scheme was hatched. Pondillo went out one day and Eason parked away and cautiously walked up behind the dog. Either Poke had an off moment or she was ready for help. A dart found its mark and before she could retreat to the woods, she fell, knocked out by the anesthesia.
Mary Anne McDevitt, of Bradenton-based Safe Haven Animal Rescue of Florida, chokes up when she talks about the dog. She eventually joined with UnderDog Rescue to help get medical assistance. Poke’s teeth had been filed down and the nerves exposed, McDevitt said. She was, in the dog fighting world, a “bait dog,” McDevitt said.
A bait dog is a dog chosen to encourage other young dogs to fight. They gnawed on Poke and the dog’s teeth were filed down so that she could not retaliate. Someone donated $1,500 so the first round of dental care could be performed, eliminating the pain the dog was in, McDevitt said. Poke still has more than $1,500 worth of dental work that needs to be done, McDevitt said.
Two weeks ago, Carla Hebert, of Lakewood Ranch, agreed to foster Poke until she finds a forever family, McDevitt said. Hebert has renamed her Pokey. “She started out as timid and shy, afraid of people and other animals,” Hebert said. “Now, she is a low maintenance dog that plays well with most other dogs and is housebroken. She takes time to get used to people, but once she does, she will play. I saw her playing with her reflection in the mirror the other day.”
About a month ago, when Pokey was in the animal hospital for treatment, Pondillo went to see her. Pondillo stood far away and whistled. Pokey lifted her head and looked all around. Pondillo tried to approach her but Pokey was not ready and backed up. Pondillo realized the dog still needed time. What broke Pondillo’s heart is that she couldn’t adopt Poke. “I wanted her really bad,” Pondillo said. “But I live in a small townhouse with no real place for her to run and it wouldn’t be fair to her.”
When Pondillo got the news that Poke had found a foster mom, she said she was beyond happy. Even though she couldn’t foster the dog, she felt as if she had. “We all felt peaceful about it,” Pondillo said. “We were all thrilled and so happy. We had all felt she would die in the woods.”
Those interested in adopting Pokey are requested to contact McDevitt at (941) 224-0307 or (941) 742-3972.
Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.
Source: http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/story/1939446.html
Showing posts with label florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label florida. Show all posts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
FL: Cape rallies to support family
Cape rallies to support family
Fund opened in name of child fatally bitten by dog
By TIFFANY REPECKI, trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
POSTED: December 25, 2009
A bank account has been opened in the name of a Cape Coral toddler who was fatally bitten Tuesday morning by one of his family's two dogs. An account for Liam Perk has been set up at Fifth Third Bank, according to a bank employee. Those who wish to donate to the fund can drop by any branch of Fifth Third Bank and have their donation deposited into the account.
Liam, 2, was severely bitten in the neck area by his family's 8-year-old male Weimaraner. Officials were uncertain Tuesday about what occurred before the attack, but it appeared there was no direct provocation from the boy. "We don't know anything for sure, but it appears the child walked by the dog and for whatever reason the dog was startled," said Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department. "Something apparently, obviously, startled the dog when the child walked by and the dog immediately snapped at the child and bit him in the neck area."
Lee County Animal Services euthanized the dog Wednesday, after the family surrendered custody, because the dog could not be adopted out to a new home, officials reported. A female Weimaraner, also removed from the home but not involved in Tuesday's attack, posed no danger and was returned to the family.
Officials could not find a trigger or reason leading to this week's tragedy - the pet had no history of aggressive behavior and the bite was unprovoked.
While fatal attacks are rare, dog bites are fairly common, accounting for 5 percent of emergency room visits. Officials estimate that 1 out of every 2 children will experience a dog bite by age 12. For families with pets, local dog trainers offer some general advice on bite prevention and information about dog safety as most dog bites occur in the home and children, and the elderly, are the most common victims.
Patrick Logue, an advanced dog behavioral therapist and trainer with Bark Busters, said all interaction between dogs and young children needs to be watched.
"Dogs use body language and vocal tones to communicate," he said. "You want to make sure kids don't play too rough with a dog, even if they're having a good time," Logue said. "A dog might nip at a child even if it's playing because that's how a dog communicates."
Alice Roberts, a member of the Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, takes a similar view. "I think one of the main tips with very small children is they should always be under supervision when there is a dog around," she said. "It's a tragic thing that happened this past week," Roberts said. "Even gentle dogs should be attended to when there are small children around."
Logue also advised against allowing a young child to discipline a dog, and said children should not pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail. Children should not be allowed to feed or walk a dog without adult supervision, nor should they pet a stranger's dog without first asking for permission.
Roberts said people should do their homework before buying a dog, such as finding out about a dog's temperaments, and that all dogs should go through some level of obedience training.
"We have so many dog problems now, so many dogs that are at the Humane Society and Animal Control, and most of it is because the dogs are not trained," she said. "They don't respond to commands. "They are not socialized, which is very very important," Roberts said. "As puppies, they should be socialized."
The Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, partnered with the city of Cape Coral, offers dog obedience lessons in the employee parking lot at City Hall several times per year. The classes are broken down into puppy, beginner and advanced, and the cost ranges from $60-$80 for residents and $78-$104 for non-residents.
"You need to have control, and that's what we're about," Roberts said, adding that the lessons can go beyond the basics. "Any problems you have at home with the dog, we try to help."
Logue agreed. "We recognize dogs are great companion animals, but oftentimes they are misunderstood," he said. "We teach our clients how to better communicate with their dogs," Logue said. "Dogs use body language and vocal tones so we teach our clients to use their body language and vocal tones to mimic how a dog communicates."
Bark Busters, a worldwide dog training company established in Australia in 1989, also offers a free public service program online that is designated to teach children about dog safety and bite prevention. Children simply log on and the program walks them though a tutorial. At the end, they answer questions about the material they learned, then they get a certificate. "There's a lot of stuff geared toward adults out there, but nothing geared toward children," Logue said of why the program was created.
Visit the Bach & Buster Buddy Dog Safety Program online at: www.BarkBustersBuddy.com.
Bark Busters also provides free, dog safety workshops to community-based organizations. According to Logue, the workshops are an overview with some basic tips, followed by a question-and-answer session. For information or to schedule a workshop, call (800) 500-BARK (2275).
===============
General advice for dog safety
- Never leave a young child or baby alone with a dog.
- Never allow a young child to discipline a dog.
- Never allow a child to feed or walk a dog unsupervised.
- Never allow a child to pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail.
- Never allow a child to play aggressive games, like wrestling, with a dog.
- Never allow a child to pet a dog that is in someone else's vehicle.
How to stay safe when a dog approaches
- Do not turn and run - dogs naturally love to chase and catch things.
- Stand still with your hands at your sides. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines you are not a threat.
- Do not put your hand out - just allow the dog to approach you to sniff you.
- Do not scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
- Face the dog at all times, but do not stare. Avoid eye contact.
- Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye until the dog is out of sight.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Dog bite statistics
n Approximately 4.7 American are bitten by dogs each year, with small children and the elderly among the most frequent victims.
n 888,000 of those injured required medical attention, with dog-bite victims accounting for up to 5 percent of all emergency room visits.
n Most dog bites occur in the home of the victim's family members or friend.
n Children, especially boys ages 5-9, are three times more likely than adults to be seriously bitten.
n Dogs bite young children, ages 4 and under, most often on the face, head and neck because children are around the same height as a dog and because they crawl into small, low spaces where the dog can reach.
n 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Source: http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/513749.html?nav=5011
Fund opened in name of child fatally bitten by dog
By TIFFANY REPECKI, trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
POSTED: December 25, 2009
A bank account has been opened in the name of a Cape Coral toddler who was fatally bitten Tuesday morning by one of his family's two dogs. An account for Liam Perk has been set up at Fifth Third Bank, according to a bank employee. Those who wish to donate to the fund can drop by any branch of Fifth Third Bank and have their donation deposited into the account.
Liam, 2, was severely bitten in the neck area by his family's 8-year-old male Weimaraner. Officials were uncertain Tuesday about what occurred before the attack, but it appeared there was no direct provocation from the boy. "We don't know anything for sure, but it appears the child walked by the dog and for whatever reason the dog was startled," said Connie Barron, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department. "Something apparently, obviously, startled the dog when the child walked by and the dog immediately snapped at the child and bit him in the neck area."
Lee County Animal Services euthanized the dog Wednesday, after the family surrendered custody, because the dog could not be adopted out to a new home, officials reported. A female Weimaraner, also removed from the home but not involved in Tuesday's attack, posed no danger and was returned to the family.
Officials could not find a trigger or reason leading to this week's tragedy - the pet had no history of aggressive behavior and the bite was unprovoked.
While fatal attacks are rare, dog bites are fairly common, accounting for 5 percent of emergency room visits. Officials estimate that 1 out of every 2 children will experience a dog bite by age 12. For families with pets, local dog trainers offer some general advice on bite prevention and information about dog safety as most dog bites occur in the home and children, and the elderly, are the most common victims.
Patrick Logue, an advanced dog behavioral therapist and trainer with Bark Busters, said all interaction between dogs and young children needs to be watched.
"Dogs use body language and vocal tones to communicate," he said. "You want to make sure kids don't play too rough with a dog, even if they're having a good time," Logue said. "A dog might nip at a child even if it's playing because that's how a dog communicates."
Alice Roberts, a member of the Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, takes a similar view. "I think one of the main tips with very small children is they should always be under supervision when there is a dog around," she said. "It's a tragic thing that happened this past week," Roberts said. "Even gentle dogs should be attended to when there are small children around."
Logue also advised against allowing a young child to discipline a dog, and said children should not pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail. Children should not be allowed to feed or walk a dog without adult supervision, nor should they pet a stranger's dog without first asking for permission.
Roberts said people should do their homework before buying a dog, such as finding out about a dog's temperaments, and that all dogs should go through some level of obedience training.
"We have so many dog problems now, so many dogs that are at the Humane Society and Animal Control, and most of it is because the dogs are not trained," she said. "They don't respond to commands. "They are not socialized, which is very very important," Roberts said. "As puppies, they should be socialized."
The Dog Obedience Club of Lee County, partnered with the city of Cape Coral, offers dog obedience lessons in the employee parking lot at City Hall several times per year. The classes are broken down into puppy, beginner and advanced, and the cost ranges from $60-$80 for residents and $78-$104 for non-residents.
"You need to have control, and that's what we're about," Roberts said, adding that the lessons can go beyond the basics. "Any problems you have at home with the dog, we try to help."
Logue agreed. "We recognize dogs are great companion animals, but oftentimes they are misunderstood," he said. "We teach our clients how to better communicate with their dogs," Logue said. "Dogs use body language and vocal tones so we teach our clients to use their body language and vocal tones to mimic how a dog communicates."
Bark Busters, a worldwide dog training company established in Australia in 1989, also offers a free public service program online that is designated to teach children about dog safety and bite prevention. Children simply log on and the program walks them though a tutorial. At the end, they answer questions about the material they learned, then they get a certificate. "There's a lot of stuff geared toward adults out there, but nothing geared toward children," Logue said of why the program was created.
Visit the Bach & Buster Buddy Dog Safety Program online at: www.BarkBustersBuddy.com.
Bark Busters also provides free, dog safety workshops to community-based organizations. According to Logue, the workshops are an overview with some basic tips, followed by a question-and-answer session. For information or to schedule a workshop, call (800) 500-BARK (2275).
===============
General advice for dog safety
- Never leave a young child or baby alone with a dog.
- Never allow a young child to discipline a dog.
- Never allow a child to feed or walk a dog unsupervised.
- Never allow a child to pull on a dog's collar, ears or tail.
- Never allow a child to play aggressive games, like wrestling, with a dog.
- Never allow a child to pet a dog that is in someone else's vehicle.
How to stay safe when a dog approaches
- Do not turn and run - dogs naturally love to chase and catch things.
- Stand still with your hands at your sides. In most cases, the dog will go away when it determines you are not a threat.
- Do not put your hand out - just allow the dog to approach you to sniff you.
- Do not scream. If you say anything, speak calmly and firmly.
- Face the dog at all times, but do not stare. Avoid eye contact.
- Back away slowly, watching the dog from the corner of your eye until the dog is out of sight.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Dog bite statistics
n Approximately 4.7 American are bitten by dogs each year, with small children and the elderly among the most frequent victims.
n 888,000 of those injured required medical attention, with dog-bite victims accounting for up to 5 percent of all emergency room visits.
n Most dog bites occur in the home of the victim's family members or friend.
n Children, especially boys ages 5-9, are three times more likely than adults to be seriously bitten.
n Dogs bite young children, ages 4 and under, most often on the face, head and neck because children are around the same height as a dog and because they crawl into small, low spaces where the dog can reach.
n 50 percent of all children in the United States will be bitten by a dog before their 12th birthday.
Source: Bark Busters Home Dog Training
Source: http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/513749.html?nav=5011
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
FL: Clair-Mel City breeder faces charges after dogs seized
Clair-Mel City breeder faces charges after dogs seized
Hillsborough County Animal Services
This is one of the dogs seized today from a breeder in Clair-Mel City.
Published: December 23, 2009
Updated: 12/23/2009 03:45 pm
TAMPA - Nearly 70 dogs were seized from a breeder in Clair-Mel City on Monday, according to Hillsborough County Animal Services. This isn't the first time so many dogs have been seized from the home.
Monday's incident began about 8 p.m., when deputies responded to a report of possible stolen property at 1219 S. 66th St. Timothy Otto told deputies he didn't have the stolen property and invited them to look around, animal services spokeswoman Marti Ryan said.
Deputies saw several breeds of dogs, including poodles and Chihuahuas, living in deplorable conditions, Ryan said. Investigators seized 67 animals. Many of the dogs were pregnant and nursing, and some gave birth Tuesday. Otto, 40, will face several counts of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty, Ryan said.
In May 2007, investigators seized at least 70 dogs from Otto's parents, Martin and Alma, after finding Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Boston and Yorkshire terriers, poodles, bulldogs and pit bulls at the property, Ryan said at the time. They also found cats and miniature horses. But the Ottos were not charged because there was no evidence of "intentional, malicious neglect."
Most of the dogs seized this week are being transferred to The Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Poodle and Pooch Rescue and CARES Animal Rescue.
Roughly a dozen dogs will be available for adoption next week. For information, call (813) 744-5660 or go to www.hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices.
Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)