I apologize for such the long blogging hiatus. I guess that’s what happens when you remodel a house and start a new job! Anyway, I am thankful to be back to blogging and talking about all things dog  in the Michiana area.

This weekend the Elkhart County Humane Society has two great events going on. The first is the Red Barn Sale (think indoor garage sale) is taking place on Friday and Saturday from 10AM-4PM at the Humane Society.

The second great event is the March Mut Madness and Feline Frenzy on Saturday, March 14th from 11AM-2PM.  You can select a paw from the wall and get 10% – 50% the adoption fee (with an approved adoption application) .

I’d like to say thank you to both the South Bend Tribune and reporter Alicia Gallegos for their seven day series on Pit Bulls and Dog Fighting that appeared over the past week.  The articles portrayed a variety of topics ranging from the misunderstood nature of the breed,  the ineffectiveness of breed specific laws,  the presence of dog fighting in our community, and more. Here is a summary of the articles.

November 30, 2008 – What does the future hold for a breed labeled by fighting? SOUTH BEND — The tiny, unassuming home on Gale Road stands in a lot overgrown with grass and trash, its windows boarded and its paint peeling….

November 30, 2008 – Pit bulls: Menace vs. misunderstood In an old warehouse a few blocks from the Animal Control shelter, a room is crowded with tiny treadmills, handmade weights and duct-taped chains….

December 1, 2008 – Did the dog have to die? SOUTH BEND — The boy had never walked the dog without his mother before, but it was just a quick trek around the block…

December 1, 2008 – Pit bull owner: Kind treatment is key SOUTH BEND — Outside a downtown shop on a recent warm afternoon, Bobby Thomas stands with his beloved pit bull, Patch, as the cars whiz past….

December 2, 2008 – Breed-specific laws spreading Across the country, the pit bull has become an outlaw, banished from certain city and county limits….

December 2, 2008 – All bark or forced bite? MISHAWAKA — Cocoa, a 3-year-old dark brown pit bull, lovingly snuggles into the arms of her family, her head nudging any set of open hands….

December 3, 2008 – Faces of neglect It was a peaceful Sunday morning, and Lucy Cruz was inside her home along Fillmore Road when she heard her granddaughter scream….

December 4, 2008 – Dog fighting: Underground, overlooked SOUTH BEND — As the year moved toward 2006, the amount of evidence against the 38-year-old man seemed ample….

December 4, 2008 – Some pit bulls just ‘want to fight’ MISHAWAKA — Michael DeCauwer insists he’s no dog fighter….

December 5, 2008 – Pets stolen, used as bait SOUTH BEND — It wasn’t unusual for strangers to pet Joseph Lapadat’s pit bull puppy, Justice, when he took her for walks….

December 6, 2008 – A happy ending for neglected pit bull GRANGER — As the charcoal-colored pit bull bounds and bounces around, the dog appears as if he has always lived in the comfort of this family home….

December 6, 2008 – Communities seek solutions to abuse Belinda Lewis had heard all the talk about pit bulls: bite stories, attack concerns, overbreeding issues….

Hopefully these articles will open the eyes of many people in our community.  It is not the breed we should be outlawing, it is the disgusting human beings who have trained and encouraged these innocent dogs to fight,  that should be prosecuted.

As dog-loving members of this community we cannot continue to turn a blind eye to this tragedy.  We need to work with our local law enforcement agencies and animal welfare organizations to put an end to this senseless violence, abuse, and slaughter.   If you see, hear, or witness animal abuse or dog fighting, call the police immediately. Dog fighting is a felony in Indiana. Speak up and be a voice for the voiceless.

Dogs and Halloween are two of my favorite things and this year I get to celebrate them together at the Howl-o-Ween Open House this Sunday at the Made from Scratch Pet Bakery in Goshen. You can bring your spooky, scary, silly, or just plain lovable pooches to join in the festivities from 3 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. There will be Halloween treats for both you and your dog, as well as the opportunity to have your dog’s picture taken by professional photographer Clarissa “Cyd” Du Bois with your donation to the Elkhart County Humane Society.

Be sure to check out the full line of gourmet goodies along with the other unique dog items including this fun fall scarf.

Who said Halloween was just for humans? Planet Canine is hosting it’s 3rd Annual Howl-o-Ween party this weekend on Saturday, October 18, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Dress up your pooch and head down to Planet Canine for games, raffles, shopping, and demonstrations.

Planet Canine Halloween Party

As a loving pet owner, one of the best things you can do for your dog (or cat) is to learn Pet First Aid and CPR. You never know just when an emergency could arise that would threaten the life of your pet. Fortunately for those of us in Michiana, the St. Joseph County American Red Cross will be offering a course in Pet First Aid and CPR on Saturday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at St. Patrick’s County Park in South Bend. Topics such as rescue breathing, response to choking, CPR, and treatment of muscular and skeletal injuries will be covered. The cost is only $30.00 and participants will receive a certification card, DVD, and reference guide. Contact the American Red Cross at 574-234-0191 for more details.

For months I was eagerly awaiting the announcement for what store was going to move into the newly constructed building on US 33 in Goshen next to Meijer. When I heard that Petco was going in my heart sank. Great, another over-priced pet store with unhealthy food, toys imported from China, and mass bred animals trapped in gross cages. In addition, Petco’s warehouse was recently seized by the FDA for “unsanitary conditions.” You can read more about there here.

I know one thing for sure, Petco will not be getting any ofmy business. I am going to continue to support and would encourage fellow area residents to support their smaller, pet goods stores that offer healthy and holistic options. In the Goshen area try Made From Scratch Pet Bakery, Pet Supplies Plus, or Healthy Pets.

I don’t believe in breed stereotypes, especially not with pitbulls. I personally know more than a dozen happy and balanced pitbulls raised in caring and structured environments that are just as loving and well-behaved as America’s favorite breed, the Labrador. However, the media loves to feed on the negative, horror stories that involve the breed rather than the positive aspects.

I was pleased to see a story on WNDU about a local Michiana woman, Karen Eis who is speaking out against the stereotypes.  Karen Eis has multiple sclerosis and employs the aid of a pitbull service dog named Katie to help her with daily tasks.

Karen says when she takes Katie into public places, such as the grocery store, it is usually the kids who run up and want to play with Katie. However the adults stand to the side and get nervous. Karen says her goal is to change those people’s perspective on pitbulls.

“People sometimes see her and say ‘oh my god, that’s a pitbull!’ and I say ‘Yes, she is, but she is gentle.’”

You can read more of the touching story here. You can also learn more about Midwest Assistance Dogs, Inc., the organization that paired Karen and Katie together.

Way to go Karen and Katie!

The Soggy Dog Swim at Goshen’s Shanklin Pool has been rescheduled to next Saturday, August 23rd at noon. Unfortunately, due to the change in days, we will not be able to attend. Bummer!

Looking for the perfect dog or an adorable puppy? Why not help out a homeless animal who needs you. There are two adoption events going on this weekend in Michiana where you can find your four-legged soul mate.

• Sponsored the by the Elkhart County Humane Society will be at Elder Beerman in Concord Mall in Elkhart on Saturday from 12:00 pm-3:00 pm

• Adopt-A-Dog, sponsored by PetsConnect will be at PetSmart in Mishawaka from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm.

Our local news has been filled with dog stories lately. Some of the stories are great while others make me really upset. I’ll let you decide on your own.

The Good: The Berrien County Sherrif’s Department has has recently added  a K-9 officer to their roster. Rico, a young Belgian Malinois, will partner with  Deputy Jason Haskins in his patrol of Niles Twp. Rico will help with narcotics, tracking, and apprehension of suspects. Read the full story here.

All 23 of the dogs found in wretched conditions in a garage in South Bend will be getting new homes. Originally the owner who was hoarding and/or running a puppy mill was being allowed to keep one of them However, now all of the dogs will be getting new healthy and stable homes.  You can read the full story here. The original story is here.

WNDU recently did a feature story about the progress that is being made with DNA tests for dogs to determine breed. Read it here.

The Bad: A 10-year old Paw Paw boy was attacked by his family dog and had to have his arm amputated. The dog, a pit bull, was immediately euthanized. While I feel horrible for the boy and his family, I do not buy into breed stereotypes. There are plenty of stable, friendly, pit bulls around. What I do buy into is that ALL children should be supervised around dogs and taught the do’s and don’ts. Read the sad story here.

A man in Paw Paw is charged with throwing his girlfriend’s pregnant Chihuahua through a window. Disgusting. Enough said. Read about it here.

The Ugly: The St. Joseph County Humane Society is in a battle with the community and with public officials over is future. The shelter has long been noted amongst the community for its variety of problems. Read about it here.