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February 2007
 


United States propaganda
poster used during World War II depicting a Pit Bull.






Local Man's Mission is to Save Pit Bulls
Last Update: 8/20 11:45 pm Print Story | Email Story PUTNAM COUNTY,
Fla. --

A local man says the controversy surrounding Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has only scratched the surface of the problem with dog fighting rings.

Mike Vermette says he's trying to save as many pit bulls as possible, and says his mission is to find the dogs new, loving homes.

Vermette said that mission started about four years ago, when he owned a hot dog stand -- oddly enough -- and a customer knowingly left a dog behind.

So, from hot dogs to real dogs, Vermette has adopted out 70 pit bull, and pit bull mix, dogs a year.

Recently, he said most of the dogs have come from owner surrenders all over the country, but admits that not every dog can go to a new home.

"We give the dog two weeks," Vermette said. "But, I usually know within two days based on body language, snapping at other dogs, whether it will come out of the cage or want to be handled. We want to put an adoptable dog out there. This breed has enough of a black eye."

While none of the dogs he has now were used in fights, Vermette said he has seen abuse, neglect and the injuries dogs have seen after fights.

He said the dog fighting circle is larger than what people might think, and he said that's what makes the job of being a 'dog whisperer' that much tougher.

Vermette said he wants to see tougher penalties against those who use the dogs for fighting.

If you want to adopt one of Vermette's dogs, you must pass these requirements:

*House Check
*Background Check
*No Adult Under the Age of 21 Can Adopt
*No Children Under the Age of Five in the House
*No Other Dogs *No Renters
*No Students

If you want to learn more about Vermette's efforts to save pit bulls, head on over to Mike's Dog House.

Video Link:
Local Man's Mission is to save Pit Bulls ...
Press Link: http://www.fox30online.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=1af5807a-94f8-4901-bbe7-9253f2a416ac


Amiela Ciontos is a volunteer with PBRC on a national level and a volunteer with K9 Rescue League in GA. She can be reached at amiela@pbrc.net .

   Hero pit bull finds newborn
 Published in the NY Post, 10-14-04: by Patrick Gallahue

A newborn baby was found abandoned on the top floor of a Brooklyn apartment building - and a pit bull named Princess is getting credit for the find.
The dog, a pit-boxer mix who belongs to 12-year-old Yashmina Williams, bolted from her fifth floor apartment in the Red Hook West Houses and raced to the sixth floor landing, where she instinctively warmed the baby by licking it.
The newborn boy's umbilical cord was still attached. Williams mother, Tonya Williams, wrapped him up and called 911. "I always wanted to get rid of that dog," Tonya Williams said. "Now, I'll keep him as long as I live."
Williams also offered to adopt the baby. "I don't want him to go through the foster-care system," she said. "He's been through enough." The healthy newborn was taken to Long Island College Hospital, police said.