Posted on 03/09/2012 8:47:30 PM PST by nickcarraway
She has bite wounds, but her overall health is good, a veterinarian says
Looks like a dog found near death over the weekend will get a second chance at the good life.
Nearly a week after animal activists rescued Lola from an abandoned property in southwest Miami-Dade, the Boxer-American Bulldog mix is now slowly recovering in the hands of a veterinarian in West Palm Beach.
Investigators found the 3-year-old dog, dumped and left to die after she was used as bait to train other dogs to kill during illegal dog fights.
“She has bite wounds and some cosmetic problems. We ran blood work and she’s good, she’s heartworm negative. She does have ear mites, which is a simple thing. But medically in good shape,” said Dr. Joseph Tomes from Summit Boulevard Animal Hospital in Palm Beach. “She seems very sweet, first of all. Her temperament is good. I think she is just plain scared. From this dog's history, apparently it was a bait dog.”
Activist Dahlia Canes with the Miami Coalition Against Breed Specific Legislation says illegal dog fights are more prevalent in Miami-Dade County than anywhere else in the country, with illegal fighting pens set up in neighborhoods everywhere. She points out these criminals train certain large breeds to fight, but use all breeds as bait, from Yorkies and Malteses to Labradors and Boxers. She says they prey on weakness.
“They’re usually stolen from your backyard, taken away from Miami-Dade Animal Services, found strays on the street. Bait dogs don’t last long," Canes said. "And if they’re no use any more they throw them in the street or kill them."
Amy Restucci, who runs the Abandoned Dogs Rescue in West Palm Beach, picked up Lola from the Miami-Dade Animal Shelter. She says Lola will be cared for at the private vet and get the best care there, on her way to recovering.
“She’ll get love. We’re gonna work with her. She’s walking finally. She’s following us around," she said. "It’s gonna take time and in order to place her in a forever home we have to make sure she gets along with another animals. We have to get to know Lola.”
Anyone interested in adopting Lola can reach out to Restucci directly at www.facebook.com/ABANDONEDDOGSEVERGLADES.
I’m basically a non-violent person but if some of these creeps stole my dog and used him as a bait dog, I would come looking for them with a very large caliber gun in my hand. And I would use it.
I’m glad to see that Lola fell into the hands of some nice people.
Poor pup. How can people be so cruel?
He was just the sweetest animal, and I could just throttle anyone who does that to a dog.
My first rescue pitbull, Porkchop, was also a bait dog. She was the best dog I ever had.
Lola looks so sweet. No dog deserves to be bait for fighting dogs. Even though it is illegal, some dirt bags persist in this “sport”. Same with cock fighting. Nasty humans have sullied the name of a wonderful breed of dog by turning them into fighters.
Pertinent to your interests...
Not just blacks, but just about every race which comprises all of humanity.
I have thought some more about your question about what culture says that it is normal or acceptable. I have seen pictures of some of the dogs mutilated by this fighting it should not be acceptable to do that to another living creature for amusement anywhere in this world. I have discovered three basic sorts of people in my life, those who make the world worse, those who make it better and those who do nothing. Perhaps we should all try harder to make the world better in this case.
Dog fighting was pretty ubiquitous in European culture..and everywhere actually...like cock fighting (which I admit a fondnessfor)...and bull and bear baiting etc
Not sure if Injuns did or not...maybe they were too busy skinning each other or roasting over coals alive one another
to worry about being cruel to mere dogs...especially since they considered them a food source when need be
sadistic folks likely prefer human torture
it stands to reason
i think I recall though Jack London inferring that Indians participated in dog fighting
I don’t like dog fighting though back before leash laws I saw some doozies and we as kids would cheer them on
like men, it was male dogs fighting over your gender
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