Dear Tammy,
We all fight bullies. Oh, not this type of bully, but bullies of the
human kind. There may be bullies in your family that may make your
life and rescue difficult, there may be bullies in your neighborhood
who may complain about you or your dogs just because they can, there
may be bullies on the police force or in animal control that don't care
about your concern for a neglected dog, there are bullies who chain/pen
and neglect their dogs, there are bullies who will fight tooth and nail
against tethering laws, and bullies who fight against rescue
organizations with slander, and of course there are bullies who fight
bullies aka dog-fighters, just to name a few.
Upon
examining information on how to fight a bully, oddly enough, the same
strategy that works on the playground seems to be the key to combat all
types of human bullies.
At DDB, we love bullies, the canine kind, not the human kind. We rescue and pass tethering ordinances that do not discriminate against the breed of the dog, and want better treatment for all of man's best friends.
We
changed our Chain-Off venue from Denver, Colorado this year because of
bullies, both the human kind who banned them and the canines who were
banned. We were asked by Denver Kills Dogs
to stand in solidarity with them in a boycott of Denver because the
Denver Division of Animal Control began enforcing a citywide ban on pit
bull terriers (and any mix breed dog determined to be part pit bull). Please join us!
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How to Kick A Bully's Butt
 You have a weapon against bullies: YOUR ATTITUDE.
If you want to succeed, you have to be aware of strengths, weaknesses,
limitations and vulnerabilities. A bully studies your weaknesses and
uses them to control you. It's hard to keep your mind on your work or
focus on your goals when you're worried about dealing with a bully. You
can only get the upper hand if you become aware of your weaknesses and
work through them and around them.
Self-awareness
is the basis for becoming powerful against a bully. Pay attention to
your own emotions, attitude and behaviors, particularly in relationship
to other people. Negative emotions and vulnerabilities tend to
dissolve under the examination of self-awareness, don't worry about
fixing your faults just focus your energies in a positive way.
When facing a bully:
- Express dignity and style in the face of ugly behaviors by others
- Maintain a calm, self-confident attitude
- Be straightforward and emotionally detached
- Combine humor with respect for others
- Be warm and professional
- Be patient and alert
- Be realistic and wise
- Be firm and specific
- Always be aware of the emotions and attitudes of others
A
bully is fully committed to either controlling or destroying you. If
you go up against a bully with a weak determination to fight, the bully
will succeed.
The
solution is total commitment on your part. It's you and your beliefs
that are at stake. Take a stand; see it through with a stubborn
persistence that will ultimately win you freedom from the bullies of
the world.
Once
you have made the commitment, then relax. You know what you have to do.
Remind yourself that you have chosen freedom over submission, love over
hate and good over evil.
Do
you see a connection to people in your own life, rescue or your efforts
to protect backyard dogs in these suggestions? It's your total
commitment that will see you through and win freedom for
abused/neglected backyard dogs. There is a whole network of like-minded people at Dogs Deserve Better to keep you strong in your fight to stop this accepted form of cruel treatment and animal abuse.
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Bully for Sunny!
The Photo Book Projects - Melissa McDaniel
Amanda
Green, DDB New Mexico Representative, first met Sunny after she
received a call about a loose pit bull who had been hit by a car and
abandoned on the side of the road. The dog's forecast wasn't so good.
The vets told her that the dog's left front leg was so badly damaged in
the accident that it needed amputation. Euthanasia was a real
possibility. They scrambled to find the money for her surgery. Two
local radio stations broadcast her story, and a local newspaper printed
an article about the dog's urgent situation and generous donors around
Hobbs, New Mexico paid for her $1,400 amputation and spay surgery.
She
definitely has been given a second chance at life, which is why they
named her Sunny - because her future now looks like a bright one. Sunny
is a young girl, with a lot of energy and she is so very
friendly. She loves to be with you. She loves people, women more
so than men, and loves other dogs. She gets around well despite
having only one front leg. She is definitely a people dog and suffers
from a little separation anxiety. This is understandable
considering all she has been through We are happy to report that
Sunny has been adopted by a great family. She now has dogs to play with
and a great place to call home, thanks to an amazing DDB Rep, Amanda
Green and Dogs Deserve Better.
Special thank you to Melissa for featuring Sunny in "The Photo Book Projects" .
The
photo book projects is a photography initiative, a series of photo
books with educational content, designed to call attention to certain
topics, raise awareness on issues, celebrate the beauty that is around
us, and give non-profits a means to raise money for themselves.
Find out more or pre-order.
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| Bully for Chain-Off!
 Chain Off has
been held annually around the 4th of July since 2003, highlighting the
reality that while Americans are celebrating their own freedom, there
are tens of thousands of Man's Best Friends in every state who are
still not free: America's chained and penned dogs.
Chain yourself in your own backyard,
your neighborhood, a local park or with us in South Carolina! Join up
'in packs' to make a local event of it, or take it low-key in a
one-woman or one-man show in your own backyard. However it works for
you, it's ok by us! We've got more excitement than ever, with a large event in S. Carolina where
activists will be chained, and new ways to fundraise in groups or on
your own. We'd like to see over 100 people, and at least one from EVERY
SINGLE STATE, living chained to doghouses sometime during the weeks
from June 27th through July 12th. We can do it! You can do it!
In addition to being our biggest awareness campaign
of the year, this is also our biggest fundraising event of the year,
last year raising over $33,000 for our work with chained and penned
dogs. $33,000? Let's blow that out of the water this year too, with a
goal of $60,000 raised during Chain Off! Be part of it! You can
fundraise even if you're not going to live chained to the
doghouse...join an online fundraising 'team' in your state, start your
own fundraising page, and make it happen.
Here's how it works: Fill out the form
with your contact information, what state you live in, and where and
when you plan to be chained. You will then be given the option to pick
up our Chain Off Pak for $25 (Chain Off t-shirt, brochures,
doorhangers, and bumper stickers) as well as create your fundraising
page on our affiliated fundraising site. You then add your own picture
and text, send us the link at Dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org, and start
sending it out to your friends and co-workers for sponsorship! We will
add your name and contact information to the website, as well as a link
to your fundraising page to bring more people and up your totals.
Next,
start your plan...bring in more volunteers with you or go it alone, get
your doghouse(s), collars, and chains, and you're all set. Make sure to
send this release to the local media, letting them know how to contact
you and when you will be doing your Chain Off.
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Featured Dogs Deserve Better Rep Nili Asgharian
 Nili
Asgharian's interest in animal protection/rights started in 2006 when
her neighbors got a Pit Bull "Yoyo" who was chained and neglected. Her
neighbors were open to Asgharian who approached them regarding Yoyo's
sad situation. Thus, Asgharian was able to provide some basic level of
care for Yoyo, which continued for about nine months, after which they
let her adopt the sweet dog. They acknowledged that Yoyo would be happier on the
other side of the fence, and it wasn't too long before Yoyo was trained
and integrated into a pack of six rescue cats. This is how Asgharian became involved in the animal
protection/rights movement. She is now one of the Dallas-Fort Worth
representatives for Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), When she is contacted
regarding a chained/penned dog, she first sends the owners a cover
letter and a DDB brochure and then tries to approach them within a few weeks.
In the year and half that she has been active in the
field, she has ran into closed doors; i.e. people that are home but
refuse to answer. This has been frustrating, as she can travel up to an
hour and half each way to get to some addresses. However, she has had a
few semi-success stories.
The following are the highlights of such cases. One
involves getting her dog-trainer friend involved, where the family has
been open to education. They have allowed my trainer friend to have
their dog neutered; the short chain has been replaced by a long pulley
system; and he goes out every fortnight to work with the children re
basic care and training. The long term goal is to make him part of the
family through training and the bond the children have developed with
the sweet Pit Bull. Another story involves a home where many un-altered
dogs are in a small front yard, and a Border Collie was on a
short-chain outside the chain-link fence, with mud for water and dirt
for food. After several weeks of consistent visits and negotiations,
they have made him part of the pack. This is a slightly better
situation; however far from ideal, as it is tight and they won't allow
Asgharian to alter any of the dogs. At least they seem to refresh water
more frequently. One case she is currently on has to do with a very
skinny dog that used to be on a short and heavy chain, lived in
feces/mud, rarely got any water/food. This precious dog is off the
chain with help from Dallas Animal Services, and Asgharian and
colleagues are working to clean the trashcan of backyard while trying
to educate the child of owner to make her part of family. She has put
on a bit of weight, yet the water is still more shaky, but the fact
that they have allowed Dogs Deserve Better to work with them is encouraging.
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1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my mouth, it's mine.
3. If I can. take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I'm chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it just looks like mine, it's mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.
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Bullies, The Opponents of Tethering Laws
 Some groups that generally oppose chaining restrictions are Owners' rights groups & responsible dog ownership groups, breeders, kennel clubs, hunters,
farmers, people profiting from illegal fighting of pit bulls, breeders
of champion fighting dogs (Also "hog-doggers" and canned
hunters).
The first groups listed, "Responsible
Dog Owner Groups" are often paid to stop laws affecting dog ownership
for the others, claiming laws are unconstitutional and infringe on
property rights. Adam Goldfarb, HSUS Issues Specialist for Companion
Animals may have said it best, "If Responsible Dog Owner Groups would
focus as much on the word "Responsible" as they do the word "Owner"
then we'd be on the same side."
Though these same groups are often very helpful in stopping BSL they claim anti-tethering laws
are a back door to racial prejudice BSL/bans, discriminate against
minorities, renters, the poor, senior citizens and the disabled to stop
legislation that prevents common backyard cruelty. They may use scare
tactics that people are coming to take your dog and claim when breed
bans fail the government turns to chaining ordinances as a 'backdoor'
scheme targeting pit bulls, or that tethering limits legalize extreme
search and seizure practices.
Finally, the argument
Responsible Dog Owner groups make is this, "There are already existing
laws to protect dogs." I would imagine, anyone reading this who
is interested in passing some sort of tethering law or limit already
knows this statement is false.
An
example of an extreme statement would be: "Anti-tethering laws
are NOT to protect children from "vicious" dogs, nor are they about the
safety of the dog. They are about taking pets away from poor
people, a group that otherwise the animal rights nuts can't touch
(because they have far less to lose than do breeders)."
A few Arguments and Answers
"My
dog is my property, the government can't tell me what to do with my
property." The government already tells us how to
care for property and for pets; a chaining ordinance is an expansion of
those laws.
"I've always chained my dog without problems."
Standards
on pet care, like most outdated ideas, evolve with knowledge.
Today we know more about pets and are obliged to use that information
to better care for them.
"My dog likes it outside "
Of
course he does, but living permanently on a chain is no life. He may
like being outdoors, but also needs to spend time with you.
"Laws already exist against animal cruelty."
Current
animal cruelty laws do not address the issues created by chained dogs.
They can only address situations after they become extremely severe and
aren't preventative in the same way chaining laws are.
Set
higher standards than the bullies. Be aware and alert lawmakers ahead
of time. Be professional, courteous, focus on the issue, whether when letter writing
or speaking. When speaking, limit your time, listen when others talk,
and address lawmakers when you speak and remember thank everyone.
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Whether a community member or a tourist...tell 'em what dog chaining will cost them...
I'm a Dog Lover & I Vote Support "No Chaining Legislation in Our Community" & "I'm a Dog Lover and I Vote with my Tourism Dollars. Support Anti-Chaining Legislation in your community!" See available items!
 
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Get Your Copy of "Scream Like Banshee" by Tamira Ci Thayne
"I regularly buy books with a
rescue theme but have always felt a bit disappointed because there
hasn't been a book that portrayed, "my rescue experiences." So I
wasn't really prepared for Tamira Ci Thayne's "Scream Like
Banshee". It is the most honest account of the perils and
pitfalls as well as the joy and fulfillment that rescue volunteers face
daily.
The book was beautifully written and brutally
honest. I always was rescue friendly, going to events and
donating money. But adopting my very own rescue dog changed my
life and made me add another title for myself, dog rescuer. I've
become deeply involved with promoting spay and neuter services and
dachshund rescue for about a year now. I've had over 7 foster
dogs in the past year and each one brings unique challenges and
opportunities.
I LOVE what I do but I struggle with
feeling overwhelmed. I worry that I'm not being the "perfect"
foster parent. I have a hard time saying "No, I can't take in
another dog right now." With too few foster homes and an endless
supply of needy animals, to say no feels like sentencing that animal to
death.
Thayne's book feels like an
embrace from a friend that understands what we all go through. It
is a beacon of hope to let other rescuers know that they "are not
alone".
It is a must read for anyone involved in rescue."
Thank you for giving us a voice,
Amy Snyder
Volunteer for Dachshund Rescue of North America (DRNA)
Both signed and unsigned copies available for purchase. |
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Sporting a DDB Large Car Magnet may Reduce your Speeding Tickets! Really!
 DDB
founder Tamira Ci Thayne was headed to the Central PA Animal Alliance
Fashion Show in Harrisburg on Sunday, and was pulled over for speeding,
58 in a 45. Instead of resisting, she just sighed
and accepted that a ticket was pretty much on it's way. The
policeman asked where she was coming from and where she was
going, and then came back up to the van, reading her car magnets
all the while. Instead of giving her a ticket, he gave her a
warning, and told her, "I just want to know that I really admire
the work that Dogs Deserve Better does!" For a mere $24.97 (for one) to $42.97 (for two) you can save yourself 100's of dollars in speeding tickets, as well as spread the word about chaining. |
Our movement is growing, expanding,
making HUGE strides, thanks to your help. Please stick with us, we
really CAN change the world for chained and penned dogs. DonateSincerely,
Dawn Ashby, Rescue & Public Liaison dawn@dogsdesrvebetter.org
1.877.636.1408 · http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org
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