The Lost Dogs

by Jim Gorant

  HANOVER 43: SEVEN (GEORGIA SPCA/ALL OR NOTHING RESCUE)

  Brandon Bond placed this dog, a female originally named Aretha, in the foster home of a longtime friend, Daron James, who had worked with numerous pit bulls before. Despite her deep scars and signs that she’d been bred multiple times (she was pregnant when confiscated but lost the pups when she was spayed), she was a fearless and curious dog who responded very well to the training she received at an obedience school. James renamed the dog Seven, the number Michael Vick wears on his football jersey, as a nod to where she’d come from and an acknowledgment that he’d been lucky to come across her. “They had a great connection,” Bond said. “He saved her life, and she was a very happy dog.”

  A short time later a good friend of James’s committed suicide, sending him into a state of depression that worried his friends. “The only thing that pulled him out was that dog,” says Bond. “He took all the pain in his heart and poured it into Seven. The tables turned. She saved his life.”

  James eventually pulled out of his funk and committed to adopting Seven as soon as the six-month waiting period was up. He moved to Florida, where both man and dog continued to recover and rebuild. But on July 1, 2008, Seven slipped out of a fenced yard for an instant, bolted across the street, and was struck by a car. The driver stopped, helped James pick up Seven and rush her to the animal hospital. She died on the way.

  HANOVER 44: HECTOR (BAD RAP)

  A big brown dog with scars on his chest and legs, Hector was taken in by BAD RAP and, thanks to his sterling demeanor, he was ticketed for an organization that trains law dogs. Unfortunately, he proved to be too old to undergo the training and returned to BAD RAP. He moved among a few foster homes before landing on Cris Cohen’s doorstep. Eventually, Hector was adopted by Roo Yori, who is well-known in the pit bull world as the keeper of Wallace, a national flying disc champion.

  At Yori’s home in Minnesota, Hector not only made friends with Wallace, he became part of a pack of six dogs that included Scooby, a rat terrier, and Mindy Lou, a fifteen-pound toy Aussie who ran the entire house with an iron paw. From the beginning, Hector fit right in. He romped around the house and the yard with other dogs, and in the late mornings he napped on the Yoris’ bed with Mindy Lou and Scooby snuggled up next to him. Like many of his fellow Bad Newz refugees, he proved to be a klutz—running into doors, tripping on steps, and generally flopping around—which only made him more endearing. He also showed off his mischievous streak. Hide and go seek seemed to be his favorite game, and Roo and his wife, Clara, were never sure where a missing shoe or sock would turn up.

  Under the Yoris’ tutelage Hector aced his Canine Good Citizen test for a second time, passed the American Temperament Test Society exam, and received his therapy dog certification. Hector and Clara now make regular visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and schools to provide comfort to the ailing and to educate people about pit bulls and dogfighting.

  HOPEWELL 002491: LEO (OUR PACK) SUFFOLK M-0380: ALF (RICHMOND ANIMAL LEAGUE)

  A small male dog with a reddish coat and big ears who was initially very shy around people, Alf was adopted by a woman in Oklahoma who worked extensively to bring him around. After more than a year he had adjusted well and the pair started visiting schools as part of an at-risk youth program she was involved with. From the start the vets who worked with Alf knew that he had a lot of old scar tissue in his intestinal tract, which could have been the result of anything from a traumatic injury to eating rocks. In October 2009, Alf swallowed part of a rawhide, and though he was immediately taken to the vet and kept overnight for observation, a piece of the hide tore open the old wounds, and he died in his sleep.

  SUFFOLK F-0381: GRACIE (RICHMOND ANIMAL LEAGUE)

  She started off as Sherry, but after she was adopted by Sharon Cornett of the Richmond Animal League, she was renamed Gracie and she’s become a local celebrity. She attends conferences and meetings about animal welfare, goes into schools to help educate kids about dogs, and does anything she can to show people that they have nothing to fear from pit bulls. She’s happiest around other dogs, but has always been comfortable around people, too, and the first time she saw a couch she jumped right on it. Since then she’s spent a lot of well-earned time on the sofa.

  SUFFOLK M-0382: RAY (BEST FRIENDS)

  Like Curly, Ray came in bouncing off the walls. He jumped all over and grabbed at clothes. But he was very people-focused and eager to please, so his handlers corrected the behavior by leaving as soon as he started doing anything they didn’t like. Ray soon realized that he couldn’t behave this way if he wanted company—which he did—and he settled down and did well with training. A smaller dog (forty pounds or so), he has earned his Canine Good Citizen certificate and is always a favorite of people who come to visit. He almost certainly would have been adopted already, but he doesn’t get along well with other dogs and that severely limits his options.

  SUFFOLK M-0383: OSCAR (BEST FRIENDS)

  Oscar came in with medical issues but once he recovered physically he made up ground quickly. He had a willingness to learn and in December 2008, after a period of intense one-on-one training, he became the first of the Vick dogs at Best Friends to pass his Canine Good Citizen test. Oscar’s advance in skills was part of an increase in confidence that also helped him come out of his shell around people. Unfortunately, he doesn’t do as well around other dogs. He tolerates those he encounters in the course of his day, but he can’t live with them.

  SUFFOLK M-0384: LANCE (BEST FRIENDS)

  Lance arrived as one the most fearful of the Vick dogs. It took him months and months to even learn how to walk on a leash or get in a car, but he has made steady progress. Now he spends his days hanging around the Best Friends adoption office with three to five other dogs and even a few cats. He comes and goes through a doggie door that leads to a large outdoor run. He’s still cautious around strangers, but he loves to play with the people around the office and he sleeps with a group of dogs at night.

  SUSSEX 2601: MABEL (RICHMOND ANIMAL LEAGUE)

  Like Jhumpa Jones, Mabel was fostered out to a rescue group in New York. She moved through a number of foster homes for the first year and a half before finally settling in with one woman who plans to adopt her.

  SUSSEX 2602: SWEET JASMINE (RECYCLED LOVE) SUSSEX 2603: SWEET PEA (RECYCLED LOVE)

  A dog with multiple scars and an affinity for Sweet Jasmine, Sweet Pea also went from WARL to Recycled Love. She was fostered with one of the group’s experienced rescuers, a man who has successfully worked with half a dozen other pit bulls. Sweet Pea, who continued to struggle with fear issues, shared her foster home with two other dogs, a pit bull mix named Bull and a terrier named Sadie. And although she always enjoyed her get-togethers with Sweet Jasmine and never had a problem with any of the other dogs at Catalina Stirling’s house or with Bull, she once bit Sadie. As a result, she’s no longer allowed to interact with other dogs, other than Bull, but her foster caregiver continues to help Sweet Pea work through her troubles—and she’s made progress.

  SUSSEX 2604: FRODO (BAD RAP)

  Frodo was one of the shyest dogs that made the RV trip to Oakland, and it has been a slow climb for him. But step by step he’s becoming more confident and coming out of his shell. He gets along well with other dogs, and Kim Ramirez, who adopted him, says that in 2009 he wasn’t even afraid of the Christmas tree, a sight that terrified him a year earlier.

  SUSSEX 2605: GEORGIA (BEST FRIENDS)

  Georgia came in angry and suspicious. She closely guarded anything she was given and made sure to let anyone who came near know that they shouldn’t mess with her or her stuff. She didn’t have any teeth (the last of them had fallen out at Washington Animal Rescue League), but there was still little doubt that she meant business. She didn’t trust anyone and wouldn’t even look anyone in the eye.

  Georgia had learned to defend her turf, but she was smart. Before long she figured out that things worked differently at Best Friends, wh
ere people were kind and no one tried to take her stuff away. If fact, when people came around they usually brought food or special treats for her. Very quickly, Georgia got with the program and her personality flourished.

  She liked plush toys, so the staff gave her a giant one—it was almost half her size—and she carried it around proudly. She loved fake bones and received a steady supply. She liked to stand on top of her doghouse, so she was given one with a flat roof. She enjoyed playing with her stuff outside, so she was given plenty of time out in her run, although her water bucket had to be tied down to keep her from playing with that, too.

  Most of all, she came to love attention. She has scars all over her face and one side of her mouth hangs open where her jaw had been broken, leaving her tongue constantly dangling and giving her a look that is at once fierce and farcical. No wonder she became a TV favorite, making numerous appearances, including a visit to the Ellen show. She even has a pink-rhinestone collar she wears for such occasions. All the exposure has done her some good, as someone has applied to adopt her, but according to the court settlement she has to pass her Canine Good Citizen test, which she hasn’t been able to do. Yet.

  SUSSEX 2606: ERNIE (BAD RAP)

  Ernie was a curious case. When the ASPCA evaluation team originally met with all the dogs, Tim Racer used Ernie as a test dog because he was so stable and calm. Whenever Racer wanted to see if one dog was friendly around others, he would trot Ernie out to test the reaction. Ernie was a trooper throughout, but once he got into the real world he struggled, reacting negatively to other dogs if he was on his leash. With time, he became more comfortable and the problem worked itself out. He’s been adopted into a home where he lives with another dog and two cats and he earned his Canine Good Citizen certification in the fall of 2009.

  SUSSEX 2607: WILLIE (BEST FRIENDS)

  One of the saddest and more perplexing cases, Willie came in as a mellow dog. When staffers stayed overnight with the dogs to keep them company, he was one that they most often brought out to snuggle with. But while he has made some progress in his overall training and behavior, he has also had a few incidents of aggression. He’s fearful of other dogs and incapable of living with them. One staff veterinarian at Best Friends who studies posttraumatic stress disorder thinks Willie might be suffering from the condition, although there’s also a school of thought that believes Willie may be suffering from some undetected physical ailment, and the associated pain is what’s making him lash out. Adding to the confusion is that at times, Willie is still a fun-loving, active dog who particularly enjoys car rides.

  SUSSEX 2608: CHARLIE (GEORGIA SPCA)

  Charlie was the only dog that went to the Georgia SPCA but did not end up with Brandon Bond. Instead he was sent to one of the SPCA’s foster volunteers. Charlie, or Chuck as he’s now called, was one of the better-adjusted dogs and he adapted quickly to life in a house. His foster family eventually adopted him and he’s doing well.

  SUSSEX 2609: LAYLA (BEST FRIENDS)

  When Layla arrived at Best Friends she was on edge, living in a state of hyperawareness in which she reacted to everything going on around her by barking and charging. She paced and jumped and simply did not know how to settle down. On the positive side, she was one of the least fearful Vick dogs. She would walk right up to anyone, tail wagging, and say hello. She craves attention and gets plenty of it. And now that she has calmed down, one of her favorite things to do is simply lie back and get a massage. She has not done as well with other dogs, although she can live side by side with them in crates or runs without a problem. She just can’t live with them. Around the Best Friends compound she’s a source of much joy, since of all the Vick dogs she may be the most clumsy and uncoordinated, tripping over her own feet in excitement when she sees people. Her favorite activity? Riding in a golf cart.

  SUSSEX 2610: ROSE (ANIMAL FARM FOUNDATION) SUSSEX 2611: DENZEL (BEST FRIENDS)

  Denzel arrived as an emergency medical case, his babesia driving him into a state of extremely poor health. He didn’t have any fear issues, but he was in and out of the clinic for months, getting blood transfusions and a constantly changing mix of medicines. Finally, the vets found a combination that worked, and he’s been in good health since. He’s learned more tricks than any other Vick dog—he’s best known for waving to visitors. And although he can’t live with other dogs and currently lives in a separate run, he’s learning to get along with them. He’s walking with other dogs without becoming agitated but he’s not yet ready for a playmate. He’s been so easy to train and so willing to work that his caregivers have high hopes for him.

  SUSSEX 2612: MERYL (BEST FRIENDS)

  Meryl arrived with a history of lashing out at people and a court order stating that she would have to remain at Best Friends for life. When anyone she didn’t know and trust (which was basically everyone) approached, she would glare, bark, growl, and occasionally snap. The staff realized these were defense mechanisms Meryl was using to deal with her fear. To help Meryl get over these trust issues, the staff limited her contact to only a few people. As she got to know those people and feel comfortable around them she became not just friendlier but downright loving. As those relationships built, Meryl gained confidence and eventually expanded the circle of people she could relax around. She was always friendly with other dogs and even enjoys hanging around with some of the cats at Best Friends, and today she can even deal with strangers as long as someone she trusts is nearby.

  SUSSEX 2613: STELLA (SPCA FOR MONTEREY)

  Stella has been friendly and enthusiastic from the start, doling out kisses and tail wags with little discretion. What she possessed in joie de vivre she lacked in basic skills—couldn’t walk on leash, wouldn’t walk through doors, didn’t even know her name. Over time, the SPCA staff and Stella’s foster family worked through most of those issues and now she’s happily settled into her foster home. She loves attention and likes playing and wrestling with her foster family’s dog, Pepper, even though she’s comically uncoordinated and clumsy while doing so. Stella also loved to hang out with fellow Vick dog Red. When she was around Red, she chased him, bumped him, and tried to entice him to play. Still, the easiest way to get Stella’s attention is to tear open a bag of food; she’ll come at a sprint to find out what it is and if she can get any.

  SUSSEX 2614: HARRIET (RECYCLED LOVE)

  Believed to be Vick’s personal dog, she’s likely never been fought, and because Harriet was so well-mannered and comfortable around people she received better treatment than many of the other dogs while waiting in government shelters. One attendant from the Sussex shelter remembered her well and said that she was one of the few dogs regularly taken outside for walks and exercise. Because she was so friendly and well-behaved she also received a lot more attention, with people regularly stopping by her kennel to talk and play. Despite the advantages she had over many of the other dogs, Harriet, too, showed signs of fear and kennel stress, which gives some indication of how profoundly the long stay in government care contributed to the problems all the dogs struggled with.

  She was taken in by Recycled Love and went to the home of Paul DeSantis, a Baltimore lawyer who was the group’s president at the time. DeSantis has two other pit bulls that Harriet followed around like a puppy. She learned as much from the other dogs as she did from DeSantis, who worked with her on basic skills and obedience. He also took her to a nearby training facility where Harriet could participate in classes with unfamiliar dogs, and challenge herself and build confidence on an obstacle course that included bridges, slalom runs, tunnels, and teeter-totters, among other things. DeSantis has since moved to a farm in rural Maryland, where Harriet and her pals have all the room and freedom they could want.

  SUSSEX 2615: TUG (BEST FRIENDS)

  A big (sixty-five-pound) exuberant lug, Tug earned his name honestly—when he’s on a leash he loves to drag anyone holding on along for a ride. That little behavioral tick is far more welcome than the one he had upon arrival: compuls
ively licking his fence. The obsessive behavior was probably a result of kennel stress and as Tug wound down through a steady course of training, agility drills, and lots of exercise, the unwanted activity cured itself. Now he’s simply a big, goofy dog, especially around people he knows and feels comfortable with. Unless they have a camera. He’s deathly afraid of them. He’s begun working with other dogs and has done well, showing signs that he may one day be able to live with them. For now, he has his own run, where he loves to chase lizards and jump around. If any visitor is bold enough to enter his space and sit on the ground, Tug will run at them full speed, jump in the air, and land right in their lap.

  SUSSEX 2616: LUCAS (BEST FRIENDS)

  One of Vick’s two known grand champion fighters, Lucas is under court order to spend the rest of his days at Best Friends. He has been very sick at times with babesia, and he’s had to do a few two- or three-night stints in the clinic while vets tinkered with his medications to find something that would work.

  None of that has stopped Lucas from having his fun. Confident and friendly around people, Lucas loves being the center of attention and spends three days a week hanging around the executive offices at Best Friends, where he gets to bond with the staffers who work there and meet the many people who come and go during the course of a day. He loves his toys and the dog park, a grassy two-acre field where he can run free. He can’t live with other dogs, but he doesn’t react when another dog walks by or sits close to him. He even has a girlfriend, a female pit bull that lives in a neighboring run and licks his face through the fence that separates their living areas.