animal rescue

DOGS ARE PEOPLE, (AND HEROES) TOO

/ Louis Spirito / 1 Comment

This was a great week for those of us who roll on 4 legs, and our human friends.  First, Elle a Pit Bull (yes, a pit bull!) was named 2013 ‘Hero Dog’ by the American Humane Association. Making it even better, our friends and dog park pals, Megan Blake and Smiley were there to co-host the gala.

Megan and Super Smiley with last year’s emcee, stage superstar Kristin Chenoweth

Then there was a moving piece in the Huffingtom Post about a woman who rescued a wounded Pit Bull and took to Craig’s List to chide the dog’s abusive former owners. Be advised, Kleenex necessary.

Mama Jade
Finally, in case you think I have a pit bull agenda (moi?) that runs toward saccharine, my hard-nosed ‘dad, Lou asked me to include this story from the New York Times about Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist from Emory University whose work is proving what we’ve known since the first dog strolled into the first human encampment, that  DOG ARE PEOPLE, TOO. – “For the past two years, my colleagues and I have been training dogs to go in an M.R.I. scanner — completely awake and unrestrained. Our goal has been to determine how dogs’ brains work and, even more important, what they think of us humans. Now, after training and scanning a dozen dogs, my one inescapable conclusion is this: dogs are people, too.” (read the article & watch the video)

With Tanner and his girl, ‘Lola’ Mazza – Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets!

A PET’S 10 COMMANDMENTS (part II)

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

Many of you have read this before but, since I’m a dog and an interested party, I thought we’d pass it along to those of you who haven’t. According to web sources, the author is a British bloke named Stan Rawlinson (www.doglistener.co.uk). While it’s meant for us 4-legged ‘kids’, it’s a pretty good way to treat our 2-legged friends, too.

A PET’S 10 COMMANDMENTS


1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments, but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’m not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can’t bear to watch. Don’t make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
                                                                    ~ ~ ~
REYES ADOBE DAYS – Lou and I  are thrilled to be participating in the ‘Authors’ event at next weekend’s Reyes Adobe Days, an annual festival celebrating the founding and cultural legacy of nearby Agoura Hills. In a way, it’s almost fitting, since Lou and Eugenie adopted me from the L.A. County Shelter in Agoura. So, in a sense, that caring community changed two lives, his and mine. We’ll be signing books on from 1:30 – 3:00 on Saturday, October 5, so if you’re in the area, stop by and say hello. You can find us at the Reyes Adobe Historical Site in the Adobe Barn, 30400 Rainbow Crest Drive, Agoura Hills, CA 91301. RAD runs from Friday – Sunday (Fr- 5:00 – 9:00 PM, Sat, Sun 11:00 Am – 4:00 PM) 

Hanging with my bipeds on the Pepperdine 9/11 Lawn



TANNER’S SUMMER READING LIST

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

Although school has already started for some unfortunate kids, Tanner wanted to spread the word about some terrific books he’s gnawing on. First is JIMMY & ME by Lew Bracker, who takes a fond look back at his brief but poignant friendship with the Hollywood icon, cut off before his time. Then there’s Sarah Bracey White’s PRIMARY LESSONS, a memoir of a young African-American girl who was “ripped from her middle-class lifein Philadelphia and transported to a single-parent household in the South where she refuses to accept the segregation that tries to confine her.” Finally, there’s RUBY’S TALE by Patrick Bettendorf, the true rags-to-riches story of a thrown away pit bull and her journey from the trashcan to media darling. Tanner gives them all ‘2 paws up’, and he’s sure you will, too. If you haven’t yet read GIMME SHELTER, be sure to add it to the list. Tanner wants his friends to knwo that there will be no book reports and no one will be tested on the material. Enjoy.

              

TANNER COMES THROUGH…TWICE!

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

We all know that dogs are man’s best friend but, the past few weeks, Tanner has been going above and beyond. On Saturday, August 3, he was the star of our hugely successful Barnes & Noble book signing in Thousand Oaks. He was friendly, sweet and so well-behaved, even when other dogs cruised by. People adored him and stopped to trade dog stories and to buy GIMME SHELTER. 

Then on Sunday, August 4, Tanner was back at it again, helping me serve as Grand Marshal and kicking off the fundraising walk at the American Cancer Society ‘Bark For Life’ event. Luckily it was overcast and cool, so he didn’t poop out on a very short stroll. As a reward for his PR efforts, Tanner got to scarf down some rare roast beef and to cuddle all night on the bed. By popular request, here’s the text of the welcome speech we gave.

“Dealing with cancer is challenging on many levels.  It is stressful, it’s frightening but it can also empowering. One thing that helps us cope with the struggle is the support of our friends, our families, caring strangers and our dogs. Given that this Malibu’s first annual BARK FOR LIFE fundraising walk, I should say especially our dogs. As someone who has grappled with cancer and other serious issues, I’ve seen firsthand the difference a 4-legged therapist can make. That’s why I’m here today…to speak about how dogs help comfort and heal us when we need it most.

1) THEY ARE CHEAPER THAN DOCTORS AND THERAPISTS, MORE FUN AND ALWAYS ON CALL.– That’s why they make such great healers. We know they will be there for us no matter what. They don’t care if we have insurance, and for most of us, their ‘fee’ is some cuddles and a rawhide treat or two…or five.

2) DOGS DON’T JUDGE – Except when it comes squeaky toys, they don’t judge. They don’t care if you lose weight, gain weight, have more hair, less hair or no hair. They don’t care about our jobs, the cars we drive or  the clothes we wear.  To our dogs, we have no flaws. We’re perfect just the way we are. They love us because that’s what they do. Period. All they ask from us in return is a little exercise and affection. if only all of our two-legged pals were so easy and accommodating.

3) DOG ARE PLAYFUL – Regardless of what’s going on in the world or our bodies – if the stock market’s down, or Dwight Howard ditches us for Houston, or Congress is behaving like
unruly kindergartners, or we’re feeling like we’ve been run over by a cement truck – our dogs are always up for play. We can take a lesson from them and when things get stressful, or seem hopeless, we can go for a ride and stick our head out the car window, or go for a run, a walk or just sit on a bench in the sun. Your dog never looks at you and says ‘We really need to work more’.

4) DOGS ARE WISE! – They live in harmony with nature. They don’t care about social trends, how many Twitter followers or Facebook friends you have, how much your movie grossed, how many books you’ve sold.  They have no list of  ‘should’s. They sleep when they’re tired, eat when they’re hungry (except pugs and labs, who eat all the time), play when they need exercise. They don’t worry (well, maybe just a little around dinner time) and they never give advice. They don’t dwell on the past, or try to control the future. They are fully PRESENT. Every day, they get, up wag their tails and go about their lives, doing their very best, living in the moment, every moment. They have one message: be joyous, be present, and LET’S PLAY! or as Laura so aptly put it, let’s BARK FOR LIFE.”

Lou & Tanner with Bark for Life organizer Laura Leonard and her rescue dog Barkley.

HARRY HAMLIN LOVES ‘GIMME SHELTER’!

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

Checked my Amazon page today and found a really great review from actor, author and rescue dog parent Harry Hamlin, who had this to say about GIMME SHELTER – I loved this book! I love dogs but you don’t have to be a “dog person” to get the message hidden between the lines. This book opens a door to serenity and  a fresh appreciation of the precious gift of life. It’s a fun read written by a thoughtful man who takes us on his own journey of self-discovery that turns out to be ours as well. Great job!


In addition to film, TV and stage roles too numerous to mention, Harry has penned a fascinating memoir entitled Full Frontal Nudity. When you buy Gimme Shelter, maybe get it, too.

Lou, Lisa Rinna, Eugenie, Harry Hamlin

DON’T RUSH TO JUDGEMENT

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

By now many people know that a pack of roaming Pit Bulls is being blamed for the mauling death of an Antelope Valley woman who was attacked while jogging. Like many such stories, this one focussed on the breed of dog involved, neglecting to describe the owners, and the conditions in which the dogs were being kept. As details emerge, there’s talk that the dogs may have belonged to a drug dealer and were allowed to roam free, with no training or socialization. Like Rottweilers, Dobermans, and German Shepherds before them, Pits have been the ‘dangerous dog’ of the day, in large part because they appeal to creeps looking for a four-legged weapon to aid their mischief or boost their ‘cred’. It’s sad and tragic that an innocent woman paid the price. While the dogs in question will be found and pay the price, hopefully the local prosecutor will send a message and throw the book at the guilty owners.

                                                                               ~~~~~~
On a lighter note, if you’re looking for a fun time that will benefit animals in need, check out the MAD HATTER TEA PARTY to benefit Sky Valencia’s St. Martin’s Animal Foundation.

JUST HOW ‘DANGEROUS’ ARE PIT BULLS?

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

In my haste to spread the word about Maryland’s misguided law (nothing gets a ‘recovering’ angry guy worked up like picking on Pitties), I forgot to include some statistics from GIMME SHELTER about the odds of being killed by a Pit Bull. While the numbers are a few years old, they illustrate how the media’s obsession with these ‘killer’ dogs is perversely overblown. I’m including them now to give you a sense of perspective.

Eugenie and Tanner

– According to CDC studies, about 10 persons die each year as a result of dog attacks. Of that number, Pit Bulls are responsible for approximately 28% or 2.8 deaths

–  In 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reported 7 deaths from fireworks. Based on that number, you are two times more likely to die from a fireworks mishap than from a Pit Bull attack.

– Approximately 10 people a year die from snakebites, three times the number killed by Pit Bulls.

– From 1990-2003, 756 Americans (an average of 58/year) died from lightning strikes. That means you are more than 20 times more likely to be killed by lightening than by a Pit Bull.

– CDC statistics show that every day 10 people die from drowning, the second leading cause of non-intentional death for people ages 1-14. A person is 1,300 times more likely to drown than to be killed by a Pit Bull.

– Every year in the U.S., more than 1,700 children (roughly 5 each day) are killed by their parents or guardians, either through abuse or neglect. A child is more than 600 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a Pit Bull.

–  For every Pit Bull that kills, there are MILLIONS that DON’T!

Resources-  Centers for Disease Control,  Consumer Products Safety Commission,  National Lightening Safety Institute,  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services


A TOTALLY FREAKY PIT BULL and A TOTALLY STUPID LAW

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

Wasn’t sure what to write about this week when a online petition came in that I just I had to share it with our friends. It’s asking the Maryland Appleate Court to overturn a ridiculous piece of legislation passed by the morons in the Maryland Legislature in 2012:

Tracey v. Solesky, No. 53, September Term 2012, Opinion by Cathell, J.
STRICT LIABILITY ADOPTED IN RESPECT TO ATTACKS ON HUMANS BY PIT BULL DOGS AND CROSS-BRED PIT BULL DOGS.
Upon a plaintiff’s sufficient proof that a dog involved in an attack is a pit bull or a pit bull cross, and that the owner, or other person(s) who has the right to control the pit bull’s presence on the subject premises (including a landlord who has a right to prohibit such dogs on leased premises) knows, or has reason to know, that the dog is a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull, that person is liable for the damages caused to a plaintiff who is attacked by the dog on or from the owner’s or lessor’s premises. In that case a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of negligence. When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous.
                                                                                                                         ~~~~
In practical terms, the law means that in any incident involving a Pit Bull, the dog’s owner or a or a landlord who rents to the owner of a Pit Bull would automatically be guilty of owning or harboring a ‘dangerous’ dog, thereby exposing those people to legal liability. Labeling Pits as inherently dangerous makes their adoption much more difficult, leading to more euthanized dogs.   If this strikes you as wrong-headed and unjust (Imagine a law that said, owing to the nature of the Mafia, all Italians are inherently criminal) sign the petition asking the Maryland Supreme Court to overturn the misguided, bigoted law.

‘Inherently Dangerous’ Tanner about to claim another victim
                                                                                             ~~~~ 
On a lighter note, if you enjoy watching canine athletes strut their, check out this video of  Tre-T, a Russian parkour super Pit Bull who treats the city like one huge urban dog park. Like Tanner, Tre-T’s an American Staffordshire Terrier, but just a tad more energetic.

Tre-T literally bouncing off the walls


THE MORE WE GIVE…

/ Louis Spirito / Leave a comment

Tanner and I wanted to take a moment to mention some animal organizations and their upcoming events that you might want to consider supporting:

–The Humane Society of the United States, Genesis Awards – the equivalent of the animals Oscars they celebrate the role that the news and entertainment media and high-profile individuals play in rasing awareness of animals issue. They are being held on Saturday, March 23, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. If you have a few bucks to spare (pay, more than a few), tickets are still available at 310.440.0600. At Tanner’s urging (and with some help from our neighbor and fellow dog rescuer Gary K.) we’ve donated digital copies of GIMME SHELTER to the VIP gift bags for this year’s gala.

Operation Blankets of Love – an award-winning non-profit 501(c)3 public charity. They collect, transport and distribute recycled and new pet-related items to comfort stray, sick, neglected and abused homeless animals in shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries and foster groups. In addition, as an Emergency Response Team, they partner with those organizations to provide relief and comfort to animals that are displaced or endangered by catastrophe.

St. Martin’s Animal Foundation – Founded in in 1999, SMAF is committed to aleviating the suffering of animals through the power of media. They will be hosting a ‘Mad Hatter Benefit’ on Sunday, May 19, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at La Maison Lounge 11608 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA. 661-269.2164.
                                                                  ~~~~~
On a different front, as friends and readers of Gimme Shelter know I’ve been studying and teaching martial arts for over 30 years. Since 1992, I’ve had the honor to train and teach under Sensei Mel Pralgo at Conejo Family Karate where we practice traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu karate – the “wax on, wax off” style made popular by the original Karate Kid movies starring Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio. If you know anyone who could benefit from this amazing mind-body training, check us out. And be sure to tell them Tanner sent you.

4th from left, Sensei Mel Pralgo, far right, Lou Spirito