“From Fighters to Friends” (CNN)
Hector is a 4-year-old Pit Bull who has been given a new lease on life.
Hector’s previous owner used him as a fighting dog. You know, the freaks sickos that force animals to fight each other, in the name of what they call ‘fun’.
More than 50 American Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes were found along with Hector on a property in Virginia. Some animals were discovered to be injured, scarred and or chained to buried car axles. It gives even more, horrid details, but I can’t bring myself to type them so you’ll have to read it for yourself.
One of the dogs seized was deemed too aggressive and was euthanized. Fortunately, the rest still have a chance. Almost half were sent to a sanctuary in Utah where they will be worked with. Others were evaluated and are said to be ready to be placed into foster homes to eventually be adopted. Surprisingly, even after all they have probably been through, none of the dogs showed aggression towards people and have a good chance of being adopted out at some point.
A Pit Bull rescue organization in California requested the opportunity to evaluate and rescue as many of the animals as possible, and they were given the go ahead to do so.
Hector is currently enrolled in “Canine Good Citizen Classes”, so that he can be properly socialized. After graduation, he will go on to become a certified therapy dog. How about that?!
I’ve been around dogs all of my life, and I have a great love and respect for them. No matter what you do, they offer you their unconditional love. How a person can take that for granted and go so far as to torture an innocent creature is way beyond my comprehension.
In the time I spent as a volunteer at an animal shelter (Delaware County SPCA), as well as for a German Shepherd Rescue (German Shepherd Rescue of Southeastern Pennsylvania), I saw some of the worst imaginable cases of human ignorance, stupidity and cruelty first-hand. I’ll just never understand it.
Thank goodness there are shelters and rescue groups–and loving, caring people–that are willing to try to save as many animals as they can. They are the advocates–the voices–for the helpless creatures that are all too often abused, taken for granted and neglected. At least a few more Hectors may survive because someone cared.
That’s why I wrote the story about Reign’s surgery and then his update.
Here’s a great site for animal lovers, those looking to adopt a new pet or to find information on just about anything animal-related: Petfinder.
