Regarding feminism, I’m not sure how a movement about equality became so loaded. But today is International Women's Day, so it's a good time to talk about it. My mother raised three independent women, encouraging us to pursue our educations and careers. Yet she told me she isn’t a feminist because she likes to wear heels and makeup and be pretty.

“But Mom!” I laughed, “I do too!”

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I didn't even know dog clothes like this existed! Photo via Zazzle

Here’s the way I see it: There’s still a lot of inequality in this world -- it also includes racism and so-called ableism (prejudice against people with disabilities) -- and a lot of it has to do with valuing one group of people over others. Some call that the patriarchy. I just call on the numbers, a well-known example being the gaping chasm in pay. If you're a woman, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you're still earning about 20 percent less than your male counterparts. A 20 percent difference is better than generations before us -- when the mere thought of a woman in the workplace was startling -- but this is 2013! We have tiny computers that hold unthinkable amounts of data -- a 20 percent difference is unacceptable! I know you work hard, and I think you deserve to be compensated fairly. That's why feminism is still valid.

Dogs are feminists because they don't care what we look like. I hate that one of the primary issues still plaguing feminism is what to do about harmful media destroying girls' self esteem, holding them back for the rest of their lives. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder fueled by narrow media representations of beauty. Forty-seven percent of school age girls claim to want to lose weight because of the images in magazines, and 69 percent of girls grades 5-12 look to media for what the "perfect" woman is supposed to look like. In high school, I was one of the more than half of teenage girls using unhealthy weight control methods such as starving and laxatives. Even successful, professional women are developing eating disorders.

A dog helped me deal with such issues.

After the devastating loss of Annie, my family rescued an Australian Shepherd named Jasmine. When I sat in my room crying because my hair would never be straight and my legs would never be skinny, Jasmine would come and lick my face. She didn't see my puberty-induced stretch marks or acne or crooked teeth. In her own way, Jasmine was reassuring me that the features that matter most are the ones that can't be seen. She loved me because I was kind to her and not because of what I did or did not look like.  

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Me and Ambroise -- I miss him all the time! Ambroise loved me even when my skin was all broken out, like in this photo.

Dogs need feminism. They need their female human friends to feel safe walking them at all hours of the day in any neighborhood in any manner of dress. Because dogs love walks. When I was a dog-walker, I bonded with a black Lab named Ambroise. He was a beautiful soul. He would lie down to let children pet him, and he knew which shops along our main route harbored friendly workers with treats for him.

He never barked -- in fact, he was a bit shy. Until one day, when a strange man approached me. The man first told me to "Smile, you're so pretty" (how many of you have heard this one?), and when I told him I wasn't interested in talking (I was on the job, for goodness sake), he stepped forward, cornering me, and reached out a hand. That's when Ambroise growled for the first time ever. The man quickly withdrew.

This was on a busy street in a nice neighborhood populated with mothers pushing strollers in the middle of the day while I was wearing perfectly normal walking clothes. What would have happened if I didn't have Ambroise with me? I don't know, but I do know that I shouldn't have to worry about walking around, with or without a dog, just because I'm a woman. 

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And dogs LOVE walking! Photo via Who Needs Feminism?

One of the greatest reasons I think dogs are feminists is because feminism seeks to undo hierarchical structures of power that usually place men at the very top. It's a very patriarchal way of looking at the world, and a similar idea of power has gained an unsettling foothold in the world of dogs. The controversial and now debunked Domination Theory of training is based on the idea that dogs need a "pack leader" to force them into submission. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's official position is to "not refer clients to trainers or behavior consultants who coach and advocate dominance hierarchy theory and the subsequent confrontational training that follows from it."

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We wrote about this shirt back when the ASPCA was selling it -- it's cute!

In an even greater display of harmful power structures, puppy mills continue to run rampant because dogs are valued only as property. As we've seen time and time again here on Dogster, crimes committed against animals are not treated with the same gravity as crimes against people, even though they demonstrate the same lack of respect for life.

Michael Vick destroyed the lives of multiple dogs, subjecting them to unspeakable torture, and he only received 23 months confinement, some of which he served in his own home … and he even has a new dog! I'm not comparing women to animals (I'll leave that to PETA), but our struggles begin looking awfully similar when the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- which calls for specific language ensuring our constitutional rights regardless of gender -- fell three votes short of ratification in 1982.

In the White House, the expanded Violence Against Women Act was only barely reauthorized this year. It's only recently that cities and states began calling for bans on the retail sale of animals. We're both struggling to gain recognition within a system that continues to favor a narrow group of privileged people.  

I know I'm a feminist, and I think your dog might be too. After all, she would be the first to object to being only "man's best friend."

Wouldn't you, too?

Read more about dog rights on Dogster:

• Study: Puppy Mills Are Selling Thousands of Dogs Online
• Reflections on My Drive Through Lancaster, the Puppy Mill Capital of the World
• 10 Reasons Not to Buy Pet Store Puppies

The next day, the A.K.C. fired back with an letter, charging the Times with using "unsubstantiated, anecdotal episodes to paint a grossly misleading and biased picture of dog breeders who register their dogs and litters with the AKC."

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The opening of the A.K.C. letter.

You can read the rest of the letter here. 

The A.K.C. felt that two quotes were particularly onerous, both by ASPCA president and CEO Ed Sayres:

• "A majority of the commercial breeders in the raids that [the ASPCA] participated in had ties to A.K.C.-registered litters." 
• And, concerning dogs registered with the A.K.C., "The irony to the consumer is that they're paying a lot for a fake Rolex."

The letter argues that there are no facts, proof, or numbers to back this up. "Both of these statements are opinions that were printed erroneously as fact," the letter reads. 

The article also disputes this line: "As recently as 2010, roughly 40 percent of the A.K.C.'s $61 million in annual revenue came from fees related to registration. Critics say a significant part of that includes revenue from questionable breeders like the Hamiltons, or so-called puppy mills, which breed dogs en masse with little regard for basic living standards." 

The A.K.C.'s letter claims that, "In fact, less than 5 percent of our total revenue comes from commercial breeders who register dogs and litters with us."

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Photo via A.K.C.'s Facebook page.

The letter also says that the Times story presented an incomplete picture of the breeders it proflied, who were charged with animal cruelty while selling dogs registered with the A.K.C.  

Concerning James and Margaret Hamilton, the A.K.C. says that the Times "inaccurately portrays Hamilton as a high-volume breeder or 'puppy mill.'" In the letter, the A.K.C. counters that "hoarding is likely a factor in what was occurring as the Hamiltons were clearly unable to part with dogs that they had collected over the years."

Concerning another breeder, the A.K.C. charges that the Times failed to make the connection between the deplorable state of one breeder's operation and the fact that police found 200 marijuana plants on the property, "a vocation which likely led to the deterioration of his kennel and his overall ability to care for his dogs in the two years between his last AKC inspection and the raid of this property."

That's right: The A.K.C. is saying that it is "likely" that growing marijuana led to one breeder down the road to animal cruelty, within two years. Sorry, but that's an absurd claim to make without any facts to back it up.

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Photo via A.K.C.'s Facebook page.

The A.K.C. letter then defends its kennel inspection program, which it says it "spends millions on." It also seems to put down the bad breeders in the story as simple bad apples in an otherwise good program, saying, "It is important to note that in any enforcement and regulatory program, there will be those who approach the regulated activity with a disregard for compliance with the rules." 

That may be true. But when those breeders show a "disregard for compliance with the rules," we hope outfits like the Times will cover it, as it did here. 

But what if a public agency has it out for dogs and their owners? What if its actions look like it's aiming to make dogs less equal than other park users?

That sure seems to be the case with the U.S. Park Service in the Bay Area in recent years.

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Charlie the American Staffordshire Terrier

The service has, for years, attempted to restrict access for dogs on the region's parklands, and since the 1970s tensions between dog owners and park officials have been characterized by raucous public hearings, court cases, and, most recently, harsh treatment of dogs and their owners. 

In the past year, a U.S. park ranger Tasered a 51-year-old man for walking his Rat Terrier off leash in San Mateo County, and since August, U.S. park officials in San Francisco have aggressively sought the euthanasia of the young dog Charlie, an American Staffordshire Terrier who bit a mounted police horse despite the fact Charlie has no previous record of aggressive behavior. His owner is now appealing Charlie's death sentence.

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Charlie on the beach

In the late 1970s, after years of public wrangling, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area established a pet policy that allows dogs on approximately one percent of Bay Area parklands. The 1979 Pet Policy also established off-leash rules and designated off-leash areas, one of which is a portion of Crissy Field in the San Francisco Presidio. 

But the GGNRA was never happy with the policy, and in the 1990s, illegally closed some dog walking areas designated in the 1979 Pet Policy, most notably at Fort Funston, Ocean Beach, and West Beach at Crissy Field. However, the closures did not withstand citizen-based legal challenges, and most of those areas have been reopened. 

Currently the GGNRA is attempting to roll back the 1979 Pet Policy through a new dog-management plan that would completely prohibit dogs from areas they are allowed in and require dogs be on-leash at Crissy Field. The public outcry to the draft plan was so great -- 4,713 people commented on the plan and 80 percent of the comments favored current dog policies -– that the GGNRA is revising the draft plan, which will be released again for public comment in February, 2013. 

But the public’s wishes have not stopped the GGNRA from aggressively intimidating dog owners for minor infractions and taking harsh actions against dogs who act aggressively.

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Charlie as a younger dog

In the past year, there have been at least two controversial incidents involving dogs that have caught the public’s attention. In January, Park Ranger Sarah Cavallaro stopped 51-year-old Gary Hesterberg for walking his Rat Terrier off-leash at the Rancho Corral de Tierra property, which was recently acquired by the GGNRA. In fact, the property was so newly acquired there were no “dogs on leash” signs posted in the area, according to Hesterberg’s attorney. Hesterberg, a local who had been walking his dogs in the area for years, complied with Cavallaro’s demand to leash the small dog. But Cavallaro would not allow Hesterberg to leave the scene and she would not explain why she was detaining him. 

Hesterberg tried to walk away twice, according to witnesses, and on his second attempt, Cavallaro unholstered her Taser and shot him in the back. The high-voltage charge knocked Hesterberg to the ground, and he was arrested after being examined by paramedics. In the days following the violent attack, there was a rising chorus of complaints about Cavallaro’s actions. The U.S. Park Service defended her actions and after a disciplinary investigation, which found that Cavallaro actions were within park policy. 

However, the 200-page investigation report was not released to the public, which brought the ire of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, who demanded an independent investigation and publicly criticized the park service’s actions, findings, and refusal to release the report. 

Given the circumstances, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office refused to prosecute Hesterberg for the misdemeanors of walking his dog off-leash, failing to follow an officer’s orders, and giving false information about his identity. “In light of all the circumstances, we decided that a criminal case was not the appropriate path to take,” District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe said. “We’re confident that a jury wouldn’t convict him and this case would be better by not entering the criminal justice system.”

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Charlie and his owner, David Gizzarelli

In July, Hesterberg filed a claim with the U.S. Park Service seeking $500,000. The park service has until January to respond to the claim. 

Hesterberg’s attorney, Michael Haddad, said the park service should release the report on Cavallaro, who had previous complaints about her interactions with dog owners, to the public. “This is the only way to shed some real light on what happened,” Haddad said. “If the park service contends the ranger honestly thought it was within their policies to Tase this guy in the back, then clearly their policies need to be clarified or strengthened.” 

The most recent incident involves Charlie a Staffordshire Terrier who attacked a U.S. Park Service mounted police horse at Crissy Field on Aug. 6. Charlie, who was 18 months at the time, had never seen a horse before and he became excited. He charged the horse, Stoney, who was being ridden by Officer Eric Evans, from approximately 200 yards away. According to Evans, he put Stoney into evasive action by pivoting the horse, which further excited Charlie and he bit Stoney, causing the horse to fall and Evans to be thrown. Charlie chased Stoney for a little more than half a mile and bit the horse several more times. 

Charlie’s owner, David Gizzarelli, was arrested and Charlie was taken to San Francisco Animal Care and Control, and released to Gizzarelli the next day. But after a vicious dog hearing on Aug. 23, hearing officer John Denny ordered that Charlie could be euthanized in the new year, despite the fact that Officer Evans misrepresented and exaggerated the facts of the case and provided next to no hard evidence of his claims. 

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Officer Eric Evans and Stoney the horse

GGNRA spokesman Howard Levitt has said on more than one occasion that the park service has nothing to do with the legal proceedings against Charlie, and that Charlie’s punishment is entirely up to the city and county of San Francisco. But according to court records, the GGNRA not only requested the vicious dog hearing, but also requested Charlie be euthanized. We've found that the official case against Charlie is weak.

Gizzarelli has been fighting to save Charlie, but reportedly Denny will only agree to lift the death sentence if Gizzarelli relinquishes ownership of the dog. The requirement is odd because Denny refuses to say exactly why Gizzarelli is an unfit owner. Neither the U.S. Park Service nor Denny have responded to requests for comment on the case. 

In the meantime, Charlie has been kept in a small cell surrounded by truly vicious dogs, and he is not allowed human contact. “Charlie continues to be in an 8x4 cell with no walks and no visits,” Gizzarelli posted his Help Save Charlie Facebook page. “And who knows what else because NO ONE is allowed to visit him. We are filing a new stay and continuing to fight, sue, and protect Charlie and dogs like him.” 

Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1221 into law in September, banning the use of hounds to hunt bears and bobcats, the Huffington Post reported. The practice involves unleashing packs of trained dogs to track down, chase, and tree bears. Once cornered, hunters can then shoot the animals. 

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Animal rights activists contend that the sport harms the dogs as well as the game. Photo: Pack of hounds waiting for the hunt by Shutterstock

Seventeen states still permit the use of dogs to hunt bears, while 15 ban hunting hounds. In the remaining 18 states, it is illegal to hunt bears at all. In California, bear hunting season was closed early when the allotted number of licensed kills -- 1,700 -- was reached. Preliminary data puts the number of those kills tracked by dogs at less than half.

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California's black bear population has made a come back. Hunters say they help keep their numbers in check. Photo: Bobcat on log by Shutterstock

It is a sport with a long, robust history, and hunting enthusiasts argue that the new ban impedes on a legacy of tradition. They claim they much prefer the chase aspect of the hunt, and that bears and bobcats are often released.

The Humane Society of the United States believes otherwise, and supporters of the bill maintain that it is intended to protect not only California's bear and bobcat populations, but the hunting dogs as well. Using a pack of dogs to run down another animal can be seen as unfair, and once a bear or bobcat is in a tree, it's not a shot a hunter is likely to miss. What's more, in confrontations between dogs and game, dogs are often mauled or thoroughly exhausted by the hunt. When it comes to hound hunting, it seems that all animals involved face unnecessary risk and abuse.

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Even if the majority of hunters release the bears, the bears don't know that. Photo: Hunter with shotgun in sunset by Shutterstock

The sport is similar to English fox hunting, which was banned in different parts of the United Kingdom starting in 2002.

Do you agree with the ban? Tell us why or why not in the comments below. 

Source: The Huffington Post

It's Proposition 37, the California Right to Know Genetically Modified Food Act. It would require most genetically engineered food sold in California to be labeled, with a few exceptions. So, if salmon is genetically modified and farm-raised, or cereal is made with "GMO" corn ("genetically modified organism"), consumers would be able to read that on the package label.

Most environmental groups support Proposition 37, while the majority of the scientific community opposes it. Both sides are collecting donations to further their goals. According to the Organic Consumers Association, "Monsanto and Dow and DuPont and major food processors like Pepsi and Coca-Cola have already put up $25 million to defeat GMO labeling in California." The controversial biotech firm Monsanto is the leading donor to the No On 37 campaign, according to the group, having provided more than $7 million.

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Some food was engineered in a lab. Do you believe that fact should be on the label? Photo: Experiments with fruits in laboratory in blue light by Shutterstock

Why should dog owners care, even if feeding and eating organic food isn't a high priority? Because if you care about the ingredients in your dog's food, it could get very difficult to find out what you're feeding your furry family member. Shortly after he was elected, President Obama promised, "We'll let folks know whether their food has been genetically modified, because Americans should know what they are buying."

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Food-labeling could help you help your dog with digestive issues. Photo: Beagle puppy pushing shopping cart filled with dog food by Shutterstock

If Proposition 37 is defeated, labels won't tell us whether genetically modified organisms are in that bag or can of dog food. Many dog food brands are manufactured using GMO corn as a filler ingredient in addition to meat taken from animals fed GMO corn. So if your dog develops a digestive issue, say, it will  be that much harder for Spot's vet to make a diagnosis if Spot's owners don't know exactly what their dog has been eating.

As someone who reads food ingredient panels very carefully, especially pet-food ingredient panels, I'm all for transparency in labeling. I have digestive issues, and I eat organic as often as possible. (Even my preferred multivitamin brand is non-GMO: it's New Chapter Organics.) I cannot risk ingesting genetically modified foods, because they don't agree with me physically. I know from experience that when I scarf something made of nonorganic corn -- which is to say, GMO corn -- I always regret it, no matter how delicious that taco or movie-theater popcorn was at the time I ate it, because I get very sick to my stomach. But when I diligently avoid GMO food, I'm fine.

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What's inside? How can you tell? Photo: Group of food tin cans with empty white label on a white background by Shutterstock

Incidentally, if you offer Spot the occasional popcorn treat, you might be interested to know that conventional, nonorganic popcorn is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 1999 Total Diet Study that lists the top 10 foods most contaminated with pesticides and chemicals. Nonorganic popcorn is listed as containing toxic chlordane, dieldrin, and toxaphene. (Also on the people-food front, I was surprised to learn that Horizon, producers of supposedly organic dairy products that I trusted for years, is on the "No on 37" side, so I've stopped purchasing its products.)

What we don't know about the foods we consume and feed our loved ones could hurt us. Many dogs have digestive issues. As our pets' guardians, we risk their well-being if we inadvertently feed them food whose ingredients we can't readily identify. So in order to make an informed decision as to what -- and what not -- to feed our dogs, we need to know what's in the package we're buying. It's as simple as that.

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Knowledge is power -- and that applies to food labels. Photo: Portrait of mature man showing bag of dog food to female customer by Shutterstock

Dogster readers, is this an issue that's close to you?

Please take a moment to read up on this issue, follow @CARightToKnow on Twitter, and make an informed choice on Election Day.

With the Presidential election coming up, I can't turn the TV on without being bombarded with political ads, news stories about the candidates, people trying to tell me I'm 1 percent, 47 percent, 99 percent ... what the fluff? Any thoughts?

Pete, Tampa, FL

Dear Pete,

I don't know what to tell you. I can't wrap my head around any of it either. From hearing tales of being strapped to a car roof for a long road trip to the other guy saying he had dog burgers as a kid, it's all weird to me. Who knows what to believe?

Don't get me wrong: Sticking my head out the car window, wind flying up my nose, bugging my eyes out like flying saucers, and catching bugs in my ears at 50mph is AHH-mazing. But I'm not so sure I'd want to be all Leonardo of the Titanic atop a minivan for hours on end, and becoming a GiGi double-double with fries does not sound appealing either.

So, Pete, here are my thoughts: Vote for the one who promises the most treats and write me in for GIGI 2016!!

All hail Gi!

GiGi

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Need more GiGi? Of course you do. Browse the GiGi archives for some doggone good advice. 

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To save Charlie's life, Gizzarelli must agree to have Charlie tested for aggression at the behavior unit at U.C. Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine. Then -- and this is the tough part -- he will have to give Charlie up to another family. 

On Aug. 6, Charlie attacked a U.S. Park Service police horse at San Francisco's Crissy Field. The horse, named Stoney, was bitten several times and temporarily put out of service because of possible tendon damage. Patrolman Eric Evans was also injured when he was thrown from the horse. At the time, Gizzarelli was walking Charlie in an off-leash area. 

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Park Service Officer Eric Evans and Stoney.

Gizzarelli is considering the offer.

"I don't want anyone touching Charlie, and I want him placed back with his family since birth," Gizzarelli posted on the Help Save Charlie website. More than 11,000 people have signed the petition to save the dog. 

His other options are to continue negotiations with Animal Control and Care for Charlie's return with restrictions, or to continue with the writ process, both of which could take months while Charlie remains in a city isolation kennel. 

For more information, visit Charlie's Facebook page and the Help Save Charlie petition.

Wearing many cowboy hats -- all of them black -- he's a singer, songwriter, mystery novelist, sometime politician, in-demand keynote speaker, and the 21st century's answer to Will Rogers and Mark Twain. And he's throwing his black hat in the ring again for the 2014 Texas gubernatorial race.

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Musician, author, and humorist Kinky Friedman is absolutely serious about saving dogs.

It's impossible not to love this indefatigable man. Friends with both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Kinky is known for his irreverent humor; especially when he's hawking one of his many signature products (they include cigars, tequila, gourmet coffee, and four flavors of Private Stock Salsa, in addition to President Clinton's fave whodunnits).

Nothing escapes Kinky's scathing wit. But there's one subject he's absolutely serious about, and that is dogs and cats. In the epilogue to his novel Elvis, Jesus and Coca Cola, he wrote, "Dogs have a depth of loyalty that often we seem unworthy of."

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Kinky with Mama, a rescued Great Pyrenees.

And at the center of his heart is a sanctuary for rescued animals: The Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch, "Where the men are men and the rescued dogs enjoy first-class accommodations."

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The Ranch has saved thousands of animals' lives, but Kinky wants to do more. "I'd like to have a Utopia in every county in Texas," he says, "and I recommend a visit to anybody who wants to see adoptable animals in big, wide-open pens with trees. It's a very upbeat place -- you won't find another like it."

In July, he returned home from his cross-country "Bipolar Tour," but the Kinkster hits the road again this week, saddling up for another round of performances to raise funds for the Rescue Ranch. August 15 to 19, Kinky embarks on a five-day tour -- he calls it a "Tour-Ette" -- across the Lone Star State, accompanied by his faithful sidekick Little Jewford. (For info on venues, visit Kinky's web site.) "It ought to be a financial pleasure for Utopia, and if it does well, we'll add more cities," Kinky promises.

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Kinky (note the ever-present cigar) with Stella, a Hurricane Katrina rescue.

As Kinky's web site puts it: "Come along for the fun, the frolic, the music, and the laughs, and help support one of the worthiest causes known to man or beast. Yip, yip, yip, yip, yippee-kay-yay!" But if you can't make it to any of the "Tour-Ette" dates, know that Kinky donates his entire share of his salsa sales to Utopia Rescue Ranch -- so get out your credit cards, and get those corn chips ready to dip!

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The dogs of the Utopia Rescue Ranch get to roam in wide-open pens in this beautiful Texas landscape.

Some very famous people have visited the Utopia ranch and made friends with the animals in residence; people with names like Bob (Dylan), Willie (Nelson), Billy Bob (Thornton), and Abbie (Hoffman).

Kinky's beloved dog, Mr. Magoo, aka Gooey (who crossed the Rainbow Bridge -- or, as Kinky calls it, "stepped on a rainbow" -- four years ago), once displayed a little too much enthusiasm when greeting his Dad's friend Willie Nelson. "Mr. Magoo once ran up to Willie at 90 miles per hour and hit him in the scrotum -- he ran and jumped on him, and pow."

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Kinky and his beloved Mr. Magoo.

The Kinkster is also a major cat lover; readers of his crime novels are on a first-name basis with the late, great Cuddles. On the difference between dogs and cats, Kinky explains, "Dogs are cowboys and cats are Indians. That's the spiritual difference between the two. Both are vanishing breeds, so let's cherish 'em while we can."

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Utopia doesn't just take in dogs. This hog, David Beckham (Beck-HAM -- get it?), was recently adopted by the owners of a B&B.

Currently, Kinky shares his life with a 17-year-old mutt named Chumley, the patriarch of his animal clan, and the young'uns Winston, a Beagle/Chihuahua mix, and Sophie, a Cocker Spaniel.

His love of dogs and cats (and, in fact, all creatures, including armadillos!) was kindled "as a child, when my parents bought this big ranch down here in Texas," he recalls. "We had a lot of animals: Dogs, cats, horses, pigs, chickens, goats .... I have a garden where seven of my friends are buried. After I'm cremated, that's where my ashes will go."

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Dusty Pendleton's painting, "The Von Kinky Country Singers," depicts Friedman serenading the rescue mutts at Utopia.

Well, not all of his ashes. Some of those, he concludes with characteristic Kinkyness, "will be thrown in Rick Perry's hair."

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a bill on Thursday that states "No city or town shall regulate dogs in a manner that is specific to breed," according to South Coast Today. The law further states “no dog shall be deemed dangerous ... based upon the breed of such dog."

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Gov. Deval Patrick signs the bill with Boujee, a stray adopted by a friend of Norfolk Animal Control Officer Hilary Cohen, who was at the event. Photo via The Sun Chronicle and the MSPCA.

It’s part of a broader law, which has been worked on for six years, to reform animal control. It establishes a spay-and-neuter program for Massachusetts and imposes training requirements for animal control officers, among other things.

One backer of the law described the nonsense behind targeting specific breeds -- such as Pit Bulls -- in law.

"The breed-specific thing is a quick reaction to a complex problem," state Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny told South Coast Today. The Democrat from New Bedford, Mass., described Pit Bulls as “beautiful, loving dogs if not mistreated by ugly, mean human beings."

Amen! Let’s elect more lawmakers like Montigny! We can start with the Colorado legislature and the Belfast City Council!

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Pittie lovers, rejoice! Pittie photo via Shutterstock.

Other backers of the law included animal advocacy groups and people who work in animal control.

“I’ve been bitten twice since I’ve been on the job and both were Pomeranians,” North Attleboro animal control officer Karen Fontneau told The Sun Chronicle. “Each case will be an individual case.”

The Massachusetts law includes another provision that we find remarkable: It extends restraining orders in domestic-violence cases to include pets as well as human family members. So that means dogs, cats, and other animals can be kept safe from abusers who might otherwise use the pets to get back at family members who’ve taken action. It will also let people escaping abusive situations take pets with them.

"We heard horrendous stories of pets being abused or used as leverage in custody or divorce cases," Sen. Montigny told South Coast Today.

One law-enforcement official praised this part of the law.

"As a police officer, I like the fact they included domestic violence protection in the bill," Joe Magnani told MetroWest Daily News. "This bill will help us handle pets when we report to a domestic violence call."

The law also bans the use of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to euthanize animals.

Helping develop the bill were groups including the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

A 5-week-old kitten sat alongside the governor as he signed the bill. One of the law’s backers, Democratic state Sen. Karen Spilka of Ashland, brought her dog, Sienna, to the ceremonly.

It was Sienna’s 15th birthday.

Sources: South Coast Today, The Sun Chronicle, MetroWest Daily News

That startling message appeared last week on the online-donation site GoFundMe, next to a picture of an adorable yet sad-eyed Pit Bull. 

Braveheart.

It's a story of such breathtaking cruelty that we can hardly believe it. Last week, someone brought a Pit Bull into into the Murray County Animal Shelter in Chatsworth, Georgia, and walked out. Someone had slit the dog's throat, a mean gash that exposed the trachea. The owner couldn't afford to take the dog to the vet, so he or she dumped the dog at a shelter. He was quickly rescued by Cathy Roth of the Animal Rescue League Northwest Georgia and quickly taken to a vet hospital. The vet who later treated the dog said that the wound was two days old. 

Braveheart had been walking around with his throat slit, his trachea exposed, for two days. 

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"It's beyond horrifying to me," Roth told CBS Atlanta News. "The trachea was exposed, and all the other structures were exposed."

Who would do such a thing? 

"The story I got when I picked him up from the shelter was the neighbors had been complaining that he barked so much; their belief is one of the neighbors slit his throat," Roth told CBS News. 

That's right: Someone tried to silence a barking dog by murdering it -- but Braveheart pulled through. While the wound was devastating, a gaping slash covering the width of his neck, the trachea remained whole. One day after surgery, Braveheart was "doing great and even jumping for a squeaky toy. He was also enjoying licking people," according to CBS Atlanta News.

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Braveheart is now in the safe hands of the Animal Rescue League of Northwest Georgia. Today Braveheart gets his stitches out, and once his recovery is complete, the group hopes to find a good home for him. 

"Hopefully we can find the right person for him," one of ARL's caregivers posted on Justice for Braveheart Facebook. "I'm going to miss the big lug. I'll keep everyone posted with info on his surgery. He should be just fine. He made it through the worst injury I have ever seen. This should be a piece of cake :)"

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As for the neighbors who are rumored to have committed this brutal act, well, we got nothing. Despite a $1,500 reward offered by the ARL for information leading to an arrest, nobody seems to know anything. It's a tired old tale -- someone certainly knows something -- but this case is even worse than you think: According to CBS Atlanta News, "Roth said she's having difficulty finding a law enforcement agency that will investigate the case." The cops won't even get involved? 

Here's how you can: Visit the Justice for Braveheart Facebook to keep up to date on Braveheart's ordeal; go here to make a donation for his continued care; and visit Braveheart's GoFundMe page, where Monika Wesolowski is seeking donations to increase the reward money, in the hopes that someone will eventually talk. 

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Let's find justice for Braveheart. 

How about more than 100,000? Every summer. Now you can get outraged. 

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Shepard in shelter by Shutterstock.com.

An NPR article reports that the practice of abandoning pets before summer vacations is common across Europe, though France is among the worst offenders, with Italy and Spain close by. 

It seems to be part of the culture, despite campaigns by animal rights groups. Every year, the French SPCA runs a program to educate and inform the public through posters and social media. One poster features a dog and the line, "Animals can't cry, they just suffer in silence. Don't leave your pet this year."

It seems that some people in France -- many people in France, actually -- just don't care about dogs. According to Claire Brissard, who runs Society for the Prevention of Cruelty in Chamarande, many people don't even think they are doing anything wrong.

"So we make them come with us to put the dogs in the cages themselves," Brissard told NPR. "And when they see the stress of the animal they're leaving behind, at least they're not proud of what they're doing. And we hope that keeps them from doing it again."

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A lot of stray dogs in a shelter by Shutterstock.com.

Anne-Claire Chauvancy, of the Foundation for the Assistance of Animals, says that the education campaign has been so widespread that it has lost its impact.

"Everyone knows abandoning your dog is cruel, and he'll probably starve or get hit by a car," she told NPR. "This campaign has become almost banal and just seems to mark the beginning of summer."

Clearly, a new campaign is needed. The idea that more 100,000 dogs are handed off to shelters so their owners can relax is nearly impossible to for us to understand, especially because France is perceived as dog-friendly country (at least in the restaurants and cafes). France, with 61 million domestic animals, has the most pet ownership in Europe, and nearly half of all household have a pet, reports NPR.

David Chauvet of Animal Rights, a group that wants sales in retail pet stores halted until the shelters are empty, tries to explain: "The large majority of French are horrified by the thought of abandoning their pet," he told NPR. "But there are people with no scruples, much like child abusers."

More than 100,000 dogs, every year. That's a lot of people with no scruples.

Via NPR.

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Lennox (R.I.P.), stuck in a concrete-floored room for two years while Belfast City Council debated whether to kill him. (They did.)

Professor Wingate asked us to close our eyes and imagine arriving and pulling out our textbooks, notebooks, and pens. As the instructor begins to teach, the door is kicked open. Masked men with machine guns enter the classroom, knocking books off desks, screaming an ultimatum: "You can go home, or you can die!"

Wait, was this a science fiction book? A newly published sequel to The Handmaid's Tale -- the story of Offred's daughter, perhaps? Nope. It was the real-life experience of many thousands of Afghan women when the Taliban decided women weren't to be educated. It was happening that day, at that moment, to someone else on the other side of the world. The profound feeling of gratitude I felt when I opened my eyes and looked back at my amazing professor and encouraging learning environment almost knocked the wind out of me. How much we take for granted!  Both stories, one fiction, one historic fact, told the stories of populations whose chance at family, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were taken away by their governments. 

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Some people have posted on my Facebook page recently asking why I've been so silent about the issue of Lennox's recent execution. I had no good excuse. I was literally speechless. So many thoughts went on in my head, the only option seemed to be to write a 75-page dissertation full of anger, hurt, fear, indignation, and, probably, poor circular reasoning related to all the aforementioned emotions. I couldn't stop thinking of my experience in Women's History class and The Handmaid's Tale, a book I'd reread recently for what might be the 50th time.

Allow me to play Professor Wingate for a moment. Close your eyes and imagine walking through a park with your dog. This might be your service dog, or maybe the best family pet you've ever had. It's a relaxing day with lots of sunshine and a cool, clean breeze. Your dog is happy, and your family is having a wonderful time.

Suddenly, a van pulls up next to you and a man jumps out, saying, "We'll need to confiscate your dog. It's illegal to own Pit Bulls here." He grabs your dog's leash and takes him to an unknown location. Despite the efforts of everyone you know and love -- and indeed, many millions of dog lovers around the world pleading your case -- your dog is euthanized. You aren't even allowed the option to say goodbye or "good boy" ever again. 

While Lennox's story is a bit different, this is the gist of the situation. Does it matter that Lennox wasn't even technically a Pit Bull? Not to the decision-makers, the Belfast City Council. Does it matter that he'd never hurt anyone or had no history of aggression? Nope.

I remembered looking at Mokie's rescue listing on Petfinder seven years ago. While she was listed as a Retriever mix, the pictures of her parents and littermates led me to believe that she was probably a Chow mix, a suspicion that has been reinforced as I learn more about her personality. I remember asking the rescue staff why they weren't listed as Chow mixes. "Because it's harder to adopt them out that way," they told me. "Some people can't take them then because of BSL [breed-specific legislation], homeowners insurance policy bans, and so on."

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Mokie is my training partner and the most wonderful companion I've ever had.

Every day I look at my Mokie and marvel. Without question, she is the best dog I've ever known, and I've known a lot of unbelievably amazing dogs. She is smart, funny, cute, snuggly, playful, polite, and a joy to take nearly any place. I know I can count on her. She has given confidence to lots of people and dogs who were afraid of dogs. She's my business partner, attending camps and seminars with me, helping me do orientations, demonstrations, and evaluations. She is well-trained and well-behaved. She is my sunshine girl, and sharing my pillow with her is the best part of waking up each morning. 

I tried to place myself in the position of Lennox's family. What would I do? Would I drop everything, leaving my home and business, to flee to a place of safety with my dog? Could I? Where would we go? If I didn't have any notice and she were taken from me, imagine TWO FULL YEARS of waking up and knowing that the small creature who brought me more joy than anything on the planet was emotionally wasting away, feeling unloved, on a concrete floor cared for only by people who wished her death? And then one day, after the fact, I'd receive a small portion of my dog's ashes in a box, not even having been previously told of her euthanasia date. The thought of her dying alone tears the breath from my lungs.  I can't imagine it. I am sitting here at my laptop, glancing at Mokie through tears, a big lump of helplessness clogging my throat.

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Lennox as a puppy. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

I am very wary of any legislation that restricts the types of dogs people are allowed to have. I know many apartment buildings that ban dogs over 25 pounds, and I often wonder whether these landlords have seen what an adolescent, under-exercised, 10-pound Jack Russell -- or an eight-pound cat, for that matter -- can do to a 500-square-foot apartment. Some homeowners insurance companies would be unlikely to cover my wonderful, happy, well-behaved Chow mix if her paperwork were changed to reflect her more likely dominant breed heritage. Think you're safe because you have a Maltese or Pug? Think again -- they are also potential victims of breed bans, and breed-discriminatory policies and practices. I know of trainers who refuse to work with dogs of certain breeds. If you find a trainer like this, run fast in the other direction!

Breed bans and discriminatory policies come from a place of ignorance. They don't really serve to keep anyone safe, and while there are some dangerous dogs, you can't accurately identify or predict them solely based on breed. Ultimately, the dogs are the responsibility of their owners. What would you do if breed-specific legislation came to your area, and you found yourself in the same situation the Barnes family? 

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Lennox. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

I want to give thanks to the universe for Lennox and send love to his family. Lennox has become a martyr for millions of dogs around the world who might face the same fate -- breed-specific legislation is the first step toward banning dog ownership (a goal of organizations such as PETA), and we cannot allow for legislation that allows that movement a toehold. Hug your dogs tight tonight, folks.

If the elimination of breed-specific legislation is important to you, remember that the election is coming up and you should start investigating your candidates' position on breed-specific legislation. If breed-specific legislation is already enforced in your area, don't stop fighting. Recently, Ohio repealed its Pit Bull ban (YAY, Ohio!), probably because of efforts of dedicated and outspoken advocates. The dogs are not the problem, the governmental policies are. BSL and breed bans don't protect people and are a wasted investment, taking the place of more appropriate dangerous dog policies which could actually be created to increase safety for dogs of all breeds and the communities in which they live.  Be a squeaky wheel for banned breeds!

Given this, I am often asked what our point of view is, and usually, it's not simple to articulate. Not because we have no point of view at Dogster and Catster; quite the contrary. At Dogster HQ, we are fiercely opinionated when it comes to dog and cat issues, so it's difficult to just pick one and say "There, that's what we stand for," and call it a day. To illustrate this, I presented the slide you see below at a company presentation two weeks ago. I didn't expect anybody to actually read the entire thing as I raced through my slides. It really was just to make my point. 

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This doesn't come close to addressing Dogster's stand on every last dog and cat issue out there; nor does it get us closer to a definitive point of view when it's lumped together like this. But it did help us to brainstorm and distill our thoughts into five messages we feel are important. So the next time someone asks you what those crazy kids at Dogster HQ believe, you'll have the answer in five easy bullet points. This is the long-winded edition, so bear with me.

5 Things We Believe at Dogster

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Oh, Mr. Socks has a distinct personality like you wouldn't believe.

1. A dog is not an "it" or a "that." A dog is a "who."

A little backstory on this one: When I joined the Dogster staff three years ago, the first thing I did was bring journalist Maria Goodavage on board to run our For the Love of Dog blog (which has since been rolled into Dogster Magazine). Within her first month on the job, she e-mailed asking if it was okay if she referred to dogs as "whos" in her pieces, since she wasn't comfortable calling them "that" or "it." I told her it was funny she mentioned it because I had run into that same wall while writing my own pieces and very much preferred "who" as well.

Long story short, an editorial guideline was born. And while we haven't been all wild and flashy about this particular point of view, it's the undercurrent in every story you'll read on the site. Are we saying dogs are people? Maybe not exactly, but you can't deny they are sentient individuals with distinct personalities, no?

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We hate to break it to you, but that basket of puppies just isn't real. Who puts puppies in baskets anyway? Photo via Shutterstock.

2. We care immensely about where you get your next pet, and we think you should care, too.

Puppy mills are hell on earth, make no mistake about it. We would love to see every last one shut down and the only way that's going to happen is if people stop patronizing them whether they mean to or not.

Too often I meet otherwise intelligent people who tell me they "rescued" their dog from a pet store. And before you say it, I'm not talking adoption walls/fairs/events at said pet store. Whole different beast altogether. In the beginning, I would get incredibly worked up and give these folks my judgmental glare of pure horror (TM) and a piece of my mind, but these days I realize it won't help the situation. At this point the deed is done and these people have likely already learned the hard way about what a puppy mill or backyard breeder is. 

Our stand here at Dogster is to educate rather than bully people about their choices when it comes to where they get their next dog. So you can expect to see more articles like "This is What a Puppy Mill Dog Looks Like" and "Meet Rosie, the Poster Pup for Backyard Breeding" on the site -- and we hope you'll share them as we run them, because we feel these are important stories to tell.

Maybe if we tell enough of them, it'll make a dent, however small, in the sick statistics: At a Petfinder talk I attended last month, founder Betsy Saul estimated that 40 percent of pets in the U.S. today are from mills. That makes my stomach turn. 

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Spot the rescue! Spot the dog from the responsible breeder! Must you play this game every time you hit the street?

3. We champion adoption. And we support responsible breeders.

Adoption is woven into Dogster's DNA. We have an entire section of the site featuring listings of precious pups waiting for their forever homes. So, yes, we are completely behind the adoption message. Some of our favorite people run some of the most amazing, inspiring rescues we know. But just because we love adoption and frequently champion it in our articles doesn't mean we are instantly vehemently anti-breeder. We are staunchly anti-irresponsible breeder, it's true, but we also support those who have dedicated their lives to the betterment of the particular breeds who have won their hearts. 

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PSST! Speaking of adoption, would you like to adopt Beasley? Our community manager, Lori, is in danger of becoming a HUGE foster fail. So please contact Muttville and take The Bees home!

At the last Blogpaws conference, I ran into a woman with the most beautiful Italian Greyhound and asked her whether he was a champion. She actually looked over her shoulder before answering me in hushed tones that indeed he was, before quickly going into a spiel about how she'd had rescued dogs before, and how this was a breed she had intensely researched before connecting with a highly reputable breeder, and so on and so forth.

I was saddened that she felt she had to go on the defense to justify owning a perfectly healthy, well-adjusted, and well-bred dog, but being shamed in public for owning a purebred (even one from a responsible breeder) is pretty common. Enough with the shaming, people -- it's not helping anybody get anywhere fast.

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Vick could learn a lot from Gandhi. Photo by NineBall 2727 via Flickr.

4. We believe harming dogs is criminal and should be condemned by society as such. 

I always get that Gandhi quote in my head when we report on the atrocities humans inflict upon animals.

This one: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." We at Dogster believe we have a long way to go as a society based on this alone.

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I think I may qualify as pet "slave" instead of parent.

5. We believe we can help you become a better pet parent (or owner or slave or chief of staff ... whatever you want to call yourself).

Dogster's editorial program is a work in progress, and one of the things we're trying to do daily between the cute posts, opinion items, and dog news is provide readers with solid advice from experts and experienced pet parents alike. We know our readers encompass everybody, from beginners to seasoned pet pros, and our mission is to have items of interest to both the enthusiast and the novice.

Dr. Eric Barchas has been keeping his "Ask a Vet" column going strong (he was Dogster's very first blogger years ago!), as has marvelous trainer Casey Lomonaco, whose column runs every Tuesday. And most days of the week, we have guest writers and regulars talking about everything from alternatives to the cone of shame to the advice they wish someone had given them when they first brought a dog home. 

Anyway, there you have it. These are our values here at Dogster, naked as a newborn puppy. Now we'd love to hear what your values are when it comes to your dogs or cats, or pets in general. 

Janine Kahn is Dogster and Catster's Editor-in-Chief. See her full bio and a video featuring her dog, Mr. Moxie, here.

Recent articles by Janine:

Sleeping With My Dog: A Love Story
It Takes a Village to Save a Greyhound
My Dog Is a Little Weirdo and I Suspect Yours Is, Too

Nobody could save him. Not the Save Lennox Campaign, not social media, not Twitter, not Facebook, not political pressure by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, not the efforts of celebrity dog lovers like Victoria Stilwell, not an online army, not physical protestors swarming Belfast and British and Irish Consulates in New York, not worldwide vigils, and not your thoughts and prayers.  

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Lennox. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

In a statement released before the murder, the council cited "experts" who concluded the Bulldog/Lab mix was dangerous. This morning it released another:

"Whilst there is an exemption scheme to which dogs of this type (Pit-Bull Terrier type) may be admitted as an alternative to destruction, there were no such measures that could be applied in this case that would address the concerns relating to public safety," said the statement. 

Pit-Bull Terrier-type? We're still talking about Lennox, right? The Bulldog/Lab mix?

It went on, shockingly: "The council's expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across."

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Lennox as a puppy. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

Really, Belfast City Council? You sound like someone trying to save his ass -- but careful, you might choke on that ridiculous hyperbole. And where's your expert? Half of the animal behaviorists and experts in the world (with Victoria Stilwell leading the charge) were clamoring to visit Lennox, but you went with your guy. Trot him out. Let him talk. 

And then, the statement falls off a cliff: "Over the past two years, Council officials have been subjected to a sustained campaign of abuse including threats of violence and death threats. The Council has been in ongoing contact with the PSNI in relation to that."

Explain to us, Belfast City Council, what a line about how you've been suffering is doing in your 150-word statement about how you've killed an innocent dog? Oh, right: Tit for tat. We get it. Carry on, killers. 

Are you confused? Outraged? Angry? You should be. What's to stop people like this from finding "experts" to say your dog is dangerous? Nothing. There is nothing to stop them. If you live in an area where Dangerous Dog legislation exists or is coming (now is when you start paying attention to that), there is nothing you can do, when people like the Belfast City Council have "experts" who think a non-violent Bulldog/Lab mix is not only a Pit Bull, but "one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across." It's a travesty.

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Lennox (R.I.P.), stuck in a concrete-floored room for two years while Belfast City Council debated whether to kill him. (They did.)

We end with messages -- heartfelt, angry, sad -- from the Save Lennox Campaign on Facebook:

Stephanie Boyd: ‎"A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter's drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way."

Maggie Craven: I am so sorry for your loss, my heart is truly broken for you and your family! RIP Lennox you are at the rainbow bridge catching up on some much needed fun. 

Audrey Quah: My heart breaks and weeps for the Barnes family especially lil Brooke. RIP Lennox, run free at rainbow bridge. You're one very loved dog.

Rachael Ferguson: This is only the beginning of this saga. THERE MUST be an investigation into what REALLY went on behind the scenes in this case, from the dog warden who took Lennox right through to the BCC staff who laughed and made animal noises down the phone to people who rang in to enquire this morning. ... RIP Lennox and love to him and his wonderful incredible family. it was an honour to briefly meet them and to support them throughout this battle. I will remain loyal to them in any future action they take.

Elaine Robins: BCC = Belfast Crooked Cowards!

Rowan Panda Davis: Poor fella. Belfast council have blood on their hands today. God bless Lennox.

Kathleen Burkett: Our prayers are with all who knew the love and beauty of Lennox, my heart breaks for you. Those who have ever loved a pit, pitmix or just a boxy headed dog know the struggles you have faced, I will take a pit who is loved over any other breed.

Marcello Morrone Liutaio: Boycott [Northern] Ireland. RIP Lennox

Tara Furmomforever Cohen: My heart to you in the loss of this beautiful boy. He has opened the eyes the eyes of the world and will not be forgotten. Run free as you were always meant to Lennox ... BB

Karen Lawver: RIP Lennox. You are free now. I am so sorry your death was the only way to your freedom. I hope you remember the LOVE your family gave you. I know you were not dangerous and so does the rest of the world.

Cheryl Gavreluk: My condolences to the family. I can't imagine the heartache you must be feeling at this time. He will look after you from above and always be with you in spirit.

Nancy Norwood Bowes: "Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; the last, the least, the littlest." I am ashamed to be part of the human race this morning. RIP Lennox! May your death be the catalyst for change, compassion, and understanding.

Sue Barbeau: Where one door closes, another opens .... let's all believe that Lennox has opened the door to make this the beginning of the end of BSL.

Fiona Diggins: Rest In Peace sweet puppy, your death will not be in vain and we will keep fighting for an end to BSL. Your memory lives on. Sending love and hugs to the family, my thoughts are with you. 

Teresa Manzo: Only tears ... i love you little boy ... now you are free ... sorry dear ... sorry ...

You are also free to comment on the Belfast City Council Facebook. Caution: It's hot in there. 

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Lennox (R.I.P.), stuck in a concrete-floored room for two years while Belfast City Council debated whether to kill him. (They did.)

Members of Lennox's family have made their peace. It's a ridiculous, heartbreaking situation, made all the more insane by the ineptitude of the Belfast City Council. In Northern Ireland, being a Pit Bull is death sentence, according to its Dangerous Dogs Act. But Lennox is actually an American Bulldog and Labrador cross, not a Pit Bull. The dog has even been DNA registered, and "DNA registry evinced no trace of Pit Bull in Lennox's ancestry," as Dogster reported last month. ("Will Lennox the Dog Be Just Another BSL Statistic?")

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Lennox as a puppy. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

A measuring tape -- Belfast City Council Dog Wardens, on the cutting edge of Victorian-era dog research. 

The battle to save Lennox has become an international campaign since the dog was seized in 2010, picking up steam considerably in the past few weeks, with protests in New York and Ireland. On July 9, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson joined the fray, as reported by the BBC. He called for the animal to be spared, via Twitter. 

"Spoke to Lord Mayor about Lennox," the first minister tweeted. "Suggested BCC should seriously look at re-homing option. Why exercise the Order if there's an alternative?"

Junior Minister Jonathan Bell jumped in after, tweeting, "Have to say I agree with First Minister re-homing Lennox outside the jurisdiction is best. Why would courts or BCC not be content?"

The Belfast City Council released a statement Tuesday, stating that it remains convinced the dog is dangerous, despite Lennox never having bitten or harmed anyone in any way. 

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Lennox. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

Yesterday, Lennox's human family posted this message on the Save Lennox Campaign on Facebook. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for your messages of support. We are sorry to say at the present time Belfast City Council seem to be intent on killing our boy. Despite previous assurances otherwise, we have been denied the opportunity to say goodbye. We have also been told that we cannot collect his body and bring Len home. We have been informed however that we will receive "some" ashes in the mail.

We wish we could report that there's still something someone can do, but it appears that time has run out. We're bracing ourselves for the heartbreaking, terrible end to this story that the Belfast City Council seems intent on, and we send our thoughts out to Lennox in his final moments. Please take a moment to do the same. 

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Screen grab of the donation page. It's since gone dark.

You also should not accept money for your dog's medical bills from publicists, nor should you use any leftover money to buy a new dog. 

Also, never let your sister do any of these things for you. 

Such was the strange case with Shauna Bass, entertainment director of OK! magazine. After her Pomeranian died, she was faced with a huge vet bill, so her sister set up the Simba Bass Memorial Fund on IndieGoGo, soliciting donations from the public, according to Gawker. 

Although we feel for Shauna, and applaud her efforts to save her beloved dog, we can't imagine what her sister was thinking. Here's how the pitch went: 

As soon as Simba became ill, Shauna rushed him to the animal hospital. The veterinarians tried their absolute best to save Simba's life, using a variety of medical procedures to save Simba. Although the doctors were unsuccessful, the medical procedures were fairly expensive.

In lieu of flowers, cards, candies or gifts, I am asking all of the people who know and love Shauna and Simba to donate to the Simba Bass Memorial Fund to help defray the significant medical costs for which Shauna is now responsible.

Any left over donations will also be put towards the costs of buying a new dog. While Simba is irreplaceable, a new dog will comfort her during this sad time, and eventually, help her to move on.

By donating to this fund, you are not just materially supporting Shauna and relieving her of some of the worries she has regarding these medical bills. When the time comes for her to bring home a new animal, that dog will be an extension of your love for her.

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Three fluffy Pomeranians by Shutterstock.com.

PR flacks lasered into the phrase "people who know and love Shauna and Simba" like the pros they are, thinking, "Hey! Isn't it our job to love editorial directors? Nobody loves editorial directors more than we do! And cats are fine, too -- er, dogs. She had a dog, right? Either way -- love Shauna and Simba. Is Simba a bird?" 

A who's who of PR flacks quickly got in line, pushing the donations past the $5,000 mark, making everyone very pleased with themselves and breathless awaiting upcoming issues of OK! magazines. Then Gawker got ahold of the story ... and that was the end of the Simba Bass Memorial Fund. The site is now marked as "draft." Aw. It seemed like such a elegant way to shower gifts on editors. Stupid unwritten rule. 

FishbowlLA offered up some astute analysis: Why is she buying another dog? We agree: If she hasn't returned the money already, perhaps Shauna Bass should donate it to a shelter -- after rescuing her new dog from one. That might make the PR flacks pissed, but PR flacks are supposed to be pissed. They're PR flacks.  

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Marc Jacobs Dog Tee

Curated by Wintour, Vogue magazine's editor-in-chief and style icon, the haute-design side of the site features presidential pet accessories for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Obama 2012 campaign. For hardcore design hounds, the hot items are a T-shirt for dogs designed by Marc Jacobs (which is embroidered with the slogan "I BARK FOR OBAMA") and a dog leash-and-collar set styled by Thakoon Panichgul in a perfectly patriotic palette of red, white, and blue.

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Bo Obama DIY T

There are also numerous nondesigner dog duds, including leashes and collars that proudly proclaim "BARACK'S BEST FRIEND," plus a Bo Obama DIY T-shirt that comes with fabric markers to color in the image of the First Dog, and also a cotton dog bandana. However, serious four-footed fashionistas will likely not settle for a cotton bandana; they would prefer to be accessorized with Panichgul's sumptuous, slightly pricier silk scarf, as worn by Her Vogueness herself in a recent video.

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Matt Traywick, a formerly homeless man living in housing in the Tenderloin, carries Charlie home after a walk in the city. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

The program has been dubbed WOOF -- Wonderful Opportunities for Occupants and Fidos -- and it hopes to help eradicate panhandling by pairing formerly homeless people with troubled dogs from shelters who desperately need handling, training, and good old-fashioned affection to help them find new homes. The human participants receive a weekly $50 to $75 stipend to look after the dogs -- and to cease begging for money in the streets.

Sound a little controversial? Hold your howling and hear me out.

Beginning in August, dogs who have demonstrated themselves to be ideal candidates will be placed with formerly homeless people (folks who have housing but can't seem to break their panhandling habit) who also demonstrate the potential to benefit from the program, and who have been screened and trained in caring for dogs. They will foster the dogs until permanent homes can be found for them.

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The bichon mix named Charlie gives Traywick a sense of purpose and responsibility. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

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Since coming to live with Traywick, Charlie has become a much happier, healthier dog. Photo by Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle.

WOOF leads us to think: We know dogs are special, and we know dogs can and do change people's lives.

When yours truly first moved to San Francisco, experienced a bad breakup, struggled to find work, and realized how how hard it can be to make new friends, it proved to be quite a challenge. Several times I wanted to pack up all my things and return to Los Angeles. I eventually found part-time work as a dog-walker, and you know what? It was those wagging tails, smiling faces, and dependency on me that helped give me the stable footing to stand on my own here in a truly remarkable city. More than that, the dogs taught me how to accept myself -- even at my worst -- and to keep trying. I'm so grateful for my four-legged clients, and I know they've benefitted from my loving-but-stern hand on their leashes. I've seen wild, jumping puppies become elegant, mature dogs, and I believe the dogs have seen me go from someone alone in a new city to a confident, happy woman.

So, who knows? San Francisco has always been known as a radical location at the vanguard of progress. This cuteness correspondent is taking an optimistic cue from the canines, hoping that WOOF gets people and dogs to help themselves by helping each other.

Via SFGate

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Lennox as a puppy. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

Lennox has lost his last chance to escape a death sentence -- just because he looks like a Pit Bull.

A valiant worldwide campaign to save this dog's life has apparently failed, thanks to a court decision this week in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Because of breed-specific legislation, Pit Bulls are illegal in Northern Ireland. In May 2010, a 5-year-old American Bulldog-Labrador cross named Lennox was taken from his owners by the Belfast City Council and declared a "danger to the public" simply because he was a "Pit Bull-type dog." Lennox was then placed in a kennel, waiting to be euthanized.

His distraught owners mounted a campaign to save his life. Word spread around the world that Lennox had been microchipped, Safe Pet registered, and DNA registered, and that he was a protective companion to the family's disabled preteen daughter. Even though the DNA registry evinced no trace of Pit Bull in Lennox's ancestry, the death sentence was not removed.

Striving to save Lennox's life, owner Caroline Barnes said in court that the dog had never bitten anyone or misbehaved since being impounded, according to Irish Central.

"She says her dog was never given a chance."

On Tuesday, Barnes' legal team went before the Court of Appeal and three judges to make a final plea. But the judges remained firm, confirming yet again that Lennox will be put down.

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Lennox. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

"An expert dog handler, retained by the City Council, said Lennox had a severe personality defect, including having a problem with strangers. They added it would be impossible to tell what the dog might do under stress," Irish Central reports.

The court’s statement reads:

“The judge had heard evidence on the issues relating to this dog over a protracted two-day hearing, carefully considered the evidence and the issues, and he reached conclusions of fact which have not been vitiated by any error of law on his part.”

No date for Lennox's destruction has been released, nor will the Barnes family get a chance to see him again before his death, Irish Central reports. We at Dogster HQ think that's just plain cold considering all they have done to rally support around their dog over the past two years.

The following message was posted at the "Lennox Campaign" Facebook page:

"Lennox's family will release a statement in due course once they have had time to absorb today's ruling by Chief Justice Girvan. The family kindly ask all supporters to remain calm and dignified as always in their response to today's sad and very wrong decision by the Northern Ireland Chief Justice. Thank you."

Advocates for Lennox launched a petition on Tuesday. Titled "Boycott Belfast," the petition reads: 

"This page is to let Belfast know that animal lovers all over the world are angry and that we will not support them in any way -– EVER. We will never travel to their city –- some will even not come to the country, we will not endorse you in any way. Unless something is done to make this injustice right."

Editor's Note: When we first heard this story, we were hoping against hope for a happy ending for this dog who had done NOTHING wrong. He wasn't even the "breed" they were discriminating against! This is disappointing and disgusting, Northern Ireland, and we're crossing you off our places-to-see list.

Lennox, sweet boy, you won't be forgotten by many of us around the world soon. 

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Discrimination is everywhere.

Unfair Treatment

All dogs have been discriminated against since the beginning of time. In the Bible (just to have a starting point), the term “dog” was used to describe unsavory and worthless people. Dogs were compared with swine (not that I have anything against pigs) and were considered unclean and to be avoided. I remember being skeptical of the Bible in my Evangelical youth because dogs were considered pariahs. Dogs are important to me. More important than religion or living in Colorado.

The Constitution covered human equality, but unfortunately America’s forefathers forgot to add, “Dogs are created equal, too.” But maybe none of them were dog people. If dog people had their way today, I’d guess that most would want to elevate dogs from the current position of “property” to something along the lines of “family members.” 

The discrimination against my Pit Bulls started with an attempt to enroll Hudson in a doggie daycare class. There was no mention of breed (or “type,” which is really what a Pit Bull is). But when we got there and they asked what Hudson’s make-up was and I said “Pit Bull,” we were promptly shown the door: no explanations, no concerns about our wasted time or the fact that Hudson used up about six months' worth of energy on the way there. We have been banned from doggie playgroups, doggie cocktail hours, stores that allow no dogs and those that allow other types and breeds of dogs, therapy events, dog parks, and dog walks. I’ve been turned away by groomers and even a veterinarian who said Pit Bulls weren‘t “trustworthy.” I doubt he was trustworthy either.

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What landlords imagine when I tell them I have Pit Bulls.

One Strike, You're Out

Owning a Pit Bull means being scared half the time -- and not of the Pit Bull. I started clamming up about my dogs' origins when Falstaff was attacked by a feisty Fox Terrier. My instinct then was to run away because, though any Terrier is a fighter, I feared Falstaff would be solely to blame. I’ve made up outrageous stories to cover my dogs' asses, like when Hudson and Falstaff got into a scuffle and Falstaff’s paw was hurt (he really is a lover, not a fighter). I told my vet that a dog came out of nowhere when we were walking and attacked Falstaff (yeah, right!). This was to avoid a possible report that Hudson had really done the damage. Some states have the three-strikes rule for human criminals; a Pit Bull doesn’t even have to do something wrong to get one strike, which often means “you’re out -- for good.”

You’d think, then, that Pit Bull advocates would come to the rescue, but my foray into this arena proved that that is not always so. I realize there is a lot of good done by Pit Bull groups, but there’s also a lot of damage done. From the ever-extreme PETA (which advocates that Pit Bulls be killed as a solution) to the more sane groups such as Best Friends, Pit Bulls are being touted as “average” dogs (as if any dog is average). Their less desirable traits of gameness and assertiveness and their high-energy personalities are being downplayed, even though those traits also give them the engaged and loyal qualities that Pit Bull lovers admire.

At a small all-dog rescue I volunteered with a few years ago, Pit Bulls were being adopted out with such promises as “He’s great with all dogs,” “He’s as easy to train as a Golden,” and, “She’s only nine months old, she’ll calm down,” all implying that Pit Bulls are easy to own and the stories about them were untrue. I tried pointing out that potential owners need to know all the facts. Pit Bulls can be tough to own, and you have to be aware of things like their propensity to be aggressive toward other dogs. 

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Do your homework before bringing home ANY breed.

Spread the Word

I’ve found that not only do people need to be educated about Pit Bulls, their owners do, too, to stop this pushing down of the breed. I’ve complained to friends about this discrimination, I’ve spoken up when my dog Amber wasn’t allowed on the subway, I’ve supported political candidates who were dog-friendly, and I’ve even put a sign on Falstaff protesting the treatment of Pit Bulls and joined other owners in a demonstration. But it’s not easy to know what to do to really make this a more dog-friendly world.

What have you done to help ensure our dogs’ “equal” places in society? Are there some places you think dogs should never be allowed, such as restaurants or public bathrooms? Can you envision a world where you could take your dog anywhere regardless of its size or breed? Let us know in the comments! 

All art by the wonderful Nigel Sussman.