Leo's Latest Adventure

What Leo’s up to now?

Leo’s not only helping folks feel better at hospitals and breaking the monotony of work routine with “doggie breaks” (instead of coffee breaks), but he's also affecting change in our community's future generations.

Leo visited a school recently for kids that are in Juvenile Hall who have been in recent trouble.

The kids really loved Leo! They could see that he’s a feeling, loving being - not a “thing” or something “cool” to own....even though he looks pretty dang cool!

While I talked with the kids, Leo made a presentation of his own by communicating through his eyes, his tail wags, and his affection that “only cowards fight their dogs, not courageous people.” Leo’s pretty darn smart.

We covered topics like the importance of spaying and neutering (that was a tough one), and why you shouldn't chain your dog to a tree or abandon him in the backyard all day. Our goal is to fill the void in education about dogs, animals, and especially Pit Bulls, in our community - to replace ignorance and abuse with understanding and compassion.

The kids fell madly in love with Leo and they were very happy that he came to share his story. They even admitted that they learned something, and invited him back for another visit!

A survey of these kids told us that all but one are very interested in learning to train dogs in a positive way. What a success for Leo and for Pit Bulls!

After an amazing day like that, I'm reminded of Leo's courage. He’s so brave - going out into the community despite the agony he's been through and sending a message that we must NOT let the abuse he's suffered continue to take place in our civilized society. How we treat our animals demonstrates our level of intelligence and compassion; it's an indicator of how we likely treat our children, spouses, friends, and co-workers. We can’t let humanity become an unimportant subject.

WE BELIEVE IN ANGELS

We want to thank Nicole Rattey who drove Leo out here from Virginia. Leo wasn’t trained yet so I KNOW what a task that was! Thank you Nicole - you have a heart the size of Virginia itself.

We also want to thank Professor Rebecca Huss for caring so much about the correct and proper placement of these dogs. I don’t think she slept the entire time! Thank you for being their guardian angel and truly fighting for the rights of the Vick dogs.

Additionally we want to thank Tim Racer and Donna Reynolds from BAD RAP for the fact that they were part of the evaluations of the dogs. We also want to thank them for the support they’ve given Our Pack and the work they’ve done for all Pit Bulls, not just the Vick dogs, since…..well, dinosaurs roamed the earth!

Marthina

Meet Leo, Our Michael Vick Dog!

Meet Leo. He’s a cheerful, sweet greeter. He’s fond of cuddles and hugs. And he spends his free time sharing his affection with the sick and elderly at a local hospital (having recently passed his therapy dog tests with flying colors). He also spent the first part of his life under the dark, demeaning ownership of football star Michael Vick.

Yes, Leo is one of the fifty Vick dogs confiscated from the football player’s property late last year – although to meet him now you’d never guess at his unfortunate beginnings. In fact, it seems wherever Leo goes he garners adoring smiles and effusive compliments. What a sweet boy! Where did you get him? He’s so well-behaved! To which he responds with tail wags and dreamy gazes from his kohl-rimmed eyes. His most adoring fans are schoolchildren.

Leo doing therapy work

It’s amazing to watch, surprising to some, and yet to those who know the Pit Bull breed, not a surprise at all. Leo is the consummate example of true Pit Bull spirit – despite the life he led before with his former owner, he has made a quick ascension to stardom: ace-ing his obedience classes, playing and socializing with other dogs, and revealing himself to be a true ambassador for all canines, not just Pit Bulls. He has already begun work as a Therapy Dog with Therapy Dogs, Inc. (www.therapydogs.com), and is invited weekly to a local South Bay hospital to bring comfort and smiles to the patients there. His biggest supporters aren’t just the patients either – staff, nurses, and EMTs have taken to calling him “Dr. Leo” for his healing touch.

All in less than two months.

Leo (far right & center) hanging out with his buddies

Marthina McClay, Leo’s trainer, foster mom, and founder of Our Pack, Inc., can’t get over his popularity. “I’ve worked with hundreds of dogs. People are drawn to Leo. I’ve never had a dog that was so magnetic.” She’s quick to brag on his personality, “He’s such a tenderheart. When he came to me, I was prepared for anything. But I never realized I would be meeting the Casanova of Dogs. He has this way of romancing you with those brown eyes of his - he’s truly amazing.”

Of course, if you spoke with Leo today, he would likely gloss over his accomplishments and the association that has made him famous. Instead, he would politely take a seat beside you, plop his head in your lap, gaze up at you with those dreamy eyes and talk about how he enjoys Sunday afternoons playing with his doggie brothers and sister, and how much he looks forward to visiting more people next week.

This is the true Amercian Pit Bull Terrier: resilient, people-loving, willing to please, and just so good-hearted!

(You can also read this article on our website at http://www.ourpack.org/leo.html. Article & pictures by volunteer Stephanie Lam.)

Pit Bulls & Optimism

Our newest rescue, Gino, has Ectrodactyly otherwise known as "lobster claw syndrome". It's an extremely rare birth defect that happens only in a few species including canines and humans. In the fetal developmental stages, the two bones in the leg separate down to the paw into what looks like a lobster claw. He walks on his deformed leg with a limp and runs holding it up.

When I and 2 other members of our rescue group went to temperament test him it was a dreary day. There had been an outbreak of ringworm and sulfur solution was all over the place. Yuck. He was in a crate across from another dog barking at him waiting for his resident kennel to be cleaned. This would have been my worst day on the planet for sure.


He came out of his kennel with happiness and joy to be alive; he seemed positive that we were there to see HIM! He held up his paw as if to shake our hands and thank us for stopping by. We laughed so hard. My day was already so much better. He actually changed the way I felt about life at that moment.


When we got to the testing area, we cried. He seemed to be smiling at us - anticipating being loved, cuddled, and kissed. His disability and a really crappy few days had not "turned this off" in him. He was a true gentleman when we tested him. Biddable, respectful, and careful of our bodies. It seemed as though he wanted to just snuggle together and ponder good times.



This is what I call optimism. Being "optimistic" on a good day is easy. Being optimistic, happy, loving, joyful, and full of appreciation for life on a bad stretch of days or a part of one's life is true optimism. That was Gino in a nutshell.

This is what I think of when I think of the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Being human, hmmmmm, well....... true "optimism" seems to be taking me a bit longer to learn.

- Marthina McClay