Rufus the Beagle: The Campaign Continues

Campaign continues to save pet beagle
Family uses Facebook rescue dog

Posted by: O Jefferson

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —
Life has been a whirlwind for Rufus, the beagle mix who has become the talk of the nation.

Memphis: the drama is finally over!

Memphis & Coltenback: the saga is finally coming to an end.

By: N Gilbert

The months-long ordeal over the Bloomfield pit bull named Memphis may be coming to an end.


PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF COLTENBACK
Bloomfield dog trainer Jeff Coltenback says an agreement is in the works for him to adopt the pit bull Memphis.

According to a statement from local dog trainer Jeff Coltenback, he and his wife Diana have reached a preliminary deal with the Bloomfield Board of Health.

"We are still ironing out the details," Coltenback said in the statement. "But, basically, once Memphis is deemed adoptable by his current caretaker, he will be adopted by Diana and me."

He stated an agreement would be up for resolution at the Bloomfield Board of Health meeting next month.

"I think the agreement [on the table] is putting it in writing what the boards' concern was from the beginning - adoptability and public safety," Karen Lore, director of the Bloomfield Health and Human Services Department, told Bloomfield Life on Wednesday. The issue was never who should adopt the dog once deemed adoptable, she added.

Memphis was held at the John A. Bukowski Shelter for Animals after being picked up as a stray in February. Officials deemed the dog "unadoptable" after an evaluation.

Coltenbacks were training the dog at home, but were asked to return Memphis after being accused of violating the contract for allegedly having the dog near children. The Coltenbacks denied that claim.

"Memphis was never at risk," Lore said of the dog's fate in shelter care.

Township officials said Memphis was moved to South Dakota for additional training and because of threats toward the shelter.

Lore said Wednesday that a rescue ground transporter carried Memphis to the Midwest through donations from the town's volunteer Neighbor to Neighbor Network. Lore did not know how much it cost.

Karen Lore, President of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Network and Acting Director of Health and Human Services.



"I'm grateful to the NTNN support committee for assisting us in the rehabilitation, and also the rescue group that came forward on behalf of Memphis," Lore said.

Coltenback said the Board of Health attorney Ronald Ricci approved his statement.

"I'd like to thank the Board of Health for their willingness to work with us," Coltenback stated. "I'd especially like to thank all of the Memphis supporters. Your continued support throughout this is appreciated beyond words. I think this is a great start to the healing process for everyone involved and for the Township of Bloomfield as a community."

Pet adoptions

The animal shelter is running a holiday promotion for the adoption of other cats and dogs, Lore said.

Home for the Holidays runs until the end of the year. The animals are spayed or neutered, and there is a "minimum fee, if anything" to adopt.

The attention of Memphis has hurt the shelter, Lore said, saying donations are down.

"There's been a lot of attention placed on Memphis, but there are a lot of other animals there," she said. "Some of our older animals have been in the shelter for a longer period of time.

"Our goal is to get them into homes with the right families," she said.


Credits: http://www.northjersey.com/news/181249251_Dog_trainer__Bloomfield_pit_bull_ordeal_being_resolved.html

The Lennox Legacy!

Forever Lennox: how we can help to keep dogs safe from BSL!

By: N Gilbert

We all remember the tragedy of Lennox and Belfast. Just 4 months ago, the world lost a beloved pet due to BSL (Breed Specific Legislation). Lennox, a 7 year old American Bulldog/Labrador Retriever mix was wrongfully taken away from his beloved family due to "looking" like a Pit Bull. He was then seized from his home and taken to a horrible place where he was kept there for the next 2 years. Alone. Starving for affection. Without his family. Eventually, Lennox was euthanized. The family STILL has not received his collar that they were promised from BCC (Belfast City Council).

And with all this hogwash about Lennox "looking" like a Pit Bull, there is yet another dog, in the USA, who is currently under the same type of attacks. Read more about Memphis here.

BSL is currently running rampant throughout the world. We all NEED to form together and overrule this ridiculous legislation. Currently in Miami, FL., you can own a Tiger (yes, a WILD Tiger) but you CANNOT own a Pit Bull. Why? Because of a stereotype. Thanks to people like Michael Vick and all of his minions, people now think that Pit Bulls are some type of 4 legged monster. I am asking you today, to sign whatever petition you see about BANNING and STOPPING BSL! Don't let this breed die because of a careless stereotype!

For more info on Lennox, please visit: http://www.savelennox.co.uk/

Help Mellie!

Mellie: another beautiful victim of a crap law!

By: N Gilbert

Benton, Ak.
Mellie, a goregous white and brown Pit Bull, got out of the house and ran over to play with a neighbor. She jumped on him & because he is afraid of dogs, he interpreted her play as aggression. Police issued a vicious dog citation which will end up costing thousands of dollars no matter what.
JUST LIKE LENNOX! Mellie is Innocent! She faces the same fate if Katie can't raise the money for Mellie's Atty, court costs, and impound fees for the time she was at the shelter, and whatever else the city decides. It happens all the time that Pit Bulls are wrongly euthanized because the family doesn't have the money to pay the fees associated with these ridiculous breed prejudice citations! We can prevent this from happening to Mellie. She is still short $1,000. Please everybody chip in $5, or whatever you can. We have to help each other because this could happen to any one of us next.

Fore more info on Mellie, please visit her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HelpMellie

Free Memphis!

Memphis: another victim of BSL!

By: N Gilbert

Meet Memphis! Memphis is an extremely handsome and big lovable Pit Bull residing in New Jersey. 

Memphis has never had any aggression problems, never bitten anyone, person or animal. So why is he being picked on might you ask? All because of his breed. A PIT BULL! Nonsense right? Below you will find Jeff Coltenback's summary on the story of Memphis...

"Memphis' abbreviated story (it’s a really long one though): Memphis was picked up as stray in Feb 2012 and further restricted by shelter management after his initial 7-day hold was up. He was then deemed unadoptable by an evaluator in March (not by any judicial system). He has no bite history and, to my knowledge, has never injured anyone -- human or animal. His only c

rime; his breed. After learning about Memphis, I contacted the Township of Bloomfield Health Dept and offered my services to evaluate/train him. In order to gain permission to do so (which permitted me to train him only; I was prohibited from evaluating him), I signed a 5-page legal contract which also included holding me liable for Memphis and any expenses incurred on his behalf. 

Part of my training with Memphis, like any dog I work with, included socialization. During this socialization training, he interacted with both adults and children -- all by permission. Due to this, the Township said I put the public in danger and ordered me to bring Memphis back to the shelter, which I did. My wife, Diana, and I then offered to adopt him permanently and sign a waiver relieving the Township of all liability. I submitted my adoption application to the Health Department, Mayor and Town Council, along with 12 Letters of Recommendation from professionals and rescue groups, here in the tri-state area. 

During his entire 8 days with us, Memphis never exhibited any behaviors that provided an opportunity for me to correct or modify his behavior. He has been around people, dogs, cats, rats and even parrots without incident. My wife and I had Memphis for one week, and fell madly in love with him -- he's just that kind of dog. Since he has been sent from our sofa back to the shelter, we cry for him every day. We eagerly await the Township's decision on whether or not they will allow us to adopt him. Memphis is truly a great dog who has a responsible, stable, experienced and loving forever home to go to -- ours."

Currently, there is a huge legal battle going on over getting Memphis to reside with the Coltenbacks. Many supporters have even gone to Jersey to protest on Memphis' behalf. Currently, there is a petition online as of right now to help get Memphis home.

There is now over 47,000 signatures to date on the petition and it needs to reach 100,000. Please sign and share the petition: http://www.causes.com/actions/1674225

For more info on Memphis, please visit his website:

http://www.savememphisnj.com/

or Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/savememphisnj

Please help us all to stop this insanity that is happening before our very eyes. Belfast was enough, lets not let it happen in the USA!