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COLUMN: ‘I was once fat’
Jul 03, 2010
By ARTEMIS COUGHLAN
TRENTON – The first time I realized I was fat was when I was in third grade sitting outside the nurse’s office at Cornwells Elementary School in Bensalem, Pa.
I had just had a physical and the doctor told my mother that I was obese. I didn’t know what obese meant and had to look it up in the dictionary. It meant I was fat.
My mother told me I was fine and not to worry about it so I didn’t. After all, she was my mom and mom was the authority. My older sister was obese and my mother morbidly obese.
Mommy, who came to this country from Germany after World War II, always fried food – potato pancakes, breaded pork chops, breaded flounder and more – in lard. We always had sticky buns, cookies and the like around to eat. It tasted great and I continued to eat and eat and eat.
My clothes, mostly hand-me-downs from my sister, were always too tight. The nylon stockings, at that time one size fit all, only came up to my knees and forced me to keep my legs together and skirt down. I was always very uncomfortable, self conscious and would try to find loose-fitting clothes to wear.
As I grew older, I continued to eat the same way and I got bigger, I couldn’t do gymnastics and was embarrassed to play sports or go to gym class. Academically I did very well, the only way I could excel.
After college, I was still obese, but managed to get jobs and perform, but as I grew older and after I had my child, the pains started as I topped out at 310 pounds at five feet eight. I continued to cook like my mother.
My back hurt to the point where I couldn’t walk and was stuck on the couch. I couldn’t walk on the beach, or enjoy outdoor activities and the heat killed me. I dreaded stairs, got winded easily and had to make my own clothes because my size wasn’t in the stores. Got pretty good at it. There are so many health risks associated with obesity, I can’t begin explain all of them.
My mother’s death was clearly obesity-related.
Then one day about 15 years ago, when my daughter started having weight problems, I said to myself I couldn’t hurt her and this must all end.
Quietly, I stopped frying and started baking food. Fat was kept to a minimum, but not eliminated. I dropped meal portion size for both myself and my daughter. I gave her fat free lunch meats, and other foods. I explained to her that she must for the rest of her life control what goes into her mouth just to be healthy.
I would never deny myself or her anything. If I wanted ice cream, I would get a small cone but would take one or three bites, and – this was the hard part – threw the rest away. I did the same with other tasty treats.
Over the years, the fat melted away. I went from a size 30 to 24, 22, 20 and lower. It became easier and easier to do things. The heat no longer tormented me. No more back pain on a daily basis.
People, like me, who tend to be fat, must make those lifestyle changes to be healthy. Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and the like can’t do it for you.
There’s no magic pill to take. Just cut your portion size, reduce fats, and don’t deny yourself anything.
That’s just my advise, and it worked.
I can now buy clothes off the rack, but have skin issues. I’d rather have them than be obese.
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A fresh approach to city health
Jul 03, 2010
By JOE D’AQUILA
Staff Writer
TRENTON – For the past month, the corner of North Clinton and North Olden avenues has looked a little greener.
At that spot, every Saturday, fresh fruits and veggies seem to sprout up out of nowhere.
Actually, they’re coming from the Trenton Fresh Farmers Market, a project organized by the Mercer Food Council, a collaborative group made up of various governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations like Isles, Inc. and the Crisis Ministry of Princeton and Trenton.
The goal of the program is to “increase access to local produce to improve health and wellness among low-income, urban populations who are plagued by disproportionally high levels of diet-related disease,” according to a news release announcing the program prior to its June 12 start date. “Market days will also include health screenings, cooking demonstrations, and health and wellness programs.”
The market is scheduled to be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and vendors can accept both WIC and food stamps.
Just recently, the Crisis Ministry announced that the program will be expanded as well starting this weekend.
According to the organization, there will be one market set up Friday at Union Baptist Church on Pennington Road and one Saturday at First Baptist Church on Centre Street.
For more information, visit www.thecrisisministry.org.*
Fighting childhood obesity in greater Trenton
Jul 03, 2010
By L.A. PARKER
Staff Writer
TRENTON — Childhood obesity remains a serious medical condition that is easy to recognize and predict, but prevention provides a significant challenge as kids beef up on fast food, soda pop and an assortment of high-calorie items that bulge waistlines.
According to a study conducted by Rutgers’ Center for State Health Policy, Trenton children rank as the state’s fattest with about half labeled overweight, obese or very obese.
Trenton ranked first for kids ages 3-19 with a belly-busting 47.3 percent, ahead of New Brunswick (46.4), Newark (44.2), Vineland (43.6) and Camden (39.8).
Overweight children are more likely to develop other physical health issues including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and high cholesterol.
(more…)
Fire displaces six Trentonians
Jul 03, 2010
By SULAIMAN ABDUR-RAHMAN
TRENTON — An accidental fire displaced Six Trentonians Saturday afternoon in the 500 block of Roosevelt Street, including a grandmother who had to be rushed to a local hospital for observation.
Battalion Chief Frank Fanning of the Trenton Fire Department said the grandmother was hospitalized as a precautionary measure: “She’s elderly. It wasn’t due to a smoke condition.”
“They took my mom to the hospital,” displaced resident Bridget Riggan told The Trentonian as she stood outside her flame-ravaged home not long after firefighters doused the one-alarm blaze. Riggan said she lived at the house with her mom, husband, daughter and family friends.
Putting on a strong face, Riggan said she received news of the fire while she was at work and that she left her job site early to see what was left of her house — a place she said she called home for the past seven years. The home is located near Ingham Avenue off Calhoun Street not far from the Trenton-Ewing border.
The fire erupted about 12:40 p.m. in a second-floor bedroom due to a hot curling iron being left on a bed, Fanning said. Four fire engines, two ladder trucks and the fire Rescue One vehicle responded to the blaze, bringing it under control shortly after 1 p.m., Fanning said.
“The place is uninhabitable,” Fanning added. “There’s extensive smoke, heat and water damage on the second floor and water damage on the first floor. And the middle bedroom was burned out.”
Riggan declined to talk about the loss of her property: “I don’t even want to go there,” she said. She also said her mom was being treated for high blood pressure.
Of the six people displaced, four were adults and two were teenagers aged 13 and 15, Fanning said. After knocking the blaze down, firefighters helped the displaced residents to recover some of their salvageable belongings.
Fire officials said the local American Red Cross will assist the displaced Trentonians with temporary housing.
NJ employee struggles to do what is best
Jul 03, 2010
By IAN SPURLOCK
I am an employee of the State of New Jersey, Department of Labor. My interests are represented, regardless of my choice or preference, by CWA Local 1038.
I am not a member of this Union. To be a member you must pay full dues. Each employee who is not a member has to, without exception, pay 85 percent of what full Union dues are, with no voting rights, as a ‘Representation Fee’. As a result, $16.08 is deducted from each paycheck, whether or not I want them to represent me. I have no choice in the matter. Whatever the CWA deems to be ‘in my best interest’ is what they ‘fight’ for.
Now, let me be clear when I say I understand the necessity of the current administration to cut back across the board to plug the budget deficit. State workers are just one piece of the puzzle where savings must be found, and that’s fine. If I need to be furloughed to keep the State solvent or save the jobs of fellow employees, I am on board.
However, my position, and that of every single person in my unit, Disability Determination Services, is 100 percent federally funded. The Federal Government pays the State of New Jersey to administer the program. When we get furloughed, the State has to give that money back to the Feds. So, by furloughing us, the State saves absolutely nothing and the citizens lose out on our services.
When I took this position last year, there was training in Newark for three months. We all got to talk, as a group, with a CWA shop steward from Newark. I asked him point blank, ‘Why are we being furloughed if we’re federally funded?’ His response was informative.
‘Yeah, the Union kind of sold us out.’
If you represent my interests, where were you during those negotiations, when you were supposed to be … representing my interests? The Union view is that every employee must be treated exactly the same, when the reality is far different.
However, the incompetence of the Union isn’t what draws the bulk of my ire. It is the realization that, ideologically, I’m being asked to choose between my best interests as a taxpayer and as an employee.
My political views include a belief that the role of government should be as limited as possible. Civil Service jobs and departments should be run simply, efficiently and not be burdened with weak employees who cannot be fired except following the most egregious of offenses. If you are not cutting it, goodbye.
I’ve been laid off before. It hurts. But deep down inside of me there will always be a nagging belief and knowledge that, yes, I probably could have worked harder and been more valuable to that company. Had I done so, maybe I would still be there. I don’t feel any motivation, outside of personal pride, to push myself here. All I have to do is work to the lowest common denominator and I’ll have no trouble at all. Since, as previously mentioned, the Union wants us all to be treated the same, there is a standard of work performance that is given to every employee of the same title. All evaluations are either ‘Satisfactory’ or ‘Unsatisfactory’. There is no tangible benefit to going above and beyond or trying to be the best.
I didn’t get this job because of the Union. I got this job because I scored well enough on a Civil Service examination to be offered this job. If I am to get a promotion, I’ll have to take a promotional examination conducted, again, by the Civil Service Commission. If I get in trouble on the job, I have rights provided by both the Civil Service Commission and other general labor-related laws preventing discrimination and unlawful termination.
From each and every paycheck, 1 percent of my salary, against my wishes, is being given to an organization which, by its nature, affects the political environment of the State of New Jersey and negatively impacts the services, both in value and total output, of state agencies. What exactly do you do for me, CWA Local 1038? Do you think if my job is on the line for some alleged infraction that I would want to be represented by a group so professionally devoid of competence that they were unable to get employees that are totally federally funded exempt from a State furlough plan?
I’ll pass.
NJ’s rank & file struggle under union’s umbrella
Jul 03, 2010
By JEFF EDELSTEIN
Staff Writer
Ian Spurlock is the kind of state employee most New Jerseyans want to see working for their taxpayer dollar.
Hardworking, intelligent and a believer in limited government.
He also wishes he could work out from under the umbrella of state employee unions, of which he’s not even a full member. For example, as a Department of Labor employee in Disability Determination Services, Spurlock handles three new cases a day. His next shot at a merit-based promotion is years away. This strikes him as wrong.
“I could probably do five or six cases a day,” he said. “If given the opportunity to do that, and know that management would put me on some kind of fast-track for promotion, that would be fantastic. It would also kill the chances of those struggling with three cases a day to ever get promoted. That would allegedly be a bad thing.”
And while it would be foolish to assume Spurlock speaks for most state employees, he does shine a light on an issue few state residents even know exists, namely state employees — or more specifically, people who pay into the state pension system — who have had it with their unions.
Spurlock’s situation — hard worker hamstrung by union rules — is but one example of union blues.
Another, more stark example, is what’s been happening at CWA Local 1033, and the at times nasty and court-mediated battle being waged by a ragtag bunch of disgruntled union members.
Members for Change is headed up by Jesse Averhart and Mary Walker, and their goal is simple: To unseat Rae Roeder, the president of 1033.
Averhart, a former vice president under Roeder, ran an unsuccessful bid for the presidency of 1033 in 2005, and Walker, who called Roeder her “mentor,” has had a more interesting road, having been charged with harassment by Roeder. (The case was settled by mediation.)
One of Averhart’s and Walker’s main problems with their union is the lack of a penny-by-penny financial report.
“We are totally left out of the loop with regard to finances,” Averhart said.
Roeder disagrees — strongly — and insists that not only is there a penny-by-penny report, but that Averhart can “come and see it.”
(Federal and private sector unions are required by the federal Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) to disclose full financial information to both the federal government and their membership each year. State public employee unions are exempt from the LMRDA rules.)
Averhart and his group want to “bring democracy to CWA Local 1033.” Roeder calls them “dissidents.”
And the fighting over money and democracy is but one angle in the battle.
It goes all the way down to communication methods.
“There is no e-mail at the local at all,” said Walker, who used to work directly under Roeder.
“No one is permitted to use it. There is no e-mail in her office. She uses the United States Postal System to share information with the membership.”
Roeder has a simple explanation for her decision to ban e-mail.
“Members have been disciplined by the State of New Jersey for using their e-mail at work. Right now, we have over 50 active cases of members being disciplined,” she said.
“Our phones operate 10 hours a day, and our own studies show that nearly 50 percent of our membership doesn’t have computer access at their homes. Furthermore, e-mails are subpoenable. If anything, we’re protecting our membership by not using written information.”
While high-minded ideals and street-level back-and-forth dominate the discussion at 1033, the simple matter of staying employed has caused a minority of Hamilton Township’s teachers to question their union.
Seventy non-tenured teachers were let go following the end of the recent school year, and at least one of them wonders just who exactly the teachers union was representing.
“Almost all of the non-tenured teachers I work with feel misrepresented by the union,” said the laid off teacher who wished to remain anonymous in hopes of getting re-hired this summer. “I spoke with my union rep, and I was told they were doing everything they can to save my job. So I asked what was being done, because I haven’t seen anyone in the union doing anything to protect my job.”
According to reports in The Trentonian, the 70 teacher jobs could have been saved if the union had accepted a one-year pay freeze for their members.
“The union reps never asked the rank and file about pay freezes or opening up the contract,” the teacher said. “It’s not fair. Why can’t we simply take a vote? I don’t care if I lose 500-to-2, the fact remains we don’t get to have an opinion that matters. What’s the point of having a union without having a say?”
Another laid-off teacher, who commented anonymously at the blog njunion.blogspot.com, wrote their “union rep had absolutely no answers for any of the questions that were asked of her,” and “there are rumors going around that people were chosen based on if they knew anyone in the district.
“If you didn’t have any ties to anyone, than you were cut. The fact remains there were teachers across the district — in the same departments — with less time on the job than the teachers who were cut, but they did not receive (pink) slips.”
The anonymous poster also had a question.
“Do we get any of the union dues back that we paid?”
The Pit Bull Problem: “The Pit Bull Guru” speaks
Jul 03, 2010
Editor’s note: Drayton Michaels (www.pitbullguru.com) posted this at our Facebook page about Joey Kulkin’s video of meeting “Menace.”
* * * * *
A few words about your recent incident: It underscores the fact that the vast majority of dog bites are non lethal, on par with kitchen accidents or playground accidents. The CDC reports that 4 million dog bites are reported yearly to emergency room departments. On average 20 result in deaths, 200 or less require major surgery, the rest are level one bites, per the Dunbar bite scale. The thing to realize is that there are different levels of dog bites.
The question to ask the owner of the dog that bit you is “was this the first time a bite in this context took place”? – This particular context being a person entering the yard. Person greeting dog on leash out front may have a different association. And furthermore is this the first bite in general. If this was the first time this happened ok, lesson learned, and the goal should be to prevent it from ever happening again. If it is not the first incident, then it is negligent on the owner’s part and the dog should have been on leash and met you outside of the yard or been inside.
The next question to ask is “what has the owner been doing or not doing in the way of training methods and has there been any behavior modification to decrease the dog’s excitability/fear/apprehension of people coming into the backyard”? Has it been positive humane training or has it been force base? A quick lesson in how dogs learn and view the world – Dogs learn though association and consequences and when those associations are negative and consequences harmful or fearful, dogs develop a negative conditioned emotional response. (CER)The view of the world for dogs is safe – unsafe or neutral. This is how dogs are processing info all the time. When they get too much feedback that contexts are scary/fearful or they are squelched, “hey no ah argh argh or worse, choked, hit, shocked, pinned down etc…dogs start to view the world as potentially scary, factor in poor human mechanics and inadequate handling skills by the humans in charge and you can see how dogs can get into situations where they may bite or aggress.
As Pam Reid PhD says “learning for dogs is a change in behavior based on experience”. Or As Dr. Overall states “dogs are looking for information”. By and large humans are the ones who control experiences and information for dogs. Do not take this as passing judgments on the owner. I am asking questions in hopes to help that the dog does not bite again. Even in an overly excited way. Obviously the dog has good bite inhibition otherwise you would have been bitten worse. Considering dogs can land 20 bites in a matter of seconds if they are intent on hurting someone, I’d say the dog is so far ok, but again this is something that the owner should address in a legitimate behavior modification protocol. It could get worse, as behavior that is rehearsed becomes stronger.
Now about the post and the chosen words for your status…The term pit Bull is conflated, there is no escaping it. The words dog – bite – blood; are also conflated and when people read them they have an emotional reaction. To quote Jean Donaldson, “when it comes to pointy teeth it hits something primal in humans and we tend not to use logic”. The media has used Pit Bulls as a scapegoat for 30 years now. It is an easy way to get readers attention and become emotional. I would imagine that your decision to do this project has something to do with the fact that it will ensure people read and react to it. After all you want people to read you’re what your writing about. That makes sense.
I would ask that you be careful how you research this project. As I said I have been researching Pit Bulls for the past 6 years. I have spoken to some of the best people in dog behavior. Why? Because they understand dog behavior from a scientific stance not an opinion based on a few dogs they saw or may have owned. Opinions from people that have been injured are obviously very one sided. In addition I am a graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers that was run out of the SFSPCA this too was part of my research and education to better understand dogs and help people understand them better as well.
The media likes to create fake debates by pitting science against non science based opinions and emotions. We see this with global warming. On one side we have science and on the other we have people that do not understand the science as it relates to dog behavior. That is not a debate, it is a fake debate. A real debate would have equal opponents using factual and scientific and mathematical evidence to support claims. Anecdotal opinions are not facts. Emotions & feelings are not facts. The math says it all – 300 million humans in the USA – 74 million registered dogs of all breeds – 20 deaths on average yearly by dog bites – 200 or less serious bites – Is that an epidemic by any stretch of the imagination?
I do not doubt your sincerity to deliver an accurate story, however be mindful that dogs are being killed for no reason solely based on the media’s lack of responsibility in reporting dog bite incidents. They never detail the reasons why the dog was in a position behaviorally speaking that led it to act the way it did.
Dogs do not possess the intellectual morality of humans. They are generally kind creatures and when they do maul or kill someone, usually small children and the elderly, they have been through one too many experiences that have led them to be overly fearful. It may have been intentional abuse or it may have been people getting faulty information about how to address their dogs behavior.
Dr. Dunbar, Dr. Dodman, Dr. Overall. Pam Reid PhD and any other respected dog behaviorist or legit trainer will tell you the human is the greatest variable in a dog’s training and behavior. I would also add that humans are also responsible for a dog breeds reputation by the words they choose to use in describing dog behavior.
The media has been the most culpable in this Pit Bull reputation by not getting the facts of fatal incidents. Unless people actually know about dog behavior I suggest they hold off on their opinions and feelings, be they the press, dog owners, or lay people. Because this loose tongued approach has caused BSL which in turn has cost millions of tax dollars and has been one of the reasons why millions of innocent dogs are killed every year. The other reason is irresponsible breeders and irresponsible/misinformed dog owners.
So please take this all into consideration as you go forward with your series. Those of us that are working to help dogs, enforce the sensible laws that exist are weary of the media because they have been the most negligent in the loose tongued approach. Every decision someone makes about a dog holds that dog’s life in the balance, it’s not always that intense but it is always that important.
The Pit Bull Problem: The e-mails
Jul 03, 2010
Editor’s note: We asked you to “crowd source” us with information and statistics and testimony of attacks and analysis … or just a simple e-mail to tell us how you feel about pit bulls, for good and for worse. One person told another, who told another … and then the e-mails flooded in from all parts of the country, and Canada. Here are a handful of those e-mails, unedited. Some of the writers left names, others requested anonymity.
* * * * *
We are the proud parents of a pit bull who has been raised in a loving way. He is a gentle, well behaved animal and extremely intelligent and eager to please. Very social and outgoing with neighbors, loves kids and extremely gentle with small dogs and cats. He is calm and relaxed in behavior but occasionally when playing gets that “pit bull” look in his eye. Our neighbors have a pit as well and when these two play it is rough and tumble (like watching a football game) they do a lot of chest bumping and play-fighting but never hurt each other. It is interesting to observe as this is the ONLY dog that he plays this way with. He plays with a jack Russell terrier and is gentle and delicate with her. He plays with boxers and they mostly run around and chase each other. The closest he comes to the rough and tumble play is with American bulldogs who belong to my daughter.
We take him weekly to the petsmart in Hamilton where is always well behaved and social with other animals (including cats) The Mercer animal Rescue is usually there and they have a large number of pit bulls up for adoption. Many of these have been hurt or mistreated, but generally they are all sweet natured animals.
Any animal can be turned mean or aggressive by training. Lifestyle, or survival needs. I think that these dogs get a bad rap.
I am glad that someone is tackling this issue and we are open to having you come out and interview “ the mayor” anytime you’d like. We call him the mayor as he likes to visit the neighbors (his constituents). Maybe he’ll even give you an interview.
Sincerely,
Debi Kenney
Roebling, N.J
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Hello how are you? I’m writing in response to the pit bull debate. I am an owner of a 2 and a half year old male pit bull named Gucci, and it is the best purchase I have ever made. I’m very serious when I tell you that you will never meet another dog as smart and loving as my dog. We bought him when he was two months old from a breeder in the Poconos. He is great with my nieces and nephew and he loves kids. He will let my niece sit on him and ride him like he is a horse..(he’s big). Ive also read that pit bulls are the best family dog…if they are raised the right way. It is a shame they have the reputation they do because of evil people in the world that have no respect for life. I have been bitten by 3 dogs in my life. Severely by one….two of those dogs were German shepherds and the other a black lab. And both dogs listed are known as “family dogs.” Dogs get their personality by the way they are raised no matter what breed. It really bothers me when people prejudge pit bulls just by what they hear…or when someone asked me what kind of dog I have and I answer pit bull and they cringe. He is a big baby who just wants to play!!!! A year ago my boyfriend and I bought a new house and had our housewarming party with about 50-60 guests…our dog was there all day and did not bother a soul.. well maybe watch them eat hoping they would drop their burger but physically, nothing. All I heard for weeks after was praise on how unbelievably great my dog behaved and how so very nice he was. As a owner of a pit bull I feel there is absolutely no reason they should be outlawed, and if they are my family will find a home elsewhere. I hope to hear back. Thank you.
Erin Michalak
A proud Pit bull owner!!!!!
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Hi. The Pit Bull lovers are making an issue of the definition of what is a pit bull. The dangerous dogs seem to all have wide heads, small ears and large mouths in short snoots. They can also be hefty and can have a broader chest than other dogs.
The wide head, shorter nose and wide mouth, no matter what other breeding is mixed in, seems to denote the dangerous dog. I noticed a story in your paper this week that concerned a dog attack and the writer called the animal, a mixed breed dog. Are your reporters catering to the animal crazies now?
There is a whole group of people who want to hurt other people and they hide behind the banner of helping animals. In my opinion, they want dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs to be adopted by unsuspecting people.
My elderly Mother’s dog passed in 1990 and we went to Princeton to SAVE to adopt. She was in her 80s and they wanted her to take a mixed breed that was obviously part pit bull with the wide head and short snoot. She tried to pet it and it snapped at her hand. It was also a large dog and would have dragged her if she tried to walk it. The rescue people were refusing to tell us where there were two Yorkies available, which is what she wanted. They wanted her to take the larger dog. Finally one of the women felt sorry for her and told us and we went to the owner’s home and adopted both of the Yorkies.
When I was seven, 58 years ago, my little friend down the street had an American Staffordshire Terrier mix, a pit bull with wide head etc. One day we were throwing sticks for it and it decided to grab my arm instead of retrieving a stick. It dragged me around the yard until my Mother came out and beat it off me with a broom. I had four black and blue marks on my arm though no skin was broken.
My next actual encounter was driving down my street and watching two dogs walk together loose. One was a pit bull, wide head, short nose etc. and the other was a black larger spaniel mix. The spaniel mix merely nudged the pit and it turned on the spaniel biting it and chasing it down the street. It was relentless!! I called the police and animal control and had to stand by as the pit proceeded to bite and shake and attack this dog over and over. I got out and threw ice chunks at it. A township crew came by and threw a rake at it. It continued to savage the spaniel. Three police cars came and the poor spaniel crawled under one, only to have the cop pull the car back to expose it to the pit bull again.
Finally animal control came and they chased it with sticks with loops on them and it took two of them to hold this dog. The spaniel recovered but had to be euthanized as it nipped a potential adopter. Dr. Nelson had healed its many wounds.
The next encounter, I was walking my little dog and a man started walking up to me with a stocky pit bull, wide head and chest, short snout with wide mouth and clipped small ears. I could tell the dog was wanting to fight with my dog. I yelled at him to go away and took out my pepper spray. He yelled back that his dog was friendly but by that time I was carrying my dog and moving fast toward my house. This same fellow walked his dog up to a neighbor’s old Bichon Frise and it ripped the old Bichon apart in front of it’s owner. I could hear the screaming from my house. The woman and her dogs moved away. The horrible man was found and fined.
Over the years I have seen other pits loose in the neighborhood. A woman let her’s lose constantly and I had to repeatedly warn people away from my corner. I would call the police and animal control and one time it took them four hours to arrive. I stayed outside for four hours and warned people away from that corner as they were walking their dogs and baby carriages at the same time. I had to drive a woman and her dog to her house down the street since she could not walk past that pit bull on the corner. Finally another neighbor and I took her to court and won and she had to confine the dog and tie it up.
I saw a cop shoot a pit bull in the next neighborhood once when it attacked him.
There is just something built into that breed that makes them grab and hold on to it’s victim. I read on an ASPCA forum that pit bull owners have to carry a large pry bar with them because pit bulls also bite other pit bulls and hang on and the only way to get them off is to pry their jaws apart with the pry stick!!! Why must we allow that type of dog?
Recently a well known vet was bitten by a pit bull, with wide head, short nose, etc. and he called it a pit bull himself. It would not let go. That one was from the Ewing animal shelter and they would not euthanize it. It has been sent to some kind of pit bull reservation to live out it’s life at taxpayer expense. That’s the only type of dog that they have at the Ewing shelter. All the smaller dogs are taken by private rescue groups. We would not need an expensive shelter if they would just euthanize all the dangerous dogs and the feral, unadoptable cats.
Please don’t print my email address or my name. Those pit bull people are deranged.
“Concerned” from Ewing
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Mr. Kulkin
On April 8th of this year, I was walking my boxer past a house as I have done hundreds of times before. My dog has a tendency to pull and being 25 weeks pregnant at the time, my vet recommended the “Gentle Leader” head collar. It works great by the way. As we past a house, a pit bull dog named “Storm” dashed out at us. My dog blocked this animal from attacking me. Storm had sunk his teeth in my dog and when the owner tried to pull off Storm he was still lunging at us.
My dog Moxie had teeth marks and blood coming from the underside of her neck. Storm was sitting on the porch unleashed when we walked past. There was no provocation on our parts. My husband called the Police and a report was taken. He took care of Moxie and my mom rushed me to the hospital. All is well now. I still can’t go near that house. I avoid it at all costs. The other day, I drove by and the dog was once again sitting on the porch without a leash. The crime of it all
is the fact that the house sits across the street an elementary school.
We don’t blame the dog, we blame the owners. It is all how an animal is raised. For example, how did the dog know to attack under the neck why didn’t attack Moxie’s body? The animal is a beautiful dog. I think all pits are wonderful it is how you raise them. I work as a nurse in Trenton and I have seen how these animals are treated. I don’t understand why the puppies are being walked around with chains. That is cruel. The owners should have chains around their necks and pulled and beaten when they do wrong. Maybe, just maybe, then people will wake up.
Sincerely,
Anita Anzalone
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Sir,
I read your blurb in the Trentonian today, and felt I needed to respond. I have 3 children, and about 4 years ago, we rescued a pitbull from the Camden county shelter. I have to say, I have been around many types of dogs, but, after having Charlotte, I would get no other breed of dog. She is wonderful with my kids, and trust her around anyone. Just my 2 cents. Thanks.
Dan Gerdes
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Hi Joey,
I work with a non-profit rescue group called EASEL. The organization is county-wide, but works directly with the Ewing Animal Shelter, working with the animals and organizing local adoption days.
As you may be aware, a vast majority of dogs in shelters are “pit bull” mixes. I am concerned about the general public’s perception of pit bulls. If they choose to believe the myths about these incredibly loyal and loving dogs, it’s their loss; my concern lies in perpetuating these stereotypes, which in turn deters people from adopting them. When people don’t adopt, the shelter fills up, and you know what happens then.
I would love to connect you with someone from EASEL to discuss the dogs, the organization, etc.
Also, the following website is an excellent source of pit bull information: http://www.pbrc.net/breedinfo.html.
Debbie Sellnow
Mazur Public Relations
P.O. Box 2425
Trenton, NJ 08607-2425
debbie@mazurpr.com
AIM: mazurprdeb
www.mazurpr.com
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To whom it may concern:
I felt I needed to send in my thoughts regarding the incident that occurred with the pitbull over the weekend. I have a 9 year old pitbull as well as 3 cats. I am also the office manager of an animal hospital. I have had my pitbull since she was a baby. I raised her the only way I knew how – as if she was my own child with lots of love and care. I leave her alone with all 3 cats everyday when I go to work. I have nieces and nephews that range from 3-8 yrs old who play with her including putting pillows on top of her and jumping on her. Every one of my friends has a dog that range from a great dane, a shih tzu mix, a lab mix, a rottweiler, and many others. She gets along with every single one of them and everyone. She grew up on an acre of land that did not have a fence and learned her boundaries where she never run across the street to the elementary school. Even if a bunny is in the yard, she’s learned to just watch. She will absolutely bark at a stranger walking by the car or the house and I have never discouraged her from doing that for my own protection. However, she has never shown any type of aggression towards anything or anyone. As a matter of fact, she has been bitten by another dog and she did nothing but run and hide. Pitbulls are great pets and again, she is not like but is my child. So much so that I drove her 21 hours to Texas to have her on vacation with me to meet her new “cousin”, a mastiff, which she got along great with, went swimming with, etc. It sickens and hurts me that when there is someone who is willing to give a great breed like this a good home, and yes it was an unfortunate incident what happened, but that doesn’t mean the breed should be punished.
Pitbulls are great pets, with great personalities. They are loyal and playful and usually think they are a lapdog for as big as they are. The unfortunate thing is that when in the wrong possession of people in the wrong state of mind, people use there power in the wrong way. In just the same way people abuse guns and drugs. Guns and drugs are illegal but they are tangible objects. Pitbulls, just the same as people and other breeds, have feelings. They get excited when they do something that you are happy with, and get upset when they know you are upset with them. Exploiting their learned behavior is wrong and irresponsible of us to so, and instead of making them seem like monsters, we should try to help the breed. The people that are trying to help this breed by adopting them and giving them a good home should be credited. I don’t know how else to emphasize this. There are other breeds, including the little ones that are extremely nasty and difficult to work with that you never hear about because they can’t do as much damage, but it doesn’t mean they don’t. Yes, the pitbulls have great strength in their jaws because of their build. And it is an absolute shame that people exploit that. But the love and loyalty that this breed has is remarkable and immeasurable.
I brought mine into our hospital to “show her off” for our open house and to show all our clients the type of pets that our staff has. Her worse quality about her is that she cried for food. But everyone, even the ones who don’t even have dogs, absolutely loved her. She is a social butterfly. The cat thinks the dog is her best friend and nestles up with the dog when they sleep. She goes where ever I go (assuming I can take her). I rarely put her on a leash and I know I assume the responsibility if something happens, however, she understands what no means, and to stay, and when to be on alert. She does not have a bad bone in her body. And yes it’s the way I raised her as it is the way if someone raises an aggressive Chihuahua.
I apologize for the lengthy rambling that I have done. However, it is time and time again that I read about how another pitbull attacked another pet. It is a shame that people are raising this great breed to do such horrible things. But maybe instead of exploiting the breed, something should be done about the people who are raising the dogs to do these things. If a child was misbehaving in school, you talk to their parents. Again, instead of blaming the breed, something should be done as to who and what type of environment they are going to. Maybe the adoption process should be a little different and background checks should be done on the people. But either way, blaming the breed is an irresponsible act by people to find fault with the breed instead of finding the root of the problem that is causing these great pets to be forced into this type of behavior – the PEOPLE who are raising them.
Thank you for your time, and again, I apologize for the length of this letter but I can’t sit here any longer and allow this slanderous talk about a great breed that I hold dear to my heart as my child.
Sincerely,
Stacy Bucchino
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Joey,
I was interested in contributing to your article.
I spent some time reading through the commentary on the web and you can tell this is a subject that gets blown out of proportion and at the same time seems to invoke some strong opinions.
You are going to get a lot of letters from rescuers and people who have owned or do own pits who have had wonderful experiences with Pits. You are going to get a lot of input from people who had bad experience with Pits and think that they are a dangerous breed. So I thought I would respond a little differently.
I think that the whole subject of Pits has been blown out of proportion due primarily to the media. Your coverage on this latest incident is an example. Usually to the best of what I can gather, the media focus is caused by how the information comes/gets to the media desk (police blotter or calls to media directly ). Lets face it most dog attacks do not warrant a call to the police unless someone is scared of the “dangerous animal” and calls the police to handle. Even then, the normal routine would be to call the animal control officer and not a police unit. But for the pit, because of the hysteria and media coverage, every pit is assumed to be a dangerous fighting dog and calls for a man with a gun to handle.
Now I will grant you, that a pit in a fight can lock onto something and will not let go. That in itself can be a cause for hysteria when you are trying to get it off the victim. Also given the size of the jaw and dog, the pit bite can be a serious wound as compared to a smaller dog with a longer jaw that does not have as much leverage as the short jaw pit. But even most calls regarding pits that the police respond to are no worse than the other dog attacks by something other than a pit. But unless I am wrong, most media centers will receive information from 9-11 calls and respond to the story. But a normal call to the police that gets routed to the animal control officer will never be responded to.
So the real article for you is why aren’t the authorities all over dog fights, and why isn’t the news media using its sources to help the fight against dog fighting by exposing the dog fight story, the horrible people that are involved with it. Is the real story that the police force is to over loaded it doesn’t have the time / resources available to stop the dog fighting? Or is the story that the law and the judges do not seem to understand the horrible act for what it is and crucifying these people to the max when the police bring them in?
A couple of the comments in your blog mentioned cities that are passing breed specific legislation to control or outlaw these dogs. Is there data to show that the act they took addressed any of the issues. Is there data to show income level and dog owned to show a correlation of dog owner to income level ? I believe that you would see that the average family that has a pet and lives in the inner city is on a poverty level income, and their children lack the necessary guidance to be good caregivers for their dogs, and that many of them loose a dog and just replace it with another. They cant afford a pure breed dog so their dog of choice is the all present mutt and the all present mutt in the inner city is a Pit. You would also see that the parents don’t give good care to their kids or pets and so the animals usually end up loose and on the streets. ( as do the kids ).
I think if you further investigate you will find that there are many animals running loose or tied up that are not cared for and are not missed much if they are stolen and hence the supply of dogs to support the dog fighting industry is ample in the inner city environment. A winning dog can bring a lot of money to these people as can the bets so it is easy money for the participants. When you add all this to a society as a whole that seems to have a need for violence and betting on a winner, the fighting seems to draw more and more people and thus the need for more and more dogs.
It is there for very hard for the animal rescues to address the issue without the help of the community to find, stop and destroy the element that is organizing and running this sport. A lot of people and city workers alike want to blame the dog for the sport but I feel that if the sport were stopped completely, that in 10 years time no one would even know about the Pit Bull.
These dogs have been around for years and yet it is just recently that the reputation has grown so rapidly and just about the same time, the sport has grown in popularity. The city environment seems to have created a “cheaper” alternate to horse racing, greyhound racing, baseball , boxing, WWR and whatever else has the gambler out for a good show. Most of us who actually read the Times couldn’t tell you where a dog fight takes place, only that we know they do take place. The people of the inner cities know where they are taking place and only they can really take action to stop it.
It would be nice to see the news media really draw attention to the horrible story that it really is and work to demand the inner city communities to take action and to work to help enable the communities to stop the need for violent “entertainment” and drive the “bad” elements out of the cities and towns, to help the police round them up and prosecute them to the max, Maybe even work to get legislation passed that would make it a capital offense and really take serious actions against organizers and participants and rid our communities of the real “vicious” elements and allow the Pit to go back to being a domesticated animal for the enjoyment of the people who want one for a pet.
If you really want to make a story that has impact, I really think you need to focus on the real problem and forget about the dog. The pit is just one more in the series of “things” that evil people with some greed use to create a sport for stupid people with a need to see blood so they can gamble their wages or welfare checks away. The inner cities as well as the surrounding communities would be better off without any of these people alive. They are the scum of the earth and the very element that stands to remind civilization of its failures.
To tolerate it for any reason is to encourage its existence. People like Mr Vic who granted, served time for his crime, and yet now society has forgotten what it is he was involved with just shows that people would rather do nothing so they can have a winning football team instead of raising the standards of the sport to a point that says we don’t need your kind in our entertainment because you didn’t do anything to try and stop a horrible so called sport. No you actually supported it and you and your kind are not welcomed in society.
If the news media would use the platform they have to do good for society they would expose and expose and expose and demand from the government and from the people , action and more action until they have stopped it. But that would be a story that might take a little effort and would require the media to deal with threats of the people who run the industry and to push even harder till all the people involved are removed. God only knows who is involved and how much they are making because it isn’t stopped yet, seems to be growing in every city across the country . . .and the number of Pits is growing right along with it.
But the easy solution is to ban the dog, fine the owners of rescued pits who’s dog attacks someone/something who by the way are trying to help the problem. Of course that will not stop the problem, will not stop the increasing number of pits or the number of vicious ones wondering the streets, but some politician and some anti Pit group can say they did something. .
Now it is up to you . . .
Thanks
Van Papier
IBM Global Services
Panasonic – Delivery Manager
(201) 392-6854 ( Office )
(609) 259-8379 ( Home Office )
(609) 273-5015 ( Cell )
Page at 6092735015@vtext.com
Leadership is doing what is right when no one is watching.
- George Van Valkenburg
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Shannon Walsh of Bristol Township, Pa.:
I grew up with a german shepherd dog breeder,and I’ve been exposed to a variety of dogs. I have also lived with pit bulls myself. They are wonderful dogs, period. They are great with children (one of the best breeds for kids) and they make a wonderful family pet. The problem, so to speak, is that pit bulls are incredibily loyal. When they get into the wrong hands that loyality becomes a liability. I have seen, first hand, the enviornment that fosters dangerous dogs. These pit bull fighters will put gunpowder in the dogs food, and they will beat them for being friendly. The rule these dogs with intimidation and the dogs live in constant fear of beatings from their owners. It is almost always nurture rather than nature. And, you’d see the same thing with other breeds if it were popular amongst the “thug” mentality to own them. Poodles would become public ememy #1 if they were “cool” to own and fight. Here’s a thought to ponder…everytime there’s a new attack, the public starts demanding new, harsher, breed specific laws. NEWSFLASH!! The people who fight pit bulls don’t follow the law!! So, to make a new law would only further punish responsible pet owners. Why not up the anty on the legal consequence of animal abuse….instead of the government viewing pets as property, let’s own the fact that they are living creatures that get damaged by abuse. Why not make animal abuse a felony and thow these people in prison?
The Pit Bull Problem: “Where Do I Start?”
Jul 03, 2010
Editor’s note: As part of this project, dozens and scores of pit bull lovers wanted to “crowd source” us with information, or they were eager to be a part of the process. Fawna Blue is a volunteer for Pinups for Pit Bulls, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the American Pit Bull Terrier & Bully breed dogs. We asked her to talk to as many people as possible over a 10-day period and report back to us with a general consensus as to why they want pit bulls. Oh, Fawna and her dog, Alice, were finalists in the Pinups for Pit Bulls 2010 calendar.
By FAWNA BLUE
Of Pinups for Pit Bulls
The first thing almost everyone I talked to said was, ”Where do I start?”
Some have been pit bull lovers for a long time, some have always been dog lovers but only turned onto the breed within the last few years, and one woman — who was cynophobic before meeting a pit bull and who had overcome some major issues of his own — is now a huge breed supporter and went on to adopt a Chiapit (Chihuahua/American Pit Bull Terrier mix) and an American Pit Bull Terrier.
I have to admit, I was among one of the “where do I start?” people.
Everyone agreed that the pit bull (as a collection of different bully breeds since there really isn’t a breed called the pit bull) is a gentle and docile breed. They want nothing more than to love and be loved. Most pit bulls don’t even realize how big they are and insist on cuddling up in your lap on a regular basis. They are silly, goofy and highly intelligent. They are also very high-energy dogs, which makes them very good for long walks, runs and hikes. Just like every other breed of dog, the pit bull thrives with a responsible owner and is just as capable of being a service dog, pet therapy dog or even saving a life. Maureen Davis said, “I love pit bulls because when you add a pit to your life, it’s like I the Wizard of Oz when they step from black and white into full color!”
Fans of the breed agree they get a horrible reputation; history does like to repeat itself. In the past we have been anti Doberman, German shepherd and Rottweiler — now it’s the pit bull’s turn. The public seems to forget that this dog was once known as the “nanny dog” and once represented our own military during a time of war. Their temperament hasn’t changed from that of a loyal and noble dog. “The public should fear their rapidly wagging tails and the outrageously forgiving and loving pitter-patters in their hearts” said Pinups for Pit Bulls founder and president Little Darling.
Just as any dog is capable of good with the right owner, any dog is also capable of bad with the wrong owner. It’s time to stop blaming an entire breed of dog because irresponsible people don’t either don’t know how to or don’t want to raise them correctly.
As I’m watching my own pit bull sleep on the floor next to me, I couldn’t agree more with all of the responses I received. They are kind, gentle, loving, loyal, funny, goofy, crazy (in a good way), energetic, playful, cuddly, smart and trusting dogs. Yes, I realize that’s quite a list and if I thought about it for a few more seconds I guarantee you I could add to it.
If a rescued pit bull once used as a bait dog can help a woman overcome a lifetime of cynophobia, how terrible can they be? That’s an amazing thing!
My hope is that everyone can give this misunderstood breed the same chance and let themselves fall in love with a beautiful species.
The Pit Bull Problem
Jul 03, 2010
By JOEY KULKIN
Staff Writer
TRENTON — They were in the attic for days. Chardonnay Evans paid no mind to the ruckus up there because the noise makers were just a couple of dogs barking and scratching and doing whatever else doggies do.
“But I never thought my roof — my ceiling — was going to get bit,” said Evans, the Trenton teenager, whose bedroom was below the attic.
What Evans didn’t know is that the dogs were gnawing on the floor, chewing through the wood planks, satisfying some kind of hunger. The constant abuse created a weak spot in the floor, and the weak spot caved, and then one of the dogs fell through and crashed onto the girl’s head.
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