Wednesday, February 18, 2009

"These dogs would most certainly kill any other dog they could get to."

Here's John Goodwin's (HSUS 'dogfighting czar' *blech*) response to the Wilkes County Pitbull killings.  It's being posted around the net as pet lovers are still reeling from the events of yesterday:

Those particular fighting dogs in Wilkes County, NC were very, very different than the Vick dogs. Whereas Michael Vick was a pro football player that fought dogs as a hobby, the breeder of these dogs was a globally recognized professional dogfighter. Vick was not a good breeder, and he lost most of his fights. His dogs were a poor representation of true fighting dogs. With the Wilkes County dogs, even the puppies as young as 8 weeks of age where attacking each other and drawing blood. We had to buy new cages to separate litters of young pups.

With the Vick dogs it cost nearly $1 million to “rehab” 49 dogs, and still half of them are in solitary kennel runs, unable to socialize with other dogs. In this case there were 127 dogs, and they are far more aggressive than the Vick dogs. 

The “misleading claims” have come from a couple of individuals that never saw these dogs, and choose to throw stones on the internet. I saw these dogs, and in fact handled many of them while they were being evaluated. These dogs would most certainly kill any other dog they could get to. 

It is very sad that people are also missing the bigger story, that our work has shut down one of the top breeders of fighting dogs in the United States. Dogfighters are seeing their hero’s go to prison. This is having an effect, and many dogfighters are leaving that world behind as they recognize the cost of doing business is too great. HSUS is the only organization in the United States that has an entire campaign that works full time on animal fighting issues. 

I support pit bull rescue, but there has to be a group that goes farther and hits at the root of the problem. That is what we are doing by putting leaders in the dogfighting criminal underworld out of business. 

Lastly, Wilkes County euthanizes 3,000 healthy, adoptable animals a year simply because there are not enough good homes opening their doors to these needy animals. I find it disturbing that the groups clamoring for media attention over these 127 dogs raise no fuss, and offer no assistance, for the other 3,000 dogs put down in that county each year. 

Sincerely,


John Goodwin
Manager, Animal Fighting Issues
The Humane Society of the United States
2100 L St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
301-258-3156


I'm apparently one of those "couple of individuals" making "misleading claims" and throwing stones on the internet.  Boo hoo, doncha just hate that Freedom of Speech thingy?  While I take issue with like, every single sentence in this letter, I'm going to focus on this one part:

I support pit bull rescue, but there has to be a group that goes farther and hits at the root of the problem. 

Number One:  With 'supporters' like you, pitbull rescue don't need no enemies, you know what I'm saying?  Could you go 'support' something else please?  Preferably something already dead.  Number Two:  HSUS is the 'group that goes farther'?  Really?  HSUS is the group that advocates for killing all bust dogs without individual evaluations by qualified behaviorists.  Is that getting to 'the root of the problem'?  To me, that's just compounding the problem by misleading the public and killing unevaluated dogs.  Every dog deserves a fair evaluation.  

For more "couple of individuals" and their "misleading claims", visit Lassie, Get Help

13 comments:

Walter said...

Because there is a silver linning in everything (although in this case heavily out weighed by the rest), at least all of the people "throwing stones" forced him to make this statment. It forced him to at least own up and justfy his actions, instead of being allowed to kill 127 dogs no questions asked. Progress is slow, but this is progress nontheless.

Adam said...

"it cost over 1 million dollars to rehab the vick dogs"

Umm I'm not sure what the point is here? It's called restitution. Let the dirt bag pay for the dogs care. Besides it's not about the money, there were organizations willing to TAKE the dogs and the financial burden.

Anonymous said...

He's a stone-cold liar.
HSUS said the SAME things about the Vick dogs, demanding they be killed. So his defense that somehow there were different, and saveable, is bogus.

Not to mention: If Faron was such a "real" dogman (unlike Vick), the likelihood is. like any other "dogman",the percentage of truly game dogs on his yard would have been small. There's no way in hell all 140 dogs (including baby puppies) were off-the-chart dog aggressive.

Caveat said...

Hey, I agree with Emily What th' :>)

Yes, the Hsux, championing the rights of the underdog. Uh huh.

What about the 'dogfighting kingpins' who have been exonerated in court - after all their dogs were killed?

Did ALFie Goodwin forget about those cases already?

The Hsux doesn't know Jack about dogs. They should stick with chickens, imo.

Anonymous said...

Amen - The statement regarding the other shelter dogs, disgusts me. Yes, other breeds are pts every day as well, for lack of good homes. But...Johnny boy seems to be missing the point that these dogs deserved to at least be evaluated and have a CHANCE at finding a home. I am so disgusted with the HSUS....

KathrynDale said...

Goodwin's actions and comments are beyond shameful.

Caveat said...

"the HSUS would certainly kill any other dog they could get to"

Except that's true.

Anonymous said...

There's many things I could say that John Goodwin could argue away. But Johnny, here's a little tip:
"hero's"? Try again. The correct spelling would be "heroes." I guess these things are bound to happen when high school dropouts are given positions of power and the opportunity to write press releases. Why don't you stick to being an arsonist as being a spokesperson and someone called on to use reason, judgement, and scientific evidence doesn't seem to be your strong suit.

Kirsten said...

I bet those 3,000 shelter animals in question got an evaluation of some description. I think he really missed the point there. I can't believe he's courting praise... he will get praised for his efforts when/if he actually does his job properly and stops belittling rescue groups he should be working alongside!!! Grrr. I now hate the HSUS as much as PETA.

Anonymous said...

The HSUS spent *millionS* of dollars on their ad campaign to pass Prop2, so that farm animals could have a few more inches of space before they were still... ultimately... slaughtered. And yet they were opposed to spending what would have been, at most, 3 million dollars...and unlikely that much given the generosity of charity groups.

Wayne Pacelle himself draws a six figure salary. God forbid he donate a few bucks to help "prevent cruelty or neglect".

It's all truly disgusting.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Huge cop out John G! The problem is not the dog aggression, its the irresponsible owner who gets a slap on the hand ... no legislation worth a darn to encourage people to be responsible with their dogs, Dangerous Dog laws only punish the dog! Quit faulting a dog for its breed! Some of those dogs deserved a chance, at least some. If the young dogs were so "game" then they would soak up training and excel in what ever put before them.
Ed Faron has more money than God socked away and could well afford to pay for the rehab of at least the young dogs. Shame on the justice system.

Anonymous said...

bulldoghaven: Faron has money socked away? Well, he chose NOT to use any of it to save his dogs by ransoming them. HSUS are despicable slime, but lets remember that Faron is a CONFESSED dogfighter who pled guilty. The dogs are innocent.. he is not. We shouldn't glorify him.