A Rotta Love Plus partnered with the third grade teachers and staff at Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary School (formerly Webster Elementary) in St. Paul this school year to assist in their year-long service learning project. The project focus this year revolves around dogs and all of the many things we can learn from these animals (ie. responsiblity, empathy, compassion, kindness, etc.). Already the 3rd graders have learned a number of things relating to the care and responsibility of dogs and future lessons will include teaching empathy, safety, and humane treatment.

Yesterday, 12/22/09, A Rotta Love Plus helped coordinate a program for 4- third grade classrooms. Hector, a former Micheal Vick dog and now therapy registered dog, was joined by his owner Clara Yori and pit bull owner Amber Anderson (who has adopted a pit bull from A Rotta Love Plus and is a Kindergarten teacher at the school) to talk about the humane treatment of dogs. These four- 1/2 hour programs were largely guided by the students and their questions about Hector as he bears the physical scars of his past, yet emotionally you would never know the horrors that he once encountered. It is our hope that discussions such as these will help kids develop their empathy, not only for animals, but to treating each other with empathy and kindness as well.

We are very excited about this program!

The media paid a visit too. If you have a moment please consider sending an email to each network to thank them. Yesterday, they put a very positive spotlight on pit bulls, and we liked it.

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Hi Santa,

Jo here. I’m writing to you because my foster mom says that, “If you don’t ask, you can’t get upset when you don’t receive.” But Santa, I’m a simple pup, and I’ve already gotten so much more than I ever imagined this year. My foster mom says that somewhere out there is a family that will love me more than she does. Can you imagine? Someone who loves me more than my foster mom? They must be really amazing! So maybe you could find them and send them my way? I promise I’d be a really wonderful Christmas present. I’m so small, I’d fit right in a stocking over the fireplace. Then I’d stay nice and warm, too! See how well this would work? But Santa, if you can’t find this special family that will love me forever, could you do something else for me?

Could you please, please find a home for Jack?

Actually, we could use a lot of homes. There’s a bunch of dogs here at ARLP looking for their forever families, but we also need more foster parents. You might not know, Santa, because I know you’re busy with the elves and the snow and everything, but there are a lot of pit bulls living in animal control who will be spending the holidays in cages because there aren’t enough foster homes to get them out. Fostering is a lot of fun, because people get to love and play with and snuggle all kinds of great dogs, but they don’t have to do things like pay vet bills. Plus there’s all the good karma that comes from saving a life! Say, Santa, I bet you and Missus Claus would make great foster parents! I know lots of pitties and rotties that would like to play some reindeer games.

Even if people can’t take another dog into their home, ARLP needs other help. We need people to help transport, to take dogs to doggie school, to work on the website, to help with the education program, to help with research projects – gosh, just about anything! If someone has a skill, we’ll find something for them to do. Just having an extra set of hands around can be a big help.

Another thing ARLP needs is money. We are entirely funded by the kindness of others - that means the rescue doesn’t get any federal or government money. ARLP isn’t raising your taxes, no sir! In fact, any money people send us is even tax deductible. But it also means that we rely entirely on donations to keep dogs like me in kibble and vet visits. And Santa, I really like the vets and techs at Blackberry Vet Hospital. They’re really nice to me, and always give me lots of treats and snuggles. And ARLP is entirely volunteer run, so 100% of donations goes for the care of the dogs and to the programs we run. Yay!

Of course, these days money is tight, and while there is no donation too small, I understand if folks need to spend money on their kids and rent and groceries, Santa. But maybe you know some people who have new or gently used dog gear they’re not using anymore? ARLP always has a need for sturdy collars, leashes, and toys. Food and water bowls, old blankets and bedding, and treats would be much appreciated as well. We need crates, too, Santa. We bullies are hard on our crates – I mangled two of them all by myself before I learned better. The 36 inchers are perfect for dogs my size, although we also have a need for larger, rotti-sized crates and smaller crates for puppies. We’ll take wire or plastic crates, new or used – we’re not picky! Santa, I bet you know lots of people, so maybe you know someone who has a SUV or a minivan they don’t need anymore? It’d be real nice to have a vehicle to transport dogs to vet visits and adoption days. And, y’know, out of Iowa. Lastly, Santa, we could use some winter coats for us dogs. Lady Rachel brought me the biggest jacket we had, and it’s about four inches too short for me! And I’m only 40 pounds!

But for the most part, Santa, the folks here make sure I want for nothing. Maybe you could do me a favor, though? I’d really appreciate it. You see, I would not be alive today if it weren’t for Rachel and Lara here at ARLP, Tim and Donna at BadRap, Rita the Federal Marshall, and Scott and all the other dedicated people who cared for me at Animal Rescue League of Iowa. They saved me, Santa. If I have a future, it is because of them. The tricks that I will learn, and the minds that I will open, the joy that I will feel and the love that I will give - it is because they were willing to say, “This is a good dog, and we will not let your ignorance take her from the world.” Their willingness to fight for me is the reason I am here to fight for others like me. Isn’t that incredible, Santa? So I was hoping you might have something extra special to put under their Christmas trees this year. They deserve so much more than the undying gratitude of one little, black, pittie girl.

Thank you so much, Santa, and Merry Christmas.

Love,

Jo

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Saturday morning at the Doubletree Hotel in St. Louis Park, more than 50 people from 12 different animal welfare organizations came together to discuss Leadership. There are so many of us working tirelessly to rescue and rehome dogs and cats. So many of us share the vision of a day when there will no longer be a need for us to euthanize healthy, adoptable dogs and cats. We as a community must come together to address the pet over population problem. Every year 6- 8 million animals are surrendered to shelters. Every year 4 million are euthanized for lack of homes … that’s one animal every 8 seconds (source: HSUS). Read more…

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There are a number of organizations and individuals who are part of a community coalition called MN Alliance for Family & Animal Safety. (Representatives from various organizations include: Prevent Child Abuse MN, Day One, Animal Humane Society, UofM Veterinary School, HSUS, Various Police Departments, Hennipen County Guardian ad Litem Program, Minnesota State Bar Association, just to name a few).

One of the main goals of this coalition is to coordinate the efforts of multiple safe housing locations for pets in domestic violence situations. Right now three animal rescues including A Rotta Love Plus, Animal Ark, and Pet Haven are piloting this program with Minneapolis Care and Control (MACC) come January, 2010. When an animal comes into MACC they will contact a representative from MN Alliance for Family & Animal Safety who will then coordinate with one of the above rescues to find the pet a foster home until the victim of domestic violence finds safe housing that can include their pet. We hope to dramatically grow the number of foster based animal rescues who might be able to assist in these efforts so we can expand this program throughout the metro and hopefully throughout the state.

This of course will not take away from the many organizations who have provided safe places for pets in these situations for many years (including Animal Ark and Cornerstone Shelter’s relationship with a veterinary clinic), rather we are trying to centralize and coordinate this effort so it can be easily utilized, advertised, and victims don’t have put themselves (or their kids) in danger in order to stay with a beloved pet.

A Rotta Love Plus (ARLP) provided foster care for a dog last year through MN Alliance for Family & Animal Safety and after about 8 months that dog is now back with his owner and two kids who missed him very much. During the 8 months in foster care ARLP provided the dog with veterinary care, basic obedience training, and the foster family took the dog to visit the owner and kids. This dog certainly meant a lot to this family and they were overjoyed to 1). know that the dog was safe and 2). be in a situation to have him back again. The owner was overcome with tears of joy upon their reunion.

Please stay tuned for much more to come from the MN Alliance for Family & Animal Safety on this matter, at the capital in passing a bill to include pets in Orders for Protection, and in various other educational opportunities in regards to the link between human and animal violence.

Please check out this article from the Star Tribune.

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Click on the pbully above, buy a book and vote for A Rotta Love Plus. You can help us win $1,000!

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This Friday at the Maple Grove Barnes and Noble, ARLP will be hosting a gift wrapping table from 10:00-2:00. And Guess what? JO WILL BE THERE FROM 10:00-12:00 ! That’s right, this is your chance to meet a real bust dog in person. And did I mention that Jo is now officially up for adoption? Come enjoy a good book, support a great cause, and get a little extra Christmas lovin’. You won’t be sorry!

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ARLP is having its first Adoption Day of the month this Sunday (12/6) at the Plymouth PetSmart from 11am-4pm.

This is a special Santa Photo Adoption Day.

What is that???

Customers of PetSmart can bring their pets into the store to have their picture taken with Santa. Pet’smart charges for the photo, then peeps and their beasts come on over to the ARLP area to pose with Santa. ARLP takes the photo and prints it right then and there! A portion of Santa picture proceeds goes to ARLP.This is a great fundraiser for ARLP each year – not to mention fun!

We have a Santa and Santa’s helpers scheduled – so now all we need is dogs! Er, or cats, um snakes, birds?!!

Hope to see y’all Sunday!

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Scene: Me and Jo at home in the dining room, aka The Hallowed Room of Canine Learning

Me: Okay, Jo, let’s do a little warm up. We’ll start by practicing going to your bed.

Jo: That’s boring, you should give me treats for looking cute. See how cute I am?

Me: Go to your bed, Jo.

Jo: Fine. (goes to her bed). See? I know this one already.

Me: Very good, Jo, here’s a treat. Now go to your bed again.

Jo: But I was just there. Y’know what we should do? We should go for a walk.

Me: Jo, go to your bed.

Jo: Yeah, yeah. (goes to her bed) Ta-da!

Me: Good job, Jo, here’s a treat. Now, go to your bed again.

Jo: Seriously? Again? Lady, you need to learn some new tricks. (goes to her bed)

Me: Thank you, Jo, here’s a treat.

Jo: Right, now, about that walk-

Me: Okay, Let’s do something new. How about shake? Shake is a good trick to learn because –

(Keagan enters room. Jo walks over to say hi.)

Me: Jo, pay attention, please.

Jo: But Keagan is here. He needs a bath.

Me: Dog spit is not a bath.

Jo: And cat spit is?

Me: Jo, that’s not the topic up for discussion. Keagan, get out of here.

Keagan: Mrow.

Me: Don’t give me any of your lip, cat. Get out of here.

(Keagan jumps on top of the table.)

Me: Fine, stay up there. Now Jo, when people greet, they shake hands, so they get really happy when they meet a dog who can shake hands, too. So what you do -

Jo: Does this mean I can’t sniff crotches anymore?

Me: (frustrated) I don’t care if you sniff crotches. What you do for shake is -

Jo: Hey, look! Is that the mail man? (runs to the window)

Me: Jo! Don’t walk away when I’m talking to you! Come back here!

Jo: It’s not the mailman. Maybe it’s a squirrel!

Me: (sarcasm) Yes, because those two look so much alike. Jo, get over here.

(Jack saunters into the room and jumps on the table next to Keagan; the two cats glare at each other and pin their ears back.)

Jo: CATFIGHT!!!! I must defend Keagan! (tries to jump on the table)

Me: No! (grabs Jo) The cats are fine!

Jo: But this could be my chance to eat Jack!

Me: (emphatically) I am never going to let you eat Jack!

Jo: (whines) But I really, really what to!!!!

Me: (voice dangerously quiet) Jo, do you know where pit bulls came from?

Jo: Huh?

Me: Do. You. Know. Where pit bulls came from?

Jo: Pit bulls came from God! See, God wanted to give people something to remind them how much He loves them, so He created pit bulls to love people as much as He does!

Me: (shocked pause) Wha-How-Where did you learn that?

Jo: Dogs know lots more stuff than people. You guys just never bother to listen.

Me: (blinks) Okay, well, those of us who believe in evolution know that the ancestors of today’s pit bull came from Ireland. Do you know what else came from Ireland?

Jo: Hotdogs!

Me: WHAT?!? No! MY ancestors came from Ireland! Do you know what Ireland is famous for?

Jo: Hotdogs!

Me: NO! REALLY STUBBORN PEOPLE! But Jo, I am three times bigger than you, which means that I am three times more stubborn than you, which mean that I am going to teach you to shake if it gives me a freakin’ aneurysm to do it! Do you understand?!

Jo: Jeez, can I have a treat for listening to that rant?

Me: No!

Jo: Okay, so what are we doing?

Me: (deep breath) I am teaching you to shake. When I say “shake,” you take your paw and put it in my hand. Then I give you a treat.

Jo: Why didn’t you say so? (puts paw in hand) Like this?

Me: (sigh of relief) Yes, Jo, exactly like that. Here’s you treat.

Jo: Okay, put paw in hand (does), get treat. (gets treat)

Me: Ditto. (puts paw in hand and gets another treat) See, Jo? See how smart you are when you pay attention to something for more than three seconds?

Jo: Hey, look, lint!

Me: Jo! Lint is not foo – never mind, you already ate it. You want some snuggles?

Jo: SNUGGLES! (throws herself into my lap with wild abandon)

Me: (dramatic sigh) You, my dear, are incorrigible.

Jo: What does incorrigible mean?

Me: It means you’re just like me.

Jo: Oh, well, that’s okay then.

(pause)

Jo: Hey, mom?

Me: Yes, Jo?

Jo: I still think pit bulls are a gift from God.

Me: So do I, Jo.

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A Rotta Love Plus is putting a call out to all artists!

Piece to the right by artist Cyrus Mejia (click on photo).

Deviant Art ~ Dispelling Myths 2 is coming!

We are looking for artists who work in any medium and the more creative and different the better! We are very interested in artists who are innovative in their work.

Your work has to have a dog theme.  In particular art depicting or inspired by pit bulls and Rottweilers. However, any breed that has been characterized by the public as a menace is welcome. For example, Akitas, Chows and Wolf Hybrids (Breeds in addition to pit bulls and Rottweilers most recently slated to be banned in Minnesota). In the past the German Shepherds as well as Doberman Pinchers were also labeled enemies of the public.

Artists seeking inspiration are encouraged to visit A Rotta Love Plus’ website and explore our blog. If you are interested in an interview to learn more about ARLP from a different perspective we can be reached personally by emailing Lara.

Artists will retain the majority of proceeds for the sale of their art with a small percentage going to support ARLP. Artists interested in donating their work to benefit pit bull and Rottweiler rescue are welcomed and appreciated! There is no fee to display work and all work must be ready to be hung (if 2D). The show will be at the Northrup King Building’s third floor gallery.

Email a little about yourself and the medium you work in, and a link to see your work (if available) to Sarah Thornton.  Please include an introduction, your questions, and/or images of your work for submission to the show. Art will formerly be accepted for consideration in the form of a jpg during the month of January. Please include medium, size and title of pieces you would like considered for show.

Serious artist only need apply!

Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths 2 will have a preview party on First Thursday in April (April 1st) from 5-9pm and a main party on April 10th from approx 3-8pm

Who are we? A Rotta Love Plus is a small 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to rehoming Rottweilers and pit bulls in Minnesota, raising breed awareness, educating the public about responsible pet ownership, and advocating for the humane and equal treatment of all dogs without prejudice.

Painting by Eric Bailey (Click on photo)

This Rottweiler piece is an absolute favorite of mine!

Painting by Nicole Wong (click on photo)

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My dogs are pretty well behaved. I can take them out in public, and while they might not always maintain my high standards, they usually exceed those of most people. “I can’t believe how well-behaved they are,” people tell me. “My dog would be going nuts.” I can at least count on my dogs to not embarrass me – even Maus. How is it that I have dogs who behave everywhere we go?

It’s simple: I take my dogs everywhere I go.

Too many people, it seems, expect perfection from dogs they don’t do anything with. I’d be pretty hyper and distracted on a trip to the pet store as well, if I spent all my time alone in the backyard.

More than that, I like taking my dogs everywhere. I particularly like socializing new dogs, and Jo is no exception. Each dog gives me a new perspective on things I’ve seen millions of times, common place objects and activities that have lost their magic. Such is the joy of owning a dog, and I feel sorry for people who deny themselves the pleasure.

With a new dog, I start slow. Once Jo got used to the house and all its novelties, it was time to venture off the property. The average suburban neighborhood is boring – that’s why people like living there – but Jo pranced around in wide-eyed wonderment as if she’d been given the keys to a fairy kingdom. On one of our daily walks, Jo discovers an inflatable pumpkin – one of those nylon affairs with the little air motor. She drags me over to it, fascinated as I let her sniff her fill. I even hide a few treats under the motor, much to her delight. It’s nice to have a dog with an open mind, who wants to see new things and meet new people.

A lot of people never make it to the daily walk: “He pulls,” they say. Or, “She’s uncontrollable.” What a shame to limit your dog because you don’t know how to socialize it! Even this early – before we ever leave the house – I’m already teaching Jo how to behave in public. Why do dogs pull? Because it gets them closer to their goal. It’s rewarding for dogs to pull. How do you get a dog to stop pulling? You take away the reward. When Jo pulls me toward the inflatable pumpkin, I stop moving forward. When Jo really starts pulling, I start pulling, too – in the opposite direction. Most dogs figure out pretty quickly that in order to reach their goal, they have to stay in control and walk towards it at my pace. Jo still got to see the pumpkin, but she did it on my terms, not hers.

Jo mastered the walk faster than I could have hoped; further proof of her intelligence and sound temperament. It took Maus about six weeks to be functional on our daily walks. Jo did it in four days.

So what’s next? Now I start bringing her into public places where she’ll interact with other people. My local Chuck&Don’s on weekday mornings is perfect for this. Dogs don’t generalize well; that is to say, they don’t understand that because a certain set of behaviors is expected from them in one place, it will be expected from them in the next place. It’s why you’ll often hear people say, “But he does so well at home!” So on our first trip to a new place, I always relax my standards a bit and assume that I will have to help the dog behave well, almost as if we were starting over from scratch. Because of this philosophy, I’m rarely disappointed or frustrated by the dog, but am often pleasantly surprised. Jo’s first trip to Chuck&Don’s is pretty predictable: she tries to raid the open dog food bins, pulls like a demon, and jumps on top of the register counter. And I don’t mean she puts her paws up on the counter – she jumped, all four feet from a stand still onto the counter. And she looked pretty pleased with herself about it, too.  I shudder to think how miserably this trip would have gone if we hadn’t put all the work into out daily walks. If it’s one thing training dogs has shown me, it’s that a solid foundation to build upon is critical. Given that we had worked on basic behavior before ever entering the store, the trip wasn’t all bad. Jo sat beautifully for every person we saw, and she agreed to leave the bulk treats alone with only a minimal amount of redirection. Our second trip to Chuck&Don’s went predictably better. Jo barely pulled, still loved up on the people, and didn’t feel the need to prove her athleticism by checking out the cash registers. How’d we manage this? By going slowly, keeping reasonable, consistent expectations, putting in firm foundation training, and having lots of treats to ensure proper behavior.

So what’s next for Jo? This week I’m planning a few short, positive trips to Petco to pick out new toys. Petco is similar to Chuck&Don’s, but it’s bigger, with more new smells and new people. By continuing to take her to new places, I decrease the time she needs to generalize her training into new places. Soon, she’ll learn that “sit” means put your butt on the ground no matter where we are or what’s around us. Jo’s a sharp little thing, and I can credit a lot of the speed at which we’re moving to her intelligence. On the other hand,  Piper Ann, who’s dumber than people who don’t use their turn signals, generalizes to new places in no time flat. Why? Because I’ve spent the last four years taking her everywhere with me. It’s a lot of training, particularly in the beginning. But to have a dog who is well socialized, and that I can count on to behave properly in almost every situation? The work is well worth the reward.

Being the people pleasers that they are, pit bulls, when solidly trained, are filled with endless potential.

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