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Candlelight Vigil Held for Innocent Victims

March 05, 2009, 10:4PM MT

By Jennifer S Hayes

Emotional remembrance a hopeful beginning for change in North Carolina

Emotional remembrance a hopeful beginning for change in North Carolina

By Pam Hay, Best Friends Network Volunteer

Last night a group of animal advocates came together in Raleigh, North Carolina to attend a candlelight vigil in memory of lives lost - in this case 145 canine lives - who were killed through no fault of their own, but because of an unjust law.

Heartbreaking to all involved, the purpose of the vigil was twofold; to mourn the loss of the euthanized dogs, including approximately 70 puppies, as well as to help make sure this does not reoccur.

The event’s message was clear; change the way dogs are treated once seized from fighting operations. Give them the opportunity to be individually assessed by experienced and reputable organizations and give them the chance they deserve - the one that was denied to these innocent victims.

Laura Gonzo, a Best Friends volunteer, commended law enforcement for taking dog fighting seriously, but criticized the mandatory execution of dogs without due process, instead encouraging change in the current North Carolina law, so that future seized dogs have the right to be given the potential for a loving life.

“We are here today to send a message to our legislators that these are not monsters, but dogs that deserve our compassion; dogs that deserve to be evaluated as individuals, dogs that deserve the same chance that we would give any other dog,” noted Gonzo. “Any dog that comes into the shelter system should be held to the same set of standards and given the same opportunities. All homeless dogs, no matter where they are found or who has failed them, deserve a second chance.”

Shelia Carlisle, Best Friends volunteer and foster parent for several of the victimized animals, described how loving and playful these innocent puppies were and how her heart was torn to pieces when she had to give them up only to then be destroyed. She had recently reached out to Best Friends in an attempt to try and save the puppies she had carefully nurtured.

(click on the image to the left to view a video chronicling the vigil)

“This is a dangerous pit bull dog that must be killed,” noted Carlisle as she held a photo of Grimmy, one of the many puppies born from the seized dogs. After being fostered from near death to health, his foster mother was “told that she must bring him back to the warehouse because it was time for him to be killed.”

A bell was rung 145 times as attendees placed 145 collars on a dog bed, in memory of each canine who had crossed.

There was not a dry eye at the site, as Carlisle then sang Wayfarer Stranger by Johnny Cash with true emotion in her voice. Even one of the journalists reporting on the event noted, “This was done with dignity and was very powerful.”

This travesty of justice was the direct result of North Carolina’s antiquated laws that state all fighting dogs seized be catagorically defined as dangerous.

There are so many misconceptions about the American pit bull terrier, as well as other dogs that fall into the category of "bully breeds." The public is led to believe that fighting and viciousness are "in their blood." This is not true; these dogs are just as innocent when they are born as other breeds.

What makes dogs dangerous is not their breeding; but the people behind them.

They are not lost causes. In fact, there have been many instances that prove just the opposite. Many are capable of being socialized to become loving, loyal pets, even where there are children and other animals in the house.

Bad laws and policies regarding fighting dogs must be changed so that these dogs can be evaluated individually, not as a whole, and given a second chance at a good life.

“This vigil became an event because of the deep conviction of the volunteers,” noted Ed Fritz, Best Friends Pit Bulls Campaign Specialist. “It is the outpouring of support from people at times like this that validate my commitment to this issue.”

It is the hope and prayer of those attending that the public continues to push and give voice to the voiceless - the most unfortunate victims of dog fighting operations.

“These animals were beautiful, they were funny, they were playful, they hugged us, they wanted us to pick them up. We fell in love with them and we tried so hard to save them, and there was no way…,” Carlisle said to the crowd. “I just pray to God that this never has to keep going on and happens to other animals.”

How You Can Help:

• Do not let history repeat itself. North Carolina residents are urged to contact your state Senator and Representatives to request a redraft of North Carolina Statute NC 67-1 - 4.1 (a)(1).

• Find your state legislators here by inputting your zip code + 4 (scroll down page, right hand column).

• Insist that the following language from North Carolina Statute NC 67-1 - 4.1 (a)(1) be removed from the definition of Dangerous Dog: “Any dog owned or harbored primarily or in part for the purpose of dog fighting, or any dog trained for dog fighting.”

Please also remind your legislators that all dogs are individuals and should be evaluated as such, not grouped together by breed.

Media coverage:
• Pit Bull Lovers Hope To Change State Law To Allow Dog Rehabilitation
• Activists upset at dog euthanization over rehabilitation
• Group hopes to save dogs from euthanasia
• Group holds vigil in hopes of changing NC dog fighting laws
• On the Internet, everyone helps your dog

Posted by Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends staff
Photo credit: taken by Clay Myers, Best Friends photographer

Comments

Posted March 10, 2009, 2:18PM by champa

Do we have a bill before the N C legislature yet to stop the brutality? We need to not only contact a legislator but have a specific sponsored bill to ask them to support. Do we have a sponsor yet.? Do We have a bill yet.? With out this ,we can cry a river of tears ,all in vain. Do we have a trained lobbiest from Best Friends organizatiion working in the legislature to manage the bill?. Does this have a high priority with the Best Friends organization? I get the impression that is does not.

Posted March 09, 2009, 11:15PM by rahills

You know the more I look into this story the more amazed I am at the ignorance of the officials not only at the shelter level, but the law making level in NC, How stupid do you have to be to think that those puppies were in any way dangerous just because they were born to a dog that had been used in fighting? DA ITS NOT GENETIC! Come on people they were puppies for crying out loud. Not only the shelter personel who carried out this massacre but the polititions who made these laws should be ashamed of themselves. I hope none of you can sleep at night....I would have rather lost my job than to carry out that execution order. Bad Bad Bad..........Humans

Posted March 06, 2009, 9:19AM by southerndogmom

Just reading about this gave me chills. Public education and awareness surely must lead to change...

Posted March 06, 2009, 5:26PM by bluethunder1962

I just wish they had it on the weekend so people for out of town could have been there.

Posted March 06, 2009, 11:6PM by doggie

This cruelty is sweeping this country and is indicative of how our precious animals are viewed by those who live unconcious lives. I can't understand though why the animals were given up. Couldn't have they been taken out of state? Breed specific legislation is so horrible that I can't even wrap my mind around it.

Ginny
Indiana

Posted March 07, 2009, 11:37AM by pitbull_rescue

I will fight to stop the killing. I will fight to stop the abuse and suffering of innocent animals. This has motivated me to get busy and DO SOMETHING! Thank you to the people who care like Shelia Carlisle, enough to work for changes and right the wrongs. The killing of all of those innocent dogs was so wrong and so sickening. Best Friends, you impress me more and more every day. Keep up the good work and never let your pure motives be corrupted like has happened to other organizations.

Posted March 06, 2009, 11:59PM by mythbri

It's hard to believe that such a thing happened - that 145 dogs were required by law to be killed without any kind of evaluation taken into consideration. Laws should not punish the victims of a crime, even if they aren't human. I watched the video of the vigil and was glad that there are people who care enough to make sure that people are aware of the fate of these dogs and to urge others to strive for positive change.

Posted March 06, 2009, 9:38AM by nutsahoy

I watched the video, read the story. Anybody with a beating heart in their chest is going to be brought to tears. Things have got to change NOW!!! The song was performed beautifully and is so appropriate. The only consolation is these wonderful dogs are now playing happily up above out of the reach of people who enforce these archaic policies. God bless all who loved and cared for these dogs.

Posted March 06, 2009, 10:23AM by cambridgeratmom

Crying once again for these dogs and all the others who are killed for no good reason. 145 kisses and hugs to them.

Posted March 06, 2009, 11:51PM by dcdawn

North Caroline...my God...HOW WERE THEY EUTHANIZED???? I really mean murdered....I have seen the gas boxes in that state.
All those collars....I'm dead inside....tomorrow I table against puppy mills...

Posted March 13, 2009, 11:21AM by pjsurratt

My heart is breaking as I read this story and watch the footage. My 4 adopted pitties are sleeping on plush carpet, scattered around my desk snoring peacefully, bellies full of breakfast. I know in my heart I am doing my part, but always wishing I could do more.

Posted March 08, 2009, 6:22AM by driftingwind

How totally devestating is that ?! St. Francic of Assissi, please take these poor souls straight to heaven and take special care of them. It just bowls me over every time I read something like this, I can't understand how people can be so STUPID !!!!

Posted March 06, 2009, 6:17PM by Rita2828

I wish i could have been there, so heart wrenching they should have put the dog fighters to death not the dogs ,they are the real animals here. All of you precious babies rest in peace. killed by ignorance and fear!!! i love you all

Rita From Brooklyn

Posted March 05, 2009, 11:12PM by carrie_fosters

Beautiful. Wish we all could have been there with you in person but know we all were in spirit.

Posted March 09, 2009, 11:17PM by nicol

In order to fight BSL (banning of pit bulls) - please click on the following link. The message goes direct to President Obama and your elected officials.

http://www.rallycongress.com/stop-breed-banning-/1584/stop-breed-banning-now/

Posted March 06, 2009, 10:30AM by barbm

Thank you, Best Friends, for organizing this vigil. It was a moving, worth-while event. In an odd way, we can thank Michael Vick for bringing the hideous "sport" of dog fighting out to the public eye, and Best Friends' amazing success rehabiliting the "Vicktory dogs" will go a long way in changing the way people think about certain breeds. Hopefully, we can get NC laws changed so that 145 more dogs are not summarily killed because of they were bred for fighting. Thank you again for all that you do.
Barbara Magram
Raleigh, NC

Posted March 06, 2009, 12:54PM by Kelly4cats

The guilty humans were given a trial, the dogs were given a swift death sentence with no evaluation. BSL will only fuel the hysteria about certain breeds. It's going to be a significant uphill battle but we don't really have a choice. We must fight for all the dogs who will die just like these who won't make tomorrow's headlines. Their deaths will happen quietly in the back room of a shelter somewhere and the next day another pit bull will be sitting there with "WARNING: PIT BULL" written on its cage.

Posted March 14, 2009, 2:56PM by champa

The Herald Sun (Durham N C) has printed in their "ltr to the ed section" a letter i wrote describing the pitt bull situation and requestig readers to contact their N. C .legislators to support our bill to revise the fighting dog law. However, several other N C papers have rejected a similar ltr. i submitted. I suspect because i reside in Va not N C. If you live in N C please contact your local paper with a ltr to the ed briefly describing the situation and asking that readers contact their legislators to support the bill . Since you live in N C my hunch is that they will print your ltr especially if you are a subscriber. I would like to see a ltr to the ed in every newspaper in N C . Can do??

Posted March 07, 2009, 11:47AM by rahills

This just goes to show you how ignorant people are, and the sad thing is these laws were written by people we elected to serve us. I am fostering an american pit bull, the other day we had her with us in a store and a man walked buy with his wife and two young children, he looked at bella and said look theres a fighting dog watch out. I was instantly inferiated, I turned to him and said " that type of uninformed ignorant statement is why these wonderful animals have a bad reputation, and you should be ashamed of yourself for even opening your mouth". He just hung his head and walked away. We need to be most vigulant about speading the word about these loving animal, what happened In NC is just .......well you get the picture.

Posted March 09, 2009, 12:52PM by crazysleepingcatlady

We MUST insure that these poor dogs and puppies did not die in vain. We MUST insure that this NEVER happens again. We MUST insure that each and every animal has a fighting change at life. We MUST insure that people become educated about so called "fighing dogs".

I pray for these dogs each and every night and for all those who have become victims of "mankind" {that's an oxymoron to beat all oxymorons}, dogs and cats, puppies and kittens. All of God's creatures.

Godspeed precious doggers. I hope to meet you all at The Bridge and show you that not all humans are evil......

Posted March 06, 2009, 8:49PM by JackieV

They didn't have to kill all those poor Dogs and Puppies! What a shame, for all us to bear, the loss of a Special Breed, That Nobody Understands, nor will Take The Time To Understand! They should have put the owner to sleep, For God Knows that this Beautiful American Pit Bull Terrier, is not what this Judge think these are . It takes only one Person to train a dog to fight, they are not breed that way! Our Beloved American Pit Bull Terriers are Lovable, Trustworthy, I wonder how this Judge sleeps at night!
Jacqueline Vain, Texas

Posted March 07, 2009, 4:18PM by Kelly4cats

Great point rahills, these are public servants who are approving these kill policies. And since they are here to serve us and we, the majority, want humane and affective animal laws, they either need to change with the program or get replaced by someone who can do the job better. Just like people demand more money for schools and things, the public should be demanding the kinds of laws we want for our animals.
I was thinking it could take decades for us to undo the prejudice and fear people have about pit bulls. We need people who are well known to help us with a pit bull campaign. Aren't there any celebreties who have pit bulls who would want to speak out about this.

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