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4-Part Daily Herald Franklin County Fire Stories By Sue Ter Maat

• Inferno destroys pound just hours before pets' departure
• Life and death
• Salvation! A packed cargo van takes pets to hope in the suburbs
• Adopted pets reach end of harrowing journey, settle into suburban homes

Sun Times    March 27, 2008

Pioneer Press  February 21, 2008

 

Sun Times    March 27, 2008

Temporary home found for abandoned pit bull

March 27, 2008

BY MATT KIEFER

A wounded pit bull believed to have been exploited for dogfighting found a home this week, if only a temporary one.

A local pet rescue agency placed Marvin in foster care this week, though it is still trying to find a permanent home for the 2-year-old male pit bull.

» Click to enlarge image

Marvin, the pit bull

 

» Click to enlarge image

Volunteer Aaron Barba and Schaumburg Animal Control Officer Deb Diamond play with Marvin at the Golf Rose Animal Hospital. Diamond found Marvin starved and with wounds she could only speculate were received from dog fighting.
(Dan Luedert/Staff Photographer)

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"He's going to take some special treatment," said Chuck Hanson of the Almost Home Foundation.

Found cowering in the cold outside Schaumburg's Spring Valley Nature Center on Feb. 17, Marvin was taken by police officers to Golf Rose Animal Hospital.

His ribs and hip bones showing behind his skin, hospital staff nicknamed the underfed dog "Starvin' Marvin."

Veterinarians found dozens of puncture wounds on the animal's body, leading them to conclude he had been involved in dog fighting.

But the nature of those wounds and Marvin's passive personality suggest his former owners may have used him as a "prey dog," training other pit bulls to attack him before they decided to abandon him on the streets.

He was described as "quiet and sweet" when he first arrived at Golf Rose, though no one knew how he would behave once he recovered.

Debbie Diamond, animal control officer for the Schaumburg Police Department, monitored Marvin's recovery on a day-to-day basis for the past five weeks. She describes him as a "playful" dog "who just loves to be petted."

"I think his outlook is good," she said.

Marvin has gained about 15 pounds and is becoming more social with humans and animals.

Hanson said many potential owners are afraid to adopt pit bulls, especially those that were involved in dogfighting.

"At first glance, people have a tendency to really back away from him out of fear that it is a fighting dog," Hanson said, then pointed out that Marvin was probably made a prey dog in the first place because he lacked the aggression of other pit bulls. "He has the potential to be saved because he's not the aggressor, he's not the fighter."

On Monday, Diamond took time out of her vacation to pick up Marvin at Golf Rose and take him to his new foster home in Bartlett. A couple there has helped Almost Home care for abused pit bulls, so Marvin will now have a chance to reacquaint himself with other dogs.

"Right now, considering everything he's gone through, he's looking really, really good," Diamond said. "He's going to make somebody a great pet."

Anyone who is interested in adopting Marvin can call the Almost Home Foundation at (630) 582-3738. Or to help sponsor the dog's veterinary care, make a donation online at almosthomefoundation.org.

Starving pit bull found

February 21, 2008

BY MATT KIEFER and RANDY BUCHIK

Pioneer Press

A starved and wounded pit bull that apparently was used for dog fighting was found abandoned outside Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg on Sunday.

The dog, whose owner has not been identified, is now recovering at Golf Rose Animal Hospital where a pet rescue agency will soon determine if he is fit for adoption.

Those involved hope to give the dog a second chance in a loving home.

Catherine Howes, office manager at Golf Rose, described the unnamed male pit bull as "quiet and sweet" and "very sad." He is emaciated to the point where his ribs and hip bones are visible underneath his skin. At 35 pounds, Howes estimates he is at least 20 pounds underweight.

He also has several wounds on him indicating he was a fighting dog, Howes said, further speculating that he may have been a "prey dog" which trainers use to bait other dogs learning how to fight.

"This is probably the worst case of abuse and neglect I've ever seen," said animal control officer Debbie Diamond, who has worked for the Schaumburg Police Department for 22 years.

Diamond has no idea how long the dog had been abandoned, but believed it would not have survived hungry and in the cold much longer.

Spring Valley staff found the dog outside the back door of the nature center Sunday afternoon and called police. Then they microwaved hamburgers for him, which he quickly ate and kept down.

"The dog is starved, but it will eat," said officer Bruce Cram, who has taken in two pit bulls who have been mistreated. "These dogs are used for fighting and when they lose a fight, they're just thrown out. It's a shame and it's horrible."

Police coaxed the docile animal into a carrier and took him to Golf Rose.

Howes said the veterinary staff will observe the dog closely for the next several weeks as he recovers.

"We don't know how his true personality is because he is so sick. He might make a wonderful pet and he might not.

"We're not seeing any aggression toward other dogs," Howes said, adding, "He growls at men but seems OK with women."

The Almost Home Foundation will conduct personality tests on the dog in deciding if he is a candidate for adoption.

Every year, Golf Rose treats a few abused pit bulls, the primary breed used for fighting, Howes said. She noted that Almost Home is "very pro-pit bull" and will have a better idea of this dog's chances of getting along in a foster home.

Howes said she hopes "somebody with a big heart or a lot of time on their hands" will step forward to help the dog.

"The outlook looks good," Diamond said. "He's a sweetheart, and we hope they fix him up and make him available for adoption."