NBC Channel 5 in Chicagohas a great story on the work Tio Hardiman is doing in the inner city of Chicago. Several years ago, Tio was began going into Chicago's inner city and working with dog fighters, gang members, and others to change the way they perceive their dogs. Instead of being proud of their dog for being a good fighter, they are teaching the owners of these dogs to be proud of them because of how well they're trained.
Tio spoke at our Canine Legislation Conference last fall and shared many stories of his success. This video covers off on several other dogs that came out of fighting situations and are being rehabilitated for normal life. It's a great video (although warning, HSUS's dog fighting footage gets shown a couple of times and it's a bit more graphic than I feel is necessary for this feature). But if you can, you should watch the video.
Tio's program is an excellent one. Working not only on rehabiliting dogs, but on rehabilitating owners. The biggest problem I have with this is the amount of attention HSUS is getting for this in the story -- and that Wayne Pacelle took credit for this in his blog today.
Let's make no mistake on this. This is Tio Hardiman's program. Tio was doing this on his own because it was the right thing to do and because he has an amazing gift at reaching these people. HSUS saw what was going on, and decided to offer to help him. In many ways, this is great for Tio. He is getting access to resources he never would have had without HSUS's help. In other ways it is infuriating. Infuriating because HSUS is now taking credit for the work Tio has been doing. Infurating because even less than a year ago, HSUS recommended that all of Michael Vick's dogs be killed because they assumed they would be too dangerous to be rehabilitiated. They weren't,*and the folks at Bad Rap, Best Friends, and the ASPCA (and other folks) are doing excellent work rehabilitating these dogs and finding them homes.
* Be sure to watch the video behind that link --I actually somehow missed this one and it's really an awesome heartwarming video.
HSUS has not been a friend to fighting dogs over the years. Even the Vick dog in the NBC video above (that is currently a service dog bringing joy to cancer patients) was recommended to be killed by HSUS. Now they're taking credit for helping other fighting dogs.
So a huge tip of the hat to Tio Hardiman. Great program. Great work. You're awesome. And I hope you are able to continue your great work. And may your work do wonders in changing minds -- the minds of the public in how they view these dogs, in the minds of the men that your are helping educate on how to raise a dog, and the minds of the organization that is sponsoring you...
For more on Tio:
http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/canine_legislation_conference/
http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/2007/08/clc-speaker-tio.html
I think it needs to be noted that KCDA helped bring some positive press to Tio by bringing him to the KCDA Canine Legislation Conference last year. Proof that KCDA noticed him and his program long before HSUS.
Pacelle ticks me off so bad. You know, it will be a good thing if he is going to do a complete turn around on his philosophies, even if for all the wrong reasons. ($$, pretentiousness, etc)
Brent, I have posted negative comments (nothing foul) on his blog before, and of course, he wouldn't post it. You're good -- do you think there's any way that you could make some comment about who all has already encouraged and supported Hardiman and point out the stances Pacelle and HSUS have taken in the past and recently? Maybe comment that we're pleased he seems to be learning something -- or maybe not quite THAT condescending......
Anyway, WE all know KCDA was into Hardiman long before HSUS.....
Posted by: Becky | July 30, 2008 at 03:28 PM
What would you expect? Of course they'd take the credit, it's what they do and depending on which way the wind is blowing, it's how they create their PR stuff to raise money.
Remember when the H$U$ was fundrasing over the V dogs, claiming to have been involved in the investigation? The State of Virginia was unaware of that. Remember when they needed money to care for the dogs? The dogs they had nothing to do with and wanted to kill?
Speaking only for myself and not our company, if the H$U$ offered to pay all our costs for the case, fund some of our programs, I'd tell them to take a hike. I wouldn't want to be publicly associated with such an organization - duplicitous, self-serving and no friend to animals or their owners.
Their batty aunts at Peta are cut from the same cloth but luckily, all their lies are catching up with them. That tired old piece about 'pit bulls' which is full of nonsense says that Peta rescues many 'pit bulls' so they know whereof they speak.
Um, yeah, right.
This needs to be corrected in the MSM, not on that syrupy blog of BS. Fox might handle it. I'm surprised to see that of all the networks, they've been the ones to put out some fairly good reports about dog issues lately.
Posted by: Caveat | July 30, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Caveat, I tried to post a comment on the Channel 5 link Brent gave to this story and it did not post. Maybe it's too late? In it, I gave Tio Hardimen ALL the credit and pointed out the stances and statements that HSUS has made against pit bulls AND all domesticated animals, as well as their insistence that all the Vick dogs be killed. I feel that Pacelle owes us an explanation!
Posted by: Becky | July 30, 2008 at 06:29 PM
I talked to Tio at the conference and he said at the time both BF and H$U$ where vying to partner with him. I *thought* he was going to partner with BF as I urged him to do - hell the writing was on the wall at that time about all the Vick dogs!?!? I have no idea why he would partner with the very org that wants to kill the dogs he is working to save?! I wonder how much $$ Tio gets so that H$U$ can slap their name on it? Better be a lot...I guess I should be happy they're actually doing something to help but we all know its all just to raise more funds to help render companion animals extinct.
Posted by: MichelleD | July 30, 2008 at 11:15 PM
No surprises here. The HSUS is doing damage control for the PR dings they took for calling for the Vick dogs' deaths. It's icky and incredibly transparent, but I'm sure it works for Tio for a few different reasons..
To be honest, I don't think Tio is actually doing a whole lotta dog rehab. We spoke at the hsus expo and I gathered that he had only worked with a small handful of dogs, and the dog training classes consisted of mostly his kids and their friends. But the footage is lovely and it's certainly enough to make Wayne look like he cares about pit bull victims.
But why the hell are they still supplying dog fight footage to the media? Is that really* going to help people "feel differently" about the dogs? Right.
Posted by: Donna | July 31, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Donna said, 'But why the hell are they still supplying dog fight footage to the media? Is that really* going to help people "feel differently" about the dogs? Right.'
Exactly, Donna. However, all the heartrending and poignant films BadRap has put out there certainly will. I've been passing them on to everyone I know. I sincerely believe that yours and Best Friend's work will make history, changing the entire course of future events for our dogs. That is my earnest hope, anyway. I see you making a huge difference and am truly grateful. I have not done much in this fight besides get educated, but some of my greatest wishes are now coming true, thanks to people like Vick, who was our perfect spotlight in exposing the prevalence and popularity of this horror; as well as the work you all are doing-- substantial and physical proof that what we have preached is actually true, well documented and a very welcome story. Thank you again for all you have done. You have made a tremendous difference and I brag on you guys all the time.
As for Tio, from what I know of his work, regardless of how much actual rehab he is doing, just the fact that he is able to go into the trenches and affect some changes in attitude and treatment of these dogs is greatly appreciated.
Posted by: Becky | July 31, 2008 at 10:07 PM
They run their dogfighting films in order to fundraise - that's Job One at the H$U$.
Job Two is to make people think certain practices are much more prevalent than they are so they can sully dog ownership in the minds of the public.
Posted by: Caveat | August 01, 2008 at 05:11 AM
One QUICK correction (for an otherwise excellent post) - the Vick dog is a THERAPY dog. Not a service dog. :) Still an awesome thing for a dog to be doing and still requires excellent temperament, but quite a bit less demanding. Important difference. :)
Posted by: Cait | August 07, 2008 at 05:18 PM