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Post by michele5611 on Jun 2, 2011 8:24:35 GMT -5
www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/patrick_the_pitbull_custody_ba.htmlNEWARK — A New Jersey judge is scheduled to hear arguments in a custody battle over a 1-year-old pit bull found starving in a Newark trash chute. The dog, named Patrick because he was found the day before St. Patrick's Day, has been recuperating at an animal hospital in Tinton Falls. Patrick's plight has received worldwide attention. He is now at the center of a dispute between the animal hospital and Associated Humane Societies, the organization that initially discovered him. The humane society wants to take Patrick to a zoo where it houses other neglected and abused animals. The hospital wants to keep him until he's ready for adoption. A Newark woman has been charged with abandoning the dog. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. today.
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 2, 2011 8:26:44 GMT -5
I see no reason why Patrick has to be moved to Popcorn Park....other than finanical gain for them.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 2, 2011 8:54:03 GMT -5
I don't understand how this is turning into such a huge mess. I thought Garden State was simply the hospital caring for him and AHS has legal ownership? Unless we're talking about unpaid medical expenses at this point that have something to do with it?
Still, it would be the same as if GS tried to withhold my dog from me because they didn't approve of where I was taking him after he left their facility. Wouldn't it? What am I missing?
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 2, 2011 8:58:32 GMT -5
My understanding is that Patrick is still not physically up to par so Garden State wants to continue to keep him. The other thing I heard is that a vet take from Garden State who has been caring for Patrick wants to adopt him when he is ready and AHS is against it. Again not sure what is true and what is not....anyone else have any more info? Going to go look....
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 2, 2011 9:02:08 GMT -5
That's what I heard, but a veterinary hospital cannot refuse to release a dog like this. There has got to be something else going on.
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 2, 2011 9:03:49 GMT -5
I do believe that legally AHS has custody of Patrick but just can’t figure out why they are so hot to move him now if the vets feel he still needs medical attention.
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 2, 2011 9:08:02 GMT -5
Poor Patrick.  |
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Post by catstina on Jun 2, 2011 10:58:21 GMT -5
From what I read the hospital has custody of Patrick until the trial and AHS is trying to get him back before then because they are afraid the hospital might try to keep him. I think that he would do best going home with the vet that he has bonded with, but I don't think AHS wants that to happen.
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Post by emilys on Jun 2, 2011 11:05:22 GMT -5
From what I read the hospital has custody of Patrick until the trial and AHS is trying to get him back before then because they are afraid the hospital might try to keep him. I think that he would do best going home with the vet that he has bonded with, but I don't think AHS wants that to happen. From the pictures and videos they posted awhile back, it seems that one of the hospital staff has really fallen for Patrick and wants to be his owner. I don't understand why the courts had to get involved either... why it's become any different than any other animal that AHS sends to GSVS for care. Well there is the money thing...  My opinion is that Patrick really needs a temp. foster situation with someone who knows how to care for this kind of dog... remember he was severely abused, probably completely untrained and undersocialized. He's probably not a dog for a beginner or someone inexperienced with pit bulls. |
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Post by michele5611 on Jun 2, 2011 12:11:14 GMT -5
Yes if the vet tech is stilling willing to adopt him maybe she should foster him first.
Again as someone who is familiar with popcorn park zoo I do not feel that this is the best place for Patrick to go in order to continue his recovery.
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Post by emilys on Jun 2, 2011 14:05:48 GMT -5
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Post by maryellen on Jun 2, 2011 15:55:44 GMT -5
the shelter just wants the donations he will bring in,its all about the $$$$..
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Post by wannabeowner on Jun 2, 2011 15:58:40 GMT -5
Jeff Coltenback from Paradise Pet is working with him doing training, socializing, etc. He just posted a new pic of Patrick on fb and he looks GREAT! Reminds me SOOOOOO much of my Andrew - markings and everything!
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Post by fureverywhere on Jun 2, 2011 17:34:15 GMT -5
There has to be something ridiculous going on somewhere...if the hospital saved him they should have first dibs on adopting him.
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Post by emilys on Jun 2, 2011 18:44:31 GMT -5
Jeff Coltenback from Paradise Pet is working with him doing training, socializing, etc. He just posted a new pic of Patrick on fb and he looks GREAT! Reminds me SOOOOOO much of my Andrew - markings and everything! cool! I'm glad he can come out of the closet now. I hope he's able to tell some more stories |
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Post by bluetrees on Jun 3, 2011 7:27:52 GMT -5
I just feel badly for Patrick in all of this. I'm glad he is able to stay at the vet until the trial, but what happens then? Poor thing has been through enough due to humans. Why put him through more?
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 3, 2011 7:30:08 GMT -5
OK, so there may be some "aggression issues" that this dog faces - this may be the reason AHS is looking to put Patrick in a sanctuary over a private home. Dunno how accurate this blog is, but this is from a month ago. www.examiner.com/dog-training-in-chicago/abused-nj-pit-bull-patrick-may-have-behavior-issues-and-aggressionIf you're involved in animal rescue or are simply an animal lover, you have probably heard of "Patrick," an emaciated Pit Bull type mix who was thrown down a garbage chute and discovered barely alive by a maintenance worker in mid-March. He was rescued and treated at a veterinary hospital. I saw that Garden State Veterinary Specialists was accepting donations to help cover this dogs care. I also noted they are not a non-for-profit, but are a for-profit business. I saw the links to donate to them, but did not see any barometer of what funds were already there. I'm fully aware of the expense, dedication, and the miracle of bringing this dog back to health from the brink of death. I wanted to help, but I hesitated in donating to a for-profit business until I could find out more. In a 40-page motion filed in state Superior Court, the Associated Humane Societies claims legal ownership of Patrick and would pay for Patrick's care. It appears to be a tug of war, but the latest update says Patrick remains at GSVS, while Judge Joseph Cassini set June 2 as the date when he would decide where Patrick would ultimately be placed. From AHS website: The City of Newark Animal Control was contacted and ACO Arthur Skinner picked up the dog and brought him directly to the Society. The veterinary staff immediately put him on intravenous fluid.His temperature was so low that it did not even register on the thermomenter... After a brief time at the Society's Newark facility, he was ambulanced to Garden State Veterinary Specialists in Tinton Falls -- a referral hospital with 24 hour emergency care.The Humane Society wants Patrick to go to their animal zoo and rescue sanctuary called Popcorn Zoo. Although they call themselves a "zoo," they are also an animal sanctuary, although I did not see information specifically abuot dogs on their website. It does not appear clear to me if they intend that move to be a perminant situation, or is it for futher therapy and evaluation. The animal hospital (GSVS), and the mayor of the town (since when does a mayor get any say in the matter of a dogs placement?) both want different for Patrick. I read here, www.ahscares.org/showarchive.asp?id=819 that somone (unamed) had been brought by AHS to evaluate Patrick. The information details things such as snapping at a small child, being coddled and over-protected, no socialization with other dogs, and insufficient exercise. The trainer also noted their recommendation of an anonymous foster home before a forever home. That does not sound like a zoo to me. This dog is clearly in need of behavioral modification as his health continues to improve, and that is no shock. He was not only physically abused, this dog was emotionally and mentally damaged by whatever life he had previously. Advertisement A dog is a dog. They need more than love, and like this person and others have said, they need dicipline and structure, too. They need to be treated like a dog. Is he getting what he needs to improve his behavior... Or is this poor guy the object of human emotional projections? Is it more about the humans feeling what we want to feel? Guilt is not always a productive emotion. Feeling sorry for a dog, well, that's not the way dogs think. Patrick does not have a concept of what the word "abused" is; he knows suffering, and now he knows contentedness and joy. Dogs don't stop to consider why, they go on living in the moment. AHS claims he is being over-protected. Others feel the dog should go with the people he's already bonded with, such as workers at the veterinary facility. Yet it appears the dog is property of the humane society, not the veterinary hospital-- seems the case is pending. The humane society says Patrick has displayed "bad behavior that must be corrected before it gets worse," and that sounds important to me. It may be important to get him into a place that specializes in behavior now that his medical situation is better. Others have the concern (and rightly so) that he is getting exploited. With all the funds being raised, one would draw that conclusion that if not a "posterchild," he may even be a pawn. Is he getting treated like a dog... or a pawn? |
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 3, 2011 7:31:47 GMT -5
^From the link above.
Observations of a Dog Trainer/Temperment Evaluator
At your request I spent an afternoon observing Patrick in his current surroundings at Garden State Veterinary Center. I know you wanted an unbiased, honest opinion about how he was progressing.
Based on what I observed, I do have some serious concerns about his recovery. By that, I do not mean his physical health; they have done a wonderful job healing Patrick physically, it is his emotional/mental state that I am primarily concerned with.
This is not a criticism of the devoted people caring for him there; it is just that his behavioral recovery would not be their area of expertise. They may not recognize Patrick’s needs along these lines. A dog does need much more than affection.
In Patrick I observed a fearful dog who snapped at a child out off anxiety, and who cowers at the excited attention he is being bombarded with. He is for the most part kept isolated and not being socialized properly with other dogs. (He will no doubt meet up with other dogs in his life and this is critically important.) I also feel he is not being given adequate exercise. Brief walks to the same tree to urinate or defecate before being ushered hurriedly back into his room are simply not enough to foster a confidant, well adjusted and fulfilled dog.
His insecurities are being unknowingly reinforced by well meaning people as they are not allowing Patrick to explore his world and develop any confidence on his own. He does need to overcome things with encouragement in order to develop his confidence. It can be detrimental to an animal to assume they are scared of everything and to shield them from everything based on this assumption. It is also the wrong way to approach helping him overcome his anxieties. Why would we want to keep him in a fearful state of mind? That is no way to live his life.
Patrick is in serious need of integration into the real world, training and socialization. Simply put, Patrick needs to be allowed to simply be a dog. This is a critical time for him.
We also can’t ignore the fact that Patrick is a celebrity and should be an ambassador for his breed. I wouldn’t want to see a follow up in his later life that showed he had attacked another dog, bitten a child or developed anxiety based issues. The way he is being treated now is not in his behavioral best interest. With the correct behavioral guidance Patrick can help spread the word that Pit-bulls (even severely abused pit-bulls) are wonderful dogs. It would be incredibly irresponsible of us not to properly train and socialize this dog.
Everyone really owes it to Patrick to give him EVERYTHING he needs to heal and lead a successful life.
I can’t emphasize enough that he needs full temperament tests to evaluate exactly where he is behaviorally and socially. He may already have food and resource guarding issues that need to be addressed. MOST IMPORTANTLY Patrick should go into a foster home immediately before being place into his FOREVER home.
I think the foster home should remain anonymous so that you know they are not in it for the attention. It should also remain anonymous for Patrick’s sake. He needs time to be a dog and learn important life lessons. He needs some peace so his mind can heal as well as his body. He is not Michael Jackson, he is not a commodity; he is a puppy who is missing out on proper education at a critical time in his life.
You are absolutely correct to want to see that he has all that he needs beyond physical care to ensure he is set up for success in his life.
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Post by bluetrees on Jun 3, 2011 7:40:25 GMT -5
That is really interesting Mary. I will be interested to see what the judge has to say. The article mentioned the judge making a decision on June 2nd. Any word on that?
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Post by RealPitBull on Jun 3, 2011 7:41:27 GMT -5
No, I haven't heard anything yet. Don't have any AHS contacts so I'm just getting info online like everyone else.
Hope this doesn't turn into another Oreo situation. Sigh.
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