Staffordshire Bull Terrier Archives

Blind Jack Russell Terrier and Seeing-Eye Staffie in Loving New Forever Home

Glenn, a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, and Buzz, a 10-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, were found last month in a tunnel in Hartlepool, England. They had likely been dumped there.

Glenn, who is completely blind, relies on Buzz, his seeing-eye dog, to navigate the world around him.

“Glenn gets his confidence from Buzz,” Sue Bielby, from the animal-rescue organization Stray Aid, told the BBC. “If they are separated even for a few minutes, they both bark and become distressed, so they would need to have a loving home together.”

Diane Humphrey, a supervisor at Stray Aid, told the Daily Mail, “[Buzz] helps Glenn find his way to his bed by sort of pushing him toward the front of the kennel and guiding him in. Buzz also nudges him toward his food. They eat side by side, and he pushes him toward his bowl, or away from his, if Glenn is going for the wrong bowl.”

Bielby hoped the two terriers could live out the rest of their days with each other in a quiet, loving forever home.

Today, her wish came true.

“We’re delighted to announce that after a lengthy screening process of potential adoptive families, Buzz and Glenn yesterday met their new family for the first time,” Stray Aid wrote on its Facebook page.

“It was love at first ‘sight’ all round, and last night, the devoted pair began their new life together in their new home.”

Stray Aid wrote that while they were sad to see this special pair go, “we’re delighted to have found them such a loving and supportive new home.”

There still are many other dogs waiting for endings as happy as this one. To make a donation to Stray Aid, visit its website.

Photo via Facebook

Blind Jack Russell Terrier and Seeing-Eye Staffie Need Forever Home

JULY 6, 2015 UPDATE: Glenn and Buzz have been adopted together into a loving new forever home!

Glenn, who is completely blind, relies on Buzz, his seeing-eye dog, to navigate the world around him.

What’s unusual is that Glenn is a 9-year-old Jack Russell Terrier. Buzz is a 10-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Glenn and Buzz were found last month in a tunnel in Hartlepool, England. Sue Bielby, from the animal-rescue organization Stray Aid, told the BBC they had likely been abandoned there because of their ages.

The two terriers are inseparable.

“Glenn gets his confidence from Buzz,” Bielby told the BBC. “If they are separated even for a few minutes, they both bark and become distressed, so they would need to have a loving home together.”

She’s hoping the two can live out the rest of their days with each other in a quiet, loving forever home.

Glenn and Buzz will stay with the charity until a home for both of them is found.

“They are both lovely little dogs,” Humphrey told the Daily Mail. “They are good with people.”

For information about adopting Glenn and Buzz, or to make a donation to Stray Aid, visit its website.

Photo via Facebook

Shooter of Dog who ‘Played Too Rough’ at Houston Park Charged with Animal Cruelty

On a Sunday afternoon in late January, Joseph Potts thought Diesel, a 2-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was playing too roughly with his own dog at the Bay Area Dog Park in Houston.

So Potts kicked Diesel, knocking him down. He pulled out a Glock 9mm pistol and shot Diesel three times at close range in the back and leg.

Diesel was rushed to a local emergency animal hospital, where he had to be euthanized a few hours later due to the extent of his injuries.

“I just can’t believe somebody would do that when the dog wasn’t even being aggressive,” Melanie Merritt, who saw the shooting, told KHOU at the time.

Another eyewitness told KPRC-TV the dogs appeared to have been playfully tussling at the Bay Area Dog Park. “His dog was not in danger,” he said. “I witnessed everything. No one was in danger.”

When questioned by Harris County sheriff’s deputies, Potts — who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun — told them he did it in self defense when the “Pit Bull” tried to attack his dog. He was allowed to go free while the Harris County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case.

As outrage grew over the incident, a Support for Diesel page was created on Facebook, and dozens of pet parents attended a protest walk at the Bay Area Dog Park.

“This case has gotten more notoriety than many of our homicides,” Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Gilliland told the Houston Chronicle.

Nearly two months later, justice has finally been served. Potts was arrested Monday and charged with one count of felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal. If found guilty, he faces two to 10 years in prison — and will likely lose that license to carry a gun.

“Animal abuse is a serious offense that will not be tolerated,” Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said in a press release. “We take all allegations of cruelty to animals very seriously and pursue charges whenever appropriate.”

Randall Livingston, Diesel’s dog dad, told KPRC-TV, “We were pretty excited to hear that news. That was obviously the outcome we were looking for.”

Livingston had Diesel since he was a puppy. “He was an absolutely amazing, beautiful dog,” he told the Houston Press in January. “When anybody came in contact with him — when you were walking down the street, and they were driving — they would roll down the windows and just comment on him: how beautiful he is, how sweet he is. Man, it’s a bad deal. It really is.”

Livingston’s mother took Diesel to the Bay Area Dog Park on Jan. 25. She told police that when she saw Potts kicking Diesel, she yelled at him to grab his collar. Instead, Potts pulled out his Glock.

After Potts was arrested yesterday, he was released on a $5,000 bond.

“Hopefully he would have some form of better judgment or just stay the hell out of the dog park,” Livingston told KPRC-TV.

Photos via Facebook

No Charges yet for Shooter of Dog Playing ‘Too Rough’ at Houston Dog Park

MARCH 10, 2015 UPDATE: Diesel’s shooter, Joseph Potts, has been arrested and charged with one count of felony cruelty to a non-livestock animal.

A man at the Bay Area Dog Park in Houston yesterday morning thought a 2-year-old, black-and-white Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Diesel was playing too roughly with his own dog.

So the man kicked Diesel, knocking him down, then pulled out a handgun and shot him three times at close range in the back and leg. Diesel was rushed to a local emergency animal hospital, where he had to be euthanized a few hours later due to the extent of his injuries.

“I just can’t believe somebody would do that when the dog wasn’t even being aggressive,” Melanie Merritt, who saw the shooting, told KHOU.

No charges have yet been filed against the man, who has not been identified.

While it’s legal to carry rifles and shotguns in Texas, handguns require a permit. Using one to kill a pet dog, in an area filled with families on a weekend morning, seems not only cruel but downright dangerous.

After being questioned by Harris County sheriff’s deputies, the shooter — who, according to KHOU, told them he did it in self defense when the “Pit Bull” tried to attack his dog — was released. The Sheriff’s Office issued a statement this morning that it will bring its completed investigation of the case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for further review.

“He doesn’t have any remorse,” the eyewitness told KPRC-TV. “He’s angry. All of that aggression. We’re all telling him, ‘I hope you go to jail.’ I don’t understand how they are not pressing charges.”

Last night KPRC-TV reporter Bill Spencer said he spoke via phone to Diesel’s pet parents, who plan to press criminal charges against the shooter today.

“They’re absolutely heartsick and they are sick to their stomachs,” Spencer said. “And they are confused as well — shocked that the man who shot their dog is not behind bars tonight.”

Photo via Twitter

Former Vick Dog Jonny Justice is ASPCA Dog of the Year

When Jonny Justice was rescued in 2007 from Michael Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier forced to fight had likely had no positive interactions with people or other dogs during his short lifetime.

At the time, Humane Society of the United States President Wayne Pacelle said Jonny and the other rescued dogs would never be suitable as pets and should all be euthanized.

Fortunately, dog experts at BAD RAP and Best Friends Animal Society disagreed with Pacelle.

These non-profit organizations took in the dogs, rehabilitated them and found loving forever homes in which many of these “unadoptable” survivors thrived.

Just one year after he was rescued from Vick’s house of horrors, Jonny Justice became a therapy dog. His pet parents, Cris Cohen and Jennifer Long of San Francisco, had noticed how well he got along with children.

Since 2008, Jonny has been visiting terminally ill children receiving medical treatment, providing them with love and support (and probably lots of soothing Staffie smooches). Jonny has also helped improve literacy by participating in programs in which kids practice reading aloud to him.

In honor of Jonny’s service, this year the ASPCA is awarding him with its highest accolade: Dog of the Year. Jonny will receive the award tomorrow at a luncheon in New York City.

The annual ASPCA Humane Awards recognize animal heroes who have demonstrated extraordinary efforts as well as people who have shown great commitment to animal welfare during the previous year.

“The 2014 Humane Awards winners represent stories of tremendous courage and determination, but also remind us how important animals are to our lives, and the care and protection we can give them in return,” said ASPCA President and CEO Matthew Bershadker in a press release.

“We are proud to honor these winners, and hope their journeys inspire more humane action across the country.”

This isn’t the first honor bestowed upon Jonny. In 2012 he was named the grand prize winner and Most Beautiful Dog in a Facebook photo contest held by stuffed-animal manufacturer GUND.

One of the prizes? GUND created a limited-edition plush toy in his likeness.

(Reminder: There are fewer than 40 shopping days until Christmas!)

Photos via Facebook