Michael Vick is Rehabbed. The Dogs are Rehabbed. Now We Rehab the Property and the Community.

The official word is that Michael Vick is now rehabbed. Officially. And whether you believe it or not, it’s been officially declared “Official,” so it’s apparently accepted far and wide and is not for us to question. He’s even getting Hero Awards (I’m not makin’ this up) and Keys to Cities, as well as Comeback Player of the Year Awards. Further proof that it must be true.

Vick is rehabbed.

Take his word for it, Oprah.

And the dogs? Well, the ones that lived? They’re rehabbed too. Or inching toward rehabbed. Or crawling on their bellies one clawmark at a time toward rehab. Which is mighty impressive, coming from a life of mistrust of humans, chains, pens, and a fight for their very survival. I am in awe of the rescuers who took these dogs on and refused to let them die just because.

I know “You Rock” is overused and therefore lame, so I’ll say a simple Thank You.

But what about the property where these dogs lived, breathed, fought, and died? What about the community that was left with the collective shame and guilt, still figuring out how to clean up the mess of a crime they didn’t commit?

Haven’t we healed enough from our emotional scars to rebuild the remaining piece of this three-pronged puzzle?

The property in Surry County, Virginia that formerly housed Bad Newz Kennels has lain vacant since Vick dumped it in 2007. Seems there were lots of curious onlookers, but no serious buyers.

The 15-acre property was waiting to be healed, and that’s something that doesn’t come without time and love. The property where this occurred was no more guilty of a crime than the community, but it too paid the price of the stigma that has remained in the wake of the violence.

Enter Dogs Deserve Better, an award-winning 9-year old nonprofit organization working to free chained and penned dogs, who has dreamed of a Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs for years. We had started seeking ground to purchase in the Charlottesville, Virginia area when it came to our attention that this particular piece of property was still sitting vacant a mere two hours away.

The opportunity to take something so dark and turn it to light beckoned.

Wouldn’t that be the best tribute to those who died there, who fought there? Wouldn’t the community prefer that someone turned it from Bad Newz to Good Newz instead of bulldozing it and pretending nothing ever happened?

I visited the property to see for myself and felt oddly at home. I thought I would be creeped out by the sheds and the kennels in the acre where the dogs lived and died, but I wasn’t. Instead I felt like the dogs were reaching out to me, saying “Oh, thank God, you’ve finally come.” I wanted to wrap my arms around them and never let them go.

Figuratively speaking, of course—I do know they’re dead.

Just as humans have preserved other spots around the world in the wake of heinous happenings, (think Auschwitz, or battlefields like Gettysburg) these dogs need and deserve to be memorialized. Just as other spots around the world have both honored the memory of the fallen and used the tragedy as a learning tool for future generations, so this spot has similar value—as a source of closure for those in pain, a source of comfort to those who want to reach out, and a source of education for our children who must learn to do better.

Were I one of Vick’s dogs and had a choice between the area where I lived being bulldozed and forgotten or memorialized and rebirthed, I would choose the second option any day of the week.

We’ve been told by members of the local community that we are welcome. They want to feel hope and pride again, they want to feel something positive rather than fighting the negativity that was brought by the Bad Newz Kennels.

Dogs Deserve Better has a dream, a purpose. We dream that one day EVERY dog will live inside as part of his/her family. EVERY dog will be treasured, valued, loved, and nurtured. When we pull a dog off a chain—from a solitary existence of sadness, boredom, fear, cold, heat, hunger, thirst, and pain—we bring light to dark.

When we fight an abuse case or work toward better laws, we bring light to dark.

When we stand firm in the knowledge that chaining or penning a dog for life can no longer be accepted and must end, we bring light to dark.

The Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs will be a place where our dreams can come true. Where we can continue bringing light to dark, creating an environment that safely and lovingly trains dogs to live inside the home with the family.

Where visitors are welcome and can come to memorialize those who were lost and rejoice with those who are found. Where they can play with rescued dogs and be a support system for those working the everyday trenches of animal abuse.

If you believe in this rebirth, believe that dogs do deserve detter, donate to the Center Fund today. We need an additional $490,000 by March 20th to get off the ground, and a grand total of $3 million to make our Center Dream a reality.

Our time grows short.

Support Dogs Deserve Better today. Because they do deserve better, and we ARE giving them better—one dog, one life at a time.

To donate, visit: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/ddbcenter.html
Mail to: P. O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684 • Or call: 814.941.7447

Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO, Dogs Deserve Better

Awards won by Dogs Deserve Better:

• First place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Voice for Chained Dogs
• First place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Rescue Organization Saving Dogs
• Second Place, 2010 Animal Dog Magazine Animal Organization Website
• Founder and CEO Tamira Ci Thayne, Second place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Individual Saving/Adopting Dogs
• Second place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Animal Welfare Lobbyist
• Third place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Role Model-Philanthropist
• Third place, 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards, Animal Advocate for Dogs.
• Dog's Life, "Breaking the Chains that Bind" Article about Dogs Deserve Better in December 2007 Dog's Life Magazine, Honorable Mention HSUS Genesis Awards
• February 2008 • Founder Tamira Thayne, 
IDA Guardian of the Month
• September 2007 • ePhilanthropy Award Finalist, 2nd Place People's Choice Award
• December 2006 • Founder Tamira Thayne, 2nd Place, Animal Planet Hero of the Year Award
• 2003, First Place, ASPCA/Chase Pet Protector Award

DDB Founder Announces Engagement

On a personal note, I'm thrilled to announce TO THE WORLD (Yes, I'd scream it from my rooftop if I had more neighbors and it wasn't 14 degrees outside - Not fit for dog NOR man) my engagement to Joe Horvath, an old friend and fellow Air Force member from way back. We first met back up via Facebook almost two years ago, and he has become not only my best friend and love of my life, but also an amazing volunteer asset to Dogs Deserve Better.

To be honest, when Joe came back into my life, I wasn't looking to date, because I was married to Dogs Deserve Better. I spent much of my time working or thinking about DDB and chained dogs, and I wasn't in the market for a relationship.

But Joe has not only made me realize I needed to make time for him, he took it a step further and made time for DDB.

He has poured concrete for a pad for the dogs off my back porch, heightened and made my fence more secure when dogs were escaping, built the 24 foot long Wall of Shame, edited and re-edited both Scream Like Banshee and Unchain My Heart, and took on every kind of immediate need DDB has had when he is in the vicinity.

Every woman deserves a man this loving and this good, and I consider myself entirely blessed to be able to share my life with him.

While the nuptials are still in negotiations, I have created a fundraising page in our Honor to raise funds for—of course—Dogs Deserve Better.

So if at any time in the following months you'd like to visit the page to see the wedding progress, below is a link, and I would be touched indeed if you wanted to donate to Dogs Deserve Better in honor of our wedding.

http://www.firstgiving.com/horvath-thaynewedding

—Tamira Thayne, founder and CEO, Dogs Deserve Better

Dog Organization Claims Seven Spots in 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards

Dogs Deserve Better Inc. takes two first place wins and a second, with founder Tamira Thayne claiming spots in four categories

Tipton, PA, December 10, 2010—Tipton, Pennsylvania-based Dogs Deserve Better, a 501c3 organization dedicated to freeing chained and penned dogs, was named first place winner in the 2010 American Dog Magazine Humanitarian Awards in both the Voice for Chained Dogs and the Rescue Organization Saving Dogs categories.

The group also took second place in the Animal Website category. Founder and CEO Tamira Ci Thayne took four spots, with seconds in Individual Saving/Adopting Dogs and Animal Welfare Lobbyist, and thirds in Role Model-Philanthropist and Animal Advocate for Dogs.

Thayne states "Chained dogs need a voice, a strong voice, and Dogs Deserve Better strives to be that voice every single day. I am incredibly grateful for the recognition of our work, and dedicate it all to our amazing reps who are out there rescuing dogs in tough situations. We are building an awareness of chaining that is heretofore unprecedented: it's time for this archaic treatment of Our Best Friends to end, and I commend all those who voted for us for recognizing that. I also congratulate every single winner of this year's awards, and all those who equally deserved to win. Together we can change the world."

Thayne is the author of the upcoming "Capitol in Chains: 52 Days of the Doghouse Blues," as well as "Scream Like Banshee: 29 Days of Tips and Tales to Keep your Sanity as a Doggie Foster Parent," and editor of "Unchain My Heart: Dogs Deserve Better Rescue Stories of Courage, Compassion, and Caring."

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, is the 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA Pet Protector Award, and currently has approximately 100 area reps in 36 states as well as in Canada, Hong Kong, and the UK.

To see all award winners, visit the page at: http://www.theamericandogmag.com/contests/2010-humanitarian-awards-winners

Contact: Tamira Ci Thayne • founder, Dogs Deserve Better • info@dogsdeservebetter.orgwww.dogsdeservebetter.org •

P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684 • 1.877.636.1408 • 814.941.7447





Three Skinny PA Penned Dogs Get DDB Rescue

Dogs Deserve Better got a tip about three skinny dogs living in pens in central Pennsylvania. DDB's Tamira Thayne investigated, worked with the caretaker, and got him to give up all three dogs.

None of the dogs had food or water anytime Thayne was there, and there was excuse after excuse for how thirsty, thin, and hungry they were. Mostly the man blamed his ex-girlfriend who left the bad relationship for taking in the animals and leaving them there with him.

But regardless of how that went down, they were HIS responsibility to care for, and in that he failed miserably.

Harley, the golden retriever who was bought from a pet store who buys from puppymills, Roxy, the little back lab with every rib showing, and Savannah the setter mix with a major obsession to hunt down small animals, are happy to be free and starting to get acclimated to the REAL world, where dogs are part of the family.

Love Dogs? Then give your dogs what they need and deserve. An inside home with a family who loves and appreciates them.

To donate to help with these dog's expenses, visit the Chip In at this link: http://tamirathaynetrespassfund.chipin.com/three-skinny-penned-dogs-no-food-or-water

My apologies, I forgot to post my Operation Fido's Freedom blogs here!

I apologize for forgetting to post my Operation Fido's Freedom blogs here since Day 5. My bad. Feeling a bit too lazy to catch up right now, and don't know why I'm suddenly unable to add pics, so I'm going to just send you to my main site page where I'm archiving the daily blog. It's at http://www.fidosfreedom.com, scroll to the bottom, and each page is linked. See you there!

Day 5, August 6, 2010. Operation Fido's Freedom; This is What a Law Does

A proposed Toledo dog chaining law would include "a 15-minute limit for chaining a dog outside unsupervised and prohibiting chaining a dog within 500 feet of a school."

I love the 15-minute limit unsupervised! Presumably it's longer supervised, which I can understand and live with, but by stating this and also putting it into context of the proximity to the school, they are recognizing the fact that chained dogs can and do become more aggressive than other dogs, and are seeing it as a measure to protect their children too, as a community solution, and not just a--gasp--'animal rights' solution.

In West Palm Beach, Florida, officers are doing sweeps for suffering animals in the heat.

"Take this dog for example, a female pitbull named Diamond. Animal care and control has her now. She was seized last week, after authorities took these photos of her tied up outside in the heat in a yard in West Palm Beach. The temperature that day was a sweltering 93 degrees and Diamond had no shade, except for a small dog house.

Captain Walesky said, "we try and explain to 'em it's a bad idea. but not only is it a bad idea, it's a law. You can't do this. In Palm Beach County, it's illegal to tie a dog up outside between 10 in the morning and 5 in the evening."

Having a law enables the officers to do what is right and just and what people are asking them to do: save the dog's life, and stop the suffering.

But while most Pennsylvania residents 'get it,' there's still that 10-20% who just don't get it, and need to have their actions legislated. I don't care if you're intelligent or not, you have two eyes, and it's time you open them and your heart and have a good look around at the suffering of chained dogs and the suffering of neighbors forced to endure watching it.

This message on the DDB Facebook fanpage shows the typical ignorance we fight: "I'd like to know what your alternative is for an outside dog other than chaining? We had a beagle and he was an outside dog for 16 years chained to a doghouse with shade, food, water, and attention several times of day. He broke his chain several times and ran to neighbors luckily or would have been run over by traffic...or train. In late years, was blind and deaf. Isn't it just as cruel to pen up a large dog in a 3X5 cage in a house for 12-16 hours a day, lying in their feces and urine? What about their rights? What about the handicapped persons in nursing homes who have to sit in a wheelchair or bed for most of their day? Are you standing up for them too?"

This message is so problematic on many levels. First, it attempts to confuse, by dragging in totally unrelated issues and assuming that it's our responsibility to advocate for all societal wrongs: "What about the handicapped persons in nursing homes who have to sit in a wheelchair or bed for most of their day?"

Second, it states their beagle was an 'outside' dog. If you look in any of the breed books, there is no such thing as an 'outside dog;' these are just regular dogs of every different breed, every single one of which has many others just like it living inside as part of a family. The only difference is the level of responsibility assumed for that dog's happiness and well-being by the dog's caretakers.

Third, she states that: "for 16 years chained to a doghouse with shade, food, water, and attention several times of day." Attention several times a day? My arse! I'm 100% sure that dog was lucky to get any food/water on a daily basis, let alone attention several times a day. Every chainer tries to make out like THEIR dog is the exception to the rule that chained dogs are neglected, and puts a beauty of a spin on it so it appears like the dog led a dandy of a life. In truth, any dog spending 24 hours a day on a chain is by that very virtue neglected and in my opinion abused.

Fourth, she says "He broke his chain several times and ran to neighbors luckily or would have been run over by traffic...or train." My question is, if he were so happy there, why was he breaking his chain? Why was he running to the neighbors? Maybe because he was seen there and treated with love and respect?

Fifth, she tells us, "In late years, he was blind and deaf." There is no mention that in those years he was indeed given a reprieve from the chain due to his immense physical challenges, but it appears that he was left chained, unable to see, and unable to hear. I can imagine very few greater horrors than to not only be unable to see and hear, but to be nothing more than a sitting duck for any animal or human intending to do you harm. You may smell him coming, but without seeing or hearing, there is no way you could avoid him or fight him off. You are totally vulnerable to death at each and every moment, and without love or light to guide you and give you safety, death would indeed come as a welcome release from the crushing fear.

Sixth, she implies that there is only one alternative to chaining your dog outside: "Isn't it just as cruel to pen up a large dog in a 3X5 cage in a house for 12-16 hours a day, lying in their feces and urine?" Why in God's name would any human with an ounce of decency cage a dog for 12-16 hours in his own feces and urine? Who wouldn't take their dog out to the bathroom? Did you not know that crates are to be used only as tools and only as long as it takes to get the dog trained, then the dog can have the run of the house without incident? What about your dog living in your home with you as a companion, not a prisoner? What about building a fence so your dog can go outside to potty and then come back inside with his pack? Have you heard of walking a dog on a leash? Why are none of these humane possibilities even thought of as an option?

And lastly, she states: "What about their rights?" Here's the one place we agree, Anita, because that's exactly what I want to know. WHAT ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS?

Having just spent five 10-hour days on a chain on their behalf, I'm asking that same question of my state legislators. WHAT ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS? Despite having endured one week of absolute and mind-numbing 10-hour days of torture on that chain, I still cannot fully comprehend the horror of being there ad infinitum. I so looked forward every day to the magic hour of six o'clock, and I watched as the minutes and seconds dragged on. What if getting off the chain were not an option? What would I do?

I can honestly say I've never waited for a weekend more in my entire 46 years--EVER--and I've pledged to enjoy every single second of my freedom before I force myself back on that chain on Monday. To think that these dogs cannot look forward to freedom for any amount of time is truly unconscionable. I cannot endure the mere thought of it for their sakes.

Pennsylvania legislators, I am personally holding you accountable for opening your eyes and seeing the suffering of our friends. I am asking those 80-90% of PA citizens who agree with me to join me in holding them accountable.

It's time for this abuse to end, and it's time for people like Anita to grow up, and go buy a dog book for Pete's sake. Some things are common sense, and if you don't have any, then don't have a dog or find a way to buy some. Common sense, that is.

Pennsylvania, and the world, MUST stop tolerating this abuse of Man's Best Friend. If this is how we treat our best friend, I would hate to see how we treat our enemies.


Random incidents or thoughts from the day:

1. My new friend Cathie (don't know her last name) brought me water, sun chips, and magazines. I told her I wasn't allowing myself to read as it wouldn't be fair to the dogs, but I would save the chips for later. She's a very sweet and caring woman.

2. A young girl who works at the Capitol brought me out a bag of pretzels and a water. I wonder if she read my blog from yesterday? Oops!

3. Oddly, by sheer coincidence, an Altoona man I met at a Sheetz one time came wandering by. When I met him before, he was very interested in getting involved, so I had him go to a street in Blandburg, Cambria County (Senator Wozniak's district) where there was a chained dog at every house, and see if he could do any ejumakatin'. He told me that he was physically threatened there by the residents when he tried to discuss their dogs with them. He described it as 'a scary place, man.' Ah, welcome to my world!

4. Deb Smith came and chained up with me for a couple of hours. She was very excited because her house rep hasn't been supportive of chaining legislation, but she is being challenged in the upcoming election by Gene Stilp. She spoke to Gene, and he's fully in support of the legislation, so she called Sue Helms and told her that. Her office immediately said she'd call Deb back on Monday. We all need to push the issue with our reps. Enough is enough.

5. A college student at Harrisburg Area Community College was inspired to do her speech on the issue after seeing the news articles this week. She came to interview me, and was super excited about making a difference and spreading the word that chaining has to stop.

6. Joe surprised me in his beautiful Camaro around 3:00, took me to dinner at 6:00, and played professional photographer, again.

7. So many of you in the Harrisburg area are bringing me water, worrying about me all day (just like the dogs), and wanting in some way to make a difference. I truly am in awe of your kindness, and humbled by it. Thank you.

8. I'm asking any of our supporters who might have business attire in sizes 10-14 (assuming the fasting drops some weight off me, which would be the 10, I'm currently a 14) that they no longer want, to send it along to me. If I receive clothes that don't fit me, I will share them with some of the needy people I meet on the streets of Harrisburg. I want to be decently dressed every day to present a positive image of our work for chained dogs, but have very few business clothes myself. If you have anything, please send to P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684.

9. I'm embarrassed to admit what I thought was blood in my urine and a uti was actually red from the beet juice in the veggie drink I got at the corner Juicy Rumors each day! My test from Tuesday night came back fine, and I got suspicious it could be the beet juice, and I was right! Well, at least now we all know…if you drink beet juice, and it turns red, don't panic like I did...

http://www.rawfoodsupport.com/read.php?2,130704,130747

From the above website: "It's quite normal for the wee to turn red on consuming large amounts of beetroot juice. I'm not sure it's down to depleted HCL, as it's rare to find someone whose wee doesn't turn red after consuming beetroot juice. Mine does, and I've been raw for two years (100%)."

10. Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Please, if you haven't contacted your Senator yet, it's SO important. Please make the call on Monday.

To view pics from Day 5, visit the webpage at: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/FidosFreedom/day5aug6.html

Day 4, Operation Fido's Freedom: Dichotomy of Tami-Treatment points to Apathy over Animal Abuse

I'm not gonna lie. Today was tough, but not weather-wise as expected (was supposed to be heat index of 104 degrees plus severe thundershowers and didn't happen). It was because I let the naysayers and critics get me down.

I know logically they're there and I need to just go about my business and ignore them, but today it wasn't so easy in practice. I think of the amazing soul of Nelson Mandela, and how he suffered, and it gives me strength and tells me to stop whining and just get on with it.

I did almost cry today, more than once, but the peach incident was what really laid me low. The peach lady drove up, parked her blue pickup truck full of peaches right in front of me, got out all bubbly wubbly, and waved to her three friends who were obviously Capitol employees and were walking down the steps toward her.

The three women passed me closely without looking at me or even acknowledging my existence, and she started telling them the three kinds of peaches she had, which I assumed she was selling.

But, turns out she was giving them to these women. They excitedly oohed and awed, took their bags of free peaches, and pranced right past my doghouse again, never saying hi, and certainly never offering me one of their free peaches.

The extreme indifference to suffering or lack of plain old human kindness displayed by these women really knocked me for a loop. I could probably die chained to this doghouse and no one from the Capitol would even notice until I started stinking three days later.

It's exactly like the chained dog caretaker in NC who, when Animal Control told her the dog was dead, said "Why didn't anyone tell me?" The dog laid there for days, dead from starvation, and she didn't even notice? How can you not notice a dead dog in your backyard?

The fact that I am well-dressed, a veteran, hold a master's degree, have written one book and edited another, and am founder of a nonprofit means nothing to them. They don't know and they don't care. They don't see me at all.

As I was really grappling with the turmoil of that experience, Stacey Romberger and two of her office mates came walking toward me with big smiles on their faces, and Stacey was bringing me water. For me!

My friend Gordon Bakalar brought a cooler with ice and water, and then Deb Smith and Barb Hacker both stopped by with water, while Melissa Swauger and Darryl came by with Gatorade. Sandra Stegman brought me grapes which I'm saving for tomorrow night, and another unknown woman came with water as well. (I think I got them all?)

Suffice it to say, I've got enough liquid for tomorrow already!

I shared a water with one of the local residents who is very down on his luck, and he in turn shared his Mayan wisdom with me. He told me that no matter how people treat you, you hold true to your belief and your passion, and you cling to that, you never let it go. He took the time to minister to me spiritually even in the midst of his own personal crises.

It's obvious to me there are people who think about the suffering of others, and reach out to help whenever they can. And there are people who turn a blind eye and walk right on by.

But I'm here, and I intend to stay, through good days and bad. I committed to these dogs, and when I am pacing, dragging my chain, just about out of my mind with boredom, I look down at the picture of the day, and I see these faces looking toward me with hope.

I cannot let them down.

Miscellaneous observations from the day:

1. Thank Dog for 100 Sunblock. I'd be crispy crittered without it.

2. I deserve the best in life, just as the dogs do. Both the dogs and I (and YOU) deserve a loving family, freedom to choose, access to good food and water, a decent living environment, to be seen, to be clean and have shiny fur/hair, to play.

3. People really do think it's ok to attack other people just because.

4. I need to get a tougher skin. Maybe all the sun will help. Ugh.

5. A musician named Gravy came up and entertained Sandra and I with three songs. She came to play for 'the dog lady.' She was so good we got goosebumps!

6. Only 24 hours until I can eat. I just can't wait!

7. Mike Romberger's arranging someone to be there every night at 6 to help me get stuff into the van. How sweet is that?