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TRC Special Projects | TRC's Wish List
The Jersey K9 Survivors
Forty-five dogs removed from unlit warehouse in Newark
June 10, 2003
So - after all this bad weather, Eli & Jewel finally experience FUN in NH. Remember that Eli & Jewel joined us in JANUARY, and it hasn't stopped raining and snowing all winter. I took them on two winter walks in the woods, but it was exercise more than anything, and possibly an experience for them, as they were Newark dogs, but NOTHING like today.
So - Eli, Jewel, Simba & I went out for our walk (I got new hiking boots!), and took a new trail (that went nowhere) up... Jewel never took her nose off the ground - she loves to track, I guess. We then went down another that (I had forgotten) had a beaver dam in some likely stagnant water.
Now, me being a city girl said "This is the biggest beaver dam I ever did see!" It's like 30' long. There's a beaver house in the pond and everything. Michele told me that there were way bigger beaver dams and that I was just undersocialized in the woods :( Anyway - last summer we couldn't find any evidence of there being an actual beaver - just a dam. The timber wasn't freshly cut or anything.
Well, TODAY, there was the beaver, swimming around in his stagnant water with all the mosquitos around him (wonder if beavers get heartworm). Eli, Simba and I watched. Jewel was still sniffing all over the place. I was impressed. Really. Gees, yesterday cardinals, today a beaver.
We then returned to the trail where I attempted to take pictures, but got eaten by mosquitos instead. (bug spray and all - Deep Woods Off didn't cut it).
We hike back to the house, and the hiking ritual usually ends with a swim in the lake. So we do our obligatory sit-stay at the road before crossing to the lake, and I release - and poor Simba runs across the street, like all of our dogs do, and turns around to figure out why Eli & Jewel aren't racing toward the lake, sharing her enthusiasm for a swim... Eli & Jewel just don't know the game!
Simba was in the water by the time we got to the dock. Jewel, who has been trying to be brave enough to get wet these last few days, steps into the water, and actually tries to keep up with Simba. Today, she isn't even afraid to get in! She hasn't swum confidently yet, but she's getting braver every day! While she & Simba were swimming, Eli and I were watching the turtle on the beach.
Eli's new tail wagged and wagged today, but Eli wanted me to know, for a fact, that he's NOT a hiking kind of dog. He was quite content to walk because it was WITH ME, but he really would prefer to lounge on the deck WITH ME.
Anyway - there are pictures! :) (or if you're here later than 6/11/03, go to: http://www.therottweilerconnection.org/pod/61003.html)
May 19, 2003
Jewel and Eli are still in their foster homes. Each day they are more and more ready for their forever families. Eli has been in agility classes with other dogs, and can be civil around all other dogs as long as he is focused on his person. He is noisy otherwise, but spends his "crated" time in the living room with other dogs circulating all of the time - without issues. He has been doing his obedience training in foster care with Riley.
Jewel is just plain READY. She wants her family to come along, because she has plenty of cuddles and kisses for them - they just need to find her :)
April 1, 2003
Eli has moved into a more social setting in the house - he now has the Xpen in the living room. Every day he continues to socialize with other dogs - in the Xpen. The dogs in the house are no longer mysterious, but he still does not accept the male dogs in the house. He starts agility for confidence classes on Sunday with Bea at Tails U Win. She had already spent time with him, and said that she didn't feel uncomfortable with him, and that socialization with other people & dogs was really what he needed to succeed. He has had several inquiries, but none of the homes are the right ones for him. The right one will come along.
Jewel has been rapidly interviewing homes, and we thought that the right one would have come by now. She is social with all other dogs and has completed her agility class. She is ready to go home, and will love whatever family she has forever. Jewel has wonderful house manners and basic training, rides well in the car and is very sweet & kissy.
March 3, 2003
ELI makes progress DAILY. Every day, he does something new - something he has never done before. Today he gave kisses to someone other than Dale. Two days ago, he went for a walk with one of the male rotts in his foster home - and later was social in the house. Earlier this month, he went to his first event where he met dozens of people. Big BIG steps for Eli. Eli loves his toys and rolls around happily with them. I promised not to send this picture to his former guard dog friends - although I'm sure they'd be envious of his new-found freedom. Eli no longer is on edge and waiting for what comes next. He sleeps in his crate ... soundly.
Jewel is so ready to go home. She has been to a Meet & Greet and met many new people. She has gone to agility class. She is social with other dogs (tho would prefer maybe only one other dog in her new home.) She's trying hard to be social with the small dog in the house, although there are times the dog looks too much like a cat, and is very tempting.
Special thanks to Elyse for organizing the Yankee Candle Fundraiser to help these guys. Early estimates indicate that we earned about $1000 for these guys! Thank you VERY much Elyse, from the bottom of these guys' hearts.
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Our Yankee Candle Fundraiser was a HUGE Success. ~ Preliminary totals indicate that your purchases earned about $1700 for the dogs! High sellers were Paola Reyes, Barb Andrews, Kristine Kelsey, Elyse Kascik, and Tamara Quint - all within a few dollars of each other! ~Eli, Jewel & Corporal appreciate your support. |
February 13, 2003
CORPORAL IS ADOPTED!!
We can not jump up and down enough for Corporal! Tonight, he will live the life that he deserves! He was adopted by Heidi & Brooks of Middleboro MA, and their rottie girl Haley! Having met Haley, we know that Corporal will be second in line to the people - after Haley - and will be treated royally. Loved forever. Get everything he ever wanted. Corporal WINS!
Who would have thought that the day we stood in the snow & rain in Newark and evaluated these kids that their lives would ever be so ... GOOD. Congratulations to Corporal and his new family!
Thank you to everyone who has been supporting and cheering on these kids. One down. Two to go!
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February 9, 2003 - One Month Later
Yesterday, Corporal met his forever family! Heidi and Brooks & Mom and Ed and Haley (their rottie girl) came to meet several dogs - Corporal was one. After thinking on it, Corporal was the winner! Corporal will be going home in the next week to southeastern MA, living close to the OCEAN and being spoiled. You can tell by the way Haley was spoiled that Corporal wasn't going to have a shabby life! Corporal is the first of the three - and a very LUCKY man! :)
Jewel has been working with Bea DeGruttala from Tails U Win in Manchester CT. Bea has spent the last several weeks reconditioning Jewel's mouthiness and lack of training. Jewel now settles quickly when it's requested, and has started actually PLAYING with other dogs! Jewel is ready for adoption to the right family, and has been added to the web site! She will meet her first potential homes this coming week! TRC is offering a post-adoption training session with Bea after her adoption - just to keep her on the right track.
Once again, however, Eli has made the most progress. He now rolls on his back and plays with his toys. He solicits belly rubs. He gives kisses readily. He goes for rides in the truck. He has socialized with many many people at various events, at the kennel, and will start Bea's Agility for Confidence class this weekend! He hasn't been back to Granite State K9 yet - but needs to go - just for triggers. He still is protective of his foster mom, but every day he gets more relaxed around new people. On Saturday, he even did sits and downs for other people (a first!). Eli is full of firsts! He will only get better. Dale is now interviewing possible homes. He *IS* adoptable, but only to the right people. TRC is providing both pre-adoption and post-adoption training with either Granite State K9 or Bea DeGruttala for the right person for Eli.
Everyone's doing great... I'm amazed at how Eli, especially, has come out of his protective behavior and LOVES his family life. I promised him that I wouldn't send pictures of him rolling around with a stuffed toy - to his former Guard Dog friends. His friends could only be so lucky...
Elyse learned, recently that Jersey K9 is still in business. Eli, Corporal and Jewel wish their demise to be speedy and irreversible, and that the remaining dogs are dealth with humanely. Rumor has it that they are now in Elizabeth NJ.
January 22, 2003
All three dogs have come a LONG way, but the MOST progress has been with Eli. The day after Eli came in, he went to the vet, where he was ... less than a gentleman. His behavior set me back a little, and I proceded cautiously asking little of him, and giving him a lot of his own space (in his crate). We figured out that it was because I KNEW where he came from (that I lacked trust), that I saw his assosicates, and that he was big and could possibly not make it. By the middle of the following week, he was attentive to me, and looking for me when he was out in the yard. He started trusting me - enough to wiggle every time he sees me and TO GIVE ME KISSES. He has started obedience as well.
The big turn around for Eli came on Monday the 20th when we went to Granite State to start his training. Eli was friendly and interactive with Jim and Celia. He took cookies appropriately, wiggled at them, and planted himself next to me. The discussion basically was - The dog is better off in my house than in a kennel. Ally and I had gone back & forth on this, and well - Jim's the expert. We will do basic obedience, and Jim give me a couple of things to watch for. Told me TONS of socialization. More ALERT handler tactics, etc. We'll go for privates in a week or two and Jim will be happy to set up a few scenarios to determine if he's got any training that I have to be aware of, or if there are some (typical of security dog) types of triggers. THAT was the day that Eli did his first "down" (for those of you not totally familiar with training a dominant dog, "DOWN" is a very compromised position and it takes many dogs a LOT of trust to complete this exercise). Eli now does one minute down-stays, and his obedience is coming along VERY well. Most recently, we learned that he also likes to play ball!
Corporal is ready to be adopted. Aside from some missing fur on his eyes that will grow back in time, Corporal is ready to go to a family with large breed experience. He's a well-mannered man (tho he likes to jump up and give kisses), he gets along with other dogs and cats, and has basic house manners and obedience training. We did bring him to the vet for what we saw as a deformed front paw. The vet's best assessment is that the dog had been injured as a pup, the growth plate damaned, and never reset. The only treatment now is to break the leg and re-set it - a procedure that both the vet and TRC found "excessive." Doesn't stop him from being the young man he is!
Jewel has had the least amount of work of them all. She was still sick and then was spayed. It took a week for her to even show any kind of enthusaism when she got out of her crate. She is mouthy, energetic, and untrained. She can be mouthy and excited, and should not live with children. She is also inappropriate with small dogs and cats. Jewel is working on her obedience, and will be going to DogMa in Millbury this week for some one-on-one training with Bea DeGruttala of Tails U Win in Manchester CT. This will free up my household a bit, and give me a little more time to focus on the dogs I have here.
Thank you all for your well-wishes with these dogs. They are challenging, but a joy to have in the house. They appreciate everything and love everyone.
Michele holds Eli's collar before it's tossed into the dumpster. He is outfitted with a maroon, nylon collar and a nylon training collar instead. |
January 9, 2003 Update
Today was the big day for Eli, Corporal and Jewel. Karen, Berry, Tina and Lovey at the shelter was wonderful - she had them all vaccinated, heartworm tested, microchipped, paperwork done and ready to go. All we had to do was load them up. There were 13 new rotts there too - not including the ones Linda and Barb saw on Dec 31. What a day. Eli's paws were bleeding and they clearly hurt him, still. He was the boy who was very borderline and will be going to Granite State for training and evaluation. His vet appointment was made from the parking lot in Newark for the next morning. They are troopers. Loaded up in the back of the truck, no one of them made a sound. They rode perfectly, barked rarely, didn't get car sick, didn't destroy their blankets, NOTHING. They rode through the snow, the slippery roads, and at midnight arrived in NH. All kenneled right up, and went to sleep soundly.
Eli went to the vet on the 10th. He was not happy being prodded and poked at the vet, but took it like a ...dominant boy. Growling. He was neutered, had a badly infected tooth removed, and had his infected paws looked at. The good news:Nothing serious.
He responded badly to anesthesia, was downright scarey coming out of it, and spent the night at Dr. Carlson's office (Thanks guys - I didn't want to have to carry him to the truck in the mood he was in!). Eli is in much better spirits today (January 11), with the anesthesia worn off and the painful tooth extracted. Thanks to Tamara and Michele for getting him back to NH where he's comfortably crated.
Corporal and Jewel are both very comfortable and social - and now clean. Best Friends Pet Resort donated their groomings and they are waiting patiently for their alters on January 16. Corporal is winning people over, and has several fans there already. Jewel is coming out of her shell and wiggling at all of her new friends.
Expenses thus far on these dogs are minimal, but Eli's will be the greatest: $225 for all medical treatment and $500 for training and evaluations at Granite State. Corporal and Jewel will be another $300-400 for medical treatment and boarding. Your help is still needed for all three of these dogs. Donations to date cover just about Eli's expenses. We are thankful for the donations thus far, and hope your generosity to help these dogs continues!
December 20 Update
TRC spent five hours today evaluating dogs who were either confiscated on December 3 or found stray. 
We counted 26 rottweilers in the kennels - cage after cage after cage after cage of rottweilers. 17 males. 9 females. This does not include the four puppies that were confiscated. They were adopted by AHS - who received over 200 applicants for them. I admit, this is the most I've ever seen in one shelter.
We evaluated nineteen dogs. Three - THREE - rottweilers passed the evaluation. Just three. Two were impounded from the K9 company. One was a stray. A third confiscated rottweiler - the only female - was too sick to be completely evaluated, but will likely join our program in January.
We evaluted ALL "Confiscated" rottweilers (there were about 4 shepards, a nasty dobie, and a mastiffX that we did not evaluate). The confiscated rottweilers totaled 10. The majority of the dogs were males - all but one actually. They were all HUGE - the smallest male was about 90#. Most were just plain huge, not overweight, intact adult males in the 100-130# range. I saw some of the largest rottweilers I've ever seen yesterday.
The sad truth is that most of these dogs can not be saved. They have spent their lives being dominant, large, pushy dogs- and that's what they know. For the ones who's teeth we did look at, most were over 4, and moreso 6+. These dogs have lived their lives capitalizing on being rottweilers, and would never be safe family companions. Whether these dogs were purchased, found or stolen, they have lived their lives in less-than-desirable conditions. The ones who were put down for medical reasons must have been in HORRIBLE shape, because these guys all have conjunctivitis, wounds on their feet (and other places). The good news is that they really weren't underweight - they were all pretty hearty actually. And not one of them was altered. We're going with our 
guts on two (one is pretty young).
We are talking to Jim Ward at Granite State K9 in Amherst NH about working with the dogs before they go into foster care. Although Jim can't offer us free services, he's been very good about providing reduced cost training and behavioral consulting for the rescue dogs. The dogs, now known as Eli, Corporal and Jewel, will all get Jim's assistance in getting back into the swing of "family life."
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Male - N01094
We had hoped this boy would pass, but he was SO bad around his food, that anyone within six feet of him while eating was going to get bitten.
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History
It started in November...
>>WE GOT A CALL FROM A WOMAN WHOSE ROTT GOT OUT OF THE YARD...SHE IS 9 YEARS OLD...AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS EVER BEEN OUT...WELL SHE HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR THE DOG FOR OVER 5 DAYS AND GOT WORD THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN BY A GUARD DOG COMPANY.
WE WENT YESTERDAY TO THIS WAREHOUSE....41 ROTTS IN CAGES STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER...NO SHOTS...4 PUPS..14 TEENAGE PUPS...FUNGUS ON ALL THEIR PAWS FROM LIVING IN WET KENNELS ALL THE TIME...WAREHOUSE COMPLETELY DARK....VERY LITTLE FOOD..THEY USE THEM FOR GUARD DOGS ALL OVER THE STATE...MOMMA ROTT HAS MANGE AND TWO OF THE DOGS HAVE INJURIIES. <<
Moved to Early December...
>>Dale: We closed down the guard dog warehouse and confiscated 41 rotts...anyway some of them were so sick and pathetic we had to put them down <<
Before Dale even hit reply, TRC was ready for the challenge.
The Rottie Connection has made a commitment to take ANY rottweiler that is not outright dangerous from this situation from The Associated Humane Society in Newark NJ. We will need long-term foster homes for these dogs - all of the dogs have been exposed and most have contracted demodectic mange and conjunctivitis. Many are in far worse shape than this. Most of the seriously ill and injured dogs have been euthanized. As of December 9, we were looking at somewhere between 10 and 20 rottweilers needing our help.
Mange and conjunctivitis are treatable, albiet contageous. We will be needing a donation of rubber gloves (to anyone working in the medical supply industry!), as well as Revolution (or funds to buy it). Because mange is the result of a compromised immune system, these dogs will not be able to be altered for several weeks or months prior to adoption. Foster homes should expect a 6 week - 6 month commitment. Foster homes will also be given first priority to adopt.
We are hoping to know by December 18 the actual number of dogs we will be taking into the program. Over the weekend, several families came to the and CLAIMED their dogs that were stolen from their yards!! We are obviously hoping that more families come forward, and more dogs find their rightful owners.
In the end, these dogs are evidence, and we are not sure on when we will be taking custody of them, or how many will actually be turned over. Your support IS needed in all of this.
The News Reports
Read the Stories in the News
December 4, 2002 - Humane Society Rescues 41 Abused Dogs From Newark Business
December 5, 2002 - 18 dogs put down after seizure from Newark security firm
December 6, 2002 - Newark probes lease for guard-dog kennel
December 12, 2002 - Associated Humane Society Supports NJ Bill 266
Donations can be made to:
The Rottie Connection
Jersey K9 Survivors
PO Box 488
Winchester, NH 03470