FOUND/RETURNED: CHOCOLATE PIT BULL - pls HELP

Yes, that was her! She had just aggressed (and hurt) my friends cat inside. So I tied her there while I attended to the cat's (thankfully minor) injury. She is NOT always animal friendly and gets jealous easily, but she is VERY human friendly and well trained.
I don't think she 'got away' as her leash was tied tightly. I think she was taken by someone who maybe saw themselves as a Good Samaritan(?), since she was barking. I understand and appreciate the sentiment, but a friendly, well kept/groomed dog with all her tags, a service tag and a lost/found tag is obviously not abandoned or abused. It would've been a responsible action to knock on the door or leave a note etc. The added separation on her, plus missing her medication dosage and special diet is more stressful on her than anything. So I understand that someone may have thought they were doing a service, but I know she would prefer nothing more than to be in her cushy bed or outside in our backyard burying bones.

What is most ironic is that I am a volunteer certified Pit Bull trainer, that assists in breed rehabilitation in order to train dogs so that they may be adopted.

Kindly spread the word...I do believe she will be returned, and ask for prayers in the meantime.
THANKS ALL!

Hey Flex, Yes absolutely. Bob sent out an alert last night. I've also followed all of the recommended steps (flyers, posters etc) and have spent the weekend handing out post cards and spreading the word. And we will continue until she is found.

Whoever has her if you do not want to call me, as I said you may drop her off/tie her up outside of any of the older businesses on Washington Avenue (Key Food, Tony Tailor, Thriftway, Mayday, Shanes, Gino's, Tom's, Beauty Supply, Nail Salon, Chinese Food, Liquor store, laundry mat/cleaners, C-town/NSA, Car service, Ambiance Hair Salon, all convenience stores etc.). She is very well known and loved in this neighborhood. Just tie her outside, walk in, tell the merchant and leave. That simple.

BTW, please don't be fooled. She may look and act as though she is 4 or 5, but she is actually 11 and a half years old. She is just in excellent condition, but can not remain so without my care. If you care about animals at all PLEASE RETURN HER.

Whatchuwant wrote: Bbabe- did you see my post in the PH thread? I saw her yesterday afternoon tied up outside the (closed) pharmacy. The one next to the Chinese place and The Islands.

She looked fine- just lost.

OMG! No I didnt! I didnt receive any notification email. We canvassed that area yesterday! Please call me ASAP 347-546-6700. I am on my way there now....

Subject: Godiva has been safely returned! THANK YOU ALL!

Hi All!

Godiva has been safely returned! THANK YOU to all for your help, support and prayers.
The first thing we did is went around the neighborhood (with her) taking down flyers and letting everyone know that she had been safely returned. We are also asking that if you see a flyer we have missed, to please take it down. We would not want to divert attention from all the other cases.
After taking her medicine, eating a hearty meal, and indulging in one of her favourite activities - ripping apart milk cartons lol, she curled up in her blue living room bed and went to sleep. Unfortunately, every time I left the room she wakes up to make sure I come back. I will have to find ways to work on reassuring her everything is ok and I am not going anywhere. I can not express the joy I feel every time I look up and see her.

As we suspected, It would seem that Godiva was stolen/taken by someone who felt that Godiva being securely tied INSIDE of a private residence (brownstone) gate for less than an hour was abuse! Yes, she was barking (no doubt wanting another crack at poor Ollie's cat tail!), but there is absolutely NO WAY she could be confused with an abused dog. Sharon, Woof Dog Rescue, lives across the street, saw Godiva and was not worried. (Please see 'How to Recognize an Abused Dog' http://www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty/how-to-recognize-cruelty.html ). I understand and appreciate someone being concerned, but seriously !?!? Come back in an hour to see if the animal is still there, knock on a door, leave a note, even call 911!! Don't STEAL and traumatize someone else's dog, and then hide! How righteous is that??
Anyway, this person (who had also seen the flyers) reported (me?)Godiva to ASPCA. The Officers told us they took one look at Godiva and asked them if they were crazy! They called me right away. Assumed I had probably been through enough already and dropped Godiva right to my doorstep within 10 minutes. They said didn't bother to look at her tags etc, as they just grabbed a nearby flyer. Between my tears of joy and Godiva's vigorous tail wagging and abundant kisses, they said seeing us reunited was one of the highlights of their job.

Luckily, we will not need the pledged reward donations, but will be using our portion to donate to the ASPCA and others.

As upsetting as this has been, I am grateful that physically she was not harmed. Emotionally, we've definitely noticed signs of stress and fear. A very social dog now has no desire to leave the house or my side. I hope this will change after some time at home. I've raised her to be friendly and loving, not just to me but everyone. I am doing my best to make her feel safe and eventually return to our normal schedule. Today, we've had 4 familiar friends come by at different times to see her, and although she didn't rush to the door as usual, once she recognized them she greeting them in her usual excited and crazy way lol.

In our case, TONS of flyers, and physically spreading the word throughout the community I think was the most effective - but keep in mind she did not stray or get loose. I knew in my bones she was taken.

Once again, THANK YOU ALL for your prayers and support. Words can not express the joy I feel having her back...I apologize for posting the followup so late. I hadn't slept or eaten since she was gone, and after having her back the exhaustion just overtook me. I slept for 12 hours!

THANK YOU!!
As the weather gets colder, you will recognize us as she usually wears her pink sherling coat or Coach jacket - be sure to say "Hi"!


SIDENOTE - Over the years, I personally have 'rescued' and rehomed a total of 3 abused (pitbulls) dogs in my area. Thankfully, I have not had any cases reported to me in over 2 years. Trust me, you know an abused dog when you see it. EVERY time I took a dog, I left my name, address and phone number to let the owner know that I had taken their dog. I've challenged them to contact me! Only once (5 years ago) did an Owner call me, although he had been abusing the animal (she had open, bloody, infected sores around the perimeter of her neck where the spike collar had been repeatedly dug into her poor neck as he was sure to keep her food bowl just far enough so she could not reach it!) this jerk felt I owed him $200 for the dog! My point is that if you are going to take an action, be sure and stand by that action with righteousness. No need to hide, everyone will support and protect you.