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From Bow to Wow: Pooches get a second chance at life

Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 10:00 AM by Sarika Dani
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From TODAY correspondent Jill Rappaport

When we first did this very special Bow to Wow segment, the response was overwhelming. All of the dogs were adopted within minutes of the story airing. I feel so blessed to be able to do it again. This time, I went to one of the busiest pounds in the country: Animal Care and Control of New York City. Here they take in more than 6,000 dogs a year ... all waiting for that special someone to give them a second chance at life. I decided this time to pick three dogs that had very challenging situations either because of their breed or age. WATCH VIDEO
 
Millie is lovable pitbull mix. Sweet Rose is a 7-year-old poodle who was found alone lying next to her owner who had passed away. And Cody is a cuddly 10-year-old cocker spaniel with so many wonderful years left in her. All these special girls were waiting with loving eyes and big hearts for someone to take them home. But no one did, because they are older and, in Millie's case, her breed (she's the pitbull mix) sadly scared off so many people despite her loving sweet disposition.
 
Forty percent of the 6,000 dogs that come in yearly to this facility are pitbulls desperately hoping for a permanent home, and more than 30 percent are older dogs also waiting for a lifelong home. I can't stress enough the importance of adopting from a pound or a shelter. These beautiful babies know you have saved them from a very frightening fate, and they will thank you every day for the rest of their lives.

Dear viewers: If you're interested in finding information on how to adopt the dogs seen on TODAY, please visit the Animal Care & Control of New York City's site at nycacc.org.

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From Clyde:  I am a two year old pitbull, adopted in
february of 08.  My family loves me very much.  I am very gentle and affectionate and show my love every day.  I was adopted from Southern Arizona Humane Society in Tucson.  I wish every dog could be as lucky as I am!
unfortunately, we tried the adoption route with a pit mix and it was a disaster, the dog chewed through our house and intimidated our daughter. We tried everything, trainer, behavior modification, etc and I have grown up with dogs my whole life. In the end we had to return the dog with a broken hearted child who still loves the poor creature.  This could have been avoided had the shelter been forthcoming with the history of the dog......  Taking on a shelter animal is a big risk and I don't want to be made to feel guilty if we choose to have an animal join our already hectic family that has no baggage. I love that there are those who are willing to do it..... and I give generously to shelter charities...
I was so touched to see this story, especially focusing on pit bulls and older dogs. In 2005 my then-boyfriend, now-fiance came home from his job as a kennel worker with a dog. She was old, rickety, and a pit bull mix! Her name was Emma and we took her in at the age of 14. She was going to be put to sleep the day my fiance brought her home, and we were able to provide her with another three happy years of life with our other rescue dog Lucas. She brought so much joy and love into our lives, and though it was heartbreaking to let her go after only having her for three years, we felt so blessed to have had the chance to take care of Emma. If you are thinking of adopting, please go with an older dog. They are truly deserving of love and shelter.
We adopted an AmStaff - all part of the pit/bully breeds.  We LOVE her!!!!  She was part of a litter of 11 that was originally set to be destroyed and we were fortuneate to rescue her.  We believe all of the litter went to families.  Lucy is the most gentle dog - she knows when to play and when to be gentle (with babies, children and even older adults).  We have gone through dog training classes to be respondsible owners and this has certainly helped both us and Lucy be a wonderful asset to our family and the breed as well.  We would gladly adopt another pit breed and advocate to families just by showing Lucy - there are bad owners, not bad dogs!!!  Ask questions when you adopt, many places have some information and will gladly give you what ever they can about the animal to insure that the animal will never enter back into another shelter.  We interviewed shelters just as many required us to apply for an animal.  We adopted from a "no kill shelter", which is like a last stop for animals who would otherwise be destroyed in other shelters.  We asked about their living arrangements, behavior around children, and so on.  Our rescue had animals living with them and their children.  Lucy was very socialized when we adopted her.  There are wonderful animals waiting for all types of families and individuals...Please adopt...thank you Jill for a wonderful segment!
We have a 12 year old Poodle named "Poodle" who was found living under a dumpster, here in Jacksonville,Fla.  We took her in 6 years ago and she is the absoluote BEST dog we have ever had.  We love dogs and I tell you, they know when they have been given a second chance.  Everyone loves her and she loves everyone.  I wish there was a way we could adopt Rose, I think she'd be a wonderful additio9n to our "elderly" family. We are in our 60's, newly retired and would not be as happy without our beloved Poodle.
I would love to have Milly! We owen 2 full pitts & 1 pit mix. I love all of them! The best dogs EVER!!
My husband and I adopted our baby Eli a little over a year ago. He is a lab/ pitbull and is just the most loving dog we've ever seen. His favorite thing to do, besides get treats, is to snuggle in bed with us on weekends- his head on the pillows snoring in our ears! He's had a few issues, chewing in socks and such, nothing we had to work too hard on to correct, but the fact that he came to us potty-trained and learned to sit, beg, give paws, lay down, roll over, give people kisses and dance within weeks makes up for a pair of chewed socks any day.  Yes, we rescued him, but my husband and I are the lucky ones. We'll always adopt and urge everyone else to seriously consider adopting a pet.
I wish people would get the idea out of their heads that "shelter dogs" are somehow inferior or more challenging than dogs from pet shops or breeders.  There is no such thing as a "shelter dog," really-- there are just dogs. They all have hang-ups and baggage, even purebred puppies. I've had four purebred dogs over the years, all obtained from "reputable" breeders, all taken to positive-reinforcement obedience classes as puppies, and they all had issues.

The borzois wanted to kill other dogs--I later learned that this is common in the breed, probably a throwback to their days spent hunting wolves (my theory is that they view other dogs as "wolves.") My Irish wolfhound, by contrast, was frightened of her own shadow. No idea why--she was never abused or harmed in any way as far as we knew. Our Great Pyrenees barked her head off day and night--that's because they are bred to guard and herd sheep--and barking is part of their job, or so they think.

I now have a large, shaggy mutt adopted from a rescue group that pulled him out of a shelter. He was extremely timid at first, but with lots of socialization, he's come out of his shell and is a friendly, happy boy. Best of all, he came to me pre-housebroken and past the age of teething. He's never once had an "accident" or chewed on anything other than his approved chew toys. He's also an excellent watchdog--barks to warn me of intruders, but not excessively.

He's just an all-around great dog who happened to have had a rocky start in life. I'm proud to have given him a second chance.
My wife and I tried to find more info on the cocker, Cody, at th nycacc.org site.  This dog was not in the adoptable list! Why??
I was so excited to see a story on the Today show about adopting Pit Bulls, pit mixes & older dogs.  It is about time!  As one of the Founding Members of the Dog Federation of New York, and proud owner of my own pit bull rescue who is now almost 8 years old, and such a great, fun, funny, obedient and smart dog.  Thank you Jill for bringing this story to fruition.   And your American Bulldog Petey is beautiful, and such a good boy - thank you for rescuing him!  Pit Bulls are used as Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Rescue Dogs you name it - such a great breed.  
GREAT stories today - - - both the adoptable dogs AND the circus elephants! THANK YOU, Today, for caring enough to focus on these important animal issues!! Jill Rappaport - you rock!
What a wonderful segment!  I hope these continue as they provide great inspiration to everyone to save the lives of these sweet creatures!!!!  Excellent job again Jill!
If you are interested in adopting Millie or Cody, please contact Animal Care & Control of New York City at 212 788 4000, email at media@nycacc.org.  

For more information or to donate, please visit our website at www.nycacc.org
Thank you so much for positive pit bull press!

And Susan Dobbs, please do not characterize your own experience as if it is true of every shelter, or even of every dog your shelter adopts out.

Yes, many shelters do not know a dog's history. And they will extensively evaluate dogs to find out if they are adoptable, and which homes will suit them best.

BUT, the shelter is very stressful, and it is not uncommon for a dog's true personality to shine through at home. In the future, your best bet is adopt an animal that is being fostered.
Thank you so much for airing this segment!!  I enjoyed it very much.  I am a volunteer at NY AC&C and they truly need all the help they can get.  They don't receive nearly as much attention or donations as ASPCA (call Sarah MacLachlan!), but they need it more because they have a contract with the city to take it every single animal found or surrendered, which of course will result in some humane euthanization. Every animal adopted from here is saving a life.  The staff are extremely caring and they take excellent care of every single animal as I have witnessed firsthand as a volunteer.  They make extraordinary efforts to make the animals' stay there pleasant and healthy and to give every animal a chance to be adopted.  Please continue the exposure to this wonderful organization- they need it!  
So enjoyed the Bow to Wow segment...should be weekly!
I volunteer at the AC&C in Manahattan and am so grateful that NBC is doing this series. Every time I am at the shelter I see wonderful dogs who have the potential of bringing joy to anyone's life. Please keep doing the show!!!
This is a wonderful segment and I'd love to see more!  It is sometimes hard to see through the hardship that shelter animals have endured.  After a short cleanup - it is easy to see that most of these animals are loving, loyal and good looking pets.  Kudos to NBC and Bow to Wow!
Thank you for this wonderful segment.  It is important to give these animals the publicity they need to get adopted.  The people at Animal Care and Control of New York City deserve credit too for working so hard to care for these animals and get them adopted.
A fantastic effort to show awareness of how many animals need love out there. Great job you guys :)
I LOVE this segment!  I loved the first segment a couple of weeks ago but this one with the older dogs and the beautiful pitbull!  Thank you so much NBC - how brilliant you are!  I volunteer at the shelter where the dogs came from and know how great the older dogs and the pitbull MIXES are first-hand.  Thanks for pointing that out!
Thank you Jill for this wonderful segment.  Would love to see this segment on a regular basis!  Thank you for giving these animals the love and attention they deserve.
Thank you for picking such a wide variety of dogs and showing how they are great pets! Loved that you had martha with the pit mix!
Kudos to Jill Rappaport and the Today Show for showcasing the wonderful dogs up for adoption from the AC&C. And thank you for sticking up for pit bulls and doing your part to de-stymigmatize these super, sweet dogs. I used to volunteer at the AC&C so I have first-hand knowledge of how loving these dogs are. Please do these stories more often! There are so many dogs who need homes.
Great Segment.  This should be an annual event.  There are so many loving but mistreated and abandoned dogs at NYACC looking for a home.  As a volunteer at NYACC, I can't stress how valuable positive media exposure is to aiding these dogs in their search for homes.
I am a volunteer at AC&C in NYC and I want to THANK YOU for doing this segment and I hope you continue to do so.  Everytime I go to the shelter, it breaks my heart that I cannot rescue all the dogs. But with this program, these dogs will have a better chance to get a loving home.  Thanks Jill- You are the best!
I was Millie's foster mom and I cannot begin to explain was a great dog she is.  She is so well behaved and great with all people (men, women, and children) and dogs.  She loves to cuddle, but is also playful.  She loves to play fetch.  For anybody that's apprehensive about adopting a pit bull, there is absolutely no reason to be.  Millie is the perfect dog!!  
We have an adopted pit-mix from the Animal Care & Control of NYC. He is the goofiest and the sweetest dog!!! I adopted him in February of '05 and truth be told he was a bit problematic in the beginning. But all it took was some training classes, patience, and an addition of my boyfriend's (a bit older and wiser) staffordshire into the pack to make my baby shine! Our family pack (including a cat) has fostered a couple of other dogs and two litters of kittens and I am so happy that I have my doggie to share my life with :) I would recommend that everyone who is thinking of getting a dog, a cat (or even a baby for that matter; we have one now also and the training with the dogs really helped) to consider fostering from the AC&C or another shelter. Fostering really gives you the "inside look" into owning a dog, gives you the opportunity to adopt, and doesn't tie you down right away as a regular adoption would. Although, if you know you are ready to adopt, go for it!!!
Jill - Thank you so much for the Bow to Wow segments!  This is the second one that I have seen, please keep them coming!  Anyone watching can see you are a true animal lover, these make overs are very inspiring.  I'm looking forward to the next segment.  Thank you for all you are doing for sweet, fun shelter animals - they really are wonderful.
Aawww.  I love segments like this!  Please do more!  They make my day
I was surprised by  the comments of   Susan ( Dobbs Ferry). As  a former  foster parent of  two  dogs and lots of cats and mother cats with kittens, I know  future  adopters can  get  great in-depth information  about the temperament, personality and health concerns of the pet. Last  summer I fostered a momcat and   six  kittens that had  been abandoned in  a park  in  Queens. It  was wonderful helping  them    grow healthier, stronger and happier and  eventually go to   great homes where  they made their new  families so happy. Fostering is good for people too. You can see how  you can make such a  difference in a  cat or  dog. Giving  them a  healthy, loving home to  grow strong in and  get off to a  good start.
Thank you so much for doing this segment!!!  We fostered Cody for the past week here at Camp Bow Wow and we are so excited to see her TV debut!  She is the sweetest little girl who gives the best kisses. I know she will be a wonderful addition to a loving family!!! We have had so many calls about this segment, I hope you continue to help the AC&C and all our furry friends that need loving homes.  Thank you!
Thank you for putting in good words about pit bull and pit bull-mixes.  Please continue to educate television viewers about what wonderful pets they are.
Perhaps puppy mills would go out of business if everyone would go adopt at the shelter!
And if pit bulls lost that horrible reputation, they would be less appealing to the types of people who abuse them.
Thank you also for advocating adoptions of older dogs.
Wonderful show and a subject that needs more exploration. Though pit bull mixes predominate in pounds, they are, after all terriers, which are not for everyone. But, as a volunteer at the city pound in Brooklyn, NY, I have seen dogs of many breeds and ages available. It  may take a few visits, but people looking for the right pet invariably will find it.
I love these segments!!!
I feel so positive about our humanity when I witness how caring we can be if we are just asked.
These shows allow the best that exists in all of us to pour out.
Thank you

I was surprised by  the comments of   Susan ( Dobbs Ferry). As  a former  foster parent of  two  dogs and lots of cats and mother cats with kittens, I know  future  adopters can  get  valuable in-depth information  about the temperament, personality and health concerns of the pet. Last  summer I fostered a momcat and   six  kittens that had  been abandoned in  a park  in  Queens. It  was wonderful helping  them    grow healthier, stronger and happier and  eventually go to   great homes where  they made their new  families so happy. Fostering is good for people too. You can see how  you can make such a  difference in a  cat or  dog. Giving  them a  healthy, loving home to  grow strong in and  get off to a  good start. Now is  the time that kittens and puppies need foster homes more  than  ever. (  It's  the season!)
Jill, thank you so much for the dog segment this morning, we loved it.  We have 2 shelter dogs and one is a pit/mix.  What a dog, just wondeful. We would not get a dog any other way.  
wonderful segment it's such an important thing NBC is doing by exposing these shelter animals to the masses.  The dogs in the shelter are very lovely and deserve a second chance just like some people.
Thank you so much for doing this segment!! I am a volunteer at the AC&C in New York and it is incredible to see our shelter be an example and enable the public to see firsthand the social crisis that is going on all over the country.  PLEASE do more of this segment!  It helps so much to get them adopted, especially for those difficult circumstances like these select dogs had. And to anyone considering adopting a pet, please go to your local shelter and give a helpless sweetie a chance at a great life.  The ones who had a rough start deserve a second chance, and don't forget that there are countless animals who have no baggage and are just victims of circumstance!!! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for helping Animal Care and Control bring awareness to the amazing animals that are waiting desperately in our city shelters.  The team at the AC&C has dedicated their careers to saving the lives of abused and abandoned animals and they need every bit of help and attention that we cn give them!  

The power of the press is remarkable.  By recognizing the AC&C and their hard work, you help to create awareness and change the opinions of countless Americans that still don’t realize how many animals suffer from the efforts of greedy breeders and pet shops.    

It should no longer be socially acceptable to purchase animals that have been carelessly bred for profit and then dump them in shelters later when they are no longer young and cute.

Thank you again for covering this amazing story!  Spay and neuter your pets people!!!!
It was great to see this wonderful segment about adopting pitbull mixes and older dogs.  They all deserve loving, permanent homes.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to see more bow to wow segments in the future!!  
great show and thank you for doing this and letting people in NY know what loveable animals there are out there.  Everyone likes those puppies in the petstores without even thinking about the horrible places they come from and what breed faults they can have.  I have fostered for years and know how many many loveable animals are waiting in shelters in NY.  Do think about adopting from there also if anyone wants a REAL EXPERIENCE try fostering a litter of kittens for 2 months.  You get to have kittens around, you will have saved their lives and the shelters will get them adopted after they are socialized so it is a short term committment.  Please keep showing this segment and thank  you. Best  wishes
My last three dogs were pitt-bulls and were adopted from the Animal Care & Control of New York. These dogs were loving, smart, great with other dogs and great with children. Dogs, like us humans, need training and nuturing. That someone has a bad experience with a dog that they adopted from a shelter is more a reflection of them and their poor judgment, impusiveness and/or laziness than it is a reflection of the dog or the shelter. I firmly believe in adopting shelter dogs. They are great dogs and are the most in need of help and I have had great experiences with everyone of the dogs I have adopted.  They become part of the family
Dear Jill,
I volunteer at New York City's Animal Care and Control  Thank you sooooooo much for showcasing some our wonderful animals.  I have a particular fondness for the oldies-but-goodies, and any pit ... anytime. We need more volunteers, particularly in our Brooklyn Shelter and the Staten Island Shelter. And we are always in need of people to foster our dogs and cats.
I volunteer at the shelter and it's the most joyful thing to see dogs get adopted. I love the Bow Wow segment, which shows how much hope there is for these abandoned doggies. Please keep doing these segments so we can rescue more pits and the like!
Kudos to NBC for featuring these handsome dogs who deserve a loving home.Keep up the good work.Sincerely,Melanie Freitag
I love Bow Wow!!! Keep it going!!!!!!!!!!!
Please keep these shows coming.  They really show how wonderful all of these animals truly are.  For me, it's the human race that needs the training.  These animals just want to be loved and give it unconditionally.  We have a lot to learn from them.    
The Today Show absolutely rocks, especially because of the Bow to Wow segment!  I love watching it because it's both entertaining and heart-warming.  I'm a true animal lover and it's so great to see that NBC cares so much about our four-legged friends.
Wonderful to see the foster program getting some exposure and the dogs getting adopted.  Would really love to see some more cats in the spotlight.  
Per the ACC website from March 08 thru Feb 09:
40,074 cats+dogs entered ACC: 12,440 dogs and 27,634 cats;
The outcomes are shown as follows...
22,345 Adopted: 7,170 dogs and 15,175 cats (I assume this includes all animals going out to rescue groups and no-kill shelters);
1,529 Returned to Owner: 1,230 dogs and 299 cats;
14,204 Euthanized: 3,385 dogs and 10,819 cats;
1,996 are unaccounted for per the website: 655 dogs and 1,341 cats (some of this is probably the animals still in the shelter at the time of the report, but not all).  
I am very happy for the dogs, but just want to show the HUGE number of cats also in need.  They tend to get overlooked.  If you can foster or adopt a cat/kitten please contact ACC or a rescue group. Trap-Neuter-Return groups also need help and this is the way to reduce euthanasia.  If you can volunteer or donate to a TNR group now is the time.  All shelters are completely overwhelmed already, and with summer approaching, they will be overflowing with cats, litters upon litters of kittens and nursing moms.  And most important of all PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!!!  If you have not had your dog or cat fixed because you want to raise puppies or kittens please re-read the numbers above and just email ACC or a rescue group and foster a litter.  You can get all the fun of having the little ones around and not take homes away from the animals in need at the shelter.  Keep up the good press for the dogs, and please also get the word out about the cats.  I volunteered at ACC and at a TNR group and have fostered several kittens.  Shelters can not do it alone.  We all have to be responsible and have our pets fixed, and tell our friends and neighbors to do so.  There are so many great cats out there (yes, many lovely cats at the city shelters) and they need homes too.


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