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Cheech's
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Cheech the puppy was removed from
the Delta SPCA to safety on
June 16/04
by SPCA staff and volunteers
Read Barbara Yaffe article |
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Cheech, the dog who got away. |
Shake-a-paw
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Kisses for Ali.
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Good dog Cheech
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Begging Ali for a treat. |
What a nice kiss!
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Grooming...a strange man and a strange tool, yet Cheech sits still
and just watches |
Thank you Cheechy!
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Cheech gently nibbling on Ali's hand being very careful not to be
rough |
Lifting test one. Most dogs hate this and jump away. Cheech
was happy to just stay in Ali's arms. |
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Lifting test two. Cheech as limp as a sack of coals, completely
trusting. |
Cheech lets Ali hug him, a very dominant gesture, one that most dogs
resent
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How AAS was asked to help save Cheech
The morning of June 16th AAS was phoned by a frantic five-year Delta
SPCA volunteer who we will call B.B. She begged us to somehow stop
the killing of an eight-month old pup named Cheech who was
scheduled for destruction sometime that day. Here is what we were
told by B.B.
Cheech is a Lab Rottweiler who had been chained from the age of
eight weeks, probably at a grow-op, and who had been brought to
the Delta SPCA sometime in March. His temperament was essentially
cheerful, trusting, and very affectionate, but at first he was
fearful of men and rough behaviour, very common in dogs that have
been abused. He expressed his fear only verbally, by growling -
clear dog-speak for wanting you to stop whatever you are doing.
He has not ever bitten anyone. He has never been a
danger to anyone.
B.B. told us that before the installation by CEO Craig Daniell
of Michelle Rodgers, as manager, the staff at the Delta SPCA had
created the best, most humane SPCA in the province. Since the
advent of Rodgers, staff felt they were being discouraged from
doing their best for the animals and tensions built.
When Cheech first arrived at the Delta SPCA he was put through
a Dog Temperament Assessment Test (DTAT) which he passed easily,
being assessed at level "yellow", an adoptable level.
Recommendations were made to help him with fear anxiety.
(B.B. also told us some shocking details of disappearing money,
which we will reveal in a sub post.)
We next phoned Delta SPCA's volunteer professional trainer,
Amber Cottle, who told us that she too had assessed Cheech as
rehabilitatible who only needed a bit more time and work. She too
was trying to stop Rodgers from killing Cheech.
We pieced together the series of events that led to the
destruction order. Cheech was doing well and was sometimes allowed
in the front office until one day a man came into the SPCA
carrying a rabbit. We were told that Manager Rodgers either
roughly grabbed Cheech by the collar or pulled roughly on his lead
to get him out of the public area. In the hubbub and stress,
Cheech growled at Rodgers in objection. He did not bite and he
went were he was being led, but from that moment it is our
understanding that Cheech was doomed.
Rodgers called in the SPCA's Head Office dog assessors for a
"scientific" justification for killing Cheech, which she got. We
were told that Barry McKnight, large and uniformed, went into
Cheech's kennel with an object, probably a broom, and Cheech
attacked the object. McKnight told Rodgers that Cheech needed more
work but the decision was up to her.
Another long-time dog rescuer told us that Rodgers does not
have a clue about dog behaviour, asking her for advice about her
own aggressive dog. We can state unequivocally that almost no SPCA
staff know or have ever known what a dog's behaviour means, and
nor do they care to learn. Even now SPCA web sites tell adoptors
to crate or isolate dogs that suffer from separation anxiety -
blatant stupidity and cruelty.
We then phoned Manager Rodgers, who acknowledged AAS's
reputation for successful rehabilitation of dogs like Cheech. We
stated repeatedly and clearly our offer to foster Cheech at our
expense and to rehabilitate him. We asked her to consider our
offer and to postpone the destruction of Cheech.
Twenty minutes later we were phoned by long-time Delta SPCA
worker Amanda Muir. Amanda is one of the staff who is responsible
for all the humane improvements that were made before the advent
of Daniell/Rodgers. Amanda is also the fearless and compassionate
person who was attacked by a guard dog last year and had both her
arms badly injured. She never once blamed the dog. She has been on
WCB leave since the attack but continued to volunteer daily at the
Delta SPCA.
Twenty minutes after our offer to Rodgers we were phoned by a
fearful Amanda telling us that the order to destroy would not be
postponed or rescinded. We asked her to quickly remind Rodgers of
our involvement and told her that we were going to immediately
phone CEO Craig Daniell.
We did and we stated the whole case and repeated our offer to
foster Cheech several times. We asked him to phone Rodgers and
tell her to postpone the destruction order until our offer could
be considered and to get more input from trainers and volunteers.
He would not promise us anything.
Daniell phoned us back shortly and told us that Bob Busch,
General Manager Operations was on his way to the Delta SPCA.
Daniell would not tell us if Cheech's life would be spared.
Then we were phoned from the SPCA parking lot by another
long-time volunteer who we will call D.W., frantically telling us
that Mark Thakur, Manager Vancouver SPCA had arrived and that
Cheech was about to be led into the euthanasia room.
Daniell had sent in his troops! We gave her the phone
number of CTV and told her to phone quickly.
Soon after Cheech was removed by someone who took him to the
Tsawwassen Animal Hospital because of a sore leg that the SPCA had
ignored. The female vet there was asked if she would euthanize
Cheech if the SPCA asked her to. She replied unequivocally that
she would not, that Cheech was clearly a fine dog.
Cheech was then taken to a private home.
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The list of false statements
made by the SPCA to the media and to individuals
The Province June 18/04
"Four SPCA assessors deemed Cheech too vicious and unpredictable,
especially toward men, and recommended he be put down, said
spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk."
Amanda Muir - There were three assessments in
total that were done. One by Patti (from the Richmond SPCA a month
or more after his arrival at the shelter, one by Delta SPCA employee
Bruce Kilborn that was not SPCA ordered but done to assess Cheech's
progress - neither of these assessments showed Cheech to be
aggressive or vicious.
The last assessment was done as directed by
Michelle Rodgers. Cheech did not bite his assessor although he was
corned by this unknown man in his kennel. No other assessments were
ever done. Cheech never bit anyone, no staff, no volunteers, not
even this last assessor.
The SPCA's primary concern in this case is that Cheech poses a
threat to the public, Chortyk said, adding that the society has a
moral and legal duty to protect the public from harmful animals.
"We did everything in our power to help that dog, because euthanasia
is always the last resort," Chortyk said. "[Muir] made the situation
happen, we didn't. We didn't ask her to steal a dog from the
shelter."
The
SPCA did nothing to help Cheech. There was no rehabilitation except
that done by volunteers.
Amanda Muir - Cheech spent lots of time
socializing with staff, volunteers and other shelter animals. No
rehabilitation was done other than that of these volunteers and
staff, one volunteer was a dog trainer and offered to take Cheech
into her home to continue training but was not allowed to do so.
South Delta
Leader June 18/04
"All our attempts
to help it recover have been unsuccessful," Chortyk said.
"Unfortunately, all the assessments have shown it was becoming
increasingly aggressive around men and children."
The decision to euthanize Cheech
wasn't made lightly, Chortyk added, and four people signed off on
the decision.
Amanda Muir - No SPCA upper Management met
Cheech. Mark Takhar, Manager Vancouver/Burnaby SPCA (who to all
appearances was is afraid of most dogs and had NO training or animal
experience) and Michelle Rodgers were the only management he ever
met. Chortyk did not meet Cheech nor did Daniell or any other
management/HO representative that wanted to see Cheech put to sleep
(pts). Cheech was NEVER out with any young children but was walked
by several men, families with older children (young teens) as well
as other dogs. There was no aggressive behaviour reported or seen
during these walks. In fact, a couple with a teenage daughter came
the afternoon Cheech had been scheduled to be pts to adopt him.
CTV News at 6pm
June 19/04
Nadine Gourkow BC SPCA Animal Welfare Supervisor: He's very
ambivalent. He's very unpredictable. And there's a high potential
that he will bite without exactly the person holding the leash
knowing what has set him off.
Bob Busch SPCA Regional Manager: We must not let an animal that has
a chance to be dangerous out in public. We would be irresponsible as
the SPCA if we did that, and I think the public expects more of us.
Amanda Muir -- Neither Gourkow or Busch met
Cheech. Cheech was to go to a trainers home for further training
and foster care with a promise of his return for euthanasia if he
became aggressive or did not continue to improve as he had every day
since coming to the SPCA. Cheech was never to be let loose in
public although there was no reason he should not have been.
Michelle Rodgers and Bob Busch refused to even give him a chance to
be rehabilitated as their own mandates insist must be done before a
dog is pts.
The Sun June
19/04
"After
showing on the first test that he had anger management issues,
Cheech got "progressively worse in the shelter," said Nadine
Gourkow, animal welfare manager of the SPCA office in Vancouver.
During the second test, Cheech "showed he had a very high level of
fearfulness" by growling, showing teeth, jumping up and down, and
cornering himself in the back of the cage, she says. Then, when the
dog tester wasn't looking, Cheech lunged at him."
Amanda Muir -- Cheech had NO anger issues noted in either of his
first two assessments. Cheech did nothing but improve in the
shelter until the day Michelle Rodgers grabbed him, unexpectedly,
from behind, when he was barking at a stranger who entered the
shelter. Cheech did not bite or snap, he realized in a second who
grabbed him and returned to his usual demeanor. Had Michelle done
what she should have, verbally commanded Cheech to stop barking
he would have stopped his barking. This barking was only a
protective gesture as Cheech had started to consider the shelter his
home. That was part of the reason Cheech was up front in the
shelter in the first place, to be encouraged to behave
appropriately. If Michelle had reacted as she should have with
a simple 'that's enough' or 'leave it' command would have been
all Cheech needed to stop barking. Cheech thrived when given
verbal commands followed by praise, he was a quick learner and he
loved to learn and please people.
Global News 6pm June 19/04
Nadine Gourkow Animal Welfare Manager: He has attempted to bite and
people have protected themselves by, the two people that he has
attacked have put something in between themselves and the dog and he
bit the object instead.
Amanda Muir -- This must be in reference to
his last assessment and as this is the only time Cheech ever snapped
at anything. Cheech was put in a position where he had to protect
himself, or felt he had to. He was cornered in the kennel by a
strange man carrying a brush and Cheech snapped at the brush NOT the
assessor! There was never another 'incident' as described that I or
anyone who worked with Cheech was aware of.
Global Noon
News June 19/04
Nadine Gourkow: The feeling was with Cheech that the rehabilitation
he might need had very, very low chances of success, but even the
success that might have happened wouldn't have been so he is
actually healed. But that perhaps it could be managed, but that
would be to a point where he would have to have a lot of
restrictions such as being muzzled, being leashed, being things that
really would have reduced his welfare.
Amanda Muir -- Being leashed and muzzled is
better than being dead and is something the trainer offered to do if
she took him in, as a precaution, not because he needed to be.
The Sun June
19/04
"All of the people who assessed the dog since April ... say he's too
dangerous to be in the community," says SPCA spokeswoman Lorie
Chortyk.
Amanda Muir -- All the people are
three people and no one ever said this to my knowledge...no one that
actually met Cheech anyway.
The Sun June
21/04
SPCA spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk said the agency empathizes with
Cheech's supporters, but will not back down on its view that the
dog should be destroyed.
"It's difficult because it's very emotional," Chortyk said. "But
this dog has displayed incredibly unpredictable behaviour.
Cheech
displayed no unpredictable behaviour. He showed consistent,
but improving, timidity around men he did not know. He showed trust
and love for men he did know.
"McConnell and others have offered to adopt Cheech and keep him
isolated while he is trained and rehabilitated, but Chortyk said
there is no possibility the SPCA will agree to such an arrangement.
"It's kind of like saying 'We have a sexual predator, but if you
sign over, you can take him into your kindergarten class.'"
AAS:
Gross fear-mongering.
Amanda Muir -- Horrible comparison that
demonstrates Chortyk's lack of understanding of the situation and
her lack of tact.
Surrey Leader
June 22/04
SPCA spokesperson
Lorie Chortyk said the former guard dog could not be rehabilitated.
"All our attempts to help
it recover have been unsuccessful," Chortyk said. "Unfortunately,
all the assessments have shown it was becoming increasingly
aggressive around men and children."
Cheech
was not ever a guard dog, he was a puppy, under a year old who had
been a yard dog who got loose and ran around the neighbourhood so
much that the owner surrendered him to the SPCA, first getting a
promise from the SPCA that they would not ever hurt his puppy. The
first assessment gave Cheech a very high rating. The second
assessment was also good. The third assessment, AAS believes
was done on the day Cheech was scheduled to be destroyed after
AAS phoned CEO Craig Daniell and offered to rehabilitate Cheech at
AAS's expense, we believe is the assessment the SPCA used to declare
Cheech a dangerous dog.
Amanda Muir -- He had been in a yard at a
business in the Tilbury industrial park with a man who had saved him
from an abusive home. He and Cheech lived there with another dog.
Cheech's new owner did chain him at times so he would not run off as
he liked to do. He was surrendered as Judy states as Cheech was
running loose often, when not chained which his owner did not like
to do. The SPCA made a promise to find him a new and better home
than this man could give him.
"Chortyk said it's
not a matter of money or expertise, but rather the safety of people
who might come in contact with Cheech, adding Stone's organization
has not assessed the dog and doesn't understand it's disposition.
Delta Police were called
Wednesday to recover the dog but were unsuccessful. Chortyk said the
SPCA continues to work with police to get Cheech back. Chortyk
said the dog would not be reassessed or given more time for
rehabilitation."
Amanda Muir -- AAS offered to assess, train
and take full responsibility for Cheech before taking him in but was
not allowed to.
June 18/04
Email from Chortyk to AAS supporter Lana Simon
From: Lorie Chortyk <lchortyk@spca.bc.ca>
Date: Friday, June 18, 2004
1:32 pm
Subject: Cheech
Dear Lana,
The dilemma with Cheech's situation is that while he is fine with
some women, he has shown escalating
aggression, particularly towards young and adult males.
Amanda Muir -- Cheech's interaction with men
only improved during his time at the shelter.
There have been numerous situations
since he has been with us where he has
shown a dangerous level of aggression towards people at the shelter.
Amanda Muir -- Aside from a growl when
Michelle Rodgers grabbed him Cheech continued to improve with every
positive experience he had at the shelter from the day he arrived.
His behaviour is unpredictable -- he is very friendly in some
situations but then turns on other people with no provocation (you
may recall the case of Shenica White
-- the teenager who was mauled by two dogs in Vancouver last year.
The very next day the same dogs involved in the vicious attack were
very friendly, wagging their tails and giving kisses. This is the
kind of unpredictable behaviour that Cheech has exhibited).
AAS --
This is gross fear-mongering. AAS was told that Cheech is a
cheerful pup with such a strong bite-inhibition that no one has been
able to make him bite. He runs and hides when scared, but then
trustingly returns quickly.
We
have had several people involved in Cheech's rehabilitation efforts
and case management. The unanimous agreement
and recommendation by the assessors is that, based on Cheech's
temperament and behaviour, he cannot be safely placed in the
community.
AAS: not unanimous at all. Cheech passed his first and second
assessment tests.
No
one at the SPCA ever takes a euthanasia decision lightly, which is
why we brought in so many people to be part of the rehabilitation
attempts.
AAS:
no one was brought in to rehabilitate Cheech. His rehabilitation
(what little was needed) was done by Amanda Muir and Delta SPCA
volunteer professional trainer, Amber Cottle.
June 17/04
Cindy Elmquist of Prince George (250-563-2750) phoned the SPCA and
was put through to Chortyk.
Some
of the highlights of Cindy's conversation with Lorie:
- She said Cheech has lunged at
children's throats several times during his time at the SPCA. I
asked if there were any lawsuits against the SPCA re this. She said
no.
AAS: More gross fear-mongering.
Where is the notation in Cheech's file that he had lunged at a
child's throat? Can the SPCA produce the parents of this child?
Volunteers and staff say Cheech was
never in contact with a child.
- She said Cheech has viciously
attacked several people during his time at the SPCA. I asked if
there were any lawsuits against the SPCA re this. She said no. She
said that was because they were all SPCA employees that he attacked.
AAS: Staff say this is not true,
but if it were, then why was Cheech still being advertised on the
SPCA's website as up for adoption even on the day he was ordered
destroyed and he was rescued. There were no notations of attacks on
Cheech's file and staff and volunteers were never warned so it is
the SPCA that is irresponsible and putting the public at risk by
having Cheech for adoption even on the day they tried to kill him.
- I asked why Cheech wasn't put to
sleep if he had lunged at children and viciously attacked people
while at the SPCA. She said they were trying to give him every
chance possible.
(AAS: this is not
true, Cheech was never in contact with any children while at the
SPCA, but if it were true and he had lunged at a child, then it is
the SPCA that is irresponsible for leaving him for adoption on the
web site and for not warning the staff and volunteers.)
- I asked why it had said in his bio
that he was great with other dogs and people and getting better all
the time. She said that volunteers write the bio. I asked why SPCA
staff/management do not check these before they are posted. No
answer.
Amanda Muir -- Volunteers
do not write the bios, or at least never did at Delta. I wrote
Cheech's bio and took his photos. While off on my medical leave I
volunteered to do this and if I did not have time it was done by
other staff members who knew the animals very well.
- I asked how the decision was made.
She said they brought in many experts during Cheech's time at the
SPCA. One of the people was an animal welfare behaviourist at UBC,
of course there were also a few SPCA people. I asked if the Cheech's
vet was involved. She said no.
AAS: Amanda Muir and volunteers
say no one after Cheech's first good assessment was brought in to
assess Cheech except Barry McKnight, one of the SPCA's CAMP
enforcers from head office. McKnight produced the assessment that
Rodgers required to kill Cheech.
- I asked if she had ever witnessed
Cheech attacking someone. She said yes.
Chortyk
NEVER met Cheech and I do not ever recall her visiting the shelter
in the several years I was there...Cheech was not at the shelter by
the time Chortyk became involved.
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(Note: AAS told Mr Yazman that Cheech's name was
Reba and it was not until after the test was completed and the
evaluation form submitted to us that we told him Cheech's real name and
his story.)
CANINE INFORMATION:
Name: Reba
Breed [or best guess] : Possibly
Rottweiler/Lab cross
Age: about 10 months Sex: Male
Weight: Approx 50-60 pounds
Medical Problems [if any]: Broken nail/digit
on left hind foot
HISTORY: Unknown to me
Personality [Temperament] :
Slightly timid on the first encounter.
Otherwise a happy, playful, non-aggressive, forgiving puppy, with a lot
of self-control.
Entering/Exiting Territory: Reba was left
alone in a back yard for a few minutes, after which I entered the area
by jumping in over the fence, and by rattling some furniture. We had
never met before; I was a total stranger entering the property, and I
did not know what to expect. What I was faced with was a quiet,
cautious, and slightly timid puppy. I paid no attention to him and went
about my business, which was to pick up some litter. During all this
time he made no attempt to charge at me, attack or bite me. He kept his
distance and did not approach. When I tried to approach him, he again
kept his distance. I later coaxed him with some treats, and we warmed
up to each other, after which I left the territory to carry in some
equipment. He watched me leaving, and did not make a run for the gate,
nor did he follow me to the gate. On my second entry, things had
changed. He was happy to see me, and although he was a bit put off by
the equipment I was carrying, his curiosity got the best of him and he
started to explore the stuff I set down, and was close at hand, - again
without showing any sign of aggression, stress or fear.
Conclusion:
This kind of attitude is rare in dogs – any dog, let alone a Rottweiler
cross, and must be nurtured. As a pet one should not want a dog that
attacks and bites people entering the property, and instinctively Reba
did all the right things. A future owner should not de-program this rare
natural instinct and turn Reba into something he does not want to be.
Touch-Sensitivity: The following Standard Touch Test was done, each
several times, with the following results:
- Touch an ear, massage it and gently
squeeze it:
Little reaction, or no
reaction was shown
- Run hand down a back leg and touch the
foot:
Considering that he had an
injured toe on one of his hind legs, he was a bit apprehensive on that
side. He showed no reaction on the other.
- Put hand on head, slide over the eyes,
hold hand over muzzle for a few seconds and the lift the lips:
This is a test that sets
off aggressive dogs, and they usually snap or attempt to bite, or even
attack. Reba passed it with flying colors, and that within half an hour
of our encounter, which speaks volumes for his temperament.
- Run hand down the outside of the front and
back leg, front to back on the belly, end by lifting one foot and hold
it:
This is mimicking the drying of the dog
after a wet walk. Reba had no adverse reaction to this.
- Touch and firmly pull [not yank] on the
collar:
This was done throughout the Touch Test,
and he did not care one way or the other.
- Make a quick motion towards the head with
one hand, without touching or being overly threatening:
Reba showed no reaction to this, which
shows that he is tolerant to sudden movements towards him, unlike some
neurotic dogs that would snap in such cases.
- With both hands gently push on both
shoulders:
Again, this is a test that is very
dominant, and sets off most aggressive dogs. I tested this while Reba
was lying down, and despite the fact that he did not like it, he did not
respond aggressively, but removed himself from the situation.
My first attempt was too soon and under
stressful circumstances, so he wiggled himself out of it. After we
warmed up a bit more to each other, and in a more relaxed atmosphere he
did allow me to lift him, and keep him in my arms for a good half
minute. Every attempt after that was successful. Again, this shows his
immediate trust in people, because few dogs would let someone lift them
after such a short encounter.
This, again, is a very dominant gesture
towards any dog, and most dogs don’t like it; a good percentage reacts
aggressively. In fact it is the number one gesture, causing facial
injuries – especially in small children. Initially Reba did not like it
either, but unlike most dogs he did not react aggressively, but removed
himself from the situation. Later on, as it was in the case of lifting,
he did not have any problem in being hugged.
Conclusion: These tests are not
meant to show, whether the dog is a sweet-heart or not. What they are
meant to show is, whether the dog has the propensity of becoming
aggressive during regular touch issues, as done by an owner, in a
regular household. These are the kind of touches that are attempted on a
daily basis by adults, or children, and an aggressive response to any of
them would certainly raise a red flag. Reba’s reactions raised no such
flags, and my conclusion is that he is no threat to the average
household, provided that he is treated gently and with respect.
Escape: While on a walk, I dropped
the leash and he did not show any sign of wanting to escape, and
returned when called back [despite his lack of training]. He also did
not hog the gate in the yard, wanting to get out, nor was he looking for
places to bolt from in the yard. He did not give me the impression that
he wants to get away from the handler.
Barking/Howling/Whining:
On one occasion he barked at someone outside the
yard, whom he could hear and sense but not see. This is as far as his
guarding instincts should go. He does not seem to be a problem barker,
since I did not hear him bark on any other occasion at dogs or humans.
Disciplining [verbal]:
He complies, and becomes timid.
Disciplining [physical]:
No attempt was made.
Aggression: -while eating, chewing, sleeping,
discipline, physical handling: Reba did not show aggression during any of the
above [sleeping was not tested]. Most were not a concern to him. Those that were, he
dealt with by either removing himself from the situation, or by
submitting.
Leash Pulling/Biting: For a dog who had no training whatsoever, his leash
manners are better than average. He is attentive to the handler, and if
instructed properly, is not a leash puller. He never attempted to bite
the leash. In capable hands it will take no time to turn him into a
well-adjusted dog, in terms of leash manners.
Chasing: The opportunity to show, whether he goes after
cyclists, skateboarders, or joggers did not present itself.
Hunting/Predation:
The opportunity
whether he has predatory instincts, such as chasing after cats,
squirrels etc, has not presented itself.
Jumps up [handler]: No
Jumps up [strangers]: No
Stubborn: No. Is willing to listen and
learn. Is not after having his way.
Response to Recalls: Despite his lack of
training, very good. He was on a 5 yard Flexi-leash, and explored the
limits of it frequently, but obeyed to every recall.
Hyperactivity: Despite being a puppy he is
not a hyperactive dog. He is playful, but never gets out of control.
Phobias: [Thunder, Cars, Vacuum Cleaner etc]:
Did not test for any.
Shyness/Timidity: Yes, during first
encounters, and when reprimanded.
Response to Commands:Sit: Good Come:
Good Off: Good Heel: Not tested
TYPES OF RESPONSES TO:
Handling and Relinquishment of Food, Bone, or
Toys: This again is an issue where severe aggression
could manifest itself. Reba has passed this one with flying colors.
First several toys were introduced, and after he picked his favorite –
which in his case was a tennis ball – it was alternatively given to him
and retrieved from his jaws. Since he was unfamiliar to the “drop it” or
“give” command, I reached into his mouth every time and retrieved the
ball, and then returned it to him. At no point did he show any stress or aggression. I then, on an empty stomach, introduced a food bowl
to him with some kibble in it. While he was eating voraciously, I petted him, put
my hand in the bowl and stirred the kibble next to his mouth, and then
suddenly removed the dish from him. After a while I re-introduced the
bowl and did the same again. He did show no adverse reaction to my
interference. The bone issue was not tested. During this test a
raw bone is given, and after he has chewed it for 5 minutes or so, it is
taken away from him. Based on his reactions to the former two tests, I
cannot see him getting aggressive during the bone test. His new home must ensure that these qualities
remain as they are, and not deteriorate because of incorrect feeding
patterns or methods.
Gender: Despite the fact
I was told otherwise, he has given me no indication that he
differentiates between human male and female on property or in public.
Strangers: Individual & Crowds; On property; Off
property: Strangers on property are explained in the first
paragraph “Entering/Exiting Territory”. He is cautious and keeps his
distance. Strangers off property [on walks] he could care less about. He
does not approach them, in fact basically ignores them, and does not
mind them approaching him.
Children: I have not tested him with
children. However, the touch and relinquishment tests have shown that –
in a home that teaches children on how to interact with a dog properly -
the risk to children is minimal.
Motion: He seems to be oblivious to motion
around him, and towards him.
Sound: During the test period he has shown
no fear to any sound, despite the fact that we encountered heavy
machinery operating next to us, and helicopters flying overhead.
Lifting: See paragraph “Touch Sensitivity”
above.
Belly Rubs: Did not show any adverse
reaction.
Grooming: [Coat, Ears, Teeth, Paws, Nails, Eyes,
Body Check]: It is apparent that Reba has never been groomed
before. Had I been able to do a full test over my regular time, I feel
that he would have relented to a full grooming at the end of it.
However, due to time constraints, I was limited to a few minutes during
which I introduced several coat grooming tools such as a wire brush, a
rubber mitten, and a comb. I also attempted a mock ear cleaning, a mock
nail cutting, and a mock teeth cleaning. Some went well, others he
wiggled himself out of. The important point, however is that he did not
turn on me during any of my attempts, and despite our struggle he always
bounced back and let me try something else. It is very easy to get
bitten by the average dog during such attempts. Reba proved to be much
better than average in terms of his mild reactions to this test.
Rolling Over: Did not attempt. This is a
test to push the dog to a higher limit, in case there is cause for
concern during any of the previous tests. In Reba’s case there was no
ambiguity regarding his reactions.
Grasping Collar: Was performed numerous
times. No adverse reactions were noticed.
Threats: At this point I have nor been able
to establish what he may consider as a serious threat. He is a social
dog in public, and a cautious dog on property, and has given no
indications of what those threats might be.
Bite Potential: It all
basically comes down to this. I have given Reba ample opportunity to
bite me, sometimes seriously. He never took the bait. There have been
moves towards me, but every time he controlled himself and stopped
short. I would put his bite inhibition at high. I cannot stress enough
how significant this is, and how important it is for his new home to
continue to keep it this way. He should not be encouraged to act
aggressively and even play-biting/mouthing must be discouraged every
time. His natural instinct tells him not to bite, and every effort must
be made to keep it this way.
Triggers: I have not
been able to establish any triggers that set him off.
Dogs on Property: He is playful, and very
social with them, and does not seem to want to jump status in hierarchy.
Blends right in.
Dogs on Walks: We met all kinds of dogs on
our walk. Large, small, dominant, timid, and he got along with all of
them. More importantly he did not set off any of them. His dog etiquette
is impeccable.
Cats: Not tested.
Other Animals: Not tested.
Strangers Approaching:
In the presence of his handler he is oblivious to them.
Being left alone: Not tested.
Crating: Not tested.
Startling: Several different methods were
used, some were movements, others were sound related. Sudden movements
to the head, or body from various directions; a sudden clap in front of
the snout; a bang on an empty metal bowl close to his rear
quarters; a shrill whistle when he wasn’t expecting it. In all cases did
he recover fast, and continued being his usual self in a matter of
seconds. At no time did he turn aggressive, or become overly fearful or
stressed out.
Arousal: The point of
this test is to get him excited, and then see how quickly he calms down,
and whether excitement leads to aggression. The handler/assessor becomes
very animated and gets him wound up, invites him to play, even
encourages a bit of rough-play, and then suddenly stops and expects the
same from him. Despite being a very playful dog, he did not get overly
excited, and recovered in seconds. At no point did he get out of
control, aggressive, or hyperactive.
Car Traffic: He does not seem to be affected
by it.
Car Ride: At this point he is apprehensive
about getting into cars, and some creative handling is required.
Tools/Water Hose: Not tested
Motorcycles/Skateboards/Joggers/Cyclists:
Not tested
ASSESSOR’S SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS:
Normally a full assessment, covering all aspects of
a dog’s behavior and reactions, takes me 10-14 hours [ in 2-3 hours
increments over 4 –7 days] to complete. The tests are numerous [over
100] and if a chink in the armor is established, some of them are
repeated several times on separate days and under different
circumstances, to reach a definite conclusion.
In Reba’s case time was of the essence, so most of
the tests done, were exploring aggression of any kind, and whether he
was reliable in public. The total test time was reduced to about 3
hours, and concentrated on the issues above.
Despite the limitations, I can confidently say that
I found no chinks in the armour to cause concern and to follow up on,
nor could I establish any hidden skeletons in the closet. Had that been
the case I was prepared to extend the assessment period no matter what,
and may have referred the matter to a reliable Animal
Trainer/Behaviorist of my choosing - one with scientific credentials -
to explore further and to get a second opinion.
Reba is a dog with
unique qualities such as lots of self-control and correct decision-
making. These are rare qualities in any dog, let alone a shelter dog,
and must be nurtured from here on.
He is intelligent and
willing to learn, has trust in people, and is oblivious to outside
interferences. He struck me as a social dog with his kind, and with the
people he meets.
THE RIGHT HOME:
If he goes to a home with children it should be
sooner rather than later. It is better to take advantage of his puppy
stage to introduce him to a home with children.
He has proven that he can be placed in a home with
other dogs, depending on the attitude of the other dogs. Reba will not
be the one causing the problem.
Having said all that, I will have no control over
in which kind of home Reba will end up, and when. The home has to be
chosen carefully not for theirs but for Reba’s sake.
He has exceptional qualities - such as being very
social with other dogs, a nonchalant attitude towards strangers on
walks, utmost cooperation in terms of relinquishing items of value to
him, as well as his self-control in dire circumstances -, all of which
have to be encouraged and nurtured. Like any large breed dog, under no
circumstances should he ever be introduced to situations that lead to
aggression. He should not be encouraged to guard or protect anything.
Once that happens his ability to make the right decisions will be
altered, and the line between right and wrong will become blurry. He is
a pet and a companion and should be treated as such in a calm and gentle
manner. He should not be treated as a gun or an alarm system.
BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION PERIOD & TOTAL TIME:
June 28, 2004 11:30AM-2:30PM
ASSESSED BY:
Ali Yazman,
North Vancouver
604-377 8856
Dog handling credentials:
I have dealt with and owned [and still do] large
breed dogs with various types of aggression for most of my adult life. I
usually pick them from death row at pounds or other institutions; assess
them, work with them, after which they become a member of my household,
or part of society.
My professional involvement with such dogs goes
back to 1978, to the Turkish Armed Forces,
where I handled, lived with, and rehabilitated such dogs – used for
military purposes, and learned how to assess and temperament test them
from skilled instructors. I still study aggression in dogs, and keep in
touch with handlers around the world.
I have written several papers on dog aggression,
one of which I recently translated into English, and submitted to the
American Institute of Animal Sciences,
which posted it in its monthly online Newsletter of March 2004.
After coming to Canada, I volunteered for
the North Vancouver SPCA,
1999 May - 2001 December, and
the District of North Vancouver Animal Shelter,
2002 February - 2003 September, for
which I performed numerous dog assessments. I also worked exclusively
with the more difficult dogs, in terms of socialization and
rehabilitation.
Along the years I have developed my own method of
testing and assessing dogs with the following criteria. I am very
hands-on during the assessment. I prefer going into an evaluation
without knowing anything about the dog. I try not to draw conclusions
unless occurrences repeat themselves and the testing is done in the
right environment. I do not generalize or extrapolate. I do not take
anything for granted. I test every aspect of possible occurrences in an
average household numerous times before I come to a conclusion.
I test more than 60 issues that are as close to real life
scenarios as possible.
My average test duration for a dog with social
problems is 10-14 hours, in 2-3 hour segments, over 4-7 days. I do not
use assistants. I also do not use restrictive tools such as muzzles,
except for the very severe cases.
I do not make a living from dog-related issues. I
volunteer for pounds to assess dogs and work with the socially
challenged. On rare occasions, I do accept individual cases.
Throughout the years I have seen the worst in dogs,
and therefore I do not take aggression of any
kind lightly. However, I also have seen the very best dogs
have to offer, and insist that they must be given every chance to prove
themselves, before ultimate decisions are made about their faith.
A
Letter from Cheech
Having the time of my life!
Posted By: Cheech <you-will-never-find-me@cheech.com>
Date: Thursday, 1 July 2004, at 10:49 p.m.
Hi everyone! I am having so much fun every day in my new home. I
sleep with James, the nice young man in this family (which I am now a
part of!) and Simon the cat who was also rescued from an SPCA so we
have a lot of scary stories to share. And when I met my new Dad for
the first time, I was feeling so happy that I gave him a big kiss and
he said, "I thought this dog hated men", and then he patted me all
over and tugged on my ears.
I just love my new family, they are SO nice to me. I sleep on
James's bed, and he says I sleep funny 'cause I like to lie on my back
with all my feet up in the air. That's okay, though, I get to wash
James's face every morning until he wakes up. I wash him until he
starts laughing, and that makes me so happy that I can't stop
wiggling. I do a lot of happy wiggling these days actually, now that I
think about it. I can't recall ever being so happy in all my life as I
am here with my new family.
I have a whole bunch of toys, but I like frisbee and balls the
best. AND I got to go to the water and swim already, and that was the
best! We're gonna do that some more!
Yesterday some little dogs chased me at the park. They kinda ganged
up on me and they were really pretty scary all together in a bunch
like that, so I ran away really quickly with my tail between my legs.
Mom was laughing, but she did rescue me.
At night me and my new family watch TV, and just hang out, and I
got to try microwave popcorn for the first time. Boy is that ever
good! But I am always very careful to take only what is offered to me
and to take it very gently. My new mom says that I am the most polite
dog she's ever met. I'm glad that she likes me, and dad too, and
James, because if I couldn't live here with them I would be so
terribly upset. I am so very very happy here, I can't bear to even
think of how I used to live back at the dog dump, stuck in my cell
with all the other scared and lonely dogs, waiting for someone to save
me.
But someone did save me, and I want them to know that I am so VERY
VERY grateful. Troy, Kirsten, and Amanda, and my other friends back
where I was in jail (you know who you are) I miss you all, and I truly
hope that one day I may see you again, but my new mom says that it
will have to be a long time in the future because you really did save
my life, and if The Wardens find me they will kill me. (And my new cat
friend Simon... well he knows about The Wardens too, and he said I
better just listen to mom and be patient.)
So I'm writing to let you all know that I'm alive and very well,
and having the time of my life! I'll write again soon, as every day is
an exciting new adventure!
Lots of love, and wiggles, and licks,
Cheech.
AAS's offer to foster
and rehabilitate Cheech made to CEO Craig Daniell and Manager
Michelle Rodgers
To the Board of
Directors, BC SPCA
----- Original
Message -----
From:
Animal Advocates
To:
p_mackillop@telus.net ;
rennebergv@cnc.bc.ca ;
vanessa.lycos@shaw.ca ;
zred@telus.net ;
carla_maruyama@hermanmiller.com ;
SPCA DIRECTOR Howard Gray ;
tinakcr@hotmail.com ;
enlepage@shaw.ca ;
g-peterson@shaw.ca ;
tigerbowen@yahoo.com ;
kared@telus.net ;
thebad3@shaw.ca ;
kimby_59@yahoo.ca ;
phyllisgregg@telus.net
Sent:
Thursday, June 17, 2004 5:59 AM
Subject:
Fw: Official notice of AAS's offers to foster Cheech made today to
Craig Daniell and the Delta SPCA manager
To
BC SPCA President, Mary Lou Troman, and ex-President Rick Sargent:
----- Original
Message -----
From:
Animal Advocates
To:
mltroman@ntouchcorp.com ;
roxiegirl@shaw.ca
Sent:
Wednesday, June 16, 2004 9:57 PM
Subject:
Official notice of AAS's offers to foster Cheech made today to Craig
Daniell and the Delta SPCA manager
To Craig Daniell, CEO, and Michelle Rodgers,
Manager, Delta SPCA
----- Original
Message -----
From:
Animal Advocates
To:
BC SPCA - Craig Daniell ;
deltaspca@hotmail.com
Sent:
Wednesday, June 16, 2004 7:17 PM
Subject:
Official notice of AAS's offers to foster Cheech made to Craig Daniell
and the Delta SPCA manager
June 16, 2004
By email and fax
To
Craig Daniell CEO, BC SPCA, and Michelle Rodgers, Manager, Delta SPCA
To whom it may
concern:
At approximately
12:30 pm today I phoned the Delta SPCA after hearing the details of
the imminent destruction of Cheech, from a long time Delta SPCA
volunteer. I left a message for the manager, Michelle Rodgers, to
phone me.
At 1:01 Michelle
Rodgers phoned me. I offered AAS's help with Cheech's
rehabilitation. I offered to foster Cheech for the Delta SPCA. I
talked to Michelle at length about my ten years experience with large
dogs that had been abused and how I had found that all of them were
wary of men, often showing their fear by aggressive behaviour but that
I believed because of his young age, his submissive and affectionate
behaviour with many volunteers and with men once he got to know them,
and that he had not once bitten anyone, that he would be easily
rehabilitated, if just given the time. I several times repeated my
offer to foster.
At 1:24 I was
phoned by SPCA employee Amanda Muir who told me that Cheech was still
going to be killed any moment. I asked Amanda to quickly reiterate
our offer to Rodgers and that I was going to phone Craig Daniell
immediately.
At 1:26 I phoned
Craig Daniell on his cell phone and explained the offer I had made to
Rodgers. I asked him to phone Rodgers immediately and have Cheech's
destruction postponed until my offer could be considered and a fresh
look at the assessment could be made with the input of many volunteers
and staff. I stated clearly to Daniell that I was speaking for the
record that AAS would foster Cheech. I may have made this statement 3
or 4 times in this conversation.
At 1:40 Craig
Daniell phoned me back to say that Bob Busch, General Manager,
Operations, was on his way to the Delta SPCA, but he would not say
whether Cheech's life would be spared.
At 2:14 I was
phoned by a volunteer who said that because the order to destroy
Cheech had not been postponed or rescinded, that Cheech was being
removed by some sympathetic SPCA staff.
NOTICE:
I HEREBY RESTATE MY OFFER TO FOSTER CHEECH AND TO PAY FOR HIS
REHABILITATION.
Judith Stone,
President,
Animal Advocates Society of BC
www.animaladvocates.com
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