Pit Bull Found Savagely Killed and a Female Pit Bull Saves a Male Pit Bull From a Life of Fighting

Pit bull found savagely killed in Northeast Philly

By MICHELLE SKOWRONEK
Philadelphia Daily News

The popping sound of firecrackers is common around Ditman and Levick streets in Tacony, neighbors say.

But last night that sound came from a gun used to shoot a pit bull in the head.

It was the second pit bull that was found killed in a public area in two weeks.

About 10 p.m. last night, residents on Ditman heard a "pop, pop" but thought nothing of it until cops arrived in the back alley way about an hour later.

Police found a brown pit-bull mix laying in a puddle of its own blood, tied to a fence post with a gunshot wound on the side of its head.

One neighbor, who was watching TV, peered out the window into his back yard and saw the gruesome scene lit up by the flashing blue and red lights of a nearby police car.

"I couldn't see anything" at first, Carlos Rodriguez, 35, said. "It was so dark. But when police came, I saw the dog tied to my fence post."

Carlos and wife Ana were confused as to why the dog was tied to their fence in the first place, Ana said.

"There are plenty of other fences," Ana said. "They see we have a pool here, and they know our kids play in it every day, so why would they do it here?"

Police were still looking yesterday afternoon for the owner of the dog and who might have shot it, a police spokeswoman said.

"It's just weird," said David Cheatley, 30, who lives four houses down from Rodriguez's rowhouse. "We all have dogs here. Why did they have to do that right there where our kids could see?"

Dave Browning, 59, who lives between Rodriguez and Cheatley, said that in the last year his 9-year-old granddaughter has witnessed four deaths - three people hit by cars and now the dog.

"She and my wife were coming home from her dance-recital rehearsal," Browning said. "And when they pulled up, my granddaughter saw the dog laying in the street."

Browning's wife, Donna, then called police at 10:45 p.m., saying she saw a gunshot wound in the dog's head, police said.

"It's such a shame," Browning said. "When my granddaughter came in, she bent down and hugged our dog and said, 'Don't worry, I'll protect you.' "

The dog's body was picked up by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

On June 15, a pit bull was found dead hanging from playground equipment at an Olney rec center. The dog had been hanged by its leash at Barrett Recreation Center, at 8th Street and Duncannon Avenue.

SPCA offers reward in dog's fatal shooting

The Pennsylvania SPCA offers a $1,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for the fatal shooting of a dog Thursday in Northeast Philadelphia.

Authorities found a brown-and-white male pit bull mix about 11 p.m. in the 6400 block of Ditman Street. The 2-year-old dog had been tied to a fence and shot in the head.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania SPCA at 866-601-7722.

- Kristen Holmes

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What is wrong with people? Why? I want to know why someone would do this to a dog. It sounds like it might be the same person who hanged that pit bull in the playground. Both dogs were found hanging from leashes. People are sick. RIP sweet pit bull.

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Female Pit Bull Saves Male Pit Bull From a Life of Fighting

According to PEOPLEPets.com, for a dog named Brawn, his best friend, Brains, is his hero.

Brains, a female pit bill, earned her name after she led Brawn, an emaciated male pit bill with a 20 lb. chain around his neck, through a busy intersection in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla.

Brawn, weighing only 40 pounds, stumbled as he tried to maneuver his way through a busy street. When Brawn stumbled, Brains waited for him and, at times, nudged him through traffic.

David Walesky of Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control says Brawn was worn out and Brains was in front of him saying, "Let's get across this together. I'm waiting for you, buddy — let's go."

Two construction workers brought Brawn and Brains to a nearby animal shelter

. The dogs were later transferred to a no-kill shelter called Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, which is the only shelter in South Florida to take pit bulls.

According to Kay-Lynette Roca, founder of Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary, "The pair are now resting comfortably together at the sanctuary's state-of-the-art, charitable veterinary hospital, where Brawn is being treated for heartworms. Next stop: the sanctuary's newly-opened, 28-acre ranch in Palm City, where they'll 'acclimate and chill out.'"

Roca goes on to say that "the West Palm Beach neighborhood in which [the] dogs were found is known as a breeding ground for fight dogs. A lot of these guys will put weights and chains around their neck to build up muscles."

Roca believes Brains and Brawn broke loose from the same abusive situation. "They seem to know one another. She is protective of him, and she seems to be the leader. Thankfully, the pair don't show any aggression to other dogs or to humans. They're very sweet. We see no problems with them. These best friends will now remain so forever, as they'll only be adopted out to a family willing to take both. I will absolutely make sure they stay together."

The article states that if you would like information on how to adopt Brains and Brawn, or make a donation for their medical care, call (561) 747-5311 or visit the sanctuary's website at www.safeharborrescue.com.

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This is an awesome story with an almost happy ending for these pit bulls. It won’t be a complete happy ending until they find forever homes—The WD and I wish them both the best! xoxo