A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Submitted photo / The South County Spotlight
NOSE TO NOSE – Marie Liesegang of Midway Veterinary Hospital in Warren nuzzles up to one of the pit bulls taken from convicted dogfighter Eduardo Ribaya last year.
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After eight months at the county’s animal shelter, the two once-condemned pit bulls belonging to convicted dogfighter Eduardo Ribaya have found a new home.
The pair were sent last week to a life behind tall walls at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, Wash. The move came on the heels of concentrated efforts on the part of St. Helens animal activist Bethany O’Driscoll, who works at the Ananda Farm Sanctuary, to find them an appropriate alternative to euthanasia.
The dogs, which are very aggressive towards each other and other animals, had become an expensive problem for the county after they attacked a calf in Scappoose last summer. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners had sought, but could not locate, a sanctuary with adequate security to house the dogs and Columbia County Animal Control was planning to euthanize them right after the Feb. 12 deadline giving Ribaya the opportunity to make his final appeal. At the time, Animal Control Officer Roger Kadell said he was anxious to get the dogs out of his care, especially following a fight between the two dogs that resulted in a kennel technician getting bit. At the last minute however, O’Driscoll was able to locate a home that could not only take the dogs, but one that the commission, concerned for public safety, would approve of. At the Forks sanctuary, whose tagline reads “We save the dogs you’d rather see dead,” the dogs are now living behind 8-foot-tall fences in solid wall kennels they won’t be able to chew through.
In preparation for relocation, O’Driscoll paid to send the animals for care at the vet. During that time, she said she had a chance to get to know the animals and said the pit bulls are sweet animals who are good with humans and worthy of a second chance.
As for whether the county might follow a similar path with other dangerous dogs, Kadell said, “I think it’s possible to use it as example of what we might do in the future. We’re seeing that there’s other alternatives out there.”
Because there is not enough evidence to charge him with anything in COLUMBIA COUNTY. He may be a convicted dogfighter in possession of fighting dogs, but no one has enough to do something to him yet. The dogs attacked a calf, thus, they are getting sent to doggie jail rather than (IMHO) appropriately killed. Dogs like this are not worth saving. Period. Too dangerous and a waste of money.
(email verified)
Thu, Mar 04, 2010 at 01:51 PM
Awesome! Thank you so much to everyone who saved these dogs, and great to hear that the county has learned to find options for animals like this where they can live and be treated well instead of being killed. Great work! Look at that dog nuzzling that woman. Beautiful!
(email verified)
Fri, Mar 05, 2010 at 08:00 PM
We are honored to have participated in the rescue of these deserving and worthy animals. Both are good dogs who were victimized for most of their lives by a man who serially abuses animals for money. They will now begin their new lives free of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
In spite of everything these dogs have gone through, we found them to be trusting and gentle toward all of us. Both dogs have been through a lot - covered in scars and open wounds, emaciated, and filthy when they arrived at the vet, they were promptly bathed, treated, fed, and comforted. They responded almost immediately, unfolding into sweet, playful, trusting dogs. The photograph above, where the male dog nuzzles Marie at Midway, was taken on the day that the dogs would have been "euthanized" (aka killed) had they not been rescued. We are very thankful that they will get to live instead.
We were privileged to work with the good people at Midway vet in this rescue - they know and love pit bulls, and gave them excellent care while we awaited the transfer to sanctuary. We also very much appreciate the willingness of the Columbia County commissioners and Roger Kadell of Columbia County animal control to allow us to explore alternatives for these dogs. We especially appreciate Steve Markwell at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary for doing what he does, and for making room on his long waiting list for this urgent case. It almost goes without saying that rescuers willing and able to take in dogs with special needs, such as those rescued from fighting rings, are few and far between. It means the world to these dogs that Steve is there, and willing to help them.
Mr. Ribaya has been arrested at least three times for fighting dogs - pitting them against each other and in some cases against other innocent animals for the pleasure and profit of sadistic onlookers. When they would not fight, they were tortured, and often killed. In two separate raids on his properties, dozens of innocent dogs were seized and mostly put to death, and rabbits were found that were used as bait. Dead dogs were discovered at fights organized by this man - including one dog who had been thrown against a wall until his neck was broken, because the dog was not vicious in the pit. In spite of this history, and in spite of overwhelming evidence that he is still in the fighting racket, Ribaya was never arrested or charged in the incident during which these two dogs were seized, and is therefore still out there, most likely still fighting dogs. That is very disheartening. There should be no tolerance for this kind of abuse of animals.
It's wonderful to note, though, that people are beginning to recognize that these dogs are victims of a crime, and not perpetrators. At the same time, we are discovering that pit bulls are not "monster dogs" after all, and that dogs who were abused by dog fighters can be rehabilitated and can live happy and meaningful lives if we just give them a chance.
(email verified)
Fri, Mar 05, 2010 at 09:38 PM
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Re: Dogfighter’s pit bulls saved from impending death
Why didnt the police and mult cty RICO this guys property, sell it and finance the rehab of the dogs...He is a dispicable human being....is he in prison...?
"Klaatu"
(email verified)
Thu, Mar 04, 2010 at 10:49 AM