Archive for the ‘In The News’ Category

Yesterday I wrote a post about a Pit Bull that had been shot by one of our local law enforcement. I am truly disgusted to say that the owner had the dog euthanized yesterday AT HIS OWN REQUEST. He wasn’t ordered to do so. So this poor dog paid for the mistakes of it’s owner? Would you put your child down if they didn’t act the way “they were supposed to” because you did an awful job of showing them the correct way to behave? My dog was part of my family. “Pets” should be treated as family and not like an animal who just lives with you. *steps down off her soapbox* I am truly sad for this pup.

Source: The Toledo Blade

A Toledo police officer Saturday shot and wounded a dog that, the officer said, was attacking. The dog, identified by police as a brown adult male “pit bull,” was reported at large about 7:40 a.m. in the 1800 block of Brussels Street and Matlack Avenue between Brussels and Brame Place. The dog warden responded and followed the dog into a yard in the 1800 block of Brame. She was unable to capture the dog and asked Officer Lawrence Demski to cut off its escape route, according to a police report. The dog was shot once as it attacked, Officer Demski wrote in the report. The pitbull was euthanized Saturday night at its owners’ request.

The dog’s condition had stabilized at the veterinary clinic but it would have needed an amputation or extensive surgery if not put down, Lucas County Dog Warden Julie Lyle said.

This was not the first time the dog had been reported. Ms. Lyle said she received a call a few days ago about two dogs running loose at that address.

While twittering away like usual today, one of my local new stations put out a tweet about a Pit Bull that was shot by a local police officer. I am a big supporter of Pit Bulls. I am sure some of you are saying good for me and the other half are saying I am insane. I feel those who say I am insane are the uneducated group. Here is the story…

A pit bull is receiving emergency medical treatment after police shot him. Officers were responding to a call of a pit bull on the loose, but one neighbor believes police overreacted.

Neighbors called authorities after seeing a pit bull on the loose. Lucas County dog warden Julie Lyle says, “We went, responded, attempted to catch the dog. We were having trouble and the police got out to assist.”

Police say when the officer approached the pit and it became aggressive and charged. And that’s when the officer shot the dog in the shoulder. “I imagine he felt threatened and took actions that were necessary,” says Lyle.

But Michael Myers disagrees. He says he saw the whole thing. “If the dog was vicious and the cop was scared, how did he have the time to go into his trunk to get a shotgun? He’s got a pistol on his hip. It’s there for safety,” he says.

Police don’t deny that the officer used a shotgun from the trunk and say the officer did everything by the book. But Myers believes the shooting was unjustifiable. “If he feared for his life, why didn’t he pull his pistol from his holster and take care of business?” asks Myers.

The owner of the pit bull was not home at the time of the incident, but this wasn’t the first time neighbors complained of the dog being loose. “We spoke to the person who was caring for the dogs and told them about the complaints. Talked to them about licensing, rabies,” says Lyle.

Myers agrees the pit bull should not have been running loose, but that’s all he agrees on. He says, “My 5 year old son personally pet the pit bull on numerous occasions. So I know personally the dog wasn’t vicious, and I think it’s awful.”

The dog warden says the animal does not need surgery, but is receiving pain medication.

Before I get into this, I am not saying that there has never been a case of a Pit being aggressive, not saying that they are all loving dogs, what I AM saying is that this breed has been given a reputation of being a vicious, nasty and dangerous breed when it is not the case. Animals are like children, they are a product of their environment. Let me tell you a story….

In 2000 my Dad rescued a Pit Bull who was being severely abused by my cousin (ashamed to admit we are related!) Just  a FEW things she had been subjected to was being bred at just 6 months old (entire litter died and she almost did too) and being body slammed on a table doing life long damage to her back leg. She should have bit is head off but she never did anything to him. When my Dad got her she was skittish and skinny. She was a complete BABY when he got done caring for her. I had no problems letting my sons be around here from the time they were born.

All of the children that have come through my Dad’s home in the past 10 years were all treated with nothing but love from Sasha. The kids would ride her, pull her ears and tail and even stick their hands in her dish when she was eating. The best you would get out of her was a look of  “Can you please get this kid away from me now?” She passed away not to long after my Dad did from pure loneliness.

There is no perfect animal, there is no perfect human either. There are plenty positive things about Pit Bulls but people only seem to pay attention to the negative. rarely do you see a story about something positive but they are quick to chime in on a negative story. Take 5 minutes to educate yourself!!

Ten Facts About Pit Bulls Every One Should Know (From PitBullLovers.com)

1. Pit Bulls are commonly used as therapy dogs. Whether they are visiting a senior care facility or helping someone recover from an emotional accident, Pit Bulls are making a mark as outstanding therapy dogs.

2. Pit Bulls are used in Search and Rescue work. One example of well known SAR Pit Bulls is Kris Crawford and her dogs. Kris and her dogs have helped save the lives of many people during their efforts. http://www.ForPitsSake.org

3. Pit Bulls serve as narcotic and bomb sniffing dogs. One Pit Bull, Popsicle (named that because he was found in an old freezer) has the largest recorded single drug find in Texas history. Read more about Popsicle here. Including how he found over 3,000 lbs of cocaine in Hildago, Texas.

4. Pit Bulls are great with kids. They weren’t referred to as the “nanny’s dog” for nothing that’s for sure.

5. Pit Bulls are not human aggressive. The American Pit Bull Terrier as a breed is not human aggressive. In fact, quite the opposite is true of the breed. They are gentle and loving dogs. Like any dog individuals can be unsound and have behavior problems.

6. The Pit Bull was so popular in the early 1900′s they were our mascot not only in World War One, but World War Two as well. They were featured on recruiting and propaganda posters during this time period.

7. Sgt. Stubby. A Pit Bull war hero. Stubby was wounded in action twice, he saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack and he single handedly captured a German spy.

8. Pete the Pup on the original Little Rascals was a Pit Bull.

9. Pit Bulls score an 83.4% passing rate with the American Temperament Test Society. That’s better than the popular Border Collie (a breed who scores 79.6%). View the ATTS stats here.

10. They are dogs not killing machines.

Some News Stories:

Dixie, Heroic pit bull: When the deadly cottonmouth snake struck out at “her” children, Dixie never hesitated. The dog pushed the children aside, putting her 50-pound body between them and the snake.

Heroic Pit Bull: Dog Finds Help For Injured Neighbor. Move over Lassie. A pit bull terrier has shown Auburn’s resident that heroic dog deeds don’t just happen in the movies or on TV.

Source

Smart shopping can pay off

Written by Michael Driehorst |

Every dollar does count.

And there are plenty of online resources and methods to help make sure earnings are spent wisely.

Paula Wethington has penned the “Monroe on a Budget” blog for the Monroe Evening News since January 2007. The often updated blog strives to be a resource for frugal living.

“Do not expect too much, too fast,” Wethington said about how quickly people can see results from clipping coupons and other frugal activities. “It’ll take about eight weeks to ramp up.”

Toni-Lynn Barber of Sylvania operates two frugal shopping/couponing sites: GroceryPriceBooks.com, which she started in 2007, and TheCouponCupboard.com, a forum started in 2008 where members can share couponing tips, learn about free samples and trade coupons.

Barber also maintains a blog at Grocery Price Blog.

“What you save depends on so many things,” Barber told Toledo Free Press via an e-mail. “Are you brand specific? Will you only use coupons for things you buy normally? How many coupons do you have access to?

“I save over 95 percent on every trip, but I have been doing it for seven years,” she wrote.

Wethington has been really serious about couponing since 2005.

Once into a rhythm, Wethington said couponing can reduce grocery expenses by up to 50 percent when combined with store sales.

Barber said there is no best method for tracking coupons and matching them up to store sales.

“Couponing isn’t a one size fits all. It works best if you come up with your own method or maybe one modified from someone else’s,” she said.

Wethington said she clips coupons and separates them into two piles — one for her family and one that she uses for trading, to give away to friends. With her coupons, she reviews store fliers to see when products go on sale and plans her trip to those stores to use the coupon at the time of the sales.

“I normally go to two or three different stores a week. You do not have to drive all over. Match up the coupons and plan your trips based on the stores you normally pass on your errands,” Wethington said.

In addition to couponing for trading and to give to friends, Wethington suggested keeping other needs in mind like school food drives and using the coupons to purchase items to donate.

Once you develop your own method, Wethington said, be smart with your weekly trips. Depending how many of the coupon fliers you look at in the newspaper, clipping coupons on a weekly basis can take 20 to 30 minutes. And, to get the family involved, Wethington suggested enlisting children to cut out the coupons.

Barber and Wethington said given time, couponing and timing purchases to coincide with store sales will pay off.

“Don’t give up!” Barber  stated in her e-mail. “You will not automatically save 95 percent on your bill like me. This takes time to learn your store sales, what coupons you have access to and so many other things.

“If you can go and save $20 that is fantastic. Start small and if you stay with it and be patient, in time you can save more,” she said.

Wethington added, “Be very resourceful. Frugal living takes a lot of time, but these days, people have a lot more time than they do money.”

My husband has this bad habit of trying to get me noticed publicly. I am super shy and HATE media attention He wrote to a local newspaper about doing a parent profile on me. Guess what? THEY DID! That is me, yep right there on the cover. No not the cute little girl Bottom center of the cover. My 6 year old is SO PROUD! He is giving everyone a paper haha

Toledo mom helps feed and teach other families

by Clara Engel
published March 2009

With the economy in a dire state and the outlook not too promising, any way to save can help – without sacrificing necessities like food and family health. Local mom and online forum fanatic Toni-Lynn Barber can help.

Starting in October 2007, Barber set up several website forums and blogs focused on saving money with coupons, family fitness and making economic grocery choices. The forums have attracted over 3,000 visitors and members from all over Toledo and surrounding communities. “My first site was Grocery Price Books. I came up with the idea because I saw no other site like it on the web,” says Barber. This forum serves as a convenient price comparison site for shoppers at local grocery stores like Kroger, Giant Eagle and Mejier. “It is important for shoppers to ‘know before you go’ what the everyday store prices are.”

After receiving great feedback from her initial forum, Barber partnered with a small company, Chaotic Communications, LLC, to develop We Fit Familes and The Coupon Cupboard. “The Coupon Cupboard is an online discussion forum where people can come to learn about how to coupon,” says Barber, who has been utilizing these money-saving offers herself for years. “It really is just a process of matching up a good coupon with a good sale and stocking up. Anyone can do it, but it does take time and dedication.” Users of the forum share information on which stores are having sales and how coupons can make that deal even better. The majority of members on the forum, Barber says, are moms trying to learn how to save money on their monthly grocery bills. We Fit Families, another successful discussion forum, is a productive outlet providing ideas and tips on staying fit and meeting family goals each year. “Members talk about innovative ways to involve the whole family in a healthier lifestyle,” says Barber.

This month though, Barber and members of The Coupon Cupboard have added community support to their grocery lists. “We decided that we would like to use our couponing skills to help make a small difference in our local communities,” Barber says. “We have the ability to help others in two very profound ways: (by donating) portions of our (coupon-assisted purchasing) stockpiles and teaching people how to save money.” The virtual food drive contest she has organized will encourage people to donate to local pantries and shelters, write about their experience and post their stories on the web forum where members can vote on their favorites. The winner of the contest will receive a Wii Fit or gift certificates. “We believe that the most significant way to help bring about a change is to work within your local community.”

Barber advises beginner couponers not to give up and to start small. “You can’t just walk into the store with no knowledge and expect to get a larger order for practically nothing,” she says. “Get an item or two free and go from there.” Practice pays off, though. In January Barber left a store with 316 items and almost $550 worth of food for which she paid under $3. “By far, the best thing about running the sites and couponing would have to be that I get to stay home with my boys,” says the mother of two.

For details on the virtual food drive or to learn more about the sites, visit, Grocery Price Books, The Coupon Cupboard or We Fit Familes.