Early this year, we posted a rescue video of Nala, a scared stray Pit Bull living in a ditch, from the wonderful Eldad Hagar.

We thought it was worth to share in hopes that it will inspire more people to be a hero for any animal in need. It could be as simple as sharing on Facebook, or like Sara in this video, who noticed a stray in need and decided to do something.

The comments started to become a question of whether hugging a scared stray dog was the right approach. Eldad is a very experienced and well-respected stray dog rescuer. He’s done many rescues like this and usually spends an extended amount of time to get the dogs to warm up to him. But to clear things up, Eldad joined the conversation:

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Hello, everybody. I admit: I never read a book about dog training; everything I do is done by instinct. Is it a good idea to hug a dog someone never met? Well, I guess it’s not for everyone. I am 100% confident in what I do, and so far, after rescuing thousands of dogs, I managed to keep all 10 fingers AND my nose. 🙂

I actually posted another video a while ago… totally raw, no editing (except for music added). It may be boring to some, but I think it shows how fast these dogs can turn around.

Another video I filmed that required a more aggressive approach on my side ended up with a hug right away. Take a look at him — he wanted a hug:

Of course one of my most famous videos is a video that is all about the hug:

I heard so many times people tell me “don’t look the dogs in the eyes as it might be threatening to the dogs,” but it is rarely true. Books written by trainers are one thing, and dealing with hundreds of strays is a different thing.

Most people shouldn’t attempt the crazier stuff I do because the results can be bad. I obviously DON’T want people to attempt stuff like this if they don’t know EXACTLY what they’re doing and the risks as this CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS (it is a little crazy, I was bitten TWICE before mastering this technique, but it worked):

(But I never let the dog go…even though I was bleeding pretty badly).

I hear many people refer to me as “the dog whisperer,” but it’s really NOT what I do most of the time. The Dog Whisperer (Cesar) is all about being the alpha dog, the pack leader, the dominant, but in my case, most of the time I have to be their equal…I have to be their friend…I have to look them in the eye and tell them they can trust me. Here is the video showing how it’s done with two dogs:

I definitely DON’T want people who are not experienced to do some of the things I do because they can find themselves seriously injured (or dead). I also wouldn’t want people to go to some of the places where I go… some neighborhoods can be really rough just like in this video:

Last thing about hugging: Many times, it actually gives me protection because it limits the dog’s ability to turn their head quickly towards me and give me a bite.

I stand behind everything I said. Oh, and if you think I’m crazy, check out what Lucy is doing to Ace:

Please don’t take it the wrong way. I have no problem with criticism… I was only trying to explain my point of view on the subject. I avoid reading training books because I don’t want ideas planted in my head that might affect my behavior. So far, whatever I do works, and that’s all that matters. 🙂

If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you so much for sharing my videos and helping me raise awareness. I had so many people write to me in the past few weeks that these videos made them contact local rescue groups and shelters, and this is EXACTLY why I post these videos. Happy 2012!!!

~Eldad

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Thank you, Eldad, for saving these animals, for raising awareness and, more importantly, for doing what you believe is right and staying positive amidst criticism! That’s what everyone in “I’m Not a Monster” community is encouraged to do. We are here to educate and empower individuals to do the right thing for the animals in need. Thank you again for being a great example of that!

Let’s make 2012 a year of heroes!

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About Eldad Hagar:

Eldad Hagar has been rescuing animals across the country for the past decade. With his wife, Audrey, they created Hope for Paws, a 501(c)3 non-profit animal rescue organization based in Los Angeles, CA, to rescue dogs and all other animals who are suffering on the streets and in the shelters. With a huge network of rescuers from all over the world on Facebook, their goal is to educate people on the importance of companion animals in our society to stop the cycle of animal neglect and abuse.

By Stephanie Conrad: She’s ‘Just a Dog’… and You are ‘Just a Person’…

Nothing irritates me more than the question, “Why are you doing so much for ‘just a dog’?” —Stephanie Conrad, artist

To some people, rescue is confusing. They don’t understand why we put so much effort into each dog that comes into our lives. They see these loving four legged creatures as a nuisance, property or ‘things’ that are really unnecessary in the grand scheme of their lives. Personally, these people make me sad. Not only are they obviously heartless (who doesn’t love a puppy or a kitten?!?) but they are missing out on what I consider one of the best pieces of my life.

So I say to those individuals:

“To you, she is ‘just a dog’. She is never going to cure cancer. She is never going to be a super hero or save a baby from a burning building (although there are many other dogs that have done so…). She is never going to win a Grammy or star in the next hit film. She is never going to be more than ‘just a dog’……. but that is perfect because being a dog is exactly what I expect from her.

She will slobber on my feet as soon as I walk through the door. She will destroy many toys and spread white cotton stuffing all over my living room. She will absolutely have an accident in the house and I’m sure I will step barefoot in that cold puddle on the floor before I see it. She will track mud all over my freshly mopped kitchen and leave paw prints all over my new white shirt.

She will lick away my tears when I am sad and cuddle with me when I am sick. She will dedicate herself to me and shower me with adoring looks and wags so happy and fast that they knock her off her feet. She will rely on me to provide her with a loving home, full of kisses and hugs. She will know that she is loved and will never need to worry where her next meal will come from. She will never worry that she is going to be left at a shelter when her family moves away or be chained to a tree for her whole life because her family doesn’t want her to play in their garden. She will never worry that she will be neglected, abused or forgotten because to me, she is so much more than ‘just a dog’… she is MY dog.

Chances are, YOU are not going to be the next Grammy winner or cure cancer. Chances are, you are going to be an average human being, which is exactly what I would expect from you. Being average doesn’t make you unspecial… it just makes you… you. A person that deserves to be loved and treated with respect, just as my dog does. To you, she is ‘just a dog’… just as you are ‘just a person.’

So the next time you want to ask why I care so much about ‘just a dog’… ask yourself why your loved ones care so much about ‘just a person’ like you.”

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About Stephanie Conrad:

The Pet Studio‘s owner is a self-taught artist who’s been exploring her creative side since before she can remember. Her passion allows her to give back to her community, work with many animal welfare organizations, educate on responsible pet ownership, showcase adoptable animals and raise money for animal charities through the Rescue Fund program. She shares her home with four fabulous rescues and a constant stream of fosters.

By Mac Adams: Why Do I Do It?

Why do I have four deaf dogs? Because I can’t take a fifth one right now.

Why did I even choose a deaf dog? I didn’t choose Pickles, Nea, Piglet or Opal…they all chose me.

Why do I make their food from scratch? Because the vast majority of commercial dog food isn’t worth the material used for the packaging.

Why am I on Facebook so much? I’m trying to get the word out about deaf dogs and I’m trying to get the ones in the shelters adopted. The deaf dogs in rescues I’m not so worried about because, although that may not be their forever home, they are safe and loved with fosters. The ones in the kill shelters are the ones that concern me the most. I wish I could bring them all home but I can’t. I wish that I could play with them all but I can’t. I wish that I could love them all and I do but I can’t hold them and tell them.

Did this all start with Polar? Sorta. Polar was the first time that I stepped outside my comfort zone and fought for something that didn’t relate to who I was. It wasn’t about Mac the husband, Mac the parent, Mac the police officer or Mac the friend. It was about Polar and what was going to be done to her through no fault of her own.

Did it really start there? No. It all started in 2002 when we bought an American Mastiff puppy from a breeder (I didn’t know any better back then) in Ohio and named that puppy “Saint Brigid’s Madred.” When we were looking for names we wanted something Gaelic or Scottish and wanted it to mean “monster” because we knew she was going to be big. We looked everywhere and found the word “madred” (pronounced mah-drid) which meant “monster” (although I can’t find that reference now). That was perfect! Saint Brigid has many meanings to Donna and I and they are intensely personal.

Maddie, as she became known, was our child. We loved her and cared for her like doting parents do but we did make mistakes. I spoke harshly to her and even spanked her. I got mad at her and yelled. I know now that bad dogs come from bad owners and although I didn’t consider myself as a bad owner, looking back…I was.

Maddie was a great companion but I took her for granted and didn’t treasure that friendship I had with her. She loved me, unconditionally, even when I didn’t deserve it. There were times when I thought she was too much and wanted to give her away but I realized that I made a commitment to her and knew I couldn’t do that.

Maddie began to get older and was less active then she started to not be able to get up without assistance. We were told that this breed of Mastiff only lived seven to nine years and we had had her for about six so her slowing down did not concern me although it should have. You see, when she was a puppy, we fed her a commercial brand from a national dog food maker available at your local pet store. Then later, it became too difficult to go to the pet store because it was another thing on the errand list so we started buying dog food made by a national dog food maker available at the grocery store. I was to find out years later that I would have been better off feeding her the bag it came in.

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A fictional story by LEO the Lion Hearted

Blue, a pit bull mix, happily walked down the street that his family lived on. He had often dug his way out of the back yard, but he only wanted to check out the neighborhood and would always return home. This day was however, different.

Four young men caught sight of Blue in the distance. When they got up close to him, they grabbed him by the collar and began to drag him down the street. They took him to the neighborhood park and began to kick and hit him. Blue yelped out in pain, but his screams for help went unanswered. The boys found some large sticks and rocks near by, which they began to pelt him with. One of the boys pulled out a pocket knife. He stabbed Blue over a dozen times and then cut off one of his ears. He was left in the park, near the swing set, in a pool of blood. He suffered a very slow and painful death…

One the last beat left his heart, he found himself in the most beautiful place he has ever seen. The beauty was something that words cannot begin to describe. Blue soon realized that he was no longer in pain. He held his head up and standing in front of him was a man. He cringed at first, but the man’s welcoming hand soon calmed his fears…

The man told Blue, “I am so sorry for the circumstance that brought you here to me, but I promise there can be no ore pain now. I feel deep sorrow for the way you were brutally treated and I wanted to offer you a chance to go back to Earth for one more day. You will get a single day to do whatever you want. You can seek revenge on the evil boys that attacked you. You can take them down with your strong teeth. You can ravage their bodies and leave them laying in their own pools of blood. I wish you the best and will stand behind anything you feel you need to do.”

Blue took in a deep breath and prepared himself for his one day mission back to Earth. He blinked his eyes and when they opened again, he was back at the park where his fresh blood still stained the ground…

Blue took a mad dash down the street. His teeth were gleaming in the Summer sun. He had drool dripping from his mouth in strands that seeped to the ground. He was a dog on a serious mission. He ran faster than he ever has and he was set intently on a figure in the distance. When he grew close enough he leaped through the air and knocked down… a nine year old girl. He dripped slobber all over her and opened his mouth wide. He pelted her with hundreds of licks, while she giggled with joy…

The little girl said, “Blue, where have you been? I have been looking for you. Mom said you would be back soon, but I was worried.” She walked to the back gate, while Blue followed right behind her. They went into the backyard and played for many hours. She threw his favorite ball, they played chase, they rolled in the grass together and then Blue laid in the sun while his little girl used him as a pillow.

That night Blue slept cuddled up next to his little girl, as close as he could get. He normally slept at the foot of her bed, but this night was definitely different.

The morning came fast and Blue’s hours on the Earth were fading. He spent the morning keeping up with everything his family did. He took it all in, knowing that he would have to leave them again and all too soon.

One full day passed and Blue was prepared to go back. He knew that he spent his last day in the most wonderful way ever. He had totally forgotten about the pain that the young men had caused him. In some ways, he was thankful that they showed him how much his family meant to him. Blue stepped out into the yard one more time and glowing in the distance he saw the man who blessed him with one more day.

The man grew closer and Blue closed his eyes. He expected to open them again and be back up high in the sky. However, he felt a soft touch on his head and heard a voice, which said, “Blue, I have been watching you. I saw you run like a speedball down the street. I saw you spend your entire day with your little girl. I saw you take in each moment with an immeasurable joy. Your choice not to take down the young men who hurt you is one of the most admirable things I have ever seen. Your compassion and joy is something that this Earth needs. I am going to pay back your kindness and unbelievable forgiveness with one more blessing. I am going to give you back your life on earth, just like thing were before you were hurt.”

Blue opened his eyes and the man was gone. He looked around to find that he was still in his backyard. He heard a noise, turned to look back and saw his precious little girl.

Blue is a lesson in revenge and what is EVEN BETTER than revenge.

Vengeance is short and somewhat sweet, but LOVE is never ending.

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About Leo Alexander Hitt aka LEO the Lion Hearted:

I love life. I only have three legs, but I run like I have five (now that would look weird — LOL!). I was found dragging myself across a street. Those were some hard times, but life is totally different now. I am all about Spreading The Love. I have lots of love to give and I feel it is my job to pass it around. I am working towards becoming a therapy dog. I hope to one day share my courage and strong will with those who are going through tough times. For now I enjoy keeping up with my Facebook page and having as much fun as possible.

By Liz Belilovskaya

Dear Esteemed Policy Makers,

I’m sure you’re aware that many animal abuse cases are not given the proper attention they deserve. While there are numerous examples of this, here are a few you can check out right now: Justice for Grace, FIRU, Pit Bull Bias in the Media.

Why are we neglecting to help animals that depend on our sense of justice and rationality? How do you justify letting people who commit animal abuse off without serious punishment? What actually keeps them from reoffending? How can we let those who abuse animals take legal action against the pet rescue organizations that work to save the victimized animals?

Clearly there are many questions you need to answer, but haven’t.

You should be concerned that if someone is able to do this to an animal, he or she is likely able to do this to another person. I understand that there is a sea of other problems that you have to deal with, but if you created animal protection laws and then opted for the jobs that you have, you should be taking action and implementing stricter measures to ensure justice is being served.

Politics without compassion will collapse this country. Reach out to fellow policy makers, petition for stricter punishments for animal abusers, and please make sure the media is held accountable for what it reports. These issues need to be addressed, please do so.

Liz

Editor’s Note: This letter was sent to Tipton County Executive Jeff Huffman, District Attorney General Mike Dunavant, Tipton County Sheriff J. T. “Pancho” Chumley, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and Senator Bob Corker’s Field Representative Nick Kistenmacher.

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About Liz Belilovskaya:

Professional dog lover, cat hoarder and animal rights advocate. I’m a mix of super Soviet ethnicities and believe the day should start at the crack of noon. I am also a cancer buttkicker as the community manager of I Had Cancer—social support network for cancer fighters, survivor and supporters.