[PNWPBR]

Felida, a once-homeless and feral pit bull that neighbors fed for more than a year, and that recently was rescued, gives a kiss to Ron Goodstein. Watching from left are Ellena Thomas, executive director of Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue, and Ron's wife, Stacy Goodstein. (JANET L. MATHEWS/The Columbian)

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
BY JOHN BRANTON, Columbian staff writer

FELIDA - The first time Stacy and Ron Goodstein saw the homeless pit bull dog they called Pup, the petite female was sleeping under a shed overhang outside their home.

That was in early 2006, a cold time of year.

"We felt bad for it, so I fed it," Stacy Goodstein said recently. "It looked like it was hurt and very hungry."

The young dog, black with white markings, was fearful and shy. When people got too close, she would run away. But if they put food out for her, she'd gladly return and devour it.

As the months went by, Stacy Goodstein kept leaving food for the dog, hoping she eventually could catch her, but it didn't happen.

At one point, when the dog charged toward Ron Goodstein and their dog, they stopped feeding her, but they later forgave it, giving her the benefit of the doubt.

"I think it was a territorial thing, not an aggressive thing," Stacy Goodstein said.

Besides claiming an area outside the Goodsteins' home where she'd been fed, the dog had a nest atop a grassy knoll in a nearby field.

Sometimes people left food for her there. Sometimes she stole food from garbage cans and carried it to her nest.

Officers with Clark County Animal Protection and Control came out to try and catch the feral dog, but couldn't.

Very recently, the Goodsteins heard about Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue, headed by Ellena Thomas and her husband, Jacob, of Vancouver. Area resident Joey Cooper, whose husband, Mark, gave the dog treats, sent an e-mail to Thomas, describing the situation.

The group is one of about 75 that work with the Humane Society for Southwest Washington, based in Vancouver. The groups can provide foster homes, and work to find permanent homes for animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets and even turtles.

Asked about the Thomases' work, Chuck Tourtillott, executive director of the local humane society, said they do well.

"They've helped us place some of the pit bulls that come to our shelter. We think she's very responsible in her placement."

The Thomases' group, formed a year ago, isn't devoted to saving all pit bulls. Those dogs that turn out to be aggressive or vicious are euthanized.
"While we love the breed, we accept that not all pit bulls are good candidates for adoption," states the group's Web site, www.pnwpbr.com .
Told of the situation in Felida, a 2½-year-old pit bull that had survived homeless for about 14 months, the Thomases took action.

"We went and scouted the site, then contacted our vet for tranquilizers," Ellena Thomas said.

On the morning of June 30, Stacy Goodstein put the liquid tranquilizer in some food and took it to the hill nest. When she saw the dog had eaten the food, she notified Ellena Thomas.

Arriving in a half-hour with a catch pole, the Thomases captured the dog.
"The neighbors were there waiting and watching," Ellena Thomas said. "We surrounded the poor girl and helped her into our SUV. She never even made a peep."

During a visit later that day at the humane society shelter, "She actually came up to me in the kennel and kissed my face," Ellena Thomas said.

On the next day, a Sunday, Ellena Thomas went to the kennel and sat on the floor with the dog.

"She actually climbed into my lap and kissed me," Ellena Thomas said.

The Thomases soon took the dog to their home. In the next several days, they cared for her and sometimes took her on errands, to see if she can readjust after her long period of homelessness.

"We're reintroducing her to the world and affirming that she's safe and that everything's OK," Ellena Thomas said. "We're basically doing what you could call re-domestication, because she has been on the streets a year plus."

She said the dog appears to be doing well, with no growling or snarling.

"She is a little shy and fearful, which is to be expected," Ellena Thomas said. "But she's also very loving. She wants to trust people."

The Thomases and Goodsteins will never know what the dog lived through during those 14 months of being on the streets. She has good-sized scars on her left-front leg and abdomen.

They wonder whether she was hit by a car, or had to fight off other stray dogs or coyotes that roam Clark County.

It's not known whether the dog was dumped by her former owners, or perhaps became lost from a family that loves her.

"This dog is house-trained," Ellena Thomas said. "She knows 'sit' and she knows 'shake.' She knows how to walk on a leash. I honestly believe she was someone's pet."

"We ended up naming her 'Felida,' " she added. "We figured she's earned that name."

If Felida passes the Thomases' non-aggressive evaluation period, they hope to reunite her with her former family - or find one that will adopt her. She might do best in a home with no other pets, Ellena Thomas said.

On a recent visit to the Goodsteins' home, Felida licked Stacy and Ron's hands.

"We are very happy and hope the dog stays on the good-to-go path," Stacy Goodstein told The Columbian.

And Stacy Goodstein had some kind words for Ellena Thomas as well.

"I praise her up and down," she said. "She was right on top of it. She was there."

The neighbors are to be commended as well, Ellena Thomas said.

"It says a lot to me that a neighborhood would band together to save the life of a dog that is usually hated and mistreated."

The phone number for Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue is 360-433-9581.

http://www.columbian.com/news/localN...news166317.cfm

[Purple]

WOW! What an awesome article!! Ellena, way to go!

[Madeleinemom]

what a wonderful story and a great job!

[PNWPBR]

Even more news!!!


I got this email:

Hello, I believe the pit bull found in Felida featured in today's Columbian 7/11/07 is a dog my family and I lost in November of 2005 named Simba. She slipped out of her collar and ran away. We would love to see if it's her. We checked with the humane society daily and placed numerous ads in the Columbian, and on Craigslist and never heard anything. We assumed someone had taken her. She had unique white markings on her. One on the back of her neck which is diamond shaped, white on her chest, and nose. However we are at a time in our lives, and house right now where we may not be able to take her back. We will have to check into some things first. Is there any way I can identify her or even see her to see if she's ours? We'd like closure and to see if she can possibly be adopted by a loving family. This would bring great relief to our family as we have been worried about her ever since she took off. To see her again would be so nice. We've missed her so much. Thanks for letting us know and running this article.

So I went and met the woman, and saw pictures and confirmed that Felida IS indeed Simba!!! Can you imagine thinking your dog was dead or lost forever only to read about her in the paper?

This is the woman's myspace page and she has written a blog about Simba as well as has several "before" pictures where you can see it is indeed the same dog.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...9-5de9dc7cbcdb

[Purple]

Holy moly!!! Amazing!!

I couldn't see her myspace, it's set to private.

[PNWPBR]

Well they will be visiting her again tomorrow so its not for certain, but it does sound like they cannot take her back..... so we will proceed in fostering her and then adopting her out.

Oh, and to clarify about where the news article stated that she charged.... Felida IS dog aggressive and Ron and Stacy let their dog Sadie, free roam the property. Felida HAD gotten in a tussle with Sadie before and we have confirmed that she will not do well in a home with other dogs. :thumbsup:


Her blog:

Some of you may remember back in November 2005 when Mike & I were living in Roseburg. We came back in town for a visit and while we were here our dog Simba ran away. We searched for her like crazy, posted several ads with the Columbian and Craigslist, called the humane society every day and had no results. After about a year we basically gave up hope. Now almost 2 years later she's been found. She's made a shelter for herself and survived all this time alone. Some neighbors helped her by feeding her a bit of food now and then but she basically did it all alone. Anyway, we were reunited today after my Mom saw an article in today's Columbian. Here's the link. Simba's story (Columbian Link) Check out the story!! I called right away and she brought Simba over. We may not be able to take her back, but at least we know she's being taken care of and she's healthy. This is just a miracle. Almost 2 years later!! Unbelievable!! A HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO KEPT HER ALIVE, GAVE HER FOOD, TO PNW PIT BULL RESCUE FOR TAKING HER IN!!

Now pictures!!!

Before pictures when they had her:

[Purple]

I think this story is amazing. Imagine, finding your dog after two years. Wow!

Kinda sad that they can't take her back, but, apparently, it's for the better.

Thanks for the update!

[PNWPBR]

Originally Posted by Purple I think this story is amazing. Imagine, finding your dog after two years. Wow! Kinda sad that they can't take her back, but, apparently, it's for the better. Thanks for the update!

Isnt it just totally bizzare? I mean, my gut told me she had a home and that they were still looking for her..... but I didnt think I would actually be right!

[PNWPBR]

The reporter who did the story just called me.... apparently the girl who's dog it was... her dad is the sherrif and he called the paper and now they are running an update on the FRONT PAGE of Sunday's paper!

[Purple]

WooHoo!!!! Now look what you got yourself into!! This will be great publicity for your rescue....riiight???

[PNWPBR]

Originally Posted by Purple WooHoo!!!! Now look what you got yourself into!! This will be great publicity for your rescue....riiight???

LMAO it better be!

[Vanella]

TOOT TOOT!! GOOD STORY!! That almost never happens!!

[PNWPBR]

Im still in awe.... all I did was tranquilize a dog and take her into our program.... what a fantastic little girl she turned out to be and WELL worth the hubbub thats for sure!


p.s. Hopefully the photo shoot tomorrow will go better and the photographer will choose a better pic (one not of me laughing! )

[PNWPBR]

Found this online today, its not the story that is to be published tomorrow, but it totally made me smile.

In our view: Learning From a Dog


Love can overcome stereotypes

Felida is more than just the name of an unincorporated area full of friendly people. It's also the name of a dog - formerly homeless and feral - who lives there. We're reluctant to specify the breed of Felida the dog because some readers might throw down the newspaper and scream "Run for your lives!" First, we'll synopsize the heart-warming story that John Branton wrote in Wednesday's Columbian.

Several Felida residents around Northwest 26th Avenue and Northwest 111th Street (near the white water towers) last year began feeding a homeless dog that had invoked squatter's rights in a nearby field. Ultimately, Felida residents Joey and Mark Cooper contacted a dog-rescue group, which came and got the dog and took it to the Humane Society for Southwest Washington's shelter. A new adopted home likely will be found for the dog after a convalescence at the home of a rescue-group organizer.

The breed of Felida the dog? Pit bull! Yikes! No, wait! Come back! There's more to this story. The rescue group was Pacific Northwest Pit Bull Rescue, directed by Ellena Thomas and her husband, Jacob. And we're guessing that numerous residents in Felida the neighborhood have learned a lot about pit bulls, and about themselves. Ellena Thomas described that learning process eloquently: "It says a lot to me that a neighborhood would band together to save the life of a (pit bull) dog that is usually hated and mistreated."

An even better description was the color photo that was published, the one of Felida the dog licking the nose of Felida resident Ron Goodstein while Ron's wife, Stacy, and Ellena Thomas smiled in the background. If only people got along with each other as well as we get along with dogs, right?

http://www.columbian.com/opinion/new...news166880.cfm

[Purple]

Wow, that's great!!!

[demo-dog]

What an absolutely terrific story!

[lokiankeela]

that isa wonderful story! we had keela stolen for about a month and we got her back 2 years thats amazing!

[Mollie's Nana]

I know this is an old thread.... but I've not seen it before, and I have tears in my eyes and a huge lump in my throat. I'd walk over hot coals and have my dog back if it's fought for 2 years to stay alive.

Ellena, any updates on whatever happened to her??

Ok, now I gotta go play and love on my babies!! God bless all the homeless and unwanted and unloved animals out there tonight.

[PNWPBR]

Funny that you ask MN, Simba..... is back. http://pnwpbr.rescuegroups.org/anima...nimalID=486286

[Madeleinemom]

What happened ?