Thank you, Lois, for helping bring this to the attention of the community. The animals are fortunate to have a voice like yours looking out for them.

I have been thinking about this all afternoon~ people...somebody had to have heard these pups cry out in agony. I know it must be scary thinking that you could be retaliated against if you call or say something. Just think how much scarier it will be if these people or persons are allowed to go on. It could be a child next time.

Whoever this is needs help~ those poor dogs are getting the care they need. The perpetrator(s) of these acts needs help too. Before this gets worse.

Call if you know or suspect something.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Consider it done.

Thank you so much for the updated information Lois.

You are absolutely right....................If we don't know we can't be on the lookout and cannot help. I will be alerting people I know who live in those areas and since they are pet people also they will be more diligent from now on. Or, if any of them know anything and I find out I will urge them to come forward or at least tell me and I will holler the info from the roof tops..............oh after I call the cops of course.

People of Bako - this happened in our back yard we need to belly up to the donation table and at least try to help this person who is doing their best to help these dogs. Even $5.00 will help.

the correct email address is: smokey.91942@gmail.com

That is the email address I , their rescuer can be reached at.

There is a MAJOR problem up there folks & it will continue. The torture of these puppies and who knows how many others that havent been found is a "serial" problem.

I also suggest copying the flyer and sending it out...

My contribution here certainly won't win me any friends, but I think this "story" is completely fabricated. The pictures of the wounded pups show a pattern consistent with the application of flea control products which are known to cause chemical burns if not applied properly. The fact that "smokey" won't provide his real name and that Ms. Henry has no direct quotes from ANYONE (except big bad animal control) makes me question this.

And now "smokey" wants donations? Okie Dokie! 

online.wsj.com/article/SB124329165300152331.html

Vanity, just a thought, one could send donations directly to the vet's office.

I looked the vet up on line. There is a vet medical clinic listed with the phone number Lois provided.

I hear you, Witters, but I suppose I'm too jaded after the Nigerian guy promising me the moon.

Did it ever occur to anyone, though, that the vet could be "smokey"? Or a family member? Or some random employee of the vet?

Sorry, I just think it's all kind of weird. If someone was going to pour acid with the intent of causing harm, it wouldn't have been like that. 

I'm going to have to disagree with Vanity. A reaction to flea treatments is not that usually that extensive or severe. These dogs have deep red wounds going all the way down their backs. That implies second and third degree burns which is not something commonly associated with flea treatment. Smokey appears to have required some skin removal by the puckering of his skin on the bottom picture of his flyer. Again, this is not something associated with reaction to flea treatment.

I don't think this was a flea treatment reaction. The wounds are not consistent with that. Someone threw something far more caustic on these dogs. One has to be a pretty suspecious person to think that the local Animal Control would lie about such things just to help some random person in San Diego dupe a few kind-hearted Bakersfieldians out of a few bucks.

Vanity, I have someone "in the know" checking on it.

Shwaine, remember this? people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/vanityfair/45446

The links posting the burned dachshund are no longer available. The pictures were graphic and disturbing, and curiously they are now missing. Even more interesting is the fact that nearly 800 viewers read my post, even without a provocative tag and only four comments.

Thanks Nancy. I hope your source can put this non-story to bed!

Shwaine, I'm in agreement with you. Smokey and Charlie both had 2nd and 3rd degree burns, this could not have been caused by flea treatments. I've worked with chemical burns and they leave these type of drip patterns down the leg and sides.

Vanityfair, why are you so set on disproving this story, that seems like overkill and  if I was as suspicious as you I'd almost think you had something to hide... luckily I'm not that suspicious, I just think you've made up your mind that this is some kind of scam and nothing, not even the truth will change it.

 Here's a link to a news story done about this in San Diego, showing the dogs, the surgery and the vet talking about it.. just look at the top stories about 1/2 down the page under Abused Dogs.

http://www.sandiego6.com/me...

Vanity, you seem to be applying reverse bias.... in this case overestimating the damage flea products can do due to a personal bad experience with a product. What your parents' dog experienced was not a burn at all but a toxic reaction to the product, which is far more common than having a chemical burn reaction. Most skin reactions to flea products are no more than an allergic reaction (hair loss and redness) or a first degree burn. More importantly, the skin reaction is usually limited to just the application area, not all the way down the back.

The daschund you refer to is found at the end of this website: www.biospotvictims.org/2008-09.html. I still have some question about whether those wounds were caused just by the application of a flea product. You would be willing to take the owner's word for it because of your personal experience which biases you against flea treatment products. I would not be so quick to say those wounds were caused exclusively by flea products. There is no vet report to go along with those pictures, so we have nothing but the owner's belief that it was caused by the flea product.

In this case, we have both statements from Animal Control and a vet (www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Two-Puppies-Do used-with-Acid/90abwX-hyUy27H5XVQM9PQ.cspx). Nothing in any of their reports indicate this is an accidental burning from flea products that just happened to happen to puppies with cropped ears. All signs point to intentional cases of animal cruelty. I would think these people would be more qualified than you to determine the cause of the wounds. 40% of the body covered in second, third and fourth degree burns is NOT associated with flea products.

Cling to your bias against flea spot products if you must, but stop trying to claim this story is a fabrication and that all the damage done to these dogs is accidental. To do so is to call Animal Control, the vet interviewed by the San Diego media and everyone else in the case liars. Not just liars, but liars out for your hard earned dollars. That's an awfully low place to stoop to.

to make a long story long..I met a gal from canada via the net a few years back..her hubby owned a ranch in alberta. she told me one night things were getting so bad they had to sell her dads cattle..she was upset because her hubby had a stroke and a bull named archie was his best buddy...archie got him out of the house and moving so he was his therapy. 

i felt sorry for her and put together a stallion service auction through an online yahoo group full of horse people that knew us both..that ran 3 days and nights where people donated breedings to their stallions and  gave the money to her so she could buy archie from her dad. i ran it through paypal and trusted her to cut it off when her total was reached. I have no idea how much over the 2 grand it went.

I later found out from another gal that lived up by her they had purchased more cattle and it was just market time for everyone in her neck of the woods...not really a big sob story like she was conveying.

She used to come visit us on vacations (where we always paid for everything) but never mentioned Archie..I never saw any pictures of him after that either..she was always talking about moving to the states when she got enough money. She pulled a few shady horse related scams on us and our friends so we cut ties..and said good riddance

then a year later i read her barn burned down full of horses and an old rottweiler she had..strange thing was it was in the dead of winter 35 below and all her best mares and stallions were outside in the middle of the night..

it seems she filled her barn with junk horses she couldnt sale. the local media ran with it ..tv coverage the whole bit.. people got behind the donations by holding barn dances music concerts etc..  ..she raised thousands and thousands of dollars well over the price of a new barn... she had full coverage insurance so i never could understand all the excitment over helping her like they did..

through talking with people that had known her for years prior we found out there was another fire she was suspect of from her first marriage ..it happened during the divorce so she collected that insurance money too... One person even contacted the media to let them know about her history but the big hype was already going and they didnt want to look stupid so they ignored it and continued to support he fund raisers..

Once she got all the money in her account for the fire and things died down she left her disabled husband and headed for colorado chasing some new young cowboy tail. All her chums that helped her with the barn fund raiser havent heard from her since..

oh ya she married her disabled husband after his stroke in the hospital no doubt thinking he wouldnt live very long and she would get  the ranch..he fooled her and lived which made her nuts..she used to talk to him like a dog..she also left him to survive on his own while she ran all over the states playing horse trader.

I told you  this because like vanity im very skeptical now days of iinternet fund raisers from people i know nothing about..even when the media is backing a scenario..

when the rescuer gets involved and sees dollar signs..to me  it sends up a red  flag..the vet costs have got to be reduced substantially in a situation ..most real rescues receive benifiets like this so why do they need to setup a fund raiser to bring in untold amounts..

if the dogs are damaged that bad they should be put down..quality of life needs to be considered..Ive seen 3rd degree burns like these on people and horses..they usually cant go out in the sun and are stuck in an enclosed controlled environment for life..

the human i knew died from over exposure one day when he ran out of gas and had to walk for help..he couldnt sweat or control his body temp..the horse was put down after 6 months of growing progressivly worse..whos to say the rescuer wont do the same next month when the hype goes away and pocket all the donations..something to think about..

Even supposing that these injuries were caused by a flea product, would it not still be animal cruelty to abandon the pups in this condition, with wounds like these? And would it not still cost money to have the necessary medical treatment to heal them?

The fact that the rescuer's name wasn't published doesn't mean Lois doesn't have it --- it means she didn't publish it, just as she mentioned in her piece.

I can ASSURE you that this story is not fabricated.  I understand being jaded, but come on.  First of all, you should check out the link to the San Diego 6 newscast that features these two dogs:

http://www.sandiego6.com/ne...

Do you think that was fabricated?

Smokey, the first pit bull that was burned is also second in the running to become Cesar Millan's National Spokesdog.  Here is the link to that:

https://www.nationalspokesdog.org/contest.html?pa ge=viewIndex&contestId=1&clearSearch=1&am p;paging=0

Here is another article regarding these two abused puppies, along with a picture of the reward flier:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1...

As far as these two dogs being burned as a result of flea treatment, that is laughable.  I have seen multiple pics of the abuse that these two dogs suffered and I am certain that they were not caused by flea treatment.  And if you STILL question the validity of this story, why don't you call the vet clinic yourself to verify it?  Smokey and Charlie both deserve justice.  Their rescuers have worked night & day to make sure that they receive it.  They do not need people like you questioning their motives.

I hesitate to reveal the secret, but...

Concentrated sulfuric acid is the acid that eats things up as seen in old movies, and does exactly what you see in the pictures.

It is not hard to obtain.

Why does the story on Smokey say he was dumped in the desert?  I thought it was in East Bakersfield.

Probably a case of semantics. The story in the Examiner link says Bakersfield.

Found this :

http://www.sandiego6.com/me...

You may have to scroll down and click "Abused Dogs"

This is no accidental burn or flea control gone bad. Pure ignorance..and "this story" will not be put to bed because of the abuse these two have gone through....and I will be sure it doesnt.

Charlie remains in the hospital and will for at least 2 more weeks...Smokey is still under going vet care and is going through surgery next week...Obviously, Vanity you don't know all of the facts nor have you watched any of the news clips, called the vet hospital to determine that Smokey & Charlie are treated their....All information is readily available...

However, you have chosen to base an assnine opinion based on being jaded by someone from Nigeria--that says enough right there.

I tried to post the original photos of Charlie & Smokeys burns, which are 2nd & 3rd degree burns---one area of Charlies is close to bone. Tuesday night he had surgeries and is now stitched up from his neck all the way to his tail with drains in him and he is also emaciated....Smokey has surgery next Thursday.......

here is a link for one of the photos.

http://s896.photobucket.com...

As for my name--this is not about me...This is about getting THEIR story out....and getting justice for these two puppies..The media has interviewed me, supporters in the community know me as well as other rescues & rescuers..

Sioux City

I am not seeing "$" signs. I have rescued a total of 48 pitbulls from Bakersfield alone..Mostly moms with VERY young puppies and most have all been sick that 95% required vet care besides shots or s/n......Since May vet care alone has been in the thousands for them...

I work full time, live in a two bedroom , tiny house. Trust me...I am not "making" money to save lives. I work for my money and work to take care of my own....

BakoBlue--you are correct. Lois has my name, phone # and email address...I also sent her vet information to confirm and the media links from San Diego....

Smokey~ thanks for what you do. 

Maybe folks would rather think this is  a scam rather than know a monster lives among us? Just wondering out loud.

Sioux City--I just read the end of your post also...These dogs still have a lot of life and love in them. Smokey is a testament of that. They are not ready to give up on life, if they were, they already would have. Even with what they have been through---they are still very loving puppies with great tempermants...

well--it's a serial problem up there and it needs to stop...When I brought Smokey to San Diego, I brought 3 more puppies down with him--one had his ears cut off with a box cutter or scissors and severely infected...2 mos old found as a "stray" and 2 six week pit pups also "strays" and both emaciated....

They were dumped. 6 week old puppies dont just wander off....

We are asking for the communities help and offering a $5000 Reward for this to stop. That is not a scam...and people will be there posting fliers all over Bakersfield with the reward...Animal Control & The Sheriff is aware of this reward offer etc also..

You're a wonderful person: a hero for an often mistreated breed.  :)

Mistreated is correct. We are what they have and are their voices.

We need the community in Bakersfield to step up and help. I am in San Diego as well as the other advocates that will be up Monday to start posting fliers..Bashing the animal control etc is NOT helping..

If anyone would like to help in another way. I have started a petition to bring up to Kern Co & need 5,000 signatures.

http://www.thepetitionsite....

"These dogs still have a lot of life and love in them. Smokey is a testament of that. They are not ready to give up on life, if they were, they already would have."

That touched me.  Of course you don't need me to tell you that they know that you love them, but I will.  :)

Your love is one reason why they have not given up.

Thanks Appollo--I appreciate your support....I go visit Charlie every day and sit with him & bring him a toy or blanket--I did the same with Smokey the whole time he was in the hospital--almost 3 weeks..and will continue to do what I can for them. They deserve it.

They have a lot of love and people pulling for them--they both know they are loved. The hospital staff is just amazing with them both..Even the pain Charlie is in, he still wags his tail and smiles that beautiful pitty smile, as it shows in the news clip...

You might enjoy this post that I wrote some time ago:

Tiny Heart, Islet of Consciousness

http://people.bakersfield.c...

Be sure to read to the last sentence.

GREAT Article & loved the last line Dawn :)

:)

Vanity..you onviously are entitled to your own opinion, this is America, after all, regardless of how ludicrious, ignorant and cynical your opinion is.

I am the foster mom of Charlie, I can assure you he is a real life dog undergoing painful medical procedures. He is providing US with more and more reasons (for those of us that CARE about society and have compassion for those less fortunate) to continue our rescue work with the forgiveness in his eyes when he looks at us, the kisses we receive when he sees us and the constant tail wagging when he knows he is loved and is now being cared for. This breed is strong and resilient, they will continue to want to live, just as I am sure you would want to continue living if someone had committed any horrendous act on your person.

Your cynical and inaccurate assessment of what has happened to both Smokey and Charlie is something you should probably explore within yourself. You have been hurt or convinced that EVERYONE is out to scam YOU, well believe it or not, there are GOOD and REAL people out there that are trying to make a difference in our world, however much you choose to HATE the world. We exist and we are not going away and we will continue to do what is best for our chosen causes. We may not be making a huge dent in this world but we are making progress.

Perhaps you should find a compassionate cause to rally for and then you may understand our love of something we are passionate about. My suggestion for your first casue, is for you to seek counseling and stop hating the world and finding where the compassion in your heart has disappeared to.

Bless your heart, Shelby; you're a hero.

To "Vanity Fair"

You said: "My contribution here certainly won't win me any friends, but I think this "story" is completely fabricated. The pictures of the wounded pups show a pattern consistent with the application of flea control products which are known to cause chemical burns if not applied properly. The fact that "smokey" won't provide his real name and that Ms. Henry has no direct quotes from ANYONE (except big bad animal control) makes me question this.And now "smokey" wants donations? Okie Dokie! "

Well VF before you place your two lame cents into something you just learned about, you may want to take the time to know the RESCUER of these dogs. These are NOT the only dogs he has rescued, vetted and cared for, but just two of the few. You say he does not provide his real name, well look at yourself, do you? Your name is NOT Vanity Fair. Would YOU put your name and address out here for the world to see and come to your home? Hell no you would not. I have known the rescuer of these two dogs for quite some time through his rescue work and he has never asked for money for himself. He has ALWAYS offered the vets info to send payments to directly, and the vet is a real vet, not family, or fabricated. Anyone can look it up, call and verify all the details of the care of these dogs. The burns were not from a flea treatment. How much flea treatment would one have to put on repeatedly for those burns, that many and that deep? If someone WERE to do that with flea treatment it would STILL be considered abuse. You live in your own small world where you judge before you learn and I feel bad for you and that fact. No not everyone can be trusted, and yes there are scammers out there, but it is wise to shut your mouth until you can provide proof to back your accusations. it is people like you that hurt animals, not by your hands per se, but by your words and trying to get others to think like you and not help these animals that need the help, both medically and financially. One day you may find yourself in need and I hope at that time, people turn their backs on you, as you do to others. I personally WILL continue to support Smokey, Charlie and their wonderful rescuer and nothing you or anyone like you will say or do will make me change that fact. I know the story. I followed it from the first day. I have never been scammed by this rescuer, nor have I ever had any doubts about him at all ever. You judge as you see it and I shall do the same. I just hope no one in their right mind listens to your words and decides not to donate to their care if they were thinking of doing so, because to do so, is only hurting these poor dogs and they have been through so much already and dont need the likes of you to make it worse. have a nice day and think before you blab! Your words always have consequences.

Vanity- these dogs are real.  Abuse does happen.  We are trying to stop it.  

I fail to see why you would waste your time commenting about something- without verifying ANYTHING- and calling it a hoax.  Without researching- it's just plain ignorant.  The rescuer's actions in this situation are commendable.  You, however, seem to have diarrhea  of the mouth (or brain, if you will). Further, you have not contributed anything what-so-ever with your commentary.  I suggest you do a little research before you come to improper conclusions, next time....

Good Job Guys!

Nancy, I have a friend from San Diego. They think of Bakersfield as a desert because of the summer heat. Well, that and the general negative impression of Kern County in larger areas of California. There's a perception that the whole county is one big hot desert wasteland with hillbillies for occupants. This area isn't doing much to change that perception. Just look what we end up in the national spotlight for.... usually crime, animal cruelty or car accidents.

Thank you Smokey, Shelby and Lois.  I wish I didn't think it really happened but it breaks my heart to know there are people among us that are that evil and I'm so thankful for these people who are willing to do something about.  I also understand how easy it  is to be a cynical in these day and age with users like the one described by Sioux. 

To those of you raging on vanity~ she is not ignorant or un-loving. She just had concerns and she voiced them. If you clicked on the link in her post you will find she did have a problem with a flea product and her fathers dog~ that is where her suspicions came in.

I know personally she is quite kind and giving.

I am very glad you are taking care of these dogs. I hope the article on the front page today does some good in finding the perpetrators. I also hope out of towners can see Bakersfield is like any place, we have both good and bad. I know there is much good here.

Thank you Lois for your coverage of this story, shocking and sickening as it may be.  This is just another example of the dire and terribly sad conditions that exist for the animals in Kern County.    So we can now add animal cruelty, torture and an active culture of dog-fighting to the growing list of animal welfare related problems here in Kern County.  I know that there are many groups and individuals here that truly care for animals, and work tirelessly to raise awareness, raise money and do whatever they can to alleviate the pain and suffering of our animals.  However the magnitude of the animal problems here is overwhelming.  I don't care how cliche and over-used this Gandhi quote may be, I feel we should all consider its' simple message:  "The greatness of a nation (or community) and its moral progress can be judges by the way its animals are treated".   Thanks again Lois for your heart and tenacity in continuing to raise our awareness on the state of animal welfare here in Kern County.

Still, the responsible thing for a person with questions to do is to ask them first before immediately jumping to the worst possible assumptions and coming onto this page with a passel of attacks upon the character of Charlie and Smokey's rescuers and caretakers.

Ugh. I should have known better ...

Well, that dogpile was fun, now wasn't it?

Do I think animal abuse is a horrible crime? Absolutely. Should a community do all that it can to prevent it? Of course. Do these pups deserve treatment? Yes.

My comments here yesterday were simply to point out that Lois' column included few details and I didn't think it was sourced well. The hysterical tone lamenting "budding serial killers" had that Chicken Little feel that pervades all media these days.

Again, the injuries appear similar to chemical burns some animals experience when treated with flea control products. It's entirely possible that some irresponsible pet owners simply didn't bother to seek treatment after the reaction. As far as the geography involved, there are probably more pitbulls per capita in that neighborhood than anywhere else in Bakersfield.

To assume that some psycho out there is deliberately pouring acid on dogs without exploring the other possibilities is irresponsible, in my opinion. I thank all who provided links and "fleshed-out" that skeleton of a story.

I hope that clears it up for those of you who think I'm some kind of cold, heartless witch.

       Smokey2009,

  I am not a "fan" of pit bulls. I was bit in the face by one about 12 years ago. I do not hate them...not at all. My Son has one that is one of the most loving and sweet dogs I have ever had the pleasure to be around. I simply know the potential for a locked jaw bite they have and proceed with caution.

  I would like to commend you on your efforts to help these 2 dogs (as well as the many others you have rescued). I have 2 dogs that I rescued from "The streets". One was poisoned (potentially from snail bait) and trembled so severely she almost couldn't stand. We took her to The North of The River Veterinary Hospital where she was stabilized (it was a Friday afternoon and they are not staffed over the weekend) and sedated through an I.V. to stop the trembling which caused her fever to continuously rise. I am very grate full to the staff at NORVH for being the first step in "Lady"s survival. We then transported "Lady" to the local Bakersfield pet hospital for further treatment. All along we were told that most dogs do not recover when they have such a high initial fever and are as bad as she was. I only had to state one time that I did not want her euthanized and they understood. With outstanding care from Animal Emergency & Urgent Care the local pet hospital on Easton Drive, she surprisingly pulled through and came home within 4 days. The cost was not cheap; the return was worth every penny. "Lady" I had acquaintances say that the cost was too much and I should've had "Lady" euthanized for much less. I do not understand that mentality, but I don't hold a grudge to anyone with it.

 Our second was also in need of Veterinary care, but not as severe. It took some antibiotics to cure a stomach infection and then her shots a week later. "Kookie" took to "Lady" and our home with obvious happiness.

  Both of them chose us rather than us picking them from a pet store. They have both become members of our family and have brought us so much joy. I have limited us to having just 2 dogs due to financial restraints. I think it would be wrong to have more dogs to care for than my budget will allow for. Of course, I have not been presented with the situation of coming across another sick stray dog. I certainly could not look the other way without doing something.

  I certainly am amazed by your strength and fortitude to take on the challenge of rescuing so many dogs. God Bless You !  Please do not be bitter by those who are cynical and have nothing but negative things to say. As one who understands why you do this, go forward with the joy of helping God's creatures.

  Finally, please make it known that our community should not be represented by the actions of one or few. The Greater Bakersfield Community is one of the most giving and compassionate regions in the country. If you need verification of this, simply contact KGET-TV 17 (our local NBC affiliate) for details of all the fundraisers and clothing drives they have coordinated over the years (and that's just one source).

  I will be gladly donating something to the care of your cause and when I go to San Diego next week to visit family, I will attempt to follow up on their status. 

Notice it was outsiders who dogpiled.  Since they apparently don't know that Bakersfield, while a city in Kern County, is not part of the Mojave desert.

I could be wrong but I don't believe Michael Vick was a resident of this area either and yet I don't hear an outcry about the rampant dog abuse in HIS city.

But go right ahead folks, it's just another chance to throw verbal bombs at our community....like this doesn't happen anyplace else.

Still it is also the responsibility of those who share this community to not flame the flames against other posters here,IMHO. 

I try to extend that love and positivity even to those who may not return it~ but that is just me.

Let us try not to stalk each other eh? :-)

I hear that my friend.

Vanity, what did you think would happen when you insinuate that the rescuer is a scammer and that the horrific abuse these dogs endured was a "hoax" caused by flea products. Some simple research would have clarified that the scope of damage is beyond what could be done by flea products.. it's that simple. These same "scammers" then put up a $5000 reward for info that would bring the criminal/s responsible for Smokey and Charlie's burns to justice, yep that sounds like people out to make a quick buck from the good people of Bakersfield... that was sarcasm in case you missed it.  You still seem to be stuck on the flea products.. I'm sorry for what happened to your dad's dog, but that is not the culprit in this case, and it's irresponsible to assume that it is. I find it telling that while you say it's irresponsible to not look at other options, you yourself have fallen into that, you're assuming that its a reaction to flea products and you're continuing to perpetuate that with your own comments. I hope you open your eyes to the possibility and probability that there is someone in your community that is abusing animals, please don't stick your head in the sand and assume that this is some sort of over reaction by lovers of this breed, it's a reaction by animal lovers in general to the injuries these dogs sustained.