Clifford – ten years on

(Warning, this story contains images some Saving Pets friends may find distressing)

 

On the 15th September 2004, a small, pale yellow dog was found stumbling along a road in Ramsgate, a southern suburb of Sydney.

He weighed a tiny 8 kgs. On his starving frame, sunken skin dipped around his protruding hip and rib bones. He hobbled because of painful joints, and because of his damaged feet. And most horrifyingly, someone had attempted a brutal ‘home sewing job’ on the ulcers that covered on his body.

Witnesses say he was thrown from a car. Yet, despite his terrible injuries, this battered little dog still could manage to thank his rescuers, with a wag of his tail…

 

The RSPCA Inspectorate is urgently seeking witnesses who may help locate the person or people responsible. RSPCA Acting Chief Inspector David O’Shannessy said in addition to being painfully thin, the dog’s face is battered and bleeding with scabs and scars.

“And yet he can still manage to wag his tail,” he said.

“This case is horrific. We are appalled that someone could keep this poor dog in this condition and then abandon him so cruelly.

Despite being at least a year old, the dog is the size of a three or four month old pup. RSPCA vets have found he is profoundly and chronically malnourished, resulting in abnormal stunted growth with painful bones and joints and bowed legs. His protruding bones have led to the ulcerated pressure sores over much of his body, indicating he’s been sleeping on a hard un-padded surface.
…
“Even with his stunted stature, the dog should still weigh a least 15kg most Pitbull cross
dogs weigh around 25kg.”

Acting Chief Inspector O’Shannessy said despite the dog’s ordeal and mistreatment, he is trusting and affectionate. He said the dog is unlikely to be a threat to people because of his small stature and apparent good nature.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA….

 

 

The story of this little dog understandably enraged pet lovers across Australia. Dubbed ‘Clifford’ he made the national news, winning the hearts of hundreds people wanting to assist. That Clifford survived long enough to find safety was a miracle. And now, thanks to the RSPCA he was receiving maybe the first kindness of his short life.

But there was a dark cloud hanging over Clifford’s future. The RSPCA had identified him as a ‘pit bull’.

 

In response to the fatal mauling of a two year old by a dog identified as an ‘English Bull Terrier’ in 1991, the Australian Government introduced a ban on the importation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed. At the time this ban was celebrated by the RSPCA, who had been pushing for the ban for more than a decade. The RSPCA was often called to act as an expert spokesperson, in media discussions around ‘pit bull’ dogs. RSPCA Queensland manager Allen Callaghan said pit bulls were “natural born killers”, and that “the breed is a menace. Their bite literally crushes bone; their jaws are designed to lock on to prey and their molar teeth scissor back and forth to separate flesh from bone.” RSPCA’s Queensland Operations Manager, Dr Cam Day said, “We don’t need these dogs. They just bowl in like a thunderclap with no warning. Other dogs will give some warning by… growling or barking. And if they bite they will grip and then let go. But when pit bull terriers bite they don’t let go. They only let go to take in more flesh.” RSPCA NSW Chief Executive Officer Charles Wright said, “Ideally we want to phase out the breed completely – there is no reason why people need to have them as pets. They’re bred to kill and maim – no other dog is like them.” He was also quoted as saying,“It is in this dog’s nature to have a vicious streak. There is no place for them in our community,” and likened the dogs to “having a loaded gun in your backyard”. The RSPCA NSW’s State Director Mr Peter Barber said, “They are big, powerful dogs with uncertain behaviour. You don’t know when they are going to turn around and chew someone up.” And that, “Pit bulls are the major concern because they are such powerful, aggressive and violent dogs. They are bred to be as tough and mean as they can be. There are safety precautions for ordinary dogs but a pit bull has that basic instinct that if it decides to attack it is going to be very, very difficult to dissuade. Once they latch on that is it.” RSPCA NSW Executive Director David Butcher said, “There is no place for pit bulls in society. Anyone who imports them, owns one or breeds them is suspect. These dogs have huge crushing jaws. When they bite people, large amounts of tissue are removed. They bite and crunch and tear until a piece of the person comes out.” The RSPCA Victoria’s Chief inspector Mr Kevin Apostolides, was quoted as saying, “pit bulls are basically fighting machines; a white pointer shark on land. They don’t need any encouragement to attack other dogs.” RSPCA Victoria Executive Officer Richard Hunter said, “We have always said you should judge a dog on the deed and not the breed, but the exception to this is the pit bull terrier, which should be declared a dangerous dog because of its breed. It’s specifically bred for its aggression and fighting qualities and it is wrong to treat it as a family pet. “ While RSPCA National President Dr Hugh Wirth, was the most vocal ‘pit bull’ hater of all… “As long as the pitbull terrier is not switched on to its natural fighting mode then it’s a nice dog. The trouble is it can instantly change.” (ref) “… why would any Australian want to own a dog that’s only attribute is that it’s a fantastic killer of dogs.” (ref) “They are a wretched breed. They were bred to fight. They have no redeeming feature.” (ref) called for all pit bulls to be put down. (ref) The organisation was at the forefront of expanding and developing Breed Specific Legislation in every state. And thanks to their efforts whipping up anti-pitbull hysteria, by the end of the nineties, most states had some kind of breed-specific restriction in their dog laws. In fact, not content to simply legislate the pit bull out of existence, the agency actively sought to kill the dogs. In 2001 the organisation lobbied effectively to mandate that all agencies be required to kill all unclaimed stray ‘pit bulls’ in Victoria, boasting they already did so.

 

Clifford was now well and truly a pet-celebrity. So popular was he, that in October a special page was created on the RSPCA NSW website, to keep his many fans updated of his progress (highlighting mine);

 

Clifford (known affectionately as ‘Cliffy’) has the support of many kind well-wishers who are following his progress after he was dumped from a vehicle onto a roadway at Ramsgate on September 15. He was thin, starving and covered in ulcers, some of which had been crudely hand stitched in a botched-up home sewing job – a cruel and extremely painful exercise.

To those well-wishers, we say a very big ‘thank you’. And we particularly thank all those kind and caring people who have taken the time to help with a donation towards Clifford’s veterinary costs. We appreciate all the many ways people show they care.

Because of his treatment, ‘Cliffy’ will never grow to his full potential, but we are pleased to report that his weight has now increased from 7.8 kg to 8.8kg and his wounds are starting to heal, although the deep pressure ulcers will obviously take some time to mend. He is enjoying interaction with staff and is undergoing rehabilitation to help heal some of his emotional scars.

Clifford shows his joy and appreciation to every caring person he meets. He is very much loved by RSPCA staff and enjoys spending time in the Inspectorate office. He was even ‘blessed’ at this week’s Blessing of the Animals Ceremony at the shelter. We give thanks for the ways that animals like Clifford enrich our lives here at the RSPCA.
…
If you can help with any additional information relating to Clifford’s abandonment please contact the RSPCA on . All support is very much appreciated.

 

Clifford seemed to be well on the road to recovery. Animal advocates in the community held their collective breaths – was the RSPCA going to save Clifford?

With the ‘pit bull’ witchhunt in full force, and with the National President Hugh Wirth one the most vocal anti-pit bull advocates of them all, the RSPCA’s position paper on restricted breeds (2003 – 2007) could not have been more clear. RSPCA policy does not normally discriminate on the basis of breed, however in the case of these four particular breeds (Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasiliero, Dogo Argentina and American Pit Bull Terrier), the RSPCA considers an approach consistent with the Australian Customs Service (import prohibition) is appropriate. The RSPCA believes these four particular breeds of dog are not suited to being kept as pets. The RSPCA does not believe it is in the interests of welfare of these dogs or of other animals and people in the community, which they continue to be kept as pets. The reason? The RSPCA does not believe it is in the interests of the welfare of these four particular breeds of dog to keep them in an environment they are not suited to – and we do not believe they are suited to being kept as pets.

 

 

 

Clifford’s star continued to shine, now described as “one of Australia’s most loved canines”.

By the end of October – nearly two months after he was found – he had attracted his own celebrity ambassador, Imogen Bailey, who had offered him a home.

 

A neglected dog who was thrown from a car last month has become one of Australia’s most loved canines.

More than 200 people, including a Qantas flight crew, have phoned the RSPCA’s Yagoona shelter to either offer their homes or assistance since Clifford the cross-breed arrived, horribly malnourished and ulcerated, in mid-September. “There has been massive support for this victim of cruelty,” RSPCA spokeswoman Claire Munro said.

“It goes to show that most people are decent and compassionate and the RSPCA appreciates every kind word and show of support.” Among Clifford’s many sympathisers is celebrity model Imogen Bailey.

The model visited the one-year-old dog for the second time last week after he was abandoned near her home in Sydney’s south. Ms Bailey, an animal activist for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), is hopeful Clifford will become her third dog once he is fully recovered.

“It’s pretty unbelievable to think this dog has been through so much and he is still kind-natured,” she said.

Police are appealing for information about Clifford’s mistreatment.

 

Despite Imogen’s hopes, or maybe even what she had been led to believe, RSPCA branches were expressly forbidden to rehome ‘pit bull’ dogs. And Clifford was one high profile pit bull.   The policy would be in place until well into 2007.

 

Clifford would be kept in the kennels at Yagoona, for four months, before the RSPCA released the following statement;

 

Clifford ~ Love and lengthy rehabilitation could not overcome cruel past

The RSPCA announced today (31 January 2005) that an expert veterinary and shelter team has had to make the extremely sad and difficult decision to humanely euthanase a severely abused dog, for the safety of animals and people.

RSPCA Chief Executive Officer Bernie Murphy said ‘Clifford’ who was emaciated and covered in ulcers when he thrown from a vehicle onto a roadway at Ramsgate last September, had displayed increasingly aggressive behaviour to staff, despite four and a half months of intensive rehabilitation and training at the RSPCA’s Yagoona shelter.

Clifford was euthanased in the company of caring staff, following the third and most serious unprovoked attack on a senior animal attendant on Friday.

“Clifford deserved every opportunity to live a normal life and our RSPCA teams have done everything possible to give him that chance,” he said. “However after great consideration, including the involvement of a veterinary behaviour consultant, the only choice was to humanely euthanase him for the safety of people, other animals and for the sake of Clifford’s future welfare.

“His only future was confinement for the rest of his days and that would have been extremely unfair on him. It was a heartbreaking decision for everyone involved.”

Mr Murphy said experts agree that the abuse Clifford suffered in his early life ultimately led to his unpredictable and increasingly erratic behaviour. When he was abandoned onto the roadway, Clifford was painfully thin and weighed only 7.5 kg, with protruding hip bones and ribs. The pads of his feet were torn and some of the ulcers on his body had been crudely hand-stitched in a home sewing job. Facial scars also suggested he may have been used as ‘practice’ for organised dog fighting.

“Clifford was much loved by our staff, but as his strength, weight, health and confidence improved, so did the incidences of attacks,” he said. “Despite his erratic behaviour however, the past four months at the RSPCA shelter would have been, by far, the happiest of Clifford’s life.

“He will be sadly missed, but ultimately his early experiences were just too much for him to overcome.”…

 

This tiny dog had gone from kissing the face of a celebrity, to unrehomable mess in just a few months of RSPCA ‘care’.

A cynic would say despite becoming a poster boy for second chances and earning enormous community support, once he was no longer valuable for fundraising and publicity, became well, and the public forgot about him, he was assessed as ‘unsaveable’ and killed.

Or maybe, as they said, when he was feeling stronger and after months of being kennelled, he went from loveable to unpredictable. Maybe these new behaviours were completely untreatable. But knowing that he would never be able to be placed, would have almost certainly ‘helped’ with the decision to write him off. He was, according to the RSPCA, a pit bull. They had spent so many years invested in demonising the breed, they were not going to suddenly change their position.

The most danger Clifford faced wasn’t from the owner who neglected and hurt him. Not even from the thug who threw him out of the car. The biggest risk to Clifford’s life – was entering the care of an animal welfare charity which intended all along to kill him.

 

But why care about Clifford now?

On the tenth anniversary of his death?

Because the terrible truth is, very little has changed.

‘Pit bulls’ are still being killed in RSPCA shelters.

‘Pit bull type’ dogs aren’t released for adoption.

In every state, the RSPCA still accept the pound contracts to seize and hold dogs under breed-specific laws.

The visual assessment is often applied by an RSPCA staff member.

And the RSPCA accept the role of being paid to kill each and every dog, even though as a private charity they have no obligation to.

Except now, they do it all under the same BSL legislation they helped design, and pressured state governments to pass…

… while at the same time absolving themselves of any responsibility by maintaining they have no choice. That they are bound by the law.

 

A dog kennel is about 2m x 1.5m, or 3 metres squared. For the piece a land about the size of an average family loo, the RSPCA is raking in cash for holding death row dogs. Many are not permitted to be walked or socialised while they’re held without hope for months, and years on end.

The RSPCA still make millions each year, from the business of killing ‘pit bull’ type dogs.

Sure, their position statement may have changed in alignment with current research showing breed specific laws fail to prevent or reduce dog attacks or in protect the public from dangerous dogs. But they have generated so much hysteria, done so much irreversible damage to the reputation of these dogs, that we have some of the most regressive, least effective and most brutal dog legislation in the world.

The RSPCA loudly, and undeservedly destroyed thousands, if not millions of pets with its stigmatisation of these animals. And while they have been incredibly active in generating and causing enormous problems with bad laws targeting breeds, the RSPCA aren’t so forthcoming with an active campaign to stand up for protecting people’s pets. A concerted effort to undo the damage that has been done to the reputation of bull breed – largely by their own organisation.

—————-

Little Clifford was just one dog that was quickly erased from the RSPCA history books. His life was not memorialised. He was collateral damage in the RSPCA war against pit bull dogs. The RSPCA was a major player in developing the intractable and callous animal welfare system we’re living with today. And many, many innocent dogs like Clifford have lost their lives because of it.