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Duke- guest post- is up-to-date with routine shots, house trained and spayed/neutered.

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More About Duke- guest post-

Duke is a gorgeous, 3 yr young, American Bandogge Mastiff. His

big head and muscles will amaze you. But it's not the good looks

that Duke has that will win you over, it's his loving, laid back

personality. He is a lover. Despite his size, he is a lap dog! He loves

to sit back in your lap and get belly rubs and kisses on his head. He

also knows all of his basic commands, and he is willing to learn

anything, if you have treats waiting for him as a reward! Duke

passed his behavior evaluation with flying colors. Duke's other

perks are, he is neutered, up to date on vaccinations, heart worm

negative, parasite free, house trained, and crate trained. Duke still

needs a little socialization, so if you have young children, you will

NOT be considered for adoption. Duke needs an active caretaker, he

loves walks and jogs. You may also be asked to take training classes

as part of the agreement for adoption. Home check applies, as well

as back round check. Open adoption agreement will be part of the

contract- meaning rescue can stop by at any point in future to check

up on Duke, so please, only responsible people, serious inquiries.

We prefer a fenced in yard. Invisible fence is NOT accepted, nor

will he be permitted on a tie out. For more information, please

contact- mkkain@aol.com

Furkid Rescue

Bethel Park, PA

EMAIL ONLY

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Duke- guest post-

Furkid Rescue

Bethel Park, PA

EMAIL ONLY

jennyb19@hotmail.com

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Duke- guest post-

Furkid Rescue

Bethel Park, PA

EMAIL ONLY

jennyb19@hotmail.com

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LIVING / PETS / LINDA FUOCO

Patron the pit bull made headlines last month when he attacked the 2-year-old son of Steelers linebacker James Harrison.For the past two weeks Patron, 2, has been living quietly in a West End home with a couple who say "he's just an all-aroundgood dog."

Details about the May 20 attack are sketchy. We do know that the bite sent James Harrison III to the hospital for a week, andthe child's mother and a family friend were bitten in the same incident.

Mr. Harrison initially said the dog would be euthanized but then had a change of heart. When no animal shelter, rescuegroup or boarding kennel would agree to give Patron even temporary safe-haven, he ended up in Sheraden with MK (MaryKay) Kain and her husband, Ray. Like many observers, they thought Patron deserved a second chance. Now they're sure ofit.

"I work with aggressive dogs, and Patron is not aggressive," said Mrs. Kain. "He is a happy dog, willing to oblige you anddo whatever you want him to do."

For two weeks, the couple have seen a dog who is quiet, calm, friendly and affectionate. They've seen no signs of aggressiontoward people or other dogs, including the five big dogs they own. They've seen no signs of nervousness, fear or shyness --traits that raise a red flag among dog trainers and behavior experts, as fearful and timid dogs may bite to defend themselves.

Mrs. Kain has been studying with trainers and animal behavior specialists since the late 1990s. She became more involvedwith canine rescue and rehab after she traveled to New Orleans in 2005 to help with dogs left homeless by HurricaneKatrina.

"There was a separate area for aggressive dogs that people were afraid to work with. I worked with them," she said.

Mrs. Kain brought two of them home with her. Red, a chow chow mix, had bitten six people. Tyson, a pit bull, had a historyof aggression toward people. Red and Tyson will spend the rest of their lives with the Kains, along with three other "rescue"dogs.

Ray Kain is a Pittsburgh police officer who now works in the traffic division but who used to be a K-9 officer. Hisdog-partner Conchita was a drug detection dog. Someone in the Steelers front office was familiar with the Kains'dog-handling experience, and that's how Patron ended up with them, with Mr. Harrison's approval.

Mrs. Kain travels around the country as a consultant, evaluating "problem" dogs and helping to place them with rescue

Pet Tales: Dog trainer says Patron was worth the second chanceSaturday, June 20, 2009

By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Michael Henninger/Post-Gazette

MK Kain of Sheraden works with Patron.

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Pet Tales: Dog trainer says Patron was worth the second chance http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09171/978608-62.stm

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groups or with permanent owners. She says she has worked with about 1,000 dogs. She doesn't make money doing this"because rescue groups don't have the money," but they do pay her travel expenses. About 10 dogs have spent time in thehouse under the Kains' direct care and training.

"Helping dogs is my hobby and my passion," Mrs. Kain said.

I saw what the Kains saw when I met Patron earlier this week. He is a 76-pound, tough-looking dog with an enormous head.There are no scars on his trim, muscular body. His ears are cropped very short. The color of his short fur is reddish-fawn, andhis nose is pinkish-red.

But when your eyes meet the amber-colored eyes of Patron, you don't see a tough dog. The look in his eyes is soft and gentle,sad, even.

Patron walked up to me and wagged his skinny tail. He's either naturally polite or has been well-trained, as he didn't jump up.I rubbed his chest and scratched his chin, petted that enormous head and scratched his ears. He wagged his tail, lay down atmy feet, and went to sleep while we talked about him and his future.

When we went inside the house, I sat down on a couch in the living room. Patron hopped up on the couch, stretched out andplopped that giant head on my lap. He went to sleep again. He's very low-energy for a young terrier.

Mrs. Kain thinks he might be a pit bull-Cane Corso cross. Also known as Italian mastiffs, Cane Corsos are much bigger buthave lower-energy levels than pit bulls. They were bred as all-around working dogs, not for fighting, according to the Websites of multiple breeders.

When the Kains first brought Patron to their house "we walked him by the other dogs and he didn't even alert" to theirpresence, Mrs. Kain said. The introduction was made with a sturdy fence between Patron and the others.There have been noproblems, and the Kains are confident that Patron would eventually be able to mingle freely with the other dogs.

Mrs. Kain said she took Patron to a professional trainer/behavior specialist "and he passed." That trainer did not return a phonecall asking for comment.

Now the Kains are looking for a new home for Patron.

"I'd keep him in a minute, but we really don't have the room. He will not be placed in a home with children or other pets."

Mrs. Kain said that people considering adopting a pit bull or any breed must make sure that their energy level and lifestylematch the breed's needs. The presence of small children, number of walks and frequency of visitors are all issues to considerbefore adopting a dog.

Patron's picture and adoption information has been put up on at least one rescue Web site but with a fake name.

"We're not interested in people who want to adopt him just because he was James Harrison's dog," Mrs. Kain said.

For more information on Patron, contact her at Mkkain@aol.com.

Linda Wilson Fuoco can be reached at lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064. More articles by this author

First published on June 20, 2009 at 12:00 am

Pet Tales: Dog trainer says Patron was worth the second chance http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09171/978608-62.stm

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