Leo may be one of the greatest testements to the power of therapy in reforming past criminals and giving them fresh starts once they manage to distance themselves from a life of crime and hardship.
Leo, who had been kept locked up and only let out in order to fight or kill, was a previous member of the Bad Newz gang who underwent a re-education and therapy program aimed at giving him a new chance at life. Leo now works to cheer and comfort Californian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the Camino Infusion Center, as well as helping set an example of hope and the possibility of starting a new life to the young men and women on probation at the Alternative Placement Academy in San Jose.
Leo, I should mention, is a pitbull. He was one of fifty dogs discovered by authorities in the Bad Newz Kennel sponsored by ex-NFL player Michael Vick (currently serving a 23 month sentence in a federal penitentiary). The dogs were discovered "injured and scarred, chained to buried car axles. Forensic experts discovered remains of dogs that had been shot with a .22-caliber pistol, electrocuted, drowned, hanged or slammed to the ground for lacking a desire to fight." reports John Woestendiek of The Baltimore Sun.
Its is amazing to learn that Leo's 180 degree transformation took only five weeks. Marthina McClay, who works for a pitbull advocacy group called Our Pack, summed it up quite neatly: At first, “He was a little like a caveman at a tea party,” McClay said. “He didn’t have a lot of training.”
For an adorable video of just how far Leo has come, check out the original link at :
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/mutts/blog/2008/06/_mountain_view_calif.html
Thursday, June 19, 2008
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