Cuddles (or should we say Dr. Cuddles) has come a long way from her dark past. She is one of 21 pit bulls seized during a 2015 police raid of an Ontario dogfighting ring.
After the bust, the dogs were taken to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) for a behavioral evaluation. It was quickly determined they were dangerous, and the evaluator recommended euthanizing all of them — including Cuddles.
Animal rights organizations fought against the “Ontario 21” euthanization plan by taking the case to court. Following a two-year legal battle, permission was granted for the dogs to be reassessed by a third-party evaluator.
A highly qualified dog behavioral expert from Jacksonville, Florida named Jim Crosby was chosen for the task. By then, some puppies had been born, and the Ontario 21 became the Ontario 31. He determined 29 of the dogs were fit to be trained and re-homed.
Cuddles was placed in the care of the Florida-based non-profit Pit Sisters and became part of their prison program, TAILS (Teaching Animals and Inmates Life Skills). The program pairs “hard to adopt” dogs with prison inmates, who train and socialize the canines. The dogs also help the prisoners heal emotionally.
TAILS has many success stories, and Cuddles is one of them. She did so well, in fact, that the Association of Professional Dog Trainers awarded her with a Ph.D. She also received a Canine Good Citizen certification from the American Kennel Club.
After spending her first years literally fighting for her life, Cuddles was adopted by veteran and retired firefighter Billy Brauer from New York, who recently suffered a stroke.
Brauer and Cuddles quickly became best friends. Finding a forever home not only meant a second chance for Cuddles but also a chance to heal for Brauer, who suffers from anxiety and depression. Together, they’re a perfect pair.
Here’s the EVIDENCE — If this isn’t WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN, I don’t know what is — HUGE THANK YOU to all you great people & great organizations for intervening and making life-affirming decisions for these animals AND humans — you’re saving so many lives — sparing so many tragic, needless deaths — again, thank you from the bottom of my heart — you’re the best.
Dr Cuddles, wonderful ! So happy for you. No death rows for animals and people. Thank you prisoners for helping the dogs heal and letting dogs help you heal – wonderful team work.
A very special read!
Unless governments use harsher punishments for the evil that goes on to make money things won’t change. We need to harass them to stop this immediately it’s too cruel
Wonderful! Glad the rescuers did not stop with the first, erroneous evaluation. Shows what can be done with people CARE and take the time to try. Thanks to all who participated in the saving of the dogs. AND, congratulations to Dr. Cuddles. May he have a long and happy life with his new Dad. Congratulations to Mr. Brauer who obviously saw the good in Cuddles and gave himself and the dog a chance at happiness and togetherness. This is a good story.
Wonderful ! Dr Cuddles and all the other dogs and animals should not be ever put on death row. Nor should any persons. Love you Dr Cuddles – Thank you imates for helping Cuddles to heal and for letting Cuddles help you heal. Wonderful team work.
Congratulations to Cuddles and to the Pit Sisters who took care of him.
Awww, they truly are a perfect pair 😄
Thank you for giving us a ray of hope in the midst of all these tragic animal abuse stories!
MANY MANY CONGRATS ON YOU RECEIVEING YOUR PHD.
God Bless all who fought for these tortured dogs. God Bless you all!
Thanku Jim Crosby and T.A.I.L.S. 🐶🐕🐾💟💟
It is good to receive positive news such as this about Cuddles!
It is so good to receive positive news such as this about Cuddles!
Well done!
Fabulous to hear about the rehabilitation of the pit bulls. Now they are in a much better situation – trained and giving back to people. Thank you, Jim Crosby and TAILS.
A good news story, for once. I get so tired of reading about the bad that humans do to animals it’s nice to read something uplifting.
All the best Cuddles.