Circle of Life

This past week I had two friends experience what it means to bring an animal into our lives.  One friend had to put her cat to sleep and the other adopted a new dog. 

First the cat.  Daisy had disappeared for over a month.  When she walked back in the pet door, she was skin and bones and looked sick.  She was taken to the Vet and tests were run. The difficult decision was made that it was best for Daisy to be euthanized.  Whatever happened to her while she was gone, she knew that if she could get home, her mom would do whatever was needed to make her feel better again. She has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and is happily playing in the sun.  She will be waiting when her owner comes to see her again.

Another friend became a "foster failure".  She was fostering  a dog named Lucy, a very sweet  and friendly dog. The resident dog, Jake, is very picky and usually doesn't get along with other dogs.  Jake has been mentioned in a previous post, Roscoe,  if you want to read more about him and his previous buddy.  Well, Jake seemed to fall in love with Lucy.  As did the whole family.  Did Roscoe send Lucy Jill's way? I think so. The dog was not in "adoptions" when Jill first saw her. It was odd how Lucy and Jill met.  Lucy also has some of the same traits as Roscoe.  Roscoe knew it was time for Jill and Jake to have a new friend and sent Lucy into their lives.

Have you had to euthanize a pet, and then have one show up in your life in an odd way?  Do you feel your previous pet sent them?  Does the new pet share some of the same traits or personality?  I feel that pets will come and go in our lives.  But some love us so much, they keep taking care of us after they are gone.  When we are ready,  whether we know it or not, our beloved pets will send another one to fill the void left behind, but never to replace them.

Jean, who is always helping the shelter by fostering dogs and cats, will continue to foster.  She will have that one dog or cat that will show up that Daisy sent her way.  She'll be reminded of Daisy and know that this new animal will be part of her life like Daisy was.  Daisy will always be watching over her as all of our previous pets do.

This is my beloved Duncan.  I know that he sent my beautiful Vinnie my way.

Shy Leana

I first met Leana on July 16th.  I was spending the day in the Intake department at a local shelter.  I was there to find out what would be affected by the budget cuts that were coming to the city run shelter.  Of all the animals that were brought in that day, I felt something special for Leana.  She wasn’t known as Leana then.  She was brought in as a stray by someone that found her.  She was a beautiful black dog that was extremely thin and scared.  She didn’t want to move or walk on the leash.  She just collapsed on the floor.  I sat down on the floor right next to her.  I talked to her and pet her to calm her down and make her comfortable.  Soon she trusted me enough to guide her in to the back where she would receive treatment before being taken to a kennel.  I wanted to bring her home as a foster to gain weight and confidence.  However, I already had four dogs at home and couldn’t bring another one home.  I watched as she was led away to a kennel hoping a foster would step forward to give her a chance.

The next time I saw Leana was July 28 at a big adoption event.  There were many rescue groups and shelters trying to get their dogs and cats adopted.  I was volunteering to walk the dogs.  I was going from cage to cage walking the dogs.  Then I saw Leana.  She was cowering in her cage looking up at me.  I felt so bad for her.  She needed to be taken to the event to find someone special to adopt her, but the noise and commotion were scaring her.  I took her out of the cage to go for a walk and get her outside to have some fresh air and quiet time.  Between walking other dogs I spent time with Leana.  I sat on the floor with her outside her cage to try to get her comfortable and calmer.  She was too scared.  She was soon loaded into the truck to be taken back to the shelter.  No adoption for Leana.

I couldn’t get her out of my mind.  I know she needed help but my house is full.  She does not “show well”  because she is so scared.  She will probably not get adopted in this condition,  I soon realize that I have no choice.  I was brought in to her life twice.  She seemed to trust me.  If I didn’t help her, who would?  How would I work it out with my other dogs?  I would find a way.  I feel that she is a special dog that I am supposed to help in any way I can.  I contact the shelter to tell them that if she is not adopted or fostered by Saturday, I will come by and pick her up for foster.

I pick Leana up from the shelter on Saturday and bring her home.  I bring her in the house for the meet and greet.  She does well, although she is overwhelmed with four dogs checking her out.  She attaches herself to me, but I have to let the dogs work it out.  She growls at the other dogs to keep them away.  She is so unsure of other dogs.  Looking at her, I wonder what happened to her before she came to the shelter.  She has scars that look like bite marks.  Since she is a bully breed,  I wonder if she was a “bait dog” for fighting.  She also looks like she had several litters of puppies. Either of these could be the reason she is afraid of other dogs.  Ultimately, it doesn’t matter.  I will do my best to build her confidence, socialize her with other dogs and teach her to trust dogs and humans again.

Update August 6: Unfortunately, I had to return Leana to the shelter today. Her fear of dogs was stronger than I thought. Instead of helping her, my four dogs were making it worse. She had a few episodes of fear aggression. It is hard to admit that best intentions are not always the best for the dog. I was hoping to help but I was not the right foster for Leana. She is an amazing dog that needs to be the only dog in the house. She is smart, listens well, and loves to cuddle on the couch. Leana has suffered a lot in her short life and deserves to cuddle with a favorite human on the couch. She'll roll over for a belly rub or just rest her head in your lap. Leana just wants to love and be loved by a human she can trust.

Roscoe

It is a sad time for a friend in the animal community.  Her best friend Roscoe walked over the Rainbow Bridge yesterday.  Jill met Roscoe 11 years ago when he swam across a creek behind her house.  He lived in the woods for 6 months while Jill and her husband patiently coaxed this very scared dog with cookies and hot dogs.  He finally came close enough for them to pat him on the head.  Roscoe found someone that he could trust.  Jill saw that he had a collar on that was so tight that it was almost embedded.  It took another three months to remove it in stages, so Roscoe wouldn't freak out and run away.  Roscoe was abused before he came to Jill.  There were cigarette burns and cuts on his ears.  No wonder he didn't trust people. 

Roscoe never became completely comfortable with people.  He only allowed 3 people and one dog to come close: Jill, her husband, a neighbour and Jill's other dog, Jake.

I firmly believe that there are some dogs and cats that are brought into our lives for something other than companionship.  Some come into our lives to urge us to do something and change our lives forever.  I believe Roscoe was this dog for Jill.

Since Roscoe showed up in Jill's life she has always had a soft spot for "dogs with issues".  She has helped many of these dogs through her volunteer work as President of Friends of Jacksonville Animals.  Roscoe's legacy will live on for years through all the dogs that Jill has helped and will continue to help because a special dog found the right person to do something.

Roscoe, you showed up at the right house.  But you know that.  That's why you trusted Jill.  Thank you for all that you have done for dogs everywhere.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown...

Black is Beautiful

Black Dog Syndrome or Big Black Dog Syndrome is the extreme under-adoption of large black dogs based not on temperament or health, but based on a number of physical and environmental factors in conjunction with the Western symbolism of the color black. In Western society, the color black is typically representative of evil and other negative connotations. The physical and environmental factors of size, color, the kennel environment, and the “genericness” of black dogs, when combined with the negative associations of the color black in western culture create what can be defined as “unconscious background checking”. Unconscious background checking is a phenomenon caused by the belief that shelter dogs have questionable backgrounds and are somehow “damaged”.

For a large black dog in an animal shelter in the United States, the difficulty with adoption does not stem from their health, breed, sociability or temperament- it is the color of their coat. Two undeniable facts of Big Black Dog Syndrome are that large dark coated dogs are adopted less frequently and euthanized more frequently than dogs of other sizes and colors. It does not vary by breed, either. If you were to check out your shelter, you would see Labrador Retrievers, Chow Chows, Rottweilers, Pit Bull Terriers, German Shepherds, Newfoundlands and mixes of all of the them. Labrador Retrievers have been the number one breed for years, but not the black ones.

Black dogs can appear more menacing than they actually are because black absorbs light , making it hard to read their facial expressions. In today’s internet-based society, a photo is what some people see first. Potential adopters no longer have to go to a shelter to get a look at the animals. All they have to do is check out the shelter’s website or petfinder.

In addition to color, the other major factor is size. In many urban areas, most people are interested in adopting smaller dogs (under 50 pounds), but especially those dogs under 20 pounds. Apartment dwellers often have breed and size restrictions and not everyone has a big enough home to accommodate a large dog.

This syndrome can also be associated with black cats. People often associate black cats with bad luck, witches and the black cat that always seems to jump out of nowhere in horror movies.

Several years ago, I went to a shelter to adopt a black kitten. I had already picked out a name, Lucky. I did not see a black cat as unlucky. It turned out that the kitten I chose that day was very lucky. I didn’t know it at the time, but the man that was at the cage, who helped me pick the kitten, was there to take them to be euthanized. My kitten was only 5 weeks old at the time and barely eating solid food. She lived a long happy life to the age of 17 .

I went to another shelter a few years ago looking for a big black dog. It was nice to see the look on the shelter employees faces when I told them what I was looking for. They brought out one at a time to me outside where I would walk them and get to know them. I kept asking for bigger dogs. Now, I’m the type of person who always wants to help the “underdog” and I am partial to big dogs. I brought my 85 pound chocolate lab back to the shelter to make the final decision. When he made the decision, the shelter started processing the new member of the family, Soon, two employees came out of the office where they were processing my new boy. They had sad looks on their faces. I asked what was wrong. They said the dog had heartworms. They expected me to change my mind. They didn’t know me. Heartworms are treatable. Some shelters are able to treat the dogs before they are put up for adoption, others have a working agreement with a veterinarian to cover the cost or reduce the cost for animals that are adopted.

                                                       Logan. Big, Black and Beautiful

Next time you look at pictures on a website or visit your shelter, take an extra look at the black dogs and cats. Look into their eyes, take them for a walk, spend some time with one and you might take home a dog or cat you weren’t expecting too. But it will be the dog or cat that you are supposed to take home. Remember, too, that if the dog or cat sheds, black hair doesn’t show as much, black goes with everything and black is always “IN”

Check out Blackpearldogs.com for more information

An Evening With Cesar Millan

 

Before he even steps on the stage, we learn a little about his history through video clips of where he came from and interviews with his parents. Cesar Millan was born in rural Mexico and grew up in a house with no running water or electricity. He spent most of his time on his grandfather’s farm where he observed the many dogs that lived there. When he was a teenager, the family purchased their first TV set. After watching “Lassie” and “The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin “, he dreamed about one day moving to California to become the world’s best dog trainer.

In December 1990 at the age of 21, Millan, who spoke no English, crossed the border into California and began living on the streets of San Diego. After a month, he landed a job grooming dogs, soon gaining a reputation for his calming effect on even the most difficult dogs. With a few dollars in his pocket, he moved north to Los Angeles and took a job washing cars.

During this time, Millan was surprised by how disconnected Americans seemed to be from nature and the world around them and the troubled dogs that we owned. It was at this time that he began to redirect his dream to becoming a “rehabilitator of dogs” and a “trainer of humans”. With the money he had saved, he started a freelance dog rehabilitation service, primarily offering his expertise with extreme cases. His client list quickly expanded as he was recommended around town. He came to the attention of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith in 1994 who referred him out to other celebrities. Millan was then inspired to upgrade his business and broaden his exposure in the community, which then led to the first Dog Psychology Center, a two-acre facility in South Los Angeles, designed to rehabilitate troubled, aggressive, and condemned dogs. The center, which housed a pack of thirty to forty “un-adoptable” and abandoned dogs, was moved to Santa Clarita Valley to allow for expansion and modernization. The new facility now includes a sheep herding area, swimming pool, obstacle course, and hiking trails on over 43 acres.

An empire was formed in 2002, when MPH Entertainment and Emery/Sumner Production contacted Millan after seeing a profile of him in the Los Angeles Times. Soon a TV series is born.

Cesar Millan steps onto the stage to applause and is soon followed by his famous Pit Bull, Junior. It is said that people should not work with kids or animals. Cesar may be a master, but he was still upstaged by Junior. Junior comes out, finds a spot on the stage, rolls over on his back and starts wiggling his butt. I, like many, wanted to go give him a belly rub. I know he would have been very happy if we all did that. He continued to insinuate himself onto center stage several times.

The show and laughter begins when Cesar starts impersonating all the ways we send mixed messages to our dogs. Whether greeting strange dogs with over-excitement, bringing on separation anxiety when we leave the house, or causing our dogs to be hyper and over-excited, we laughed but I think we saw a lot of ourselves in the way he acted.

He soon brings out a few dogs that have issues and the humans that may be causing them. Earlier in the day he spent time with them to assess their problems or issues. First out is Jaime with her dog Magnum. Magnum has a problem walking on a leash. Like a lot of dogs he is constantly pulling. Jaime has tried everything, including a double leash that is supposed to be designed specifically for this problem. Nothing works until Cesar gets ahold of the dog. Jaime is shown how to hold the collar higher up on the neck to get Magnum’s attention and to prevent the dog from choking. She is also shown how to walk with shoulders back confidently and not pay attention to the dog. Soon she masters the walk with Magnum.

Next out is Becky with Tina. Tina was confiscated in a cruelty case. She was living on the end of a chain. There were other dogs there, as well, all living in muddy conditions with no food, water or shelter. They could see each other, but could not reach each other to play. Because of this Tina does not know how to act around other dogs or people. Becky is shown how to introduce Tina to other dogs and how to make her more comfortable with them. Junior is used in this demonstration. Junior noticed the nervousness in Tina and reacted to that nervousness but was quickly corrected by Cesar. Soon they were both greeting each other and interacting like dogs should.

The evening was a huge success and I think those of us that were there learned a lot from “The Dog Whisperer” Please visit Animal Care and Protective Services for more information on Tina. She is a great dog that needs a loving second chance at life. How many people can say they have a dog that had a training session with Cesar Millan? If you adopt Tina, YOU can.

June 8- Tina has been adopted

Give Pit Bulls a Chance

Why You Need To Give Pit Bulls A Chance

As Cesar Millan says:    In the 70's they blamed the Dobermans

               In the 80's they blamed the German Shepherds

   In the 90's they blamed the Rottweilers

Now they blame the Pit Bulls

In a study evaluating canine temperament, 82% of dogs receive a passing score.  Pit Bulls consistently score above average.

There are a number of risk factors correlated with dog bites, however evidence suggests that breed is not among them.

97% of dogs involved in fatal dog attacks in 2006 were not spayed/neutered.

More than 70% of dog bites in 2006 were from unneutered male dogs.

An unneutered male dog is 2.6X more likely to bite than a neutered dog.

Chained dogs are 2.8X more likely to bite.

The media tends to be biased against Pit Bulls.  In a 2007 four day study two mixed breed dogs and one Labrador mix sent people to the hospital in critical condition in two cases and fatal in one case.  They were reported in the local paper only.  A 59 year old woman was hospitalized with severe injuries following an attack by two Pit Bulls. Mentioned in more than 230 newspaper articles worldwide and televised on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX

Breed Specific Legislation does not work.

The National Canine Research Council studied 20 years of dog fatality research to conclude that “No breed of dog has a particular method of attack or inflicts an exclusive type of injury.”

BSL restrictions are enforced by appearance. However, misidentification of breeds by the

general public and other untrained people renders this method unreliable.

When it comes to animal abuse there is no blaming the animal.  Pit Bull types are targets of human abuse more than any other breed.

As of July 2012, there were 10,728 total canine abuse cases

77.5% were cases involving Pit Bulls

Problems are not always attributed to how they are raised.  Many of the dogs rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring have been rehabilitated as therapy dogs. They go to schools, libraries, hospitals and nursing homes.  Dogs from cruelty cases can be changed by a little love, food and socialization.  There are some dogs that you can’t make mean even if you try.

Now to tell you about my Pit Bull.  He was taken in a cruelty case.  He was living on the end of a thick chain, weighing less than 34 pounds(half of what he should weigh) and covered in his own filth.  There was no food or water on the small porch he was living on. Even though he was living in these conditions, he chose to give up what little food he got so a non-Pit Bull puppy with him would have a better chance at life.  He showed no aggression and only wanted attention from everyone he met.  He shares a home with three other dogs and gets along with all of them.  He is a big lap dog that only wants to love and be loved.  He’ll trade kisses for belly rubs everyday.

Pit Bulls are dogs.  They are individuals and should be treated as such.  They are very focused and always aim to please.  Due to this, bad owners will train them to fight or attack.  And they will, to make their owners happy.  Responsible dog owners will spay/neuter their dogs, socialize them with dogs and people, teach them manners, keep them on a leash and provide them whatever healthcare they need.

I gave one a chance.  Will you give one a chance, too.

http://www.1800petmeds.com/education/pit-bull-facts-and-myths.html

A Day In The Life

A Day In The Life Of An Animal Control Officer

　

April 3, 2013.
The day starts at 7:30. I meet several of the officers waiting to start the day. There are nine active and two trainees patrolling around ninety square miles each. Everyone checks the computer to see what calls have come in overnight. These can be anything from dogs roaming at large, aggressive animals, cruelty calls and dead animals. Each officer has an assigned area, but will go where needed.

I am allowed to sit in on an oral test for a trainee. Three officers are involved in the test. Each officer brings up a scenario that the trainee will probably come in contact with. She is able to cite the ordinances involved and whether an officer is allowed to rescue dogs or cats under these circumstances. Although this trainee was an officer in another state, she must go through the same training as a new officer before she is allowed alone on the street.

I spend the next 1 ½ hours watching an officer prepare a cruelty case. He gets all the information together to take to the General Counsels office, who handles these cases. The information includes the animals kennel card, pictures, doctor’s evaluation and all citations to the owner. The kennel card is the information that the officer supplies when the animal is brought in to the intake room, such as type of animal, sex, size and other information.

After we drop off the information to the General Counsels office, we go on our first call. The call is for a mama dog and her puppies living under someone’s house. We meet up with two other officers to help on this case. On the way to the address, we come across another mama dog and puppy in the street. The officer stops to check on them. We take the puppy, which appears to be sick. We leave the mama dog because a neighbor comes out and tells the officer he knows the owner and will take care of the dog until the owner comes home.

When we get to the house with the mama dog, we find her under the house in the back with a 4-5 inch opening to get to her and her puppies. One of the officers shines a flashlight on the mama and she doesn’t look good. She looks weak and just closes her eyes. She doesn’t show any aggression but she isn’t friendly either. The officers decide to bring the mama out first so we could get the puppies. They start digging a little hole to get mama through. I’m not somebody that can just observe, so whether I was supposed to or not, I was on my hands and knees moving dirt away with my hands. After we got mama out we started trying to get the puppies out. There wasn’t much room, but since I was the smallest, I just dived in. I laid on my back and reached my arm under the house to get to the puppies. I couldn’t see anything and we didn’t know how many puppies were under there. I finally got my hand on a little brown and white puppy. I passed it to one of the officers to put in a carrier. I felt like a hero. It was an amazing feeling. The other puppies were beyond my reach. A shovel was brought in and a bigger hole was dug so the officers could get in further. Two more puppies were brought out. Unfortunately, there were others that did not make it. But one nursing mama and three puppies is a good save.

We head back to the office. On the way back we see a dead possum in the road. The officer adds it to our collection to take back to the shelter. Once back at the shelter, the officer has to put all the information on each dog in the computer. Each animal that is brought in gets their flea medicine, dewormer and bordetella administered by the officers before taken to a kennel. Mama dog is brought in first. She is a very sweet and beautiful black dog. She is put in a kennel where she can be watched by vet techs. She is given a kiddie pool and blanket to get comfortable in before her puppies are brought in. The puppies are soon brought in to see mama again. They start nursing right away. They will go to foster care the next day to get healthy.

I also go out to check on known dumping sites. Some people won’t bring their animals to the shelter because there is a $25 fee to surrender the animal, so they dump them somewhere. The officers have developed a rapport with businesses and homeowners in the area to notify the officers if they see any animals that have been dumped. We do not see any animals today.

Generally, each officer brings in 12 animals a day. If owner surrender, they become the property of animal control. They will then be assessed to determine the next step. If an animal comes in as a stray, there is a 6 day hold to give the owner a chance to reclaim their pet.

I had an amazing day with these officers. They are all heroes to the dogs and cats that they save everyday. Whether a cruelty case or a scared stray on the streets, these animals know that they are being rescued. I was also able to meet my personal hero. He is the officer that saved a very special Pit Bull named Vinnie, that was so emaciated and weak that he had to be carried to the officer’s vehicle. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough for some of these rescues. These officers have to walk a fine line to save these animals. They don’t want to take animals away from their owners unless absolutely necessary. The officers will educate the owners and give them options if they have problems feeding their pets or taking them to the vet.

Remember, these officers are here to protect the animals. They are not "dog catchers". They do much more. They go in to dangerous situations on a weekly basis, if not daily. If you see something, say something. Report any animal abuse, strays or any other problem that you see. You can be a hero, too. These animals need us.

May 25, 2013
The mama dog in this post was adopted yesterday.  Unfortunately one of the puppies rescued that day did not survive.  Another was touch and go for awhile, but survived and is thriving along with her sister. They are both big girls now and are scheduled to be spayed next week.  They both have people interested in adopting them as soon as they are ready after surgery. From struggling to survive under a house to happy homes for all three is the icing on the cake for this story. May they all live a long life in their new forever homes.  Thank you adopters!

He Changed My Life Forever

 He came in to my life on November 26, 2011 and changed it forever.

I had been fostering for Animal Care and Protective Services for several months, fostering many dogs from a Chihuahua to a Pit Bull.  One dog had an embedded collar and all were very thin and in need of socialization with people and other dogs. I saw a picture of a dog that needed help on November 21st.  He was picked up by Animal Control from an abusive situation.  He was living on the end of a thick chain, covered in his own urine and feces, flies and fleas. There was no food or water. He was literally skin and bones. Ironically his name was Handsome.  He did have companionship though.  There was a puppy that was there with him.

When the officer arrived he gave them food. Although he was starving, the older dog allowed the puppy to eat all the food.  He wanted human contact more than he wanted food.. He just wanted the officer to pet him.  Once he got to the shelter he was checked over by the vet.  He wanted attention from everyone, and he got it.  He gave out kisses to everyone that gave him attention.  He weighed less than 34 pounds. Less than half of what a full grown Pit Bull should weigh.  Yes, this sweet, unselfish, loving dog was a “mean and aggressive” Pit Bull.

I picked him up on Saturday.  He had already started to gain weight since he was being fed regularly.  As I took him out of the shelter, I knew he was a strong dog, mentally and physically.  He was pulling on the leash to go to his next adventure.  I loaded him into the back of my SUV and headed home.  As I’m driving, he decides he does not want to stay in the back.  He jumps into the back seat and then starts moving into the front seat.  I’m trying to keep him away from the gear shift and out of my lap as I’m driving down the highway.  I manage to get him in to the passenger seat, but he’s still not happy.  I finally get him to lay down on the passenger seat with his head across the center divider touching my leg.  Then he was calm and happy.  All he wanted was to see me and touch me.  This was my first sign of what an amazing dog he was.

When we get home, it’s time for the introduction to the three resident dogs in the house.  Introductions are very important.  You never know how the new abused dog will react or how your own dogs will react to a strange dog in their house.  I start with my passive male lab/rottie mix, Logan.  He loves every dog and proves to love Handsome as well.  I now bring in my very picky female lab mix, Shylah.  She doesn’t love him as much, but she does tolerate him. Now I bring in my female boxer/ lab mix, Lucy.  She is the alpha mama dog.  She greets him well but is a little standoffish. She is now the mama dog that must teach the new dog how to behave in the house.  I always find it interesting to watch the signals between the dogs as they get to know each other. Handsome is very submissive and learns from his new friends.

Handsome is happy to get a nice bath and food in his belly. I feed him twice a day to help him gain weight.  He is fed in the bathroom to keep him separate from the other dogs, in case of food aggression. I also feel that he needs quiet time and time to enjoy food again.  After a couple of days I test him for food aggression.  He does not care when I try to take his food away from him or when the dogs come in to the bathroom to lick his bowl after he is done.

After a few days in the new house, he is now part of the family. He plays well with everyone and Lucy is acting like the perfect mama.  She is taking care of her boy.  She cleans his ears and teeth and watches over him as he learns house manners.  I try to think of a new strong name for him. I go through all the usual Pit Bull names like Diesel, Tank and others.  But nothing seems to fit.  I look at him and come up with the name Vinnie.  I don’t like it.  He needs something strong and tough.  Vinnie keeps popping into my head and I can’t get rid of it.  I start researching the name to see what it means.  I found out that it means Conqueror and Victor. I thought it was very fitting for a dog that had survived what he had.  Vinnie, he becomes.

I soon realized I was in trouble.  Through the weeks of rehabilitation for skin issues as well as helping him gain weight, I was becoming attached to Vinnie.  Was he going to be a foster failure?  I knew that if I adopted him I couldn’t foster anymore.  Four dogs was enough.  When I started thinking about somebody adopting him, I wanted to do a home visit, background check and probably take some blood to make sure that they were good enough for him.  I realized that nobody was good enough for him.  I wasn’t good enough, but I knew I would fight for him and his breed with everything I had. And that was the best I could do.

After a few setbacks with health issues, I took him in for neutering and heartworm treatment on January 23, 2012.  He became an official member of the family January 24th when I adopted him.
Needless to say, he was not feeling good.  He was in pain and groggy from the surgery and heartworm treatment.  I made a soft bed on the floor for him and he came in the house and just laid down on the bed.  Soon Lucy came over and laid down next to him on the bed and placed her head on his side.  She was taking care of her sick boy. Ironically, Lucy was a foster failure, too. As with Vinnie, it was meant to be.  She has been very helpful in teaching and helping all the fosters I brought home.

Since I have brought Vinnie home, I have become a  vocal Pit Bull advocate.  If you hate Pit Bulls, meet Vinnie and you will change your mind. He is the MOST loving dog that I have ever had..  Of all the dogs that have passed through my house, Vinnie has shown more love for all people and dogs that he comes in contact with than any other.  He is ready to give kisses, cuddle in your lap or play.  All he asks in return is a belly rub now and then. I can’t imagine anyone being against a dog that they have never met.  People like generalities.  They don’t like people that look a certain way, so why should dogs be different. Pit Bulls are individuals like all dogs.  You can’t judge all dogs by the actions of one dog. Don’t judge my Pit Bull and I won’t judge your children. You shouldn’t judge at all.  Vinnie is my child and he is a great friendly dog who I love very much. Come meet him and you will love him, too.