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Tuesday: 9-10 PM ET: Open Dog Chat - Pet Loss
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Posted by PHRascal on October 19, 2002 at 08:18:50:
In Reply to: Found my new best friend in a shelter posted by faustcorpus on October 06, 2002 at 12:40:55:
Forgive me, I have an irresistible urge to say, "bully for you." OK, that's out of my system. Now, I will also tell you that your boy is very handsome and CONGRATULATIONS!
~Rascal
:The majority of the animals in my home were unwanted. But those are all reptiles. From the snake to the lizards, each has some story. Be the story as benign as Former Breeder Lizards in a retirement community to the severe stories associated with my iguanas, to my drug house snakes. I always find room. Well when my friend starting talking about the BEAUTIFUL american bulldog that animal control brought to her shelter I became intrigued. I love bully breeds. Never knew the difference between an AmStaff, APBT, AB, Staffie. For the record, now I do. All I knew was that along with several other breeds (rotties and dobs come to mind right away) they got a bad wrap. The were the snakes of dog ownership. "OH MY GOD YOU HAVE A WHAT AS A PET!!!! ARE YOU INSANE!!!!!!!" was something I was reasonably familiar with. I am also famliar with people not coming over because of my pets. But to counter that I am a responsible pet owner. So one day in my email is this pic. It showed a cutie patootie with the head cocked slightly side ways in a question. He is just adorable and I GOTTA HAVE him. Now I knew he needed work. And I knew he needed training. Even tho I never owned a dog in my life, I felt prepared to take on the challenges involved. But he had that big bully smile that just melted my heart. I went down to meet him. I also arranged to meet a few other dogs as well. Also bullys, but these were pits. I took the video camera. Video taped the three. Stopped on the way home and got a great lead on a trainer. Came home and waited. The next day we went. We were bringing someone home with us. When we broght him home there were some issues. The only way he knew how to play was rough with mouthing. Nothing intentionally mean but with strong jaws he did hurt. We had him in the trainer in the first week. I suspect many would have returned him to the shelter. He would have been branded unadoptable. But we are not many. Now into our third week, we are learning how to live with each other. He is learning that he is #3 in the pack. He is learning how to play with TOYS. He is also learning that he will get love. He doesnt need to bite our shoes as we walk passed for attention. He is learning many commands and going thru an off leash training course. He demands first thing in the morning cuddling. He wants to watch the toilet flush. He HATES the vacuum. He loves raw beef. He wants to play when mommy is typing but thats the only time.
:Brutus has become a very important part of our life in a few short weeks. We love him, problems and all. We will spend 10-15 years with him. We will coddle him and love him. He will be here longer than some and shorter than others. But he will be here til the end. His is our baby.
:Pets that are at shelters may need sometimes a bit of extra work. But this is one household that is glad that they could offer it to one very very special poochie.
:Cindy (and brian)
:And of course Brutus the Bulldoggie.