Post by foosis on Dec 23, 2011 16:41:26 GMT -5
Before I start let me first apologize for the length but I leave this UN-edited. I think it necessary to convey the feeling of our experience. We still find it hard to explain the pain of losing a beloved pet. We also find it hard to explain the joy of finding new from such an unexpected source. For the record I also have never been accused of being short winded ;D
On to the tale:
My wife and I have had many dogs over the last 40 years. We’ve had Hounds, Labs, Retrievers, Collies, and up until last February a Boxer. We've had females and males alike and truly never have had a preference. A good dog is a good dog regardless of gender or breed. In this dogs share the same with we humans. We understand this more with each of our canine relationships. This fact has been driven home even more of late.
We’ve unfortunately had to put down a few dogs due to various terminal ailments through the years. Sadly it is sometimes a part of the process. This heart wrenching process however is never easy as I'm sure all are aware.
Our daughter Tracy brought a beautiful four month old female boxer home shortly after she received her Master’s degree in math. She named the Boxer Cleo. As always Tracy's taste turned out to be impeccable. The four ensuing years-plus Cleo burrowed deeper into our hearts than any dog since we began adopting such lives so many years ago.
Then it happened. One otherwise normal evening Cleo was unexpectedly paralyzed due to an unknown neurological affliction. It's a rather long story so suffice it to say we tried all kinds of treatment from Cornell University’s excellent care through holistic veterinary treatment and last ditch efforts the likes of acupuncture. We finally made the hardest decision we've made in the pet arena and had our beloved Cleo put down.... Enough of the tears.
My wife Starr and I both decided to take a breather of an undecided duration considering the pain and drain of the entire ordeal. We also thought the chances were good of never finding a friend that could take Cleo’s place. After much discussion we decided to look for another family member and... the saga continues.
After much discussion Starr and I decided to at least begin to look for a new friend. We only limited ourselves to two restrictions. 1 - We knew we wanted to rescue a dog and 2 - Due to nothing more than ignorance and canine prejudice... We did NOT want a Pit Bull. (Did I hear a gasp?) You see we have heard the stories of how mean, dangerous, and uncontrollable a Pit Bull cannot only potentially be but... have actually “proven” to be time and time again. Like so many we fell for the hype so prevalent today concerning this amazing breed. We were so sure about our unfounded negative conviction no further thought, consideration, or discussion was needed on either part... We would have NO PIT!!!
And then it happened - My cell phone rang as my Tom-Tom had me roving in circles through the mountains of Pennsylvania in search of the quickest route to my next client. It was wife Starr. She first said ,“Where are you?” Considering my Tom-Tom predicament I really didn’t need such a question at-that-time but I forced myself to respond with feigned reason and tolerance, “I have no idea. Right now I’m someplace in a cemetery Tom-Tom is leading me.” (true story) She then said, “Will you be back in town before end-of-day? I need you to look at something.” As I dodged the next vehicular obstacle my shoulders slumped as I responded, “What’s that?”
Starr went on to explain she found a dog she wanted me to look at. The excitement in her voice was hard to ignore. Before we hung up she gave me an address of someone I’d never met where I could meet and view this little critter who so quickly stole the heart of my wife of thirty six years. On my way home that night I stopped and met Bella.
After a short greeting with the proprietor of the business address given I was led to the showroom of the establishment. Off to one side an office chair had a peacefully sleeping, ever so petite little occupant. “She” was so small there no doubt was room for the rest of her litter in the chair had they been present. I immediately realized what impressed my wife with this little thirteen pound ball of fur so happily snoring in front of me. During the next three quarters of an hour of our initial meeting “Bella” only cracked an eye of indifference to her new-found buddy... me. It was all I needed to be convinced.
It is said we human beings are hard wired to be emotionally effected by and attracted to... cute. Mother Nature, God, evolution or whoever/whatever you personally wish to attribute this fact to surely understood what they, he, or she was doing. It is said we human animals are attracted to cute as insurance we will take care of our own young. We took “Bella” home that very evening as much as anything because d*mn she was cute!
We have now been with Bella some six short weeks. Starr and I now find ourselves (happily) getting up at 4:30 A.M. to beat the moment the growing little spastic ball of fur decides to relieve herself. Each morning we quietly and privately mentally each ask ourselves... Will she make it outdoors? Only a critter owner could possibly understand how such self inflicted stress could truly be classified as enjoyment.
I could literally write chapters on this but will now end. In closing however I will say both wife and I agree our second adoption requirement of “no Pits” had been based on nothing more than breed prejudice. Starr and I will both tell you we were flat out wrong with our poorly thought out limitations. We are both ecstatic we threw out the limitation once we realized how foolish it was; once we bothered to put even an ounce of thought into the process. We should have known better.
Starr and I lived through the perceived demon Dobermans of the seventies. We witnessed the progression through the Rottweiler’s and the Sheppard’s. We watched each hold the top spot of demon dog in their day. The Pits are no different. Their time of acceptance too will come.
Starr and I are thankful Bella is now in our lives. Starr and I are both thankful we met this little ball of spastic. Starr and I found yet another piece of joy in her. Starr and I understand it is up to us to learn how to be Bella’s pack leaders. Starr and I understand a “Pitt” is no different than any other breed when it comes to good or bad.
We can both also tell you this... Through all our experience and good “luck” with all the other breeds we have had over the years none are truly as sweet to the core as our Blue-Nose Pitt Bella. When one lays eyes and heart on Bella’s appearance and persona it is hard to not understand what an amazing Pitt-fraternity she belongs. We both now find it amazing such an animal breed could find such an ill-deserved position of fear and/or loathing.
Bella is a joy and sincerely fills a void experienced since our Boxer Cleo. We look forward to this new adventure. We look forward to our new adventures with our new buddy. We also understand Bella has special needs as does any breed. A retriever has the innate need to retrieve as does a hound to hunt and a Sheppard to work the flock.
Thus our interest in this forum. We wish to draw on experience.
We thank you,
~Fred and Starr
On to the tale:
My wife and I have had many dogs over the last 40 years. We’ve had Hounds, Labs, Retrievers, Collies, and up until last February a Boxer. We've had females and males alike and truly never have had a preference. A good dog is a good dog regardless of gender or breed. In this dogs share the same with we humans. We understand this more with each of our canine relationships. This fact has been driven home even more of late.
We’ve unfortunately had to put down a few dogs due to various terminal ailments through the years. Sadly it is sometimes a part of the process. This heart wrenching process however is never easy as I'm sure all are aware.
Our daughter Tracy brought a beautiful four month old female boxer home shortly after she received her Master’s degree in math. She named the Boxer Cleo. As always Tracy's taste turned out to be impeccable. The four ensuing years-plus Cleo burrowed deeper into our hearts than any dog since we began adopting such lives so many years ago.
Then it happened. One otherwise normal evening Cleo was unexpectedly paralyzed due to an unknown neurological affliction. It's a rather long story so suffice it to say we tried all kinds of treatment from Cornell University’s excellent care through holistic veterinary treatment and last ditch efforts the likes of acupuncture. We finally made the hardest decision we've made in the pet arena and had our beloved Cleo put down.... Enough of the tears.
My wife Starr and I both decided to take a breather of an undecided duration considering the pain and drain of the entire ordeal. We also thought the chances were good of never finding a friend that could take Cleo’s place. After much discussion we decided to look for another family member and... the saga continues.
After much discussion Starr and I decided to at least begin to look for a new friend. We only limited ourselves to two restrictions. 1 - We knew we wanted to rescue a dog and 2 - Due to nothing more than ignorance and canine prejudice... We did NOT want a Pit Bull. (Did I hear a gasp?) You see we have heard the stories of how mean, dangerous, and uncontrollable a Pit Bull cannot only potentially be but... have actually “proven” to be time and time again. Like so many we fell for the hype so prevalent today concerning this amazing breed. We were so sure about our unfounded negative conviction no further thought, consideration, or discussion was needed on either part... We would have NO PIT!!!
And then it happened - My cell phone rang as my Tom-Tom had me roving in circles through the mountains of Pennsylvania in search of the quickest route to my next client. It was wife Starr. She first said ,“Where are you?” Considering my Tom-Tom predicament I really didn’t need such a question at-that-time but I forced myself to respond with feigned reason and tolerance, “I have no idea. Right now I’m someplace in a cemetery Tom-Tom is leading me.” (true story) She then said, “Will you be back in town before end-of-day? I need you to look at something.” As I dodged the next vehicular obstacle my shoulders slumped as I responded, “What’s that?”
Starr went on to explain she found a dog she wanted me to look at. The excitement in her voice was hard to ignore. Before we hung up she gave me an address of someone I’d never met where I could meet and view this little critter who so quickly stole the heart of my wife of thirty six years. On my way home that night I stopped and met Bella.
After a short greeting with the proprietor of the business address given I was led to the showroom of the establishment. Off to one side an office chair had a peacefully sleeping, ever so petite little occupant. “She” was so small there no doubt was room for the rest of her litter in the chair had they been present. I immediately realized what impressed my wife with this little thirteen pound ball of fur so happily snoring in front of me. During the next three quarters of an hour of our initial meeting “Bella” only cracked an eye of indifference to her new-found buddy... me. It was all I needed to be convinced.
It is said we human beings are hard wired to be emotionally effected by and attracted to... cute. Mother Nature, God, evolution or whoever/whatever you personally wish to attribute this fact to surely understood what they, he, or she was doing. It is said we human animals are attracted to cute as insurance we will take care of our own young. We took “Bella” home that very evening as much as anything because d*mn she was cute!
We have now been with Bella some six short weeks. Starr and I now find ourselves (happily) getting up at 4:30 A.M. to beat the moment the growing little spastic ball of fur decides to relieve herself. Each morning we quietly and privately mentally each ask ourselves... Will she make it outdoors? Only a critter owner could possibly understand how such self inflicted stress could truly be classified as enjoyment.
I could literally write chapters on this but will now end. In closing however I will say both wife and I agree our second adoption requirement of “no Pits” had been based on nothing more than breed prejudice. Starr and I will both tell you we were flat out wrong with our poorly thought out limitations. We are both ecstatic we threw out the limitation once we realized how foolish it was; once we bothered to put even an ounce of thought into the process. We should have known better.
Starr and I lived through the perceived demon Dobermans of the seventies. We witnessed the progression through the Rottweiler’s and the Sheppard’s. We watched each hold the top spot of demon dog in their day. The Pits are no different. Their time of acceptance too will come.
Starr and I are thankful Bella is now in our lives. Starr and I are both thankful we met this little ball of spastic. Starr and I found yet another piece of joy in her. Starr and I understand it is up to us to learn how to be Bella’s pack leaders. Starr and I understand a “Pitt” is no different than any other breed when it comes to good or bad.
We can both also tell you this... Through all our experience and good “luck” with all the other breeds we have had over the years none are truly as sweet to the core as our Blue-Nose Pitt Bella. When one lays eyes and heart on Bella’s appearance and persona it is hard to not understand what an amazing Pitt-fraternity she belongs. We both now find it amazing such an animal breed could find such an ill-deserved position of fear and/or loathing.
Bella is a joy and sincerely fills a void experienced since our Boxer Cleo. We look forward to this new adventure. We look forward to our new adventures with our new buddy. We also understand Bella has special needs as does any breed. A retriever has the innate need to retrieve as does a hound to hunt and a Sheppard to work the flock.
Thus our interest in this forum. We wish to draw on experience.
We thank you,
~Fred and Starr