An Apology for my Pit Bull by Betty Geist

AN APOLOGY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFENDED BY MY DOG OR (PIT BULLS) by Betty Geist

I'm sorry you are frightened of my dogs and are trying to have them killed because they are pit bulls.

I'm sorry you lack the understanding of this breed's true history, gentleness with people, wonderful temperament, intelligence and behavioral conformation.

I'm sorry you won't read the ATTS stats regarding our breed's true temperament, putting it in the top four for temperament, scoring better than breeds like Golden Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels.

I'm sorry that you side with and protect animal abusers by marking the breed of dog, and not the irresponsibility of the owner.

I'm sorry that by your logic I could steal a car, run some people over with it and then you can blame the make of car for the accident, as I walk free.

I'm sorry you generalize one breed of dog with one group of people. I'm sorry you can't see the love and determination that many often highly educated, non-criminal and "normal" types of people show towards this breed and the great personal sacrifices that they make to take care of their dog responsibly.

I'm sorry you cannot go into the shelters and see the hundreds of abandoned and abused pit bulls, dying only for the inane "crime" of being born the breed they are.

I'm sorry you cannot see the look of disappointment in their eyes as someone walks by their kennel, and refuses to consider adopting them based on an ill educated fear mongering reporter.

I'm sorry that you cannot be there when the animal looks at a human for the last time, and in spite of betrayed by all humans they have met, their tail still wags as someone approaches with the syringe of Euthinol.

I'm sorry cannot be there when law enforcement shoots one of your dogs dead inside it's own home in front of the children it mutually loves for simply getting off the dog bed and walking over to say hello with it's tail wagging.

I'm sorry you cannot be there to rescue pit bull puppies from a plastic bag in a dumpster, dumped there by someone switching their illegal, and inhumane activities to another, more lucrative breed.

I'm sorry you cannot understand the difference between canine and human aggression, in the way that this breed can. Yes, I'm saying my pit bull is smarter then you.

I'm sorry that the medieval witch hunting genetics of intolerance, generalization, and racism make you feel the need to vilify a breed of dog.

I'm sorry that justice, equality, tolerance, common sense are all things you hold dear as a fellow American, and expect from others, but do not yourself offer them towards a pit bull or its caregiver.

I'm sorry that you don't take the constructive time to petition changes in the American animal cruelty act, and in the criminal code that would deal out serious punishment to the real animal abusers.

I'm sorry you cannot see the disappointed look on a puppy's face when the people petting it quickly frown, and walk away when you tell them it is a pit bull.

I'm sorry you feel the need to terrorize my family and my dogs for crimes we never have and never will commit.

I'm sorry you don't have to live in fear of your dog's safety from hysterical, and mentally unstable people trying to inflict all manner of evil upon your dogs.

I'm sorry that you cannot see my breed working in some of the best Search and Rescue groups in the world, saving countless lives each year.

I'm sorry our media censors and refuses to print the breed name "pit bull' when in connection with a positive act such as saving a person or child from a burning house, drowning, wild attacking animals, etc.

I'm sorry you cannot see the many pit bulls registered as therapy dogs and bringing so much joy to another misunderstood, neglected demographic in our society, the senior citizen.

I am sorry you can't see a pit bull kiss a child, step carefully over a kitten, or play in a sunbeam.

I'm sorry you cannot wake in the morning to feel a warm pit bull cuddled next to you in bed, and know that you are their total world, and even if the house caught fire and trapped you, they would stay with you to the end.

But, now that I really think about it, I'm not at all sorry you don't own a pit bull--you do not deserve one!

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November.

Max will be 6 on Friday the fifth. Hard to imagine that he is nearing senior status himself, D even found that some of the hairs around his nose have turned white.

Just don't tell him that he is getting old. ;)

Max started life as a pound puppy, big feet, big ears, big lavender tongue, and was adopted by a girl named A. Due to the curve balls associated with being in the Navy, A needed to re-home her 2 dogs and cat. Enter D, A and D worked together during shore duty, so we went to her house one day to see which dog would get along best with the girls. Max was it.

He has taught Buela and Colbert to be little fetch monsters, and with out a doubt played a massive role in rehabilitating Colbert into a nearly normal dog. He is always the first to play with any new foster and is affectionately called the ladies man, I mean, who wouldn't want to pet a big yellow puffball with a cheezy poof tail?

Happy Early Birthday Maximus fluffious (big fluffy)! (and a big thank you to A!)





6 months-ish





























Last winter here at the farmhouse, and oh so handsome.

Dear Foster Mom,

There I sat, alone and afraid, you got a call and came right to my aid. You bundled me up with blankets and love, and when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.

I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold. That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.

You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend. You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.

And just when I thought you'd done all you do,There came along not one new lesson, but two.

First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."

Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.Along came a new family, they even have kids!

They took me to their home, forever to stay.At first I thought you sent me away.

Then that second lesson became perfectly clear. No matter how far, you will always be near.

And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on. I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.

But I'll never forget what I learned that first day. You never really give your fosters away.

You gave me these thoughts to remember you by. We may never meet again, and now I know why.

You'll remember I lived with you for a time. I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.

Author Unknown 

3 years ago.

Three years ago I was preparing for a special arrival on this day. I was scrubbing a dog house with bleach and soapy water, vacuuming the spare bedroom, and the dogs knew something was up.

Max was about to turn three, Buela just shy of a year old, and Roni was two.

D had signed the paperwork, all that was left to do was to pick him up.

Zambia, soon to be known as Colbert (aka Stephen T, Stinky, Capt Fussypants, etc) was going to be our first foster dog.

Monday the 4th will mark three years since we stepped into the shoes of a foster parent, and opened the door to being a rescue family. While we ended up keeping Colbert (my 2008 Valenties present) we have had quite a few fosters walk through our door and while the Hixson Hotel is full at the moment, we still donate and do work for rescues.

Some say money can't buy you happiness or love; they have obviously never adopted a dog.

Mystery Solved. Ish.

So in all the years we have had dogs we knew that Roni (Corona) was a shoe eater. Buela chewed up the window sills in the apt and the house. Max kills stuffed toys, Oreo is a trash dog and Colbert likes to "redecorate".


"redecorating"



























Yesterday I came home to the travesty that was one of my 2 pair of non work jeans with the crotch chewed out. Because of Roni's history of eating shoes, panties, and boxers I of course assumed it was her.



Rest In Pieces.









































After having called the vet and developing an action plan for if she had issues and what to look for, I of course did the mommy thing and checked for evidence this AM. Roni has no problem...it was Colbert who had an issue. (No, I will not be posting a poo pic, but I can get one upon request).

So my little redecorator is also a clothing eater. This means that he is also probably responsible for D's swim trunks and the sock I found with my jeans. Ugh. We need to get this boy better hobbies than eating clothes, fly snapping, yodeling, and the hoppy dance.


UPDATE: Roni helped...I have evidence ;)

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt an Older Dog


1. What You See Is What You Get

Older dogs are open books—from the start, you’ll know important things like their full-grown size, personality and grooming requirements. All this information makes it easier to pick the right dog and forge that instant love connection that will last a lifetime. If you’re not so into surprises, an older dog is for you!


2. Easy to Train

Think you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Hogwash! Older dogs are great at focusing on you—and on the task at hand—because they’re calmer than youngsters. Plus, all those years of experience reading humans can help them quickly figure out how to do what you’re asking.


3. Seniors are Super-Loving

One of the cool parts of our job is reading stories from people just like you who have opted to adopt. The emails we get from pet parents with senior dogs seem to all contain beautiful, heartfelt descriptions of the love these dogs give you—and those of you who adopted dogs already in their golden years told us how devoted and grateful they are. It's an instant bond that cannot be topped!


4. They’re Not a 24-7 Job

Grownup dogs don’t require the constant monitoring puppies do, leaving you with more freedom to do your own thing. If you have young children, or just value your “me time,” this is definitely a bonus.


5. They Settle in Quickly

Older dogs have been around the block and already learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack. They’ll be part of the family in no time!


6. Fewer Messes

Your floors, shoes and furniture will thank you for adopting a senior pooch! Older dogs are likely to already be housetrained—and even if they’re not, they have the physical and mental abilities to pick it up really fast (unlike puppies). With their teething years far behind them, seniors also are much less likely to be destructive chewers.


7. You Won’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

There are those who yearn for a doggie friend of their own, but hold back because they worry what might happen in their lives in the years to come. And they are wise to do so—a puppy or young dog can be anywhere from an 8- to 20-year responsibility, which is not appropriate for the very elderly or those with certain long-term future plans. Providing a loving home for a dog in her golden years is not a less serious commitment, but it can be a shorter one.


8. They Enjoy Easy Livin’

Couch potato, know thyself! Please consider a canine retiree rather than a high-energy young dog who will run you ragged. Not that older dogs don’t require any exercise—they do—but they’re not going to need, or want, to run a marathon every day.


9. Save a Life, Be a Hero

At shelters, older dogs are often the last to be adopted and the first to be euthanized. Saving an animal’s life offers an unparalleled emotional return on your investment, and you’ll feel the rewards every day you spend together.


10. They’re CUTE!

Need we say more?

Old Dogs are the Best Pets to Have.

I will tell you this. Old dogs are the best pets to have. They want nothing more than to lay around your house, eat some food, and be around you when you’re doing something very relaxing. I know. I’ve got one.

I’ve adopted puppies. They’re a complete pain in the ass. They want to run around constantly. They’ll try to tell you they are the boss once they get a little feel for themselves. Once they realize that they can make a demand or two. If you have any sense you’ll let them know, they aren’t the boss. They don’t own the couch nor do you jump up at their command. Otherwise you’re constantly on call.

Yup, old dogs know the score. That or they just don’t care to call the shots anymore. They’re content to relax and let the young dogs run to the window to see if the mailman really is daring to approach the front door.

Don’t get me wrong. They might act like they care, but they really don’t. They’re just barking to let you know that there may be something you have to handle here very soon. You can tell. When they bark and look at you…it’s your problem to deal with. They’re just sounding the alarm.

If they can still hear you’ll do ok to tell them “Enough! I’ve got this one.” They understand a commanding tone. They might bark a few more times but that’s just the fading shadow of youth. Their way of telling you “Ok, you handle this one but I don’t like the look of him. Not one bit.” All of you have been there.

The true joy of having an older dog is knowing that lounging around is their highest aspiration. The other aspiration is one more walk on a sunny day. Hell, one more walk is often all their asking for. The sun is optional.

That’s the joy of owning an older dog. The bright shining example that true contentment comes from being with people who love you and enjoying the times that you have together. Whether they’re sunny days, cloudy ones, rainy crap days, or even snowy cold ones. The truth is that having those days is the blessing. A day with the knowledge that you’ll be taken care of, eat good food, and have a pleasant spot to lay down when you’re a bit tired. Those are truly the good things that get over looked when you’re too young or busy to know their true worth.

Old dogs know this. Some of them have been places where all of that were in question. They might be animals but they remember. They remember the uncertainty of being around people who by necessity can’t look you in the eye or offer you kindness. They know, things can be much worse than now.

It’s good to have an old dog around. They don’t ask for much and let you know that any day where you are loved, cared for, warm, and fed are glorious ones.

-Anonymous

Signs of a Bad Breeder

Let it be known I will be a rescue mom and advocate for life.

However, if you must, absolutely must, have a puppy, or a "breed" dog, and for some unknown reason cannot find a rescue with the dog you want (even those obnoxious "designer" dogs [read MUTTS] have their own rescues now too) here are some tips to follow.

Keep in mind while it says Charleston SC, there are AKC chapters all over the US.

Taken from: Signs of a Bad Breeder | Lowcountry Dog.

Signs of a Bad Breeder
by svilardo2 on Thursday, July 8th, 2010 at 8:00am | filed in Health and Wellness

The best part of waking up, is puppy hair in your cup. Ok, so that isn't quite how the original jingle went, but no one can deny that waking up to that cute little puppy face is one of the best things ever! While many people choose to adopt a dog or puppy from a shelter, many people also choose to purchase their puppy from a breeder.

There are numerous red flags that are signs you are about to enter into a potentially dangerous and expensive situation. Let's take a quick look at some of the signs of a bad breeder.

Advertising
Very rarely do top quality breeders put ads in their local newspaper or advertise litters for sale via signs on street corners. Quality breeders often have waiting lists for their litters because of customer satisfaction and word of mouth referrals. Advertising is not needed.

No Knowledge
Bad breeders have little to no knowledge of the breed of dog they are selling or the genealogy of the parents. Without proper knowledge of the lines of descent, your new puppy may be prone to genetic diseases, blindness, hip displaysia and many other physical and psychological issues. If the breeder can not show you paperwork of the puppy's parents, provide you with health information from the pup's linage, offer health guarantees or answer basic questions about the breed, go elsewhere.

Good breeders will not only offer up a wealth of information about their dogs and litters, but will want to know about you as well! If a breeder doesn't ask you any questions about you and your family at all, they are not truly interested in their pup's welfare. Good breeders are so invested in their breed and their dogs that they want assurances their litters all go to good homes.

Setting
Many backyard breeders have a filthy, large pen or over-crowded crates where the puppies and, at times, the parents are kept. Some bad breeders won't even allow you to come to the puppies' home, offering instead to come to you. This is a huge red flag. Bad breeders often claim the dogs are "raised in a home" when they are not. It is so important to view the pup's home environment, and you must be prepared to walk away if you don't feel good about what you see. At all times, resist the urge to buy a cute pup from a pen in a parking lot.

Both the Publisher of Lowcountry Dog, Leah England, and I have fallen desperately for the poor conditions in which backyard breeders can keep their pups. It's easy to feel you are rescuing a dog from a horrible place when you buy from such a breeder. More than 6 years ago, before beginning Lowcountry Dog, Leah and her family fell in love when they spotted their puppy and couldn't say "No" though their brains told them otherwise. "It was totally an emotional choice. Once I saw her, I knew I couldn't leave her there. Though I loved my dog fiercely, I see now it was the wrong choice. I provided funds to a breeder who continued her sloppy breeding practices, and helped her to continue producing litters with countless genetic issues" says England. My flat-coated retriever ended up with thousands in vet bills because she was wounded by the mother and malnourished, while Leah's pup struggled with genetic temperament issues that despite years of expensive training and lots of love, she was never able to overcome.

Contrast this with quality breeders who will not only show you clean dog runs and outdoor exercise areas, but will show you the dogs' sleeping places, even where the dogs play in the home and with whom they play (children, friends, etc.). You should also be able to meet at least one of the pup's parents (usually the mother) and get contact information for the owners of the litter's sire. Meeting the parents is a wonderful way to see what your pup will be like when full grown.

Over-Breeding
Another sign of a bad breeder is over-breeding. Most good breeders limit themselves to one or two litters each breeding season. Beware the breeder who is not only breeding multiple types of dogs, but breeding upwards of 5 litters at a time. You don't want a breeder who is cranking out litters for profit at the expensive of good breeding practices.

Presence and Recommendations
Bad breeders usually don't have much presence anywhere except the newspaper classifieds, events that allow the sale of dogs and street corner signage. Because of the costs and the ability to track the poor conditions and abusive treatment to puppies, many bad breeders will not set up websites or be involved in local groups like the Charleston AKC and breed specific clubs. If the breeder is not an active part in his or her community and does not provide you a with a lengthy list of referrals from people happy with their puppies, don't purchase from them.

So those are a few things to watch out for when trying to avoid picking a bad breeder. Make sure you ask plenty of questions and be prepared to walk away and say "No." When my wife and I bought our first full blood puppy (from a good breeder), we spent over a year talking with the breeder before making any decisions. We did plenty of research and even called around for other satisfied customers. Finally, we studied up and put our breeder's knowledge to the test. The Charleston Kennel Club is a good source if information on quality breeders.

Happy Mother's Day

There I sat, alone and afraid,
You got a call and came right to my aid.
You bundled me up with blankets and love.
And, when I needed it most, you gave me a hug.
I learned that the world was not all that scary and cold.
That sometimes there is someone to have and to hold.
You taught me what love is, you helped me to mend.
You loved me and healed me and became my first friend.
And just when I thought you'd done all you do,
There came along not one new lesson, but two.
First you said, "Sweetheart, you're ready to go.
I've done all I can, and you've learned all I know."
Then you bundled me up with a blanket and kiss.
Along came a new family, they even have kids!
They took me to their home, forever to stay.
At first I thought you sent me away.
Then that second lesson became perfectly clear.
No matter how far, you will always be near.
And so, Foster Mom, you know I've moved on.
I have a new home, with toys and a lawn.
But I'll never forget what I learned that first day.
You never really give your fosters away.
You gave me these thoughts to remember you by.
We may never meet again, and now I know why.
You'll remember I lived with you for a time.
I may not be yours, but you'll always be mine.

-Anonymous