Beau (formerly Sparky Update) Beau has graduated to being walked on a split leash with Milo ... they don't have the whole co-op thing worked out yet, especially when they both wantta pee in a different spot just out of reach of each other but not a snip or a snap between them ... I haven't even attempted to let them play together yet, they have had their intro & now the potty walks.... I think they should learn how to trust and respect each other before we intro play time and only after a walk because they are both the same size, same energy, both terriers (Milo is not a pitty, just a fluffy little terrier mix) I LOVE MY BOYS and will NEVER set them up to fail ... There are so many reasons why I not only want but need to do this right .. I love my family & they mean the world to me but I need them to all understand working with dogs is not just a passion, not just pity, not insanity ... for me it is something I feel I must do .. I have spent years asking what I am suppose to do with my life now that I have grown from Mommy to Grandma .. Dogs are my *ME* thing ... something I enjoy sharing with my family hands on and in education but I have always been blessed with a connection with dogs that even I must admit at times in my life made me feel like it was curse and not a blessing... I claim to be no expert and have no formal training except my own hands on .. what I do has always just kind of come natural to me as I have always loved and connected well with dogs.
This is not to say I have never made a mistake or misread a dog. I have and I will admit the reason, it was early on when not only did I have that need to help every dog, but I also did not have the actual knowledge and to be totally honest control of my household that it would take to do what I wanted in my heart. I quickly found myself in over my head. I have never hurt over re-homing any animals as the one's in my home I had to let go of at that time and I promised myself and my dogs I would never let that happen again and I haven't. That lesson is part of what brought me into the real reality of dog rescue. Up unto that time I thought taking in the neighborhood strays and neglected was all there was, I never realized the depths of the problems until our family met Diesel (the dog who wondered in and stayed like he lived there all his life and died 2 days later of parvo) this ws my kids first personal experience with a pitbull and it really goes without saying we were all crushed. I had known a few pitbulls in my lifetime, all Great dogs by the way.
After Diesels death I started really looking into the breed and realizing what was happening to them. It was a huge eye opener for me and I have never looked back since. I will do this until I can literally do it no more.
I could not for many reasons at many different times in my life find my voice and instead of living in that I would rather use the energy being a voice for something even more deprived than I have been in those low times of my life.
I can not and will not say that I get no self satisfaction out of rescue and dog work. I am a very blessed woman. I mean this not only by the dogs. I have an amazing family and an equally amazing few true friends who although they still think I'm a little crazy understand me and support me. I am also blessed with the amazing opportunity of having Grandchildren who I feel it is my responsibility to teach about dogs. If nothing comes across as I can be a bit strict and picky, other than we treat animals like family, with kindness & respect then I have accomplished something ...........................
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