My little pig in a blanket.
Peaceabull
Pits in the Park (as told by Julius)
Hi Peoples, it’s Julius here! It isn’t often that my mom lets me post on the blog. She says it has something to do with having to type for me and some nonsense about supposable thumbs but she said I could write all about the Julius Jamboree Pits in the Park that was last Saturday. My mom had been busy getting lots of things ready for this big Pittie Party and she even had people over to give me love and attention fold programs and load things in the van. On that morning I was busy following her around the house and sticking very close to her legs so that she would remember that I was supposed to go with her, and yet she left the house without me! I was sure that was a huge mistake and I was sad until my human sister, Asia, came to pick me up and she took me and Chance to the big celebration. When we got to the park, there were so many dogs and people that I got really excited and happy to see everyone. I saw some of my foster babies there like Diva, who used to be Godiva and Mishi who used to be Kit Kat. They were both very cute and happy to be at the park. I saw my buddy Bentley and his new sister Bitsy and my friend Rhino and his sister Boo. We all walk together on the Sunday day too so we are good friends. It was like a big party just for me and my friends, except there were so many more.
Photo by Lisa Reyes
The big surprise was I got to be in the kissing booth with my best buddy, Clyde. We are both very romantical guys and we love to kiss the ladies (and even the gentlemen and kids and other dogs…). Heck, we would have just given out a lot of free kisses (and we did) but our moms said we were raising money so that other Pit Bulls could be helped.
After we kissed a bunch of people, my buddy Chance and the pretty gal Eden were in the booth. Chance didn’t really like the booth much. He just wanted to sit in the grass with Asia and beg for pizza so Eden did a lot of kissing and whenever mom said I was getting obnoxious she put me back in the booth, because I didn’t bark when I was in there. Then we got to walk around in a parade and show off all of our handsomes!
Clyde and I got to lead the parade because we are more handsome than everyone else The Bully Collective was given the honor and his mom is what they call a founder.
After the parade, Asia took me and Chance home while mom got to have more fun pick up trash and tear down booths. She says this is the first year that Ray didn’t get to go but that she was very proud of me and all of my good ambassador skills.
Do you have a Julius Pit Bull Celebration in your community?
Ray’s Wheels
Well we had a super full weekend and I know Julius has lots to talk about but today I have an update on Ray’s leg. The short version is that he is mending well and the surgery looks to have been quite successful. What that really means for Ray is that since we don’t really have stairs in the house he was cleared by Dr. Harry to not be in his little area all day but he will need to remain leashed when outside for the next eight weeks or so.
Ray’s visit to the vet went well, but took an awful lot out of him with the amped up nervous energy and all. This was the first time he’s been in a vehicle since the surgery so even the jumping in and out of the Pittie Van is more than he’s used to. When we returned home, he walked in the door like usual and went right to his ex-pen like usual. I went ahead and let him stay in there but with the gate open and walked away. Just a few minutes later as Kevin and I were chatting in the dining room, Ray slinked by…I swear he was tip toeing…as if he was trying to get away with something. He studiously didn’t look at us, because you know, if he doesn’t see us he obviously can’t hear us as he walked from room to room lying on all of the various mats while Julius began lying on all of Ray’s (obviously special) mats.
After the afternoon he had, he seemed to be favoring the leg we worked so hard to get better so we opted to return him to his rest area for the evening. Although he was cleared, we will be working him back into the swing of things slowly. Full house privileges will be doled out slowly and in moderation and in the meantime we will be searching for a suitable set of stairs for him to use to get into bed, when he’s ready.
I guess I was thinking that today would be the magical day when all of his rehab shackles would be shed and he could romp puppy-like to his heart’s content but this plan, while not as much fun will be better in the long run.
Labor (of Love) Day
I sooo welcomed this three day weekend, especially since I didn’t have tons of pressing plans. Saturday a hair appointment was followed by an adoption event and a little bit of dog sitting for Chance and Sugar while Sunday was Pack walk, some down time, a play date for Julius and Clyde then sleepover with my granddaughter.
On Monday I had the honor and pleasure to serve out community of pet owners with my friend, Lisa. We have a program in the Allen County SPCA which was our Pets For Life initiative and based on the program used by HSUS. The HSUS program focuses on keeping pets in the homes and serving underserved portions of the community. We are doing the same and were using the Pets For Life name, but recently we received a very generous grant from PetSmart and have now adopted the name Pet Promises for what we are doing.
In our community there are two motels in which people who are trying to “get on their feet” can stay- with their pets. The Pet Promises group visits these motels biweekly with supplies. Today we loaded the van with dog and cat food, treats, toys and flea preventative.
Our van was loaded and our hearts were full. Our “clients” we’re so appreciative of just this small effort. The thanks we received were genuine and heartfelt. We never know who will show up and need some assistance so we weren’t sure about what all to bring and we are also limited by what donations we receive on any given week. Not every request could be filled, but fortunately only one person requested a nail trim and even provided the clippers.
Between driving to the shelter, loading the van, drive time, and volunteer time, we spent maybe 2.5 hours out of our day. What we got back? Immeasurable.
As Lisa says, “it’s what we do.”
Wordless Wednesday
Last night Chance and Eden were reunited as they had a Pittiepalooza play date also involving Julius and Clyde.
Julius is mistrustful of treats.
It was a beautiful reunion full of happy tails with the promise of many more dates to come.
On the ride home Asia was reaching from the front seat holding her daughter’s hand and Chance rested his head on her arm.
He is home.
#TakeAChance
Well, that was quite the cliffhanger, wasn’t it? I meant to finish out the Tale of the Blues and talke about “Iron’s” hashtag on Friday, but not only did scheduling not permit, but Fate intervened as well. Chance’s story was going to be about how Asia regretfully decided to let him go. She had told him during her visits that he would be coming home to live with her and ultimately with all of the newness, as well as a foster pup, she agreed to see if his true family would show up. She gave them 30 days.
August 15
On Saturday August 15th I had an urge to visit “Iron” at the shelter and as I was driving down there, I received a text that a wonderful couple were in and going to adopt Iron. As luck would have it, I was able to meet this couple and they were, in fact wonderful.
In the back of my mind, I felt a little sad for “Iron.” He would be an “only dog” which may make him a little sad, but it might work out in the end. That is the story we would have published on Friday.
August 22
A beautiful day dawned full of promise and anticipation. Today our little Pets for Life team would finally be hitting the streets and knocking on doors to begin our mission of helping our neighbors retain their pets. We were going to be able to offer spay/neuter, vaccines, preventatives and food among other things all for free to this specific area. What nearly marred this glorious day was the message I received that “Iron” was coming back to the shelter. The funny thing about this, though, is that it didn’t upset me or even make me sad. It felt right somehow.
The adopters were distraught to return him (along with the mountain of belongings he had amassed in just 7 days) but due to some neighboring dogs trying to fence-fight, he returned as they say “through no fault of his own” and with the feedback that he is, in fact, perfect in a home. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t feel upset about this return. I hugged the big wiggly lug when I saw him and I let him know that it was ok and I would always be around to look after him.
August 23
Another Sunday and another Pack Walk with The Bully Collective. As has been her custom, Lisa had arranged for a couple of volunteers to come and walk adoptable dogs. One of those dogs was meant to be Bitsy, Asia’s foster dog but as fate would have it, Bitsy had been on a two-night trial and on Saturday night we received the message that Bitsy had found her forever home. That allowed for her walking partner to be available for Iron/Chance.
Julius and I picked him from the shelter and left with the message that while I’d try to have him back by noon, I wasn’t going to promise. (Side note, Julius is the only dog I know who gets excited to roll up to the shelter as if we’re going to Disney.)
A nice long pack walk was followed by some impromptu Bro time as Clyde came over and the three boys had some quality play time in the yard.
I loved seeing Chance waddle-trundle along after the sleeker Clyde and Julius. It was so much like a little brother trying to keep up with the big guys. As Lisa and I watched the adora-bulls play in the yard we agreed that someone in our large family of friends needed to adopt Chance. We couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing him regularly. I considered it over and over again. He and Julius got on well and Ray would be given all the time and space he needed and even the name could work. My boys are named after football players, so Chance might not work but Iron? Iron Mike, of course would be perfect!
After Clyde went home, I loaded Chance in the car and decided to make a pit stop at Asia’s house. Since she had company over everyone was in the back yard I text her to make sure Ms. Cranky (Sugar) was on a leash. 95% of the time Sugar is great with other dogs but there have been a couple that she wouldn’t tolerate so I wanted to be sure there would be no incidents. There weren’t. Asia didn’t receive my text on time and as Chance and I walked in the far gate, Sugar greeted him as if he were a long lost brother.
Chance played with Sugar, romped around the yard, followed the little (human) girls around and drank his fill from the water spurting out of the Slip ‘n Slide.
An hour before the shelter was to close, I called and got assurances that no one had come in to visit with him so I let them know he wouldn’t be back for “curfew” and since the shelter is closed to the public on Mondays, he wouldn’t be back until Tuesday.
There’s no mistaking the joy on Chance’s face when enjoying all of the activities of the day. Going from Pack Walk to a play date with the Big Boys, to a play date with Sugar, Slip ‘n Slide fun with three girls ranging from 1 – 5 years of age to all of the different locations in just one day back from another home would make anyone exhausted or even over-stimulated. Chance aced the day as if it was just business as usual.
Are you a believer in fate? Karma? Everything happens for a reason? The very evening that Chance was returned to the shelter Bitsy was adopted
Bitsy and Bentley
and on Monday morning Asia emailed me, “I think he is meant to be with us. It’s been one month since I met him, I tried to let someone else adopt him, and it didn’t work. It’s a sign.” My response?
Okay.
#FreeLucky
There’s no denying that Lucky and Cujo were in fact two lucky dogs and oh my goodness, if a name was ever wrong for a dog, then Cujo was it. We began referring to him as Chance; he’d gotten several by now and yet The Blues still got other new names at the shelter. Ion (Lucky) and Iron (Cujo/Chance). I’ll admit, I really never called them by their new names much; Lucky and Chance they were in my mind and my heart. These two were definitely wiggling deeper into my heart, I mean, how can you carry a dog into a clinic, wear her blood on your shirt (like a badge of honor) and not feel like you are now somehow bound together? Can’t happen.
Lucky is about 10 months old and presumably Chance’s daughter. She’s a stocky little low rider who wiggles into you as if she’s trying to osmose into you to get that much more loves because she’s never met a stranger and is absolutely positive that all of humanity was set on this Earth specifically to love and dote on her. She’s probably right about that.
Soon after the weekend, the pair was sent to H.O.P.E. for their surgeries where Lucky’s lucky streak continued. There’s a fabulous woman (and friend) who loves Pit Bulls has been volunteering with the Fort Wayne Pit Bull Coalition by walking foster dogs at our Pack Walks and we’ve joked that she is a lucky charm because the last three dogs she walked were almost immediately adopted afterwards. She also works at H.O.P.E. and though she was at the June Pets for Life clinic volunteering, it was at H.O.P.E. where she re- met and fell in love with Lucky all over again prompting a Facebook campaign that had me in stitches and tears.
Ironically I had just recently had a text conversation with her partner about her level of readiness for a “large” dog and how all of their friends, especially all of us crazy committed pit bull people would be there to support them but understood the reluctance since they are newly settling into a new home.
The campaign started with this picture
Photo by Cassie
and the caption, “This is Lucky/Ion/whatever I name her. I have absolutely fallen in love with her and need her sweet love in my life forever!”
Friends, ever supportive that we are began a very low pressure, reasonable show of support for Cassie’s campaign which became known as #freelucky.
Photo by Lisa Reyes and The Amazing Adventures of Clyde
Comments such as “Poster dog for PFL,” “Such a proud symbol of the PFL cause,” “If there was no Pets For Life in Fort Wayne, where would this girl be right now?” (Did I mention the other mom is the Pets for Life coordinator?) “#luckyneedstwomommies” and then there was, “Sarah McLaughlin called, she wants to perform at the #freelucky concert.”
Then the one that may have tipped the scale, “…I really do think it is time for me to devote my love to another dog. I miss Oscar and he would want me to love again….she just left to go back to ACSPCA and it made my heart hurt.”
Photo by Lizz (photobombing dog has already been adopted)
Ultimately,and in record time the campaign worked and Lucky’s fate rested in the paws of the two resident dachshunds.
Photo by Melissa and Cassie
Photo by Melissa and Cassie
Photo by Melissa and Cassie
Photo by Melissa and Cassie
All kidding aside, how fitting that this Lucky dog found her way to these lucky women. This little dog, who in less than one year of being had been bounced from home to home, been protected at two shelters, become a rally symbol of community hope, a symbol of two women who are passionate about saving lives and giving back to their community and has made her final stop with them. I’m sure that when they look at their girl now named Eden, they don’t see a sad little story, but one of success and love written on one kissable, squishy face. #LoveForeverEden
Squirrel Hunter
I”ve been enjoying seeing all of the pictures of little Julius from his Gotcha Day Month and have been feeling both tender and nostalgic. He has grown from a gangly pup to a confident (and still gangly) dog about town who is a great ambassador. He also occupies his free time by patrolling the back yard in defense of squirrels and chipmunks. He knows exactly where the chipmunks live and heads over to their hideaway every morning and can stalk a squirrel as if he is a panther.
What better way to honor Juli’s special occasion than with a new Sirius Republic collar?
Seeing the Squirrel design made it very clear that Julius probably wouldn’t be able to function properly with out said collar and since I wanted the occasion to use our Fort Wayne Pit Bull Coalition rescue partner code, (RPFW95) how could I resist?
How completely perfect is this one?
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way From the Front
The end of July and the beginning of August are definitely times for reflection around here. Two years ago a happy little “scruffian” bound into our lives and never left. Once we decide he was going to stay with us, we had such big plans for our Julius. He would be the ambassador that Ray didn’t want to be and he would open hearts and minds just with his sweet, open demeanor. Well on the way to that were some stumbling blocks like this and many more instances of the same ilk.
Chewbacca.
Julius started going to Dayplay mostly because whenever he’d see a dog he would go apeshitcrazy nuts to play with them. We figured playing with a multitude of dogs on a weekly basis would cure that, but not so much. I guess the bonus was that in the Vet’s office we usually don’t have to wait because they like to bring him in to a room quickly. Go figure. Then we thought that Pack Walk would be a good way to get him used to being in a crowd of dogs without needing to be all up in everyone’s business. After a full year, I’d say that is beginning to happen.
Leader of the Pack
Over the course of the past year, I have been going round and round about Julius and his need to be in the lead. I don’t really believe that he wants to be “leader of the pack” as much as if he sees a dog he wants to be with that dog, so following just made him strain that much more. I was often told, he has to learn sometime that he can’t always be in front. On one had I agreed and yet on the other hand I thought why does he have to learn that? Was there a hidden agenda? What if he never learned that?
Growing Up
Well a funny thing happened to my ambassador/not ambassador dog. He became a Foster Step Father and his behavior and demeanor grew to accommodate his new status. Although the staff at day play always remark on how “appropriate” he is, it was wonderous to see him in action with not only the Sugar Babies, but also with Sugar herself. He was the self appointed guardian of all things and even kept a watchful eye on his “big brother” Ray to ensure proper behavior towards our guests. While I found this new Julius mindblowing remarkable, I didn’t realize how much so until a recent pack walk.
We had invited the family of one of the puppy’s adopters. They have a Granddog who needed a bit of socialization and like with Ray, the early years, the more full of assholery vinegar he acted, the less I was inclined to socialize him until it became a downward spiral.
Backseat
So this handsome dog, Diesel, brought his family to pack walk and after the first five minutes there my heart went out to the family. I had been there so many times already with Julius. The jumping, the screaching, the all out shenanigans and the tears. I suggested that they lead and while I thought to fall in second with our usual walking partner, I realized that if Julius could see Dahey he might be ok, so we fell into third place and had a very successful walk. Diesel settled very quickly (faster than Juli ever did) and by the end of the walk, smiles were miles wide.
It takes a village..
The following week, we fell into the same order and immediately all could see a vast difference.
The Change
While Julius isn’t done growing and maturing by a long shot, the difference in him is just astounding. Recently I took him to my daughter’s house so he could play mediator between Sugar and the new foster dog, Bitsy. Sugar wasn’t a huge fan yet and through some play and supervision the girls settled into a deeper appreciation of each other but the proudest moment came when the neighbor’s little dog stood on its deck and repeatedly yapped but got no reaction from Julius (or the girls.)
Ladies love Julius
The Icing
Tonight, after taking Ray for his rehab walk, I decided to take Juli around the neighborhood too. This is something I rarely do-walk Julius without Ray’s steady presence however it is impossible at the moment. While he isn’t even close to perfect on leash yet, we did walk past several people, kids and at least 4 barking dogs and Julius kept calm and quiet. I was bursting with pride and possibly strutting a bit. At one point, a neighbor apologized to us about his dog barking. I wanted to ask him to video us!
I don’t know. At two and a half, Julius just seems to have found his stride and because of that we are walking pretty proudly. Happy Gotcha week to my Ambassador.
Sugar Marie
So often we read angry, outraged posts from people admonishing rescues for pulling puppies and leaving the Mama to die languish in a shelter. It is a despicable practice and I’m not going to lie, I hate that it happens and yet I can see a bit why it occurs. Puppies are generally easy to adopt and often really have a quick “turn around” time in rescue or foster homes. Saggy, worn out mamas? Not so much and rescues have not only monetary but space considerations to deal with, so while I absolutely hate it, well, no I just absolutely hate it and can’t find a good justification.
I’m pretty proud that both organizations with which I am associated do not subscribe to that practice and our little Candy Bar family was no different. As a matter of fact, that subject was never discussed and it was always a mama and her puppies that we discussed pulling. When the little family arrived, many of my co-workers as well as people among the internets commented that they would find it hard to not foster fail-especially puppies but I knew that my puppy having days were well over after Ray, so I felt pretty secure that I wouldn’t foster fail.
On the flip side, when Asia recently announced that she would be buying a house and moving out, my first thought (and that of so many of our friends in Animal Rescue) was, “Good! Now you can foster!” You know where this is headed, right?
Yeah, my daughter gets attached, it’s true, but her reasoning for wanting Sugar to join the family were good ones, her only hesitancy was that Sugar may be already attached to me, which I explained Sugar seemed grateful for the clean place to land and the good food, but I didn’t feel she was especially attached. So we sent Sugar off for a few overnight, girls only pajama parties to give her a feel for how life might be and to give her a bit of a break from the Sugar babies that remained at that time. It turns out that the babies were fine, Sugar was fine and now we are just waiting for the milk to dry up so she can be spayed (and have a much needed dental cleaning).
Sugar is actually a very good fit for Asia and my granddaughter. She is small, sweet, gentle and good in all of the situations we’ve had her in so far.
Sugar is around five years old and no stranger to that puppy making life, as the candy bar crew was certainly not her only litter. She most likely has not ever received any vetting but she is a lovely little soul who seemingly gets along with all of the dogs she’s met so far (even won over Ray) and seems to not give two hoots about the cats, so that’s a bonus.
I love that she is such great friends with Julius already and that she and Ray are on good terms as well. I do love her but not as my own dog and I know she feels the same about me. If I really had to guess, I’d say she knows where her home is.
Peace-a-bull Assembly 