Pitbull

We have had no animals living with us since our last dog, Jive, shuffled off this mortal coil last March.

No more animals, my husband said then, and we agreed. No more responsibility, no more grief when the animal dies, no more expenses for food, vet visits, toys and treats. We shall live free of all that, free to travel, free to leave the house for a few hours without feeling like we have to rush back to let the dog out.

This was sense, we agreed. Still, when I suggested that perhaps we could be a foster home for a dog for VIPP, Rick said, "Yes! Absolutely!"

Which is how and why we are once more living with a dog. A pitbull.

She’s a good dog, one of your really great bitches. I don’t know why she was given up to VIPP, but was told she was given up reluctantly. It happens.

It is clear that this dog was treated well, and that someone spent time teaching her things. She knows several commands – "sit," "stay," "shake," "high five," "jump," and the one that amazes me the most, "drop it." When she hears any of these commands she obeys promptly.

What she’s not so great at is "come." When I say, "come" to her she tends to stare at me blankly. She might come. She might decide the other side of the yard has made her a better offer.

I know that there is extreme prejudice against pitbulls. When I told my BFF Becky that a pitbull was coming to live with us, she begged me to reconsider and not take this potentially dangerous creature in to our home. I said I appreciated her loving concern, but, "…you know I’m not going to listen, right?"

I’ve been reading up on pitbulls. There is general agreement that they are intelligent and stubborn, and I can vouch for that, and that they are loving companions, and I can vouch for that, too. There is also general agreement that the breed has been saddled with a bad rap.

When you hear of dog attacks, quite often the dog involved is a pitbull, so the reputation is not entirely undeserved. They were bred for fighting each other, after all. However, not all dogs who bite are pitbulls, not all pitbulls bite, and there are other breeds who have gone through their own times of vilification. Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers, for example. All the Dobies I’ve known have been mellow and sweet-tempered, and eerily intelligent. Rottweilers I’ve met seemed to have the potential to love you to death, but not one has ever said a cross word to me. Again, I’m sure that not all Dobies or Rotties are sweethearts or safe, but the ones I’ve known over my lifetime have been both. Our dog Jive was a Lab mix, but had to be watched closely because he would snap.

So I’m not going to say that all dogs are great dogs. The two worst dogs I’ve known were an overbred Cocker Spaniel and an adorable psychotic Beagle that simply could not be trusted. You don’t hear Cocker Spaniels and Beagles spoken of as dangerous, but those two were.

This particular pitbull seems to be 100% sweetheart. She wants to be with the pack at all times and does not like to sleep or walk alone. When other dogs bark at her, she might look, but outside of a tail wag, she does nothing. She likes to play keep-away with the knotted rope. When the vet was checking her over, she was patient and did not so much as growl or flinch. She is not available for adoption yet. We are honored and happy to be part of the process of getting her to her "forever home."

Dog shelters are full of pitbulls these days. Also Chihuahuas. Breeds become popular for a moment, then end up being discarded when they aren’t as cute or convenient as the dog in the movie or commercial. It’s heartbreaking to look at the online pages of animals waiting for homes. There are so many waiting, and waiting.

We are blessed to have VIPP here on Vashon. They have made this island a better place for animals as well as the people who live with animals. If you can’t adopt an animal, consider sending a little donation to VIPP at PO Box 245, Vashon WA 98070. They do good work. We’re proud to be a part of that work.

On another subject: The election will be over soon. All together now - deep breath in through nose, fill up those lungs, blow the air out through your mouth, and say it with me: THANK GOD. Don’t forget to keep inhaling and exhaling. Whoever wins, do your best, and remember, we’re all in this together. Really