11/20/14 Mom Goes for An Operation, and Maggie Weighs In

November 17 – I have never seen the humans get up so early. It was still dark-time. Dad let me out, carried a suitcase to the car, and then popped me in the crate. I am so confused. Jamie is still upstairs sleeping. Why are Mom and Dad leaving? Mom looks very sad.

Jamie got up later and went to school with a nice lady, but I didn’t get to come out of the crate. Where are Mom and Dad?

Laurel came to exercise me and play. I’ve been lonely all day, so I was happy to see her. I still do not know what is going on. Dad took Jamie somewhere after school. Dad looks very worried. Jamie looks upset, too. They did not come back too late, but Mom is not with them. Maybe Dad re-homed Mom. Why would he do that? She’s housebroken. I am worried.

November 18 – I heard Dad and Jamie talking in the kitchen. Mom is far away at the hospital. She had an operation on her tummy. I remember when I had an operation on my tummy. The vet shaved off all my nice white fur, and it it hurt to walk for a while. I wonder if the same thing happened to Mom. I miss Mom very much, and I am sleeping in her spot waiting for her to come home. Laurel comes to let me out and play every day. She talks to me and tells me Mom will come back. I’m still worried.

November 19 – Today, the telephone rang before Jamie left for school. Guess who it was? It was Mom! Dad put the phone by my ear and I heard Mom say, “Good girl, Maggie, Mommy misses you so much.” I wagged my tail so hard my behind shook. Dad says Mom will be home tomorrow. I’m not going to let her out of my sight! I can’t wait! Tonight is going to be a long one.

November 20 – I can’t believe it! Mom is finally home. She can hardly walk. I guess the Vet got to her, too. I am so excited to see her! Mom came in and sat down on the couch. Dad took me out of the crate with my leash and brought me over to her. I did not jump but I did wash her whole face and both hands. My tail was going like a propeller. When Mom stood up (slowly and carefully) I did try to jump but Dad had me. I was so happy to have her back. Laurel came and played with me. She brought Mom flowers and took me outside. I tried to tell Laurel, “Look, look, Mom is back!” and I think Laurel understood me, because she laughed and patted my head.

Mom has a long recovery ahead. She can’t sleep in her bed yet so I will be taking care of her spot, or sleeping in my chair keeping an eye on her. I am so happy, happy, happy, to have my Mom back home!

Woof! Love, Maggie

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5/12/14 My One Year Family-versarry!

Exactly one year ago today, I was adopted from the South Suburban (Chicago Ridge) Animal Welfare Society, where I had lived in a kennel for six months.

I remember it like it was yesterday:  a smiling lady and her boy came in, looked me over, looked at all the other dogs, then came back to me and pointed.  “This one!”  the boy said, “I like this one!”  My kennel number was 23, and one of the volunteers put a lead on me and led me to the back room for a “sniff and greet”.  I leaned up against these two humans to hug them and kissed them all over their faces and hands.  They seemed pleased.  I was happy.

But then I was put back in my kennel.  I thought all night about what could have gone wrong.  The people seemed to like me, said they wanted me – ?  I put my head down on the cold cement and didn’t sleep all night. 

The next day, some Shelter people took me to a big room with lots of lights.  When I woke up my tummy hurt and it was shaved.  I didn’t know what was going on, but found out later that the lady and the boy had in fact adopted me, and this thing I had to go through with my tummy was part of the deal.  I also found out that the lady had called the Shelter so many times to check on me that they finally asked her if she wanted to take me home immediately after the tummy surgery.  Knowing Mom as I know her now, her persistence does not surprise me.  My people DID take me home right after the surgery, and nursed me from a skinny 36 pounds to a muscular 52. 

I have learned so much in the past year of how to be a family companion.  I have learned little things, like not to be afraid of the Appliances in the house and to watch out the window “on guard”.  I have learned to be helpful and that, unlike my life before the Shelter, there is always a pet and a treat around the corner.  I tuck my humans into bed each night with a little kiss and then a big sigh as I lay down on my bed near them.  This year has been one of ups and downs, of loving, living, and learning, and I know my place in the home is secure.  I have learned big things, too, like I know my people love me unconditionally, just like I love them.

Happy Family-versarry!  I am so happy.  Life is good!  Woof!  Love, Maggie

 

9/14/13 Graduation: I Did It!

After my tumultuous morning, I was ready to listen at Obedience School.  So we (Jamie, Mom, and I) piled into Zeus and off we went.  The instructors gave everybody a few minutes to practice, then we all had to sit by the wall until we were called, dogs and handlers, one at a time, into the arena.  We were put through our paces and judged.  We missed 1st Place Blue Ribbon by 3 points.  But I had an excellent score (Mom helped a little) and I got my Certificate and my gold Ribbon.  I worked hard!

Sitting, and staying! 

I think I’ve come a long way.

Stand, stay, and my Certificate & Ribbon!

Mom is starting me on Advanced Training (10 weeks) next Saturday.  By the time we complete this course, I will be able to be a hospital or therapy dog, and retrieve things and people (Search and Rescue).  Mom sometimes leaves me out of the crate when she has to go out now, and her only major issue with me now is that I still jump, but not as much.  I know training and a couple more birthdays on my part will correct this.  I feel more trusting and confident!  And this is good for my kind, for people to see me, and know that Pitbulls are not a bad breed.  Mom wants me to get all the training I can so I can go out with people A LOT.

I had a surprise when I got home:  I crashed on the couch and in seemingly no time, the doorbell was ringing!  I met my new friend Max from Aussie Pet Mobile Grooming, and got a bath and nails clipped right there in my own driveway!  No sitting around with other dogs, no scary kennels.  And I was done in under half a human hour!  Max was so nice, I even let him dry around my ears.  I usually don’t like the dryer, but he had me calm and relaxed!

Overall, it’s been a great day.  I feel wonderful and my family is proud of my accomplishment.  Plus, my fur is absolutely glowing and I smell fantastic!

I’m just going to relax and chill on the couch now!  Here’s looking at ya!  And thanks for reading!  Hope you enjoyed the pix!

Woof!  Love, Maggie

 

 

6/4/13 On Being A Pitbull

(Me, with a Rawhide, my favorite)

Mom is very excited about teaching me sports, like catching the Frisbee and Fetch, because as I’ve mentioned, I’m a real good jumper and very fast runner.  But Laurel says we’ve got to work a few things out first.  Primarily, because I’m the breed known as a Pitbull.

See, when I get real happy and playful, I like to nibble and chew lightly (some call it, “mouthing”, lots of dogs do it, especially puppies) on the people I’m playing with.  Some of it is grooming behavior that dogs do to other dogs.  But, when you’re a Pitbull, like Laurel says, “The last thing people want when they first meet your dog is for it to put its mouth on you, especially if it’s a Pitbull.”  Sad, but true, that behavior people would consider “cute” in Chihuahuas and Poodles and Labradors and any other breed would not fly with me.  But there it is.  So, my owners have to break me of this habit.  It’s really hard, trust me; because it’s natural dog behavior.

The other thing is the jumping.  If other breeds of dogs jump up on a person, their reaction normally ranges from, “Oh, cute” to being annoyed.  Not so with my breed!  No one wants a Pitbull jumping on them.  Automatically, we’re biting someone’s face off.  Or going for the jugular.  Even if we’re just trying to give you a sloppy kiss.  So, before I can learn to play with the Frisbee, I’ve got to control my jumping, and re-learn it for sport.  My new parents are excited.  But they and Jamie and Laurel and I have a lot of work ahead.

It’s not easy being a Pitbull.  We get a lot of bad press.  I’m not going to apologize for bad dogs of any breed.  But I’m not going to apologize for bad owners, either, who mishandle dogs and make a bad dog problem worse.  That’s not what this blog is about. 

You should see the looks my owners get when they tell people they have an American Staffordshire Terrier.  When the lightbulb goes on and people think, “Pitbull”, they usually get a horrified look on their faces.  Please, I’m a lover, not a fighter.  I’m a high-energy dog who loves sports and playing and my family and Rawhides and belly rubs and licking you all over your face and hands til you tell me to stop it.  Don’t judge me til you know me.  “It’s the deed, not the breed.”  Please.

5/21/13 The Party

Today was kind of a strange day.  When Mom took Jamie to school, she locked me in my crate instead of taking me for the ride with her!  She said it was to protect us both.

Later, Laurel came over to sit with me and Jamie while Mom, Erik, and Jenny went out for a while.  When everyone came home, including Dad, that’s when all the noise started.  I guess it was Erik’s birthday today, and the humans had a little party, which I was not used to!

First, they played games around the kitchen table and laughed a lot.  Then, they ordered good-smelling food in flat boxes that a strange man brought to the front door.  After that, they had a nice-looking cake that they started on fire, and then they tore up a lot of paper.  They played some noisy music, and danced and sang, which scared and confused me.  The whole thing was loud and distracting.  I didn’t know what to do since I had never seen them acting this way. 

After a while, everybody left and it was time for bed.  My people were still smiling.  I think the party made the humans happy.