Standing here wondering

I recently had an experience which brought back a flood of memories regarding a bad experience.

There is a gigantic pet ranch here in Austin which has banned pit bulls. According to their site:

EFFECTIVE April 9, 2008, DogBoy's Dog Ranch is no longer accepting new Pit Bulls or Pit Bull Mixes. This includes the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Staffordshire Terrier breeds. They are still allowed on the property for training classes, private lessons and wellness treatments.

Well, hmmm. Wonder why a big old 'pet ranch' where all the dogs run free and happy, pit bulls are not allowed. Mind you, they are allowed to attend training classes. My question is why would you attend training classes at a place which doesn't allow pit bulls?

Look what this nice person wrote:

doggirl would like to share this review with you:

DogBoy's Dog Ranch

2615 Crystal Bend Dr, Pflugerville, TX 78660

Reviewed by Cindy M.

Boy, this sounds like a wonderful place to board your dog...it's too bad my precious dogs are not welcome there. Even though I've spent thousands of dollars training my pit bull mixes with one of the best trainers in the United States, these loving animals are not welcome at DogBoy's. I am curious, as a rescuer, how DogBoy's gets their criteria...is there an breed expert on their staff. I moved my rescue from California due to breed specific legislation back home to Texas where I thought all dogs were welcome. This is how breed specific legislation rears its ignorant racist head...

I am reading you cannot control all of the dogs at this facility, but you will still take money for training them? Correct me if I'm wrong...

What's next? No Dobermans..no Chows..no Rottweillers...no Shepherds...no Shepherd mixes?

Why not open a cat ranch...oh, no, those nasty brown tabbies might try to get in....


"EFFECTIVE April 9, 2008, DogBoy's Dog Ranch is no longer accepting new Pit Bulls or Pit Bull Mixes. For over 12 years we have defended the Pit Bull breed and accepted them in our facility without hesitation. However, after recent injuries inflicted by this breed we are no longer able to accommodate them for boarding or day care. They are still allowed on the property for training classes and private lessons.


For some mixes that have some of the same characteristics as a Pit Bull, the same policy can apply. This policy is to protect YOUR pet - Pit Bulls and non Pit Bulls alike."

Note: This was written by Doggirl...ME!! I AM Doggirl. I happened to notice Mrs. DogBoy at the ranch calls herself Doggirl. Allow me to correct you, Mr. and Mrs. DogBoy .... you are hereby requested to relinquish the name DogBoy and Doggirl. 

Only people who love ALL dogs are allowed to be called Dogboy and Doggirl...ok? I am Doggirl. That name is taken, so find another name like Alldogsbutpitsboy or Idon'tknowhowtotraindoggirl...something more appropriate.

Note the line about mixes...FYI, Mr. and Mrs. DogBoy, pit bull is not a breed and NOT capitalized. Your trailer park is showing. If you're going to breed specify, at least spell it right. 

The other day, I ran into someone who attends DogBoy Dog Ranch on a regular basis for classes. I was subjected to a homogenized DogBoy Dog Ranch diatribe about dog behavior. Word to the wise, never listen to dog training from anyone who doesn't like or know how to train pit bulls.

Not to breed specify, but pit bull breeds are very simply the most trainable dog breed to be had. Hands down. If you call yourself a dog trainer and cannot train a pit bull, you really should find another means of making a living. You are not a dog trainer or behaviorist...even if you sent off for the fancy certificate. I can recommend a use for that.

During the entire discourse, I watched the forty some-odd dogs running about nosing, playing, jostling one another.  I watched all of the dogs at play, half of whom were once Reunion dogs and some still are. I thought how beautiful they were and how they give essence to the name Reunion Rescue, a true reunion with their honor and their breed as America's first native dog.

I am so very grateful to be able to know these wonderful dogs who aren't welcome at 'the ranch'.

I pity the fool who don't get the joke. Shame on you, DogBoy.

Signed, 

Doggirl...the ONE and ONLY

Girl, a champion American pit bull

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The Devore Three and a Little Bird

Today was a very happy day. The Devore three were saved.

http://www.examiner.com/american-pit-bull-in-national/devore-shelter-three-innocent-puppies-die-today-need-a-rescue

and yesterday, a little bird ran into my window. He got a little homeopathy and guess what?

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Me, Pip, This is Us and God's Winged Horse

Today, Pip and I had a joyful experience. I've been slighting her of late. I was sick with a sinus infection and couldn't walk her for one week. She was the trouper she has always been, though. She is a survivor, that Pip.


We started off on our 3 mile hike. It was about 90 degrees and we both began to pant and sweat. I knew the walk was going to be special when Emmylou and Mark Knopfler aired on the radio singing This is Us.

We began to make up our own words. Whenever I hear a song with a special meaning, I always think of the dog and those songs. I tributed the dogs in my book with their special songs. 

We heard Dignity by Bob Dylan today and then God's Winged Horse by Buddy and Julie Miller. 

For a horsehead girl like Pip, I will always think of her when I hear this song. I remember those old nights I used to work in the sweat and the beer at that old club on East Riverside, the Back Room. I remember Julie and Buddy Miller playing there on Monday nights. 

I feel blessed to have heard their sweet music and I feel blessed to know Pip.

Peaches, Tiger and the Hayden Law

I have been so busy, I haven't even had a chance to blog haha. It's important, though, to note what is going on in the rescue community.

I am trying to write the Examiner articles every day. I believe that it's important to get the word out there. There are pit bulls and other animals dying daily in our shelters. I think it's important to convince others to write about this situation. The more people who write, the more the message will spread.

Today, I wrote about the Hayden Law and another article about Peaches and Tiger, two pit bulls who are at the Lancaster shelter. A family cannot get their dogs back, because the impound fees total over $500. This is a direct case of too much government control and not enough support.

These dogs probably had a decent home and were doing just fine, but now are languishing in a high kill facility, the clock ticking.

Luckily, Sheilah at Mutt Match is heading up the movement to get them some donations and hopefully interest an accredited rescue group to take them.

The other article I wrote was about the Hayden Law. It seems some of these shelters are taking the law into their own hands...literally.

A year ago, Lt. Orman at the Antioch shelter killed two pet dogs. Why, because he could. The man, like the owners of Tiger and Peaches, begged the shelter to return his dogs. Turned out, he was a neighbor to the animal control supervisor at Antioch and she did not want the dogs returned. A 501(c)(3) stepped forward to take the dogs and was turned down, the dogs killed. This is in direct violation of the Hayden Act.

We are in deep trouble when an appointed official can disregard the law. Period.

We are in deep trouble anyway.

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Oh, Lord...stuck in Lodi again...

Hey, ya'll...here we are...all trained, happy, joyful, raw-fed, homeopathically treated and did we mention WONDERFUL????

We need homes! Can ya'll please let people know where they can find a new companion animal who's already ready to go? We are very nice pit bulls....really!

All of us were pulled from high kill shelters. If you or a friend considers fostering to adopt one of us, guess what? Another pit bull can be saved..that's how it works.

Take a look...no, a better look than that...come on...look good and hard. We need homes and we need you to get the word out so we can find our foster to adopt home and get started living the good life we keep hearing about.

ALSO...we need donations to help feed us and pay for boarding..if you can spare a buck or two, please donate!

You can go to the Reunion Rescue website and donate via the paypal button. We are kinda broke, 'cause all the donations go to the dogs..not to salaries or calendars.



-

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I am poop-ed!

My new glasses were too strong..I wasn't even going to get glasses, but opened up the dryer door and hit myself in the head. My poor glasses which were on their last legs flew across the room, 1/2 one way and 1/2 the other way.

I tried to tape them together with electrical tape, but immediately got a headache due to offsetting my vision. I went to Lenscrafters and had to get my eyes re-examined since my last one was over three years ago. They upped my perscription and I got new glasses, but had that headache for the next few days.

We were treated to tickets to see John Mellencamp and all I can remember is how blurry he was and how bad my head hurt. I finally went back today to change the perscription and can already tell a difference.

It really hurt to write at the computer, so I cut back on the blogging, but kept up with the articles.

I wrote one Sunday on debunking the pit bull myth:

http://www.examiner.com/american-pit-bull-in-national/wake-up-america-debunking-the-pit-bull-myth

and Monday's about the amazing networkers and crossposters who keep on like the Energizer bunny:

http://www.examiner.com/american-pit-bull-in-national/wake-up-america-debunking-the-pit-bull-myth

I am so committed to writing these articles. It feels to me as if I miss writing an article a day, I'm missing an opportunity to help save a life.

In the article today about networking is the story of two dogs and the people who try to save lives by tirelessly networking through Facebook and email lists.

Onyx was euthanized and Roxy is going into rescue. This is the nature of the beast of rescue work. There is no payoff, at least for the truehearted. The Best Friends and huge groups who label their work as 'education' and 'outreach' are never ever seen on these lists. Occasionally, there will be an automated response. One funny day, a founder of a pit bull group actually responded and asked to be removed from rescue.

I had to laugh. I thought they'd been removed from rescue years ago.

In memory of Onyx...

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Kitties love spaghetti!

I made a big old pot of spaghetti and ate like a pig. Then, I went to spend some time with the kittens..who are huge now at almost a year. I expect they'll be one year old June 2. They love the smell of spaghetti and licked my mouth with their little sandpaper tongues.

Today was rather uneventful...for me, anyway. Still trying to get my Facebook landing pages in order so I can begin to fundraise for the pitties. I would imagine they like spaghetti, too.

I signed a couple of petitions...the sled dog abuse petition....and the Texas Companion Animal Act petition.

My spot on KEYE was cancelled...oh, well. I guess TV will be boring tomorrow.

Cassie at two

So many dogs need out right now. They're pulling in Devore and begging people to take. Where are all the adopters? It's such a rotten time and people are still buying dogs and cats. Gross.

Here is a photo of Cassie when she was two. What a beautiful girl.

Amazing what the right diet all of her life might have done. Cassie was about 11 when she passed away. She was lovingly cared for by Doug. He'd managed to get her on a complete raw diet and nursed her through the loss of her hind region and kidney failure.

I believe all disease and behavior is caused by diet and vaccine. Cassie would probably still be alive and walking around even had Doug gotten to her sooner.

I do know she passed away magnificently. Clare did a communication with Cassie upon her passing:

Bless her - she says she got enough strength back to finish her work here on earth, and then got very exhausted very quickly and just decided to quit fighting. She got fed up with "scrabbling to keep my paws  on the earth, clinging on with my toes till they cramped.

"It felt like such a relief to relax my toes, then my feet, then eventually my whole body....just relaxed everything and then drifted away with no struggle at all. What on earth was I hanging on so desperately for? 

Cassie 

This is a breeze! Lighter than air and happy as a dream, carried away on a whisper." 


The heavy frontal headaches lifted immediately and there is a lightness in her eyes, with no pain behind them. 

"I'm sorry I was a bit of a moaner, a grumbler towards the end, It was the pain, and the effort of hanging on, the tight grip that became bigger than the will to live. I'm smiling now, smiling from ear to ear, whirling around you all from one to the other, one last big lick before I go. I can run with the others now, and it feels so free..." 


She says to feel for the sensation like a breeze on the skin when there shouldn't be one (indoors, or on a still day) it will be her, brushing past one last time.

Lovely girl, blessings her way, but she really doesn't need them - 


she's a Good Dog, who lived a Good Life, and is now as happy as can be!

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