Pit Ed Junkies – It’s time to switch back to SUNDAYS! Starting this weekend, all Pit Ed classes will swing from Saturdays to Sundays. Beginning Class is still at 10-11am, and Drop-In starts at 11:30am. See you on August 28!
Everyones a critic, including me. As I sat at a clients home with their tabby cat on my lap, I studied a mural painted on and above the fireplace. The Trompe-l’il scene depicted a tiled veranda…
This past week of difficult headlines has made us even more appreciative of generous donors who value the work of education and advocacy, and whose recent gifts allow us to continue this mission – most notably, barn raiser extraordinaire Aron Woolman and Pat Oddone (who sent a gift on behalf of Erich Borat). Thank you.
My dog offered a sobering lesson the other day, which I’ll get to in a minute. He’s a large, 85 pound husky-mix and not quite two years old. I’ve had him since he was a pup. He’s my right hand man; my shadow. Well trained, gentle, beautifully socialized and responsive. When we get playing, of course it’s fun to tickle and tease, wrestle and chase. Sometimes we get sliding across the hardwoods, me laughing and him panting and wagging with the goober-eyed look most dog owners know well. But on this day, I was getting him a little too riled and I pushed too hard and it scared him. He tensed up a bit and mouthed my arm harder than he normally would. His message was clear: “Please stop.”
Holy Moly. This one really got to me…
A summer kids camp at Pet’s Lifeline in Sonoma County recently introduced a group of kids to pit bulls via the story ‘Saving Audie.’ Audie as you probably know, was rescued from Bad Newz Kennels and the story covers his rescue and recovery in kid-friendly photos and text.
I’ve been doing some experimenting with my art. This portrait is 10″ x 20″ on canvas, painted in acrylics. To add a touch of bling, I added a little bit of glitter to their eyes, and the client loved…
Happy Birthday Rescue Barn! Even though we’re still doing final touches (why do things always take twice as long as we expect them to?), we’ve had a gratifying first year of fine-tuning our system so the dogs that come here can get the best kind of help. Below: Jiggs enjoys a game of chase as the sun sets.
At their best, behavior evaluations (some call temperament tests) – especially those used on canine victims of cruelty – are meant to tease out a few basic behaviors in dogs in order to give responders enough information to plan next steps including a search for appropriate placement options for each individual. Disposition recommendations are typically broken down into four main categories, including: A) a shelter adoption program B) a foster care home for continued observation and possible adoption placement C) sanctuary for extreme behavior issues or D) euthanasia for a dog that is clearly suffering from medical distress or that is considered unredeemably dangerous.
If you live in the SF bay area, bring the kids over to the Martinez Public Library this coming Monday, July 25. At 6:30pm, Audie will be there to greet his fans along with his trainer and adopter, Linda Chwistek. Fourth grade teacher Charity Jara will be reading from the book “Saving Audie” and both ladies will be answering questions. Bring your cameras! Audie is the cutest little stinker you’ll ever meet and is handling his new found celebrity like a pro. More on the book Saving Audie.
A older gentleman came to us recently wanting to discuss options for his pet should he pass on before she does. His dog is a lovely, four year old pit bull. He had a recent medical scare and at his advanced age, he acknowledged that his time on this planet was limited, so he was busy with tying up loose ends while he still could. He spoke plainly, gesturing with thin arms bruised by needles from a recent hospital stay. His candor was refreshing. We were discussing the life of his dog, and despite the down-to-business tone of the conversation, it warmed us completely to know that our meeting was centered around the life of a special pit bull who was so dear to him. Planning for your pet(s) comfort and care after your death is such a generous demonstration of love.