Today i wake With thought of him for ever on my mind.It is was always said to me one day I would have to deal with his death one day.I i n my heart always felt that he would live forever.I know this was silly but in my heart i will for every carry his spirit in my mine.As silly as this sounds.When you have a friend that touches you on a level that most will never know.It is this that is hard to explain.I know many people that have had a dog they felt were special and there are those out there that fall in to this category.But for me Kramer had that special something .You cant point it out but everyone knew it.weather it was his look or his ability to always do the right thing.You always new he posed a higher being. This was a dog born a pit bull.Like man with a wrap sheet to follow him for life.Some how this never kept him from being the most genital dog.This was a dog that has never bitten anyone nor even another dog not even when being bitten.I know this first hand as i do have a female pit bull chiwawa mix .She has always had it out for him and over the years she has attacked him for no reason other than he wont fight back.Each and every time she would bite him he would do no more than yelp in pain.It was these action that lead us to give the nick name "Gandhi".The term turn the other cheek always seemed to apply to him.This is why where every i took him he was always welcome.I can recall on more than one occasions when hanging out at the local auto part store where Kramer had free roam of the store.There was a gentlemen that walked in that the owner and my friend.Harry Garvin made note that the guy that walked in was a know thief .He asked me and other to just keep an open eye.Well as just as it would happen to be Kramer who ignore most everyone came from the back room and with in just a matter positioning him self between me and this guy Kramer used his Pitt bull looks and a neat growl to let this guy know he was not welcome.With in seconds this guy decided he did not really need to shop in the store but before leaving he did ask if he could get a couple of buck for a coffee.Harry said no and off he went.It was then harry looked at Kramer and said good boy Kramer you really know the bad guys when you see them.Harry always seemed have something for Kramer
and or was willing to keep treats around for him.Hell left overs were alway offered and they were even more surprised when he would turn his nose up at the food they offered.I hope to in the next several days write down more stories about Kramer and his ability win people over to his side with his good looks and sweet disposition.
For now i will sign off with much sorrow in my heart.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A day to Mourn
As i sit here with tears heavy on my heart .The time has come for me to do the right thing for my friend and best buddy .I'm talking about best friend for the last 14 plus year.Yesterday my wife and i took him for some blood work and xrays.The news was not good.The test showed that Kramer was in real bad shape.He has a mass on his spleen low blood pressure high white count and probably would not survive surgery to remove this mass . The news we got was make his last days conformable for him.
Today he wont eat has labored breathing and is unable to walk.I love him to much to let him suffer.So I made the call to my wife letting her know it was time for Kramer to go visit his broth in heaven.December 6 2010 his younger brother of one year was hit by a car killed.Kramer has not been the same since.It is as if with out his brother life was not worth living.They were as close as you could get with out being tied together.
I can say that was must have been blessed by Some higher power to have a dog as good as him.If there was ever a dog the should have been named "GAHNDI" it is Kramer.As pit bulls go he is an ambassador to the breed.He has never had an aggressive moment.Even when fostering other dogs that have been less than friendly his ability to diffuse a tens situation with good dog manners has always amazed me.I owe this dog so much i find my self weeping as i type.Knowing that with in the next 2 hrs. i will be talking him to be humanly euthanizied .This comes very hard for me.But just since last night he has become unable to walk and his breathing has become very labored .his gums have turned white and just lyes there with his silly grim he is so well know for.I know hes not feeling well and no matter how much i want to keep him with me the best i can do for him is let him go see his brother.
I have no idea why i was blessed with him and his brother.They were my first Pit bulls.I learned the love loyalty and intelligence these dog posses.Kramer was born May 16 1997.This is the last pictures i will take of my buddy friend and soul mate .Rest in peace and give your brother a hug and kiss for me.
Today he wont eat has labored breathing and is unable to walk.I love him to much to let him suffer.So I made the call to my wife letting her know it was time for Kramer to go visit his broth in heaven.December 6 2010 his younger brother of one year was hit by a car killed.Kramer has not been the same since.It is as if with out his brother life was not worth living.They were as close as you could get with out being tied together.
I can say that was must have been blessed by Some higher power to have a dog as good as him.If there was ever a dog the should have been named "GAHNDI" it is Kramer.As pit bulls go he is an ambassador to the breed.He has never had an aggressive moment.Even when fostering other dogs that have been less than friendly his ability to diffuse a tens situation with good dog manners has always amazed me.I owe this dog so much i find my self weeping as i type.Knowing that with in the next 2 hrs. i will be talking him to be humanly euthanizied .This comes very hard for me.But just since last night he has become unable to walk and his breathing has become very labored .his gums have turned white and just lyes there with his silly grim he is so well know for.I know hes not feeling well and no matter how much i want to keep him with me the best i can do for him is let him go see his brother.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Major finds a home
My wife called me tonight to give me some great news...A favorite dog of mine at the PSPCA has found his forever home.Major is a very sweet 8 year old american Pit-bull.It would break my heart every night as i would leave the PSPCA on Eire ave in Philadelphia knowing that this gentle dog was going to spend yet another night locked up with no one to love him.As happy as i am knowing he will no spend another lonely night with no one to love him.I can only hope that the home he has found will give him the love he so needs and deserves.
Good luck Major our prayers are with you .....
Good luck Major our prayers are with you .....
Monday, January 31, 2011
A sad day
So i find my self unable to help the dogs at the PSPCA.This is not for a lack of love or trying.I have found that many of the people at the PSPCA have no understanding of how to help these dogs stop the bad behavior.I keep hearing that just give positive favor to the dogs.With a great deal many dogs this works well.But what about those dogs that are closer to being (RED ZONE) praise is not going to help these dogs get better. It has become painfully obvious they will just add those dogs to the list of dog to be Killed.There are so many great dogs at the PSPCA.Many of these dogs that have been labeled as hard to handle.I have found my self taking these dogs and giving them some special attention.
The first dog i will talk about is a young male named Pretzel.He is a beautiful alert boy with a mocha colored coat. He is kept in a jumper cage as so he cant jump out and you cant reach in.When i first asked if i could take Pretzel out Being a yellow lanyard.I was told that they new i could handle him and i was allowed to handle him.There was the question to me if i new what i was getting into.I answered why yes i do and would love to help him get better.Let me bring Pretzels life into perspective.My name is Pretzel i'm 2 years old with a high energy level.My level of energy and excitement has reached new heights.This partly because like most other dogs at the PSPCA kept in the green house i do not get out much once a day if i'm lucky.Now this has sometimes lead me to act out in a not so positive manner.I find myself so excited to get out of my cage that i tend to show this by jumping and grabbing at the leash this has me now classified as hard to handle dog .I find it sad that even the dog behaviorist wont take me off the my leash so i can run and burn off this energy i have.In stead i get 15 minutes out side on a lead with someone that has no real time or love for me.I am just a bad Pit bull .
I have taken time with Pretzel the last couple of weeks.I take him out and play tug a rope fetch and work with him leash manners.I found that with in ten minutes Mr.Pretzel had very little respect for anyone handling him.His goal was to get as much attention as possible.This was done through many bad dog actions.Sometimes he would even grab at your hands or pants leg and even making him self seam so uncontrollable.This has become my task of love to help him get better.My hope is that i would be able to help him.My first time out with him i took him to the big yard.I gave him 15 minutes of time to run and start to burn off his energy.To my surprise
even after 1/2 hr he was still full tilt energy.At this time i started to put a lead on him only to find he was not having it .This is when he started to bite the leash and jump on me biting at my hands.He was out of control as he was unwilling to respond to any verbal commands and treats were of no interest to him.It was not long after this i made the descion that i was not going to let this continue.At the first chance i had i used the tug rope and my lead up my arm to get him to take the toy while i got my lead around his head high on the neck.I did have control but not his respect.As he was still trying to grab my hand.At first chance i placed him in domanace down after only about 2 minutes he willingly submitted.I know that this was only the first on our encounter.But now with him more willing to listen i now started to create a bond with him.As with many dogs that are this wound up they get labeled bad dogs.When i look at MR. Pretzel i see a dog that needs a friend and a pack leader.This is what i offer him with every minute i spend with him.
One of Mr. Pretzels biggest issues is trying to get him back in his jumper stall.This is where he tends to put up a fight jumping and biting at the handler.I know this so just before placing him back in his stall i watched his level of excitement elevate to where he was starting to jump on me.Before this got out of hand i took this time to place him a submissive position.Once he was calm and willing to respond to my voice commands I asked him to sit once in his cage.It was much smoother than any other time i saw he being placed back in his stall.
This was my pattern with him every time for a week.I got him to a point that prior to taking him from his cage i now ask him to sit and he does.Exiting his cage has now become much easier as has his being placed back in the stall.
My time at the PSPCA has been filled with the joy of helping the dogs find some kinda of pack leader.I know that every time i enter the green house i see the light in there eyes as they know i'm not just there to walk them but i give them a sense that i'm in control and the other dogs all seem to know this.I am able to say this as they are not as ready to strike at the other dogs as they are walked buy their cages.On top of this with little more than a kind word and hand command most dogs i deal with on a regular basis will stop barking and sit waiting there turn.
The first dog i will talk about is a young male named Pretzel.He is a beautiful alert boy with a mocha colored coat. He is kept in a jumper cage as so he cant jump out and you cant reach in.When i first asked if i could take Pretzel out Being a yellow lanyard.I was told that they new i could handle him and i was allowed to handle him.There was the question to me if i new what i was getting into.I answered why yes i do and would love to help him get better.Let me bring Pretzels life into perspective.My name is Pretzel i'm 2 years old with a high energy level.My level of energy and excitement has reached new heights.This partly because like most other dogs at the PSPCA kept in the green house i do not get out much once a day if i'm lucky.Now this has sometimes lead me to act out in a not so positive manner.I find myself so excited to get out of my cage that i tend to show this by jumping and grabbing at the leash this has me now classified as hard to handle dog .I find it sad that even the dog behaviorist wont take me off the my leash so i can run and burn off this energy i have.In stead i get 15 minutes out side on a lead with someone that has no real time or love for me.I am just a bad Pit bull .
I have taken time with Pretzel the last couple of weeks.I take him out and play tug a rope fetch and work with him leash manners.I found that with in ten minutes Mr.Pretzel had very little respect for anyone handling him.His goal was to get as much attention as possible.This was done through many bad dog actions.Sometimes he would even grab at your hands or pants leg and even making him self seam so uncontrollable.This has become my task of love to help him get better.My hope is that i would be able to help him.My first time out with him i took him to the big yard.I gave him 15 minutes of time to run and start to burn off his energy.To my surprise
even after 1/2 hr he was still full tilt energy.At this time i started to put a lead on him only to find he was not having it .This is when he started to bite the leash and jump on me biting at my hands.He was out of control as he was unwilling to respond to any verbal commands and treats were of no interest to him.It was not long after this i made the descion that i was not going to let this continue.At the first chance i had i used the tug rope and my lead up my arm to get him to take the toy while i got my lead around his head high on the neck.I did have control but not his respect.As he was still trying to grab my hand.At first chance i placed him in domanace down after only about 2 minutes he willingly submitted.I know that this was only the first on our encounter.But now with him more willing to listen i now started to create a bond with him.As with many dogs that are this wound up they get labeled bad dogs.When i look at MR. Pretzel i see a dog that needs a friend and a pack leader.This is what i offer him with every minute i spend with him.
One of Mr. Pretzels biggest issues is trying to get him back in his jumper stall.This is where he tends to put up a fight jumping and biting at the handler.I know this so just before placing him back in his stall i watched his level of excitement elevate to where he was starting to jump on me.Before this got out of hand i took this time to place him a submissive position.Once he was calm and willing to respond to my voice commands I asked him to sit once in his cage.It was much smoother than any other time i saw he being placed back in his stall.
This was my pattern with him every time for a week.I got him to a point that prior to taking him from his cage i now ask him to sit and he does.Exiting his cage has now become much easier as has his being placed back in the stall.
My time at the PSPCA has been filled with the joy of helping the dogs find some kinda of pack leader.I know that every time i enter the green house i see the light in there eyes as they know i'm not just there to walk them but i give them a sense that i'm in control and the other dogs all seem to know this.I am able to say this as they are not as ready to strike at the other dogs as they are walked buy their cages.On top of this with little more than a kind word and hand command most dogs i deal with on a regular basis will stop barking and sit waiting there turn.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Volunteering At the PSPCA
So it has been a while since my last post.Not that their has not been stuff going on.More like my wife has been doing things with the rescue.Where as i have not.
On a more positive note my wife has taken a job with the PSPCA as a shelter nurse. I am happy to report this makes my wife happy.After about 2 weeks or so she asked me to become a volunteer.This mainly entails walking dogs picking up after them and or doing the same with the cats.So I signed up for the 2 hour class.This is basically just to let you know what they expect of you and what you can and cant do.It is at this meeting they give you your place as a volunteer and you get your GREEN lanyard.This is the starting point.Once you get thirty
hours under your belt you will than be able to ask to be tested for a yellow lanyard.
Well tonight i tested for my yellow lanyard.I have well over 100 hours under my belt.And truth be told i felt it was time for me to step up so i could walk dogs that present more of a challenge.These dogs are kept in jumper cages.Jumper cages can be either six foot tall or 4 foot tall with a sliding chain link gate on top.I also gives me access to dogs kept in dog intake.Dog intake is a place where dogs that have not been cleared for adoption or may have other issues medical behavior or custody cases.
So 5:30 was my time to test .I walked up and was told straight off that i my case this was more of a formality.I must say that felt good to hear.I was not really surprised.Since most all of the volunteers have to leave at 8:30 when the most of the staff leaves. I stay till midnight when my wifes shift is over.From the begging i was given the OK to stay as i helped my wife in the hospital.Word got around very quickly that i was good with the dogs and cats.So back to my test .I was time to show the staff responsible for giving me my test what i do.Well long story short a test that i'm told takes about 1 hr took me less than 30 minutes ...I got my yellow lanyard...More to follow i'm off to bed its been a long day.
On a more positive note my wife has taken a job with the PSPCA as a shelter nurse. I am happy to report this makes my wife happy.After about 2 weeks or so she asked me to become a volunteer.This mainly entails walking dogs picking up after them and or doing the same with the cats.So I signed up for the 2 hour class.This is basically just to let you know what they expect of you and what you can and cant do.It is at this meeting they give you your place as a volunteer and you get your GREEN lanyard.This is the starting point.Once you get thirty
hours under your belt you will than be able to ask to be tested for a yellow lanyard.
Well tonight i tested for my yellow lanyard.I have well over 100 hours under my belt.And truth be told i felt it was time for me to step up so i could walk dogs that present more of a challenge.These dogs are kept in jumper cages.Jumper cages can be either six foot tall or 4 foot tall with a sliding chain link gate on top.I also gives me access to dogs kept in dog intake.Dog intake is a place where dogs that have not been cleared for adoption or may have other issues medical behavior or custody cases.
So 5:30 was my time to test .I walked up and was told straight off that i my case this was more of a formality.I must say that felt good to hear.I was not really surprised.Since most all of the volunteers have to leave at 8:30 when the most of the staff leaves. I stay till midnight when my wifes shift is over.From the begging i was given the OK to stay as i helped my wife in the hospital.Word got around very quickly that i was good with the dogs and cats.So back to my test .I was time to show the staff responsible for giving me my test what i do.Well long story short a test that i'm told takes about 1 hr took me less than 30 minutes ...I got my yellow lanyard...More to follow i'm off to bed its been a long day.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Re: My squirrel is having Seizures Update
Well last night my squirrel was was not getting and better and finally after doing all i could he passed away about 1am.This is very sad.Whats even more sad is i have no idea what caused this to happen ?It is never easy to lose a baby that you care for .So with that being said i morn his death>>>
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Eleventh hour Lydia At the park
Well today Saturday August 28,2010 After picking my son up from The VA hospital .We came home and decided that it was such a nice day that we would talk Lydia Sarah and our new foster an 8 week old female pitty named Samara.So of to the park for a nice long walk .It was about 15 minutes in to the walk when we came across our first encounter with another pitty owner .The owner was Amanda and her female pitty was Stella.Stella was about 11 months old and very friendly .We allowed then to meet and once they were all introduced it was very clear to see that this was going to good for Lydia and with no sign off aggression .It took all of about 5 minutes and they started to play with each other and this was good to see .It just goes to show you that By us giving Lydia a chance she has shown us nothing but love and the ability to play with other dogs that she has just meet.
A very interesting thing we noticed was that Lydia does not like to eat alone.On top of that she has shown no food aggression.Now in my house i always try to keep food out all the time.I have found that if they can nibble all day they never seen to gorge then self nor do they ever seem to show a need to finish all the food or even growl around the food bowel.Now i'm not saying this never happens because they do growl when my wife is in the kitchen.This happens because of many things but mainly they all want to have her to them self. (Possession)
I guess a big reason I have this problem is my wife does not want to discipline the dogs she wants to love them.Since she was abused as a child she has a strong dislike for discipline .I guess a part of her hurts every time she has to do anything with the dog that is no giving love and kisses.
.A Little Death In Dixie
Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation
since
A very interesting thing we noticed was that Lydia does not like to eat alone.On top of that she has shown no food aggression.Now in my house i always try to keep food out all the time.I have found that if they can nibble all day they never seen to gorge then self nor do they ever seem to show a need to finish all the food or even growl around the food bowel.Now i'm not saying this never happens because they do growl when my wife is in the kitchen.This happens because of many things but mainly they all want to have her to them self. (Possession)
I guess a big reason I have this problem is my wife does not want to discipline the dogs she wants to love them.Since she was abused as a child she has a strong dislike for discipline .I guess a part of her hurts every time she has to do anything with the dog that is no giving love and kisses.
.A Little Death In Dixie
Kindle 3G Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, Graphite, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generationsince
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