Brace Yourself

I'm a dog.  And I'm proud to be an American.  That's why, when Alicia and Matthew ordered up my new leg brace, I insisted it have a "stars and stripes" design (which, incidentally, complements my blue collar, red leash and white fur just perfectly!).

My first few steps with the brace.

I'm still getting used to the brace, so walking a bit funny.

I got this brace from OrthoPets.  It's custom-made, just for me.  Matt and Alicia are hoping that this brace will provide the support and stability I need in order to heal the partial tear in my cruciate ligament (aka doggy ACL) so that we can avoid the expense and extended recovery time of surgery.

It's almost as fun to wear as it is to chew!

Being a puppy in a brace is exhausting!

I've decided: I don't like!

 I wasn't sure about the brace, but when they told me that surgery meant I would only be allowed to go outside to go to the bathroom and would then have to come right back inside and lay down in my crate, and that this would happen for weeks, I thought perhaps I would give it a try.

Or maybe it isn't so bad.

 I love to go outside and I love to play.  We're hoping that a few weeks to months with this brace will have me healed.  I'll keep you updated on my progress!

 Until then, I'm beat.  I'm going to take a nap.

Why's Everybody Always Pickin' on Me?

I'm a dog.  And in case you forgot, I'm a pit bull.  I'm probably (no exaggeration) one of the sweetest most friendly dogs you will ever meet.  I get along great with dogs of every age and size.  When dogs are aggressive with me, I don't respond.  I just back off a little and hope they'll calm down.  I always try again to make them my friend.

It's true, if you're wearing a hat or are entering one of the homes in my neighborhood and I don't recognize you, I might bark at you.  I won't attack. I just want to be sure who you are and maybe scare you off if you're up to no good.  Once you take off your hat, I'll come over and lick your face (or at least I'll try).  If you're a smoker and you try to pet me, I'll probably back off quickly.  It's not because I don't like you.  It's because I have a sensitive nose.  I'm always sniffing, and I don't like smoke.  But I won't be mean to you.  I'll still wag my tail - just from a distance.  I'll admit that I'm not fond of the mailman or UPS man (or the garbage man for that matter!).  They come to our house every day, dropping things off and picking things up, but they always leave in a hurry.  They never stay to chat.  I bark at them.  I'm not sure what they're up to, and I just want to keep my people safe.  I only bark though, I would never attack.  I don't even growl. I just want to let them know I know what they're up to!

But I'm a pit bull.  And because of that, no matter what I say and no matter how good of a girl I am, people think I should be outlawed and put down.  Recently, the State of Maryland (where I'm originally from), ruled that pit bulls and pit bull crosses are inherently "dangerous."  Alicia read a blog about it that was posted on the WTOP blog.  She agreed with everything the poster said.

Then she read the comments.  And she couldn't disagree more with some of the heartless things that people were saying.  She told me all about the people who said that all pit bulls should be killed because they have been bred for ill pursuits.  Have they ever met me? They also said that pit bull owners only get pit bulls to put out a certain image.  Just what image are Matt and Alicia trying to project?

I'm going to guess that they haven't met me.    I'd love to meet them though.  And show them what a loving and good girl I am.  I'd like to change their minds.