Volunteer Meghan throws her biscuit into the ring!

My arrival into Crazy Dog Lady status has been gradual, although clear signs of this conclusion presented themselves earlier in life.

BACK IN THE DAY:

For as long as I can remember I had wanted a dog. I relentlessly pressured my parents into adopting our first dog when I was in third grade. I made promises of walking the dog everyday before school, taking him to obedience classes and cleaning up after him. I was even made to sign an agreement that said as much. I picked a fluffy black and white pup, a Border Collie mix from the local Humane society, and named him Diamond. Man that dog was cute! In the end, my parents ended up with most of these duties, although I was enrolled in community ed. obedience classes with an unruly dog and a mean old lady. As you can probably imagine putting an 8 yr old child in charge of his obedience was a huge mistake.

Diamond was a great dog. He was a challenge because his breed instincts (herding) were constantly thwarted by a small yard in the city and a make shift tie out/pulley system. He ran back and forth barking at people, cars, bushes etc…trying to herd anything in sight. Looking back, we, as a family, did not know how to help him. He didn’t get the leadership or exercise that he needed. Unfortunately Diamond’s life ended in a bad car herding episode.

Against my suggestions, my family decided not to replace Diamond with another dog, instead rescuing a cat. Sly soon became part of the family and when I moved out, my desire to live with pets quickly produced two rescue cats of my own. So you see before I was a Crazy Dog Lady I was a Crazy Cat Lady.

RECENT HISTORY

Even as I was broadening my home to cats, I never forgot about my love of dogs. My many housing situations simply were not conducive to large canines and I have never been interested in a small dog-just not my preference. When my husband and I bought our first house all of that changed.

I frankly do not remember how or why I started researching Pit bull’s. I have always wanted a large dog, and I knew that I would rescue a dog vs. going to a breeder, there are just too many needy dogs out there.

If I am honest with myself I can say that I like to challenge the status quo. I champion the underdog and I love to prove people wrong. These thoughts were in my head when deciding on this breed. I took a “what type of dog would be good for you” quiz online. I was hoping ABPT would be listed as a compatible breed. Once they were, I was online all day looking at local pit bull rescues.

At first, I was dedicated to giving an adult dog a good home, my husband wanted a puppy. My concern was the cats. I needed to make sure I found a dog that could live in harmony, or at least co-existence. After many heated discussions, I relented and we decided to look for a puppy. We found Dauber online at another local rescue, he was the most adorable pit mix and has grown into a quite a handsome dog.

BEGINNING OF THE END

My journey towards Crazy lady status has significantly accelerated since we adopted Dauber.

He has taught me so much and brought so much joy into my life. Determined not to let another dog go through life wild and untrained, I committed to learning as much about his breed as I could. In my research I came across A Rotta Love.

I can’t tell you how much this connection has helped me. I have learned so much about general dog behavior, breed specific info, and training. The best part has been the support given by fellow ARLP Crazies.

In true fashion, I wanted more. My desire to help an older dog never left me. Naturally I began fostering.

My first foster, Reese, taught me what a real rescue dog was all about.

Reese was a big pile of pit and one extremely lovable girl. Clearly she had never had much attention and once she experienced it she wasn’t going to let it go again. She was the biggest lap dog ever. She taught Dauber important dog manners and she taught me more about behavior and breed specific characteristics than I could have asked for. When she found her forever home I was elated, but also sad that our journey was over.

I had caught the fostering bug.

Next came Nino, who we had so briefly that we were basically just babysitting him. He found his forever family in a flash and is well on his way to being an breed ambassador.

Then came Joey.

Joey was meant to be a temporary foster. “Sure we can take him for a few days.” Well days turned to weeks, which turned into months. Then one day Joey got an Adoption Application. Well my heart sank! I felt my self holding him closer. The prospect of him actually leaving the house was too much, so Joey became a permanent fixture in our house.

OFFICIALLY CRAZY

When I look back in all I have learned in the last year, I am amazed! The challenge that I was looking for has proved so much more than I could have imagined. The reality of owning a dog that many people deem dangerous is so much more difficult that I would have thought. Although I cherish the opportunity to change just one person’s mind, Having to explain that my family members (which they are) are lovable dogs and not man-eaters takes its toll.

How could I not become a Crazy Dog Lady when I have to explain to strangers, co-workers, even family, that my dog… yes, the one you just let lick your face… yes, the one you just said was so well behaved… yes, the one that never did anything remotely close to hurting anyone, is now under serious attack and could be eliminated based on a few dogs with really bad owners?

So yes I am a Crazy Dog Lady, and I am damn proud of it. I will continue to be a Crazy Dog Lady, I will continue to try and help those dogs that need it. I will continue to stand up to anyone, anything or any system that challenges my family. I will be patient. I will be supportive. I will work to educate others, and If I can help save one more dogs life, or turn one more skeptic into a lover it will be all worth it.

I will work towards my goal of utter PANDEMONIUM!

What about you? Are you a crazy dog person too? Let us know! Email Lara at lara@madelineandi.com how you became a crazy dog person and what your definition of a crazy dog person is!

Filed under: Observations & Reflection