11/21/2007

On August 29th, I opened my door at 8 am to go get some coffee when I looked down and saw a VERY sick and injured pit bull. Here's what's very cool.... please read:

My name is Meredith and I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict with an addiction that lasted 15 years. I have been clean and sober now for 10 months. In the AA/NA program, we like to try and stay out of relationships for the first year or so. We need that time to focus on ourselves. Needless to say that I have taken this advice and have stayed single now for almost a whole year. It gets lonely at times.

Back in August, I was having a REALLY tough time with loneliness, depression, etc... On the night of August 28th, 2007, I was not really praying but more like "talking" to God or whoEVER's up there.... I asked Him to send me a pit bull. I've been rescuing them for years and so I know what WONDERFUL dogs they REALLY ARE.

Well, sure enough, He answered me. The next morning I woke up to find a pit bull to weak to stand and he was right outside my front door, laying on my welcome mat. Needless to say, he was VERY welcomed.

I quickly became very excited that this lost soul had found ME, of ALL people! I ran inside my apartment and got a bowl of water and a washcloth. He wouldn't drink the water so I used it and the washcloth to clean his eyes and his wounds. He looked at me as if to say, "thank you for saving me."

I don't make alot of money but my heart is in the right place... I couldn't afford to take him to the vet at the time. So I called the Pasadena Humane Society Shelter. You happily took him in, keeping him for a month to fix his wounds, feed him, neutered him, etc. and I adopted him when he was ready to go home. We BOTH thank you so much for that and continue to do so everyday.

Well, I've named my boy Big Red. Can't say why but it just stuck...and he doesn't seem to mind it either.

After 3 weeks of nothing but rest and the occasional bite of food and drink of water, he SLOWLY came around. I gave him his space and was there to comfort him when he needed it. He had these horrible nightmares where he would cry in his sleep... I would wake him up and tell him everything is different now. You can let those go. You'll never be hurt again. I think he listened. He RARELY has those dreams anymore... especially because he sleeps in my arms every night! Yes, I let a 60 pound pit bull sleep in my arms. The both of us won't have it any other way!

I know it's hard to believe that an abuse, neglected, shy, scared dog CAN come around... but it's true. He has LOTS of dog friends that he gets to play with everyday since everyone in my building has dogs. Big Red's best friend is a pit bull named Annie. I also take him to the dog park EVERY AFTERNOON RELIGOUSLY. He runs with the other dogs, digs holes, splashes in the water bowls, goes up to people, chases me, I chase him, etc... Really!

After a long day of playing, he follows me around the house, helps me with the chores and cuddles up in my lap at night to watch me read a book and we both fall asleep in each others arms (legs, heheh).

Big Red is a testament to all other dogs, especially pit bulls, who are often abused and neglected, rarely finding another chance in life. Thank you Pasadena Humane Society for ALL of your hard, dedicated work. Big Red and I will be forever grateful.

And to anyone else reading this who's thinking about adopting a shelter animal, go for it! You're doing the right thing! Please, love your animals as they love you!

(here's Big Red's before and after pics!)