HEY EVERYBODY!

Wow, it's been such a long time since I last wrote....life has been busy, I have a new brother (a cat, but oh well....mom says once we move we can get another dog! Yippee!!), my friend Paula was adopted (the first attempt failed, but she's in a really great home now!), I'm taking an advanced obedience class and learning to do agility, and participated in three charity walks this fall....well, in short, I'm a regular social butterfly! Not bad for an 11.5 year old pit bull, eh? I also went o the vet last week for my 'senior' (how embarrassing!) health exam, and came out with a clean bill of health!

Tomorrow mum and I are doing the Bully Walk (to raise awareness about pit bulls and combat dog fighting) in Richmond!

Lots of Bully Love,
Kayachka

My Tail of Devotion for Kayachka

This is a special Tail of Devotion

See All Tails of Devotion

Canoeing!

I have a new adventure to write about! A couple weeks ago my family took me canoeing. It was my first time on the water in a long time and my very first time on the river! (For the first 7 years of my life we lived near the beach, so I've been in the ocean many times).
Honestly, I don't think I liked it very much. We canoed for 6 hours and by the time it was all over I was just exhausted. While I liked all the attention- there were many other canoers but I was the only dog there and all the people thought I was really cute- I didn't like that everybody accused me of not doing any work! Just because I sat in the middle and let my parents do all the paddling. There were some interesting moments, however, like when we saw all these cows in the river- there were quite a lot lof them, and some goats too, and they were all so oblivious to everything! I had never seen a farm animal before but I did know that they make really good dinner meat, so I was all excited about catching one! But, alas, my parents put a stop to that! The really good part was when we got out of the canoe and had a BBQ on the riverbank. I just love BBQs!! It felt so good to be off a leash that I was running around like a maniac and nearly put my tail in the fire! When it came time to eat my parents gave me my own bone so I wouldn't bother them, but I was so excited that I buried it somewhere and couldn't find it again:(
Then we had to get back in the canoe:( Toward the end of the trip my mom went swimming and I got really worried that she was leaving me and that those cows might get her, so I jumped (alright, really I fell) into the river to save her! But I forgot that I am not superdog and that swimming is one of the few talents I don't have.....Mom was laughing because my paws kept flapping in the air and I couldn't figure out how to do the doggy-paddle. She said I looked like I was drowning! Well, thanks to her help, I got right back in that canoe and stayed in it until we were done. One of my first siblings was a labrador and she just loved the water- would stay in it for hours and could swim for miles! Not me, I'm a terrier- I love the ground and the comforts of home! After that we went home and I slept for hours. I may look muscular and athletic but really I prefer to stay home and cuddle. I wish my parents would realize that. Last year they took me hiking- after 5 hours of walking, I couldn't move for days! When will they learn?

One more thing...

There's one more thing I wanted to say before mommy kicks me off the computer and I go take a nap. Last week I went to the vet to get my yearly exam and vaccinations. In November I had to have surgery to remove four skin growths (two ended up being mast cell tmors, while the other two were benign) and my mom recently found another tiny lump on my chest that she wanted to get checked out. So, the vet did a needle aspirate of the lump and we got the results back a few days ago- nothing cancerous, just fatty cells! So for now I have a clean bill of health!:) The vet also said that I have one of the best dispositions of any dog he has ever seen! I guess that's because I stood really still and didn't get mad when he stuck that cold thing up my butt and put those those needles in me....Really, I'll do anything for a biscuit!!

Pit Bull Websites

For anybody who's interested, the following are good websites for postive PR about pit bulls, pit bull rescue information, anti- BSL drives, and pit bull merchandise:


Pit Bull Websites:
http://www.spindletoppitbullrefuge.org/
http://w ww.pbrc.net/home.html
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/ AboutBSL.htm
http://www.roverlution.org/index.html
http:// www.thepassionofthepit.org/index.php
http://www.forpitssake .org/frame.html
http://www.pitbullpress.com
-------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------
Pit Bull Merchandise:
http://www.cafepress.com/cp/browse/store/dweed letees/837546
http://www.cafepress.com/howlywood/1283198
h ttp://www.cafepress.com/buy/pit+bulls/-/opt_/fpt_fXBa__DB___ CXDc_Pz-X_7O__Dc/c_1/pg_2/rpp_18/sort_by_score_desc
http:// www.cafepress.com/pbrcstore/236417
http://www.cafepress.com /cp/browse/store/dweedletees/837546

After a Long Hiatus, I'm back!

Well, when my mum and I first started writing this diary, we thought I'd have something to write about every day. We were so excited! But, alas, it turns out that neither of our lives are that exciting. Really, I don't do much besides sleep, eat, and go for a few walks. Mostly I sleep. Now that the weather has become very hot and humid I don't even like going for long walks in the daytime.....sweating and panting, it's so gauche! Leave that to the street dogs, I like to stay clean and dry! (yes, I'm a bit of a snob, but what do you expect from someone of my esteeemed British heritage?).
But now I should update you on what's happened in the past few weeks. To finish the story of when grandma came to visit, the day after they went to the restaurant and left me all alone at home (and I got revenge by eating grandma's vitamins, he he), we all went to a wine & crafts festival. It was a fun road trip (I love riding in cars so much that when the post man comes I sometimes jump in his truck!) and I got to hang my head out the window the whole way! We stayed at the festival for a couple hours, there were quite a few dogs there (including a chihuahua whose owners dressed him in a mini black leather bikers' jacket and motorcyle googles. My mom thought this was cute, but as a respectable larger-sized dog I just don't get the whole "dog clothing" thing. People need to realize that dogs have more dignity than that! None of you respect Paris Hilton. So it should come as no surprise that we dogs don't respect her dog, either. Still, I wouldn't mind a raincoat or umbrella for when it's wet outside....). The festival would have been perfect had not the mean policeman told us that I had to leave because dogs were not allowed at the fair. Now, I thought this was mighty strange considering that 1) I had been walking around the fair already for two hours without incident; and 2) that there were several other dogs there too. As far as I know these other (non- bully breed) dogs were not asked to leave. Can anybody say racial profiling??
The next day grandma left and I went into a deep depression. I don't like all this coming-and-going. At least my mom stays home with me all day, but unfortunately it won't be like that forever. People, why do you get pets if you can't stay home with them all day? Maybe you think that because we sleep most of the time that we don't notice if someone is with us or not. Bull! We notice, and we'd prefer if you were with us!
Well, in other news, we invited our cousin Barney to join Dogster, so now he's here too! Pretty soon the whole family will be on the internet!
Time to go for a walk! I'll be back later!

Ode to a Pit bull

What Animal Do I Speak Of?
By Patty Letawsky

Their love is like no other; their heart is pure as gold.
Yet while going on a friendly walk, they're faced with stares of cold.
They're so very close to humans, in how they act and what they do.
Unless you've known their devoted love, it's impossible to explain to you.

They are greatly more MISUNDERSTOOD than any other breed.
We tend to punish this loyal dog, instead of mankind's deeds.
They are always and forever clowns, with a wish for center stage.
Yet while displaying this sense of humor, most people disengage.

They, oh, so want to make new friends, and run and jump and play.
Yet when they happily approach, most people shy away.
Often I've seen children poke, or hop on for a ride.
And when I felt they might get mad, they've only beamed with pride.

I've seen these children yank and pull, with nary a reaction.
Yet media's not interested, unless they've put someone in traction.
They love to snuggle up real close, to give lots of loves and kisses.
Yet they suffer more than any, from unfair prejudices.

What animal do I speak of, whose love is so unique?
If you've truly known one, you know of whom I speak.
There is no creature on this earth who will ever make you merrier.
The animal I do speak of, it's the American Pit Bull Terrier.

Lord Byron!

My family asked me to share this with everybody. Lord Byron wrote it upon the death of his faithful Newfoundland in 1808. When his dog Boatswain contracted rabies, Lord Byron nursed the dog without fear of becoming bitten and infected. Boatswain was buried at Lord Byron's estate, Newstead Abbey, and was given a monument larger than his master's.

"Epitaph to a Dog":

Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains of one
Who possessed Beauty
Without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man
Without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning flattery
If inscribed over Human Ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
"Boatswain," a Dog
Who was born at Newfoundland,
May, 1803,
And died at Newstead Abbey
Nov. 18, 1808.

When some proud son of man returns to earth,
Unknown by glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And stories urns record that rests below.
When all is done, upon the tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his master’s own,
Who labors, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonored falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit!
By nature vile, ennoble but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who perchance behold this simple urn,
Pass on – it honors none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one – and here he lies.
----------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------
More about famous historical figures and their canine friends later...

PIT BULLS ARE NOT STUPID! AND WE'RE NOT ALL GHETTO DOGS EITHER!

May 19th- Part Two

Well, the thing I feared has happened. They went out to dinner and left me ALONE. With nothing but a bowl full of water and a measly little bone. As if that's supposed to compare with a three-course meal in a fancy restaurant!!
But don't worry, I got my revenge- I got into grandma's suitcase and ate her vitamins!! Don't ask why I chose the vitamins (I think one was a cod liver oil pill, so the smell probably got to me)- sometimes when I'm left alone I get all anxious and chew stuff! Since we moved to our new place Mommy hides the garbage before she leaves so I can't get into that anymore! But I don't want to give you the wrong idea. Actually I haven't chewed aything really bad since I was a pup! I'm normally very well-behaved- just a weakness for garbage and cat litter, that's all!

Well, I'm a bit depressed because tomorrow I know they'll leave me alone again. All this worrying makes me tired. I'd better get off to bed and dream some happy dreams about squirrels and trips to the beach and barbeques and all that other good stuff!

May 19th, 2006

Hi Everyone!

I'm back!! I thought you'd miss me and really I couldn't stay away either (I just love all the ATTENTION I'm getting out here on the Internet! Wish I had known about this sooner!) Anyway, this weekend I'm going to be SUPER busy so I want to write this while I have the chance. Today is Mom's graduation ceremony (I'm so proud of her, but how come I never get any awards??) and Grandma is coming to visit (don't you just love Grandmas, LOTS of biscuits and no discipline!). No one's told me yet, but I SUSPECT that I will have to get a bath this morning....Yuk, I hate baths, don't the humans realize that soap hurts when it gets in your eyes? I mean, I LOVE being clean and everything, then no one can call me a "stinky Piggy" and I can sleep in the bed all I want without Mommy scolding me for getting the sheets dirty, but can't they invent a better way to clean us canines without getting us all wet and soapy?? They can send dogs into space but still we bathe like in Medieval times??? Just goes to show where people's priorities are!

Well, we've got a lot of FUN activities planned this weekend....tomorrow we're going to a wine festival and then sight-seeing. I HOPE they don't decide to go out to dinner, they NEVER bring me (they say it's because restaurants don't allow dogs, but I don't buy that. I mean, my table manners may be lacking, but I'm no worse than some people I've seen! Plus, I never send food back to the kitchen AND I always lick my plates clean- no need to hire a dishwasher!) I've also heard talk about a trip to the zoo (of course I won't be invited:(
From what I can tell this is like a huge kennel where they keep wild animals in cages. Personally I'm against ANY innocent animal being locked up, but the humans seem to like doing it to us (and themselves). Who am I to question their logic?? I mean, I've always heard that we are the "dumb" animals.....(to further digress, I heard from a priest once that I didn't even have a soul! Can you imagine?? I'm STILL broken-hearted from that encounter! Why do these humans want us if they think we are dumb and soulless?)
Anyway, I've got to go soon, but I want to say one more thing. Obviously if you're reading this you know that I am a pit bull. I suspect that many of you have probably wondered to yourselves if I am a "mean" dog or not. Well, I may have a big, square head and lots of muscle, and sometimes I play rough, but really I'm a huge SOFTIE at heart! Although I'm almost 60 pounds (when not on a diet:), I still sit on my mommy's lap when she comes home from work. We sit like that all night and watch TV or read. Then when it's bedtime I jump in the bed with her....I'm really sneaky and ALWAYS manage to get ALL of the pillows under my head and to completely HOG the bed (one reason they call me Piggy). During the night Mommy tries to push me toward the edge of the bed (or, worse, tells me to sleep on the dog bed)- that's when I really use my pit bull strength and tense all my muscles so it's almost impossible to get me to budge!
Well, I've got to go. More about the pit bulls, "bully breeds" and BSL when I come back!
Have a nice weekend!