The sky was brighter last night in CA

Its been a year and a half since we lost Roxie. We have been following Birdies story from BadRap. She was a pittie found on the streets of Oakland starving at Halloween. Long story short her happy ending was cut short by cancer and she went to the Rainbow bridge yesterday. She looked much like Roxie (sans the cut ears and the blue jewel of an eye) and Im sure the two of them are making the stars bright last night, tonight and every night. Birdy's family's loss and their grief makes me miss my roxie boo even more.

As little lucky and Pete continue to become great friends here in the horrible South Central, everyday Im reminded of how Roxie made me a better person and a good dog mum. We can make life better for each other by just showing a little love.

give your pups a hug today and honor these two beauutifull red pitties who are now and forever in our hearts. If you want to read Birdy's full story, see the BADRAP.com barn dogalumnus blog (birdy flies home) Its a touching story of compassion for a senior dog who still had some living to do - and lessons to teach all of us.

Does it Get Easier? Not Really.

So now we have been without Roxie for almost ten months. It seems like an eternity.

I describe life with Roxie as being technicolor. Life now seems really black and white. And quiet. How could a fifty pound bundle of fur be such a fire cracker? Or as the french say"boulet du canon" and have the empathy power of an entire team of personal nurses?

The silence is deafening. I survived my 50th birthday without her. How depressing-indeed. Now with the Holidays upon us, we are trying to remember she would hate that we are still sad.

Roxie lived each day to the fullest and without reserve. I am posting a picture of the South Central Los Angeles orphans that now live with us on her page. Both of these dogs lives were saved directly because of her.

Pete the big white boxer, was a cruelty case across the street. He was the dog chained without water and left in the sun without shade. She barked and held vigil until we intervened. She played with him every evening after dinner, gently and with great vigor. Its hard because my neighbors continue to treat dogs without care-we only hope that the house will sell soon.

Lucky the little dog in front is what we call the twenty minute dog. In July another stray wandered here- a boy we named Red Hank- he had Roxies eyes. We took him to the shelter thinking he MUSt have an owner as sweet of a pitbull he was. He didnt. We agonized but felt taking him would be what Roxie would have wanted. Unfortunately when we went to claim him at the shelter after the mandatory week wait, he had contracted pneumonia and was put to sleep. My husband who had walked into the kennels spotted Lucky. We were told that she was the "red star" dog of the day. We soon found out that meant she literally had minutes to live as there was no longer cage room.

Lucky now lives with us. She reminds us of the most magnificent friend we could have ever had. She is here because Roxie made us realize the love of opening our hearts to a beautiful unwanted but so special pitbull. How could we say no?

Missin you so much my friend. I say your name in the wind hoping you hear us and know we miss you and think of you each and everyday .

Life moves so slow now

Today is the 7 month without you. dewey and Petey sat where you died today. Your spot is never empty.

8weeks ago we took in Lucky who had one hour before the bluejuice. I guess taking care of another helps you to forget your grief. It at least keeps me busy. Nobody will ever takeyour place but schwimmie Mommy is helping other doggies in your name.

Missing you so much.

four months and counting

This week I have been at the rainbow bridge for four months. Mommy finally got an offer on the house. She also found my graduation picture from beg obedience. Boy did she cry! She graduated from college at 49 this week! I was supposed to go on stage with her as a speaker but she did not go to the ceremony. Instead she took my ashes to a kids tennis tournament with her. I say we had more fun there!

Kiss all your doggies for me. You have a special gift and friend. Your pal Roxie.

In honour of my princess

Today we ordered the plaque that will be placed at the shelter where we got Roxie. It is a donation that allows another dog to stay longer. Hopefully we can ask that only sassy staffie girls get to use the space.

we have found some beautiful pictures of Roxie stashed away. The house is on the market and now we wait to leave this horrible place and people.

I miss you my beautiful sweet friend. Its not fair someone would take you away from those of us who loved you most.

the worm turns

so now my "neighbor" is bragging how he stabbed my dog and got the foster all worked up to bite her.

Nice. How could he doit? We did not make sure the fence was secure ina way that you could not cut wire and plastic ties to get at my dogs... He simply entered the neighbors yard to kill her.

So on behalf of my little Roxie check your fences as spring comes. Sometimes the danger is right next door. Yes, the police are involved but animal cruelty is a misdemeanor here.

its been two weeks.

My beloved roxie is gone for two weeks now and it hurts as much today as then. We are doing little things in her honor including becoming a cage sponsor at the shelter where we adopted her so that another little baby can stay just a little longer to meet their forever family.

On behalf of my very best friend ,,, keep your babies safe. take an extra moment to know that you are leaving them in a way that they can never be harmed.

Days without Roxie

Its only been five days since Roxie left us but it seems to be an eternity. Its hard to remember all the good things we did together as she was so smart and sassy.

I want to thank everybody who has been so kind to Roxie on dogster. Many people think Pitbulls and Staffies are "dogtrash" but its not true. She was a total princess and classy act thats for sure.

Now we have to put her toys away, donate her extra beds and try to make sense of the horrific way we lost her and concentrate on how much love and joy she gave us. Wish us luck.

killed on valentines day

Hi everybody,

My little roxie has gone to the rainbow bridge. After opening her house to not one but two fosters. I was active in cleaning up the crime in the neighborhood where we bought a house. Roxie was stabbed through the fence by a neighbor

In less than 90minutes that I went to the store, her femoral artery severed- she was bitten by the foster but none of the dogs had a mark on them. Roxie was the alpha leader. At first I could not believe the foster had killed her but soon we saw the ties on the fence cut, in the weeks since her death, I have had to hear people bragging about killing my best friend.


. She died at the door of the vets office.
Im posting this to remind all of you to hold your babies tight and NEVER NEVER NEVER leave dogs together even if they all got along fine and when you can dont live in neighborhoods that are unstable just so you can have a yard.. It can happen in so little time that you will lose the love of your life.

My dog would be alive today if I just had put her in the car with me. She LOVED to go and usually I would take her, This time I thought it will be ok. Now Ive lost my best friend.


Roxie loved to play and lived large. Celebrate her life with us today and think good thoughts as she gets her angel wings.

Man what a strange trip its been

Hi Everybody,

I have been busy!

we moved into our own house. NO MORE EVIL landlords. Dewey is back with us and boy well I guess we are happy, no fussing and we take a walk together. Shadow came to stay with us when Grammie had brain surgery but we were glad to see her go -- cause she barked ALL THE TIME!

I had to give up dogparks, seems I always found a way to get in trouble. OK not always my fault but I dont like it when dogs hump me and when you are a pittie you always need perfect manners!

So now I go to the park everyday, go offleash and run for my tennis ball. in between there are a MILLION loose dogs in our neighborhood. Mummy trys to feed them all and call the dog catcher. I let her know when they are outside. OUR NEIGHBORS bark ALL THE TIME, but I am staying good and not. Its tough being a pittie but people are being nicer these days. At least to me!