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Thank Dog I'm Saved!

Good-bye (almost 2 months)

Today my boyfriend told me that Gaiden must go to the pound...Needless to say, I was a wreck. I went to my brother's house to ask him to go with me, and when I got there, my temp light in my car was on. I popped the hood, and some plastic tube had fallen off my air filter. I called my dad, who works right up the street and he told me to bring the car up there. When I got to my dad's work, his coworker (and friend) was asking about Gaiden. When I told him that he was on his way to the pound, he said hold on a minute, and called up a friend of his who said he would take him! So I drove him to the guy's house, and chatted with him for about 20-30 minutes. He and his cousin (whom he lived with) seemed like genuinely nice people, and the guy (Rick) reminded me so much of my dad. I felt very comfortable (well, except for the fact that I was leaving him) with leaving Gaiden with them. They not only invited me back any time to visit, but urged that I do so. I will definitely make a point of visiting with Vince (my dad's friend). I'm so thankful that I did not have to take him to the pound, GOD TRULY ANSWERS PRAYERS IN HIS OWN TIME!!!

Thank all of you for your support and prayers!!

--Kellie (Gaiden's former foster mom)

One month later

Well, it has been a full month since I brought Gaiden to my house. My boyfriend has reamed me a new one for having him here this long, but now realizes that it really is not me that is keeping him here. It is the people who have publicly turned this wonderful breed from the loving, family companion that it is, to the brutal, blood-thirsty beast we see on TV. It saddens me that not one shelter has agreed to take him in, some I can't blame: they are full, I understand that. Others don't take in pitbulls, and while I can't really blame them either: they are just submitting to Ohio's apparently tough regulations, I can blame the idea. It breaks my heart (well, actually, my first response is usually to get ticked off) to hear people who congratulate me for taking in a stray---until they find out it's a pit. Then it's "oh, well, *I* would've never done that" or a look that says "How could you endanger your family?" I can *not* keep him here forever, no matter how hard my heart wishes it were true, but I don't know what to do or where to turn to keep him safe.

My boyfriend has been teaching him to play fetch, and he now sits for his food (though he doesn't wait yet, he lunges for it as soon as the bowl hits the ground :-P). He is getting better about not snapping at us when we go to take something away from him. (almost most importantly) he doesn't bark any where near as much as he did a month ago, I can leave him outside each day to play for a couple hours, and not hear a peep! He's getting much better about not going in the house, as long as we take him out regularly. Whereas before he went within a half an hour of being out, he now can hold it for several hours. He is the biggest goofball ever, and has such an awesome personality. And yet when I tell people (who don't own a pit) this, they're reply is, "Well, you got lucky, but don't get too comfortable, he could still turn." While this may be true, I mean he is a stray, I am 100% sure that if I had rescued a golden retriever, no body would be saying these things. Of course, when I tell anyone who owns a pit these things, they smile and say, "that's a pit for ya!" I am now thoroughly in love with this breed and will *definitely* have one officially at some point in my life...for now, I am sucking up his presence and loving ever minute of it!

My Eli still doesn't like him, but Lexie regularly goes back to the gate and checks on him, and he leans over and smells her head :-)

Well, I guess that's all for now, please keep your eyes and ears peeled for anyone looking for a sweetheart, and is not put off by his breed :-)

--Kellie (Gaiden's foster mom)

A Bad Day (Day 18)

Today Gaiden bit Draco (my boyfriend's son). We took Draco to the emergency room, and they prescribed him some antibiotics and told us to watch Gaiden for 10 more days to see if anything changes with him. Thankfully no rabies or tetnus shot today. Needless to say my boyfriend is not happy with me right now. Not only has Gaiden been here way longer than initially allowed for, not only did his son get bitten, but now it'll be another 10 days before we can place him. I am disheartened because I brought Gaiden into our home to try and help, and no shelter will return my call. One place told me that sure I could bring him in, but they would charge me $75 to surrender him and he would be immediately be put down because he is a pit bull.

At this time I would like to take a moment to describe the situation under which Draco was bit. As you know, Gaiden is being kept in our laundry room, which has a metal gate in the doorway. We've given Gaiden some beef bones to keep him busy. Draco saw Lexie watching Gaiden chewing on one of the bones and interpreted that Lexie wanted it. He reached into the laundry room to get the bone from Gaiden and Gaiden bit his foot. Draco had obviously been told not to go near Gaiden. I understand Draco's confusion at this command due to two factors: 1. Gaiden has been nothing but friendly to wayne and I and 2. Both Eli and Lexie have been trained from their first day with us that we can and will take anything we wish from them at any time without qualm, so that is all Draco has seen in regards to that. So, my point in telling you all this to show that though Gaiden definitely has some issues, he didn't go mad when he bit Draco, and if I can actually find a place for him, I honestly believe he will be a *great* pet for someone.

Well, I guess that is all for now. Please pray for my family, and for Gaiden.

Thank you all for your wonderful support, you have been strength through this trying time...

--Kellie