Deviant Art, our fourth annual dog-centric art show put on by Sarah Thornton of Lintu Art to benefit A Rotta Love Plus, was a smashing success last weekend.

Artists joined us from Minnesota, North Dakota, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, and Indiana. We had a record number of entries for our photo contest, which was judged by a panel of professional photographers. Donations from local businesses (Elsie’s Bowling, Surdyk’s, and Punch Pizza) helped fuel our large group of volunteers. Thank you to all of the artists, attendees (over 200!), donors, and volunteers who made this year’s event possible. And “grateful” does not even begin to describe our feelings toward Sarah Thornton, who worked tirelessly throughout the year to make this event happen. What a pro!

As you know, artists participating in the show donate a percentage of their sales to ARLP. In an incredibly generous gesture, John Berdahl, the artist behind some of Deviant Art’s most talked-about pieces, is offering to extend this offer beyond the show: he has reduced the price on two of his paintings, which he is now offering at a discounted price of $260, with 20% of the proceeds going to A Rotta Love Plus:

These paintings were crowd favorites at the Deviant Art show and would look stunning on the wall of any Rottweiler or pit bull lover. They are acrylic on canvas and measure 12” x 36”.

Berdahl describes these two paintings as follows: “I endeavored to render dogs as I see them. I wanted to portray them with a vivacious dignity. I hope that the content of the expressive portraiture and the manner in which it is crafted challenges viewers to rethink negative opinions regarding ‘deviant’ breeds.”

Berdahl’s work is inspired by artists such as Camille Pissarro, Georges Seurat and Claude Monet. You can view his website here.

In addition, Sarah Thornton’s Dogs of ARLP 2012 print is available for purchase here. Since so many of them sold at the Deviant Art show, there are only eight copies left!

Please contact sarah.lintu@gmail.com by Wednesday, May 2 if you would like to purchase any of the items mentioned in this post. 

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The preview show for Deviant Art, a benefit art show for ARLP hosted by Sarah Thornton of Lintu Art, will be held tonight from 5-9 pm at the Northrup King Building in Minneapolis. Being that it is also the First Thursday of the month, many of the other artists’ galleries will be open to the public this evening as well.

The main event will take place Saturday, April 14 from 3-9 pm. Deviant Art is a free event and includes food and beverages, the opportunity to mingle with therapy dogs, and much more.

One of the features we’ve added in recent years is an amateur photo contest. We are pleased to announce the winner of this year’s contest:

Suvi is approximately three years old, adopted from MN Pit Bull Rescue, and the highlight of Brandy Lehto’s life. Congratulations to Brandy and Suvi! As the first-place winner, Brandy will receive a photo shoot and portrait with our very own Sarah Thornton of Lintu Art.

As is possible in any blind judging contest, Brandy not only won first place but her black and white photo of Suvi won second place as well:

One of the runner-up photos, of Rottie Rogger, was the inspiration for the artwork called “Rogger Eyes” by Ramona Albrego, which hangs in the Deviant Art 2012 gallery today.

This year, we had over 60 photos submitted from 17 applicants. Because the entries were so phenomenal, the panel of judges – all professional photographers who volunteered their time to participate in three rounds of blind judging – chose to extend the number of winners to five rather than three. The five winning photos will be displayed at the event and can also be seen in our Facebook album. Thank you to all who entered!

As we’ve prepared for the event, it has been a pleasure getting better acquainted with the participating artists, many of whom have strong personal connections to the breeds served by ARLP. One such artist is Cathy Johnson, a Minnesota native whose Deviant Art piece (pictured below) embodies the connected companionship that so many humans enjoy with their pets. Johnson heard about Deviant Art from MNArtists.org and was drawn to the show because of her personal interest in dogs in general, and pit bulls in particular.

In a recent interview, Johnson gave us the scoop on her piece and her lifetime love of animals.

ARLP: How did you approach the topic of Deviant Art? What can you tell us about how your piece relates to the theme?
Johnson: The basic idea behind the piece that’s included in the show was to create an image that was happy! I wanted to draw a person with their dog that was uplifting, the way I’ve known dog owners. Popular stigma says pit bulls are mean, but I’ve only known them to be sweet and lovable.

ARLP: What was your first pet growing up? Do you have any pets now?
Johnson: My first pet was a goldfish named Goldie! We had all sorts of reptiles when I was a kid, too. I loved snakes. I’ve never let a bad reputation stop me from loving an animal. I just graduated college and am transitioning in my life, so it isn’t the ideal condition for a pet. I’ve actually never owned a dog, but hope to as soon as I have a stable living condition and the finances to give a dog a great home.

ARLP: What are some of your personal experiences with real-life pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other ‘Deviant’ breeds?
Johnson: I went to school in Baltimore, where pit bulls are really popular. I have a lot of close friends who have pit bulls. My good friends Meg and Graham have a pit bull named Maude, who is incredibly sweet. Unfortunately, I’ve heard countless stories of people being afraid of Maude while out on walks [because of her breed], though she’s the sweetest in the world. That’s where the idea for the bandana in my artwork came from; Meg and Graham dress Maude up in sweaters and scarves to get folks on the street to not be so frightened of her, and to give her a chance.

ARLP: Do the dog and the man in your piece have any particular story behind them? What feelings do you hope that they evokes in your audience?
Johnson: I wanted to make an image that made me think of my friends, and make something that was very tender. I hope it makes the audience think of all the great people and dogs in their lives. I hope people will look at this piece and see that discrimination only creates hatred and violence.

For more information on Cathy Johnson, check out her portfolio and blog.

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For over a year now, ARLP’s PRIORITY Paws program has been visiting teens in crisis who reside at The Bridge for Youth. Often, youth at the Bridge are seeking respite from their homes; many have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect – or some combination of the three – and are craving guidance and hope from anyone who can help them envision a happier future. It comes as no surprise, then, that the PRIORITY Paws therapy dogs, many of whom have recovered from heartbreakingly relatable stories, provide welcome parables of optimism for youth and their caregivers alike.

As Bridge staff member Eddie Rogers puts it, “It’s awesome to hear youth begin to share their feelings and thoughts after and during dog therapy. When the dogs’ stories are told, the youth begin to relate. The interactions between the dogs and youth are a sight to behold.”

Bettie at the Bridge

Most of the time, the PRIORITY Paws curriculum is fairly structured. For example, in the curriculum on communication, facilitators lead a discussion about how dogs communicate, then move on to the topic of how people communicate, and finally tie the two together to allow the youth to connect the dots.

However, at a recent Wednesday evening session at the Bridge, PRIORITY Paws facilitators Harmony and Curtis led the youth in a more creative exercise. Splitting the youth into two teams and pairing each youth team with a dog/handler team – Lindsey/Bettie and Sara/Josie in this case – the facilitators asked the youth to brainstorm a list of words. The words could be anything that related to the youth or the dogs’ past, present, or future; the teens interviewed Lindsey and Sara in order to create this list. From the lists, the youth teams had just ten minutes to write a rap for a “battle rap” that would take place when the timer went off.

If there was any doubt that the youth would understand the exercise despite a lack of a “connect the dots” explanation ahead of time, let it be laid to rest:

That evening, the purity of the connection between human and animal experiences was never more apparent: The youth understood that because someone cared enough, these dogs survived. And so will they.

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Deviant Art will take place at the Northrup King building in Minneapolis on Saturday April 14, 2012 from 3-9 pm. There will also be a preview show the evening of Thursday, April 5. For more information on Deviant Art IV, visit the website or RSVP on Facebook. Calling all artists! The deadline to submit art is this Wednesday, March 21. All details can be found on the Deviant website.

A Rotta Love Plus’s popular annual art show, Deviant Art: Dispelling Myths, is right around the corner. Started in 2009, Deviant Art is a benefit art show put together by Sarah Thornton of Lintu Art to raise awareness and funds for ARLP and its programs.

The Featured Artist chosen for the 2012 show is DC Ice, a St. Paul artist whose work has been self-described as “sinister but sweet” – a fitting premise for the Deviant Art show, which focuses on breeds that are sweet to those who know them, but often portrayed by the media as sinister. We asked DC to tell us a bit about herself and her inspiration for Deviant Art’s featured piece, Burning Throat Love.

Burning Throat Love

ARLP: What made you want to get involved with the Deviant Art show?
DC Ice: I was contacted by Sarah Thorton last year, who invited me to submit work for the event. Being an animal lover, I was thrilled to get involved and jumped at the chance.

ARLP: Tell us something about how you approach the topic of “deviant” breeds. What does “Deviant Art” mean to you?
DC Ice: I define my work as being “sinister but sweet.” A lot of my art portrays grim creatures who give profound love. “Deviant” breeds or fierce critters are often the focus of my work. I like exploring their softer side.

ARLP: Who was your first pet growing up?
DC Ice: We always had outdoor, shorthaired, mid-sized guard dogs. They would roam around our property and let us know when visitors would arrive. It’s funny, they were all named Duke. When one dog would pass away we would get another that looked identical and my parents would, again, name the new dog Duke. Each of them were loyal and sweet and had a wonderful dog life playing in the woods with me.

ARLP: How would you describe the piece of art that was chosen as the featured piece for Deviant Art, Burning Throat Love? What feelings do you hope that it evokes in your audience?
DC Ice: Burning Throat Love is a portrait of a Duke from the past. The Dukes had a tough exterior but were sweethearts. I tried to portray the roughness by incorporating the dog smoking and his shifty eyes looking distressed. The warm red heart balanced out these harsh aspects.

ARLP: How do your current pets inspire your work?
DC Ice: We have two amazingly entertaining cats, Jasper and Guido. Jasper is FIV+, which is just like being HIV+, but in the cat world. He had been at a shelter for over a year before I found him. He’s my love. “The Fiv” (as we often call him), finds his way into my work quite often.

ARLP: What are some of your personal experiences with real-life pit bulls, Rottweilers, or other “deviant” breeds? Overall, have these experiences led you to believe that these breeds are sinister, sweet, or somewhere in between?
DC Ice: Last spring a pit bull greeted me inside my garage. I was startled and slightly frightened but she was the sweetest girl. I brought her into my sun porch where we snuggled. I gave her water and (cat) food and then went online to search for her owner. It didn’t take long to find the owner so our cuddle affair was cut short. I’ll always remember her as being sweet, not sinister.

For more information about DC Ice, visit her website and check her out on Facebook.

We hope to see many ARLP supporters and art lovers at this year’s show. In addition to experiencing unique, multi-media artwork like the piece featured in this post, attendees at Deviant Art will have the opportunity to enjoy food and beverages, mingle with ARLP volunteers, hang out with registered therapy dogs, and learn about and support ARLP. Deviant Art is a free event.

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Exactly one year ago today, two moving vans driven by ARLP volunteers Carol and Kaylene pulled up to Central Bark, where they were met with a roomful of other volunteers who had been expecting them. The van doors opened to reveal their contents: seven Rottweilers, all strangers to us, who had made the long journey from Texas where a massive animal seizure had taken place months earlier. The dogs were dirty, tired, and nervous, but our foster families were ready. For these Rottweilers, the journey to recovery began that night.

A year has passed, and these dogs are no longer strangers: they are Andy, Kyler, Lilah, Mercury, Ramos, and Zema. Each has been adopted into a loving family that has eased them into the good life as beloved companions. For this one-year celebration, their families have provided updates on their life up til now. [Their six-month updates are available here.]

Andy

At Andy’s six-month update, we got to know Andy’s “Hollywood” personality and cheered him on as he passed his Canine Good Citizen test. At one year, Andy is still teaching his human, Seth, the ways of the world. Andy reports: “My human continues to be a pushover for that ‘Rottie look,’ with the ever-present ‘Rottie lean.’ Are all humans this simple? First I took over his heart and landed a cool pad, now I’ve captured his mind as well!  I’m so ‘in charge’ that he can’t even do this update. I’ve done some training with the human. When I first got here, I had a crate to sleep in and eventually I assured the silly human I would be happy sleeping on the floor, and that he didn’t need to close the crate door. It didn’t take too long, and only a couple of those looks and leans and, like magic, I was on the couch. Well, it didn’t take long after that and now it’s pretty much wherever I please, including the bed at night! I think my next project is to get my human trained as a therapy partner, but I’ve got some work to do with him first. I sure love when we go visit, or visitors come here. I especially like it when there are other dogs around to share our ‘Human Stories’ with, sniff the things we sniff, and get extra treats. Word on the street is that come spring, I’m going to get to go for bike-ride runs. Not sure what that is yet but my Bro’ Lab says it’s a gas!”

Andy and bro

At Zema’s six-month update, we learned that this shy girl was beginning to come out of her shell with the help of agility classes. However, she has had to put her dreams of agility stardom on hold: Zema’s mom, Pat, informed us that the increase in activity led to a shoulder re-injury. Surgery was required, and half of the tendon needed to be removed due to the disease. Zema is now in rehab and progress has been slow, but Pat reports that regardless of the injury and the time required to recover, “Zema will be forever wanted and loved by me. Her life will be good!”

Zema in rehab

Mercury – known at ARLP as “Cracker Jack Surprise” since we were expecting six, not seven, dogs to arrive in MN that evening – now has a life that is jam-packed with joy. “Boy, do we love that lunatic!,” his family reports. “After spending the summer and most of fall swimming every single day at the lake, Mercury proved how much he loves water even when frozen. He is crazy in love with snow, grabbing it in his mouth and Tigger-bouncing while throwing mouthfuls of snow all over the place. He loves his eleven-month-old Rottie sister to distraction, allowing her to chew on him at her whim and pull him by the tug rope down hallways. Together, they cause entirely too much trouble around the house!” Mercury has come so far, and his family is still working with him on overcoming challenges in terms of his fear of strangers and kids. But his life is full of joy and love. “He lives to chew toys beyond recognition and go for daily walks, and he is a fantastic loose-leash walker.  Oh, and when he isn’t bouncing around, tormenting his siblings or chasing balls, he is a super snuggler, and is for SURE a Momma’s boy,” Diane tells us.

Mercury and sis

Lilah, who was still with her super foster family at the six-month check in, has now been adopted by a lovely family. Lee and Judy report that Lilah has learned routines quickly at their home and gets along famously with her four-legged brother Winston. While Lilah continues to be a bit fearful on walks at times, for the most part she really enjoys them. “She is a joy to us,” they say.

Lilah

As for Ramos, he “continues to be the love of my life!” according to his mama, Angie. “Ramos is doing wonderfully, but sadly we can no longer sleep in the same room together since his snoring is relentless,” she jokes.

Ramos

The last time we checked in on this group, shy-guy Kyler was being fostered by ARLP volunteer Laural. She and Kyler developed an amazing bond and for those who knew them, it came as no surprise that in December, Laural became Kyler’s forever home. She writes, Kyler “is coming out of his shell more and more, but oh so slowly. Each little thing that he does still brings a tear to my eye: His first playbow. His first few seconds of play with his pittie sister. He is now allowing strangers to feed him treats, as long as they hold the treat between their fingers and not on an open palm – yeah, he is rather quirky. The first time he wagged his nub when going in to daycare. The first time he crawled on my lap. He loves car rides, pulling apart rope toys, and chewing on bones. He loves red peppers, green peppers, and cucumbers. He loves belly rubs, butt scratches and massages.”

“He loves me.”

Kyler

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This past Sunday, A Rotta Love Plus hosted a Therapy Dogs International (TDI) test, which resulted in six new Rottweilers and pit bulls, plus one Weimaraner, becoming part of the therapy dog community. Congratulations to Albert, Atlas, Blue, Jackie-O, Jameson, Jana, and Palace, who are going to make such wonderful additions to whichever therapy dog program they and their humans decide to participate in (we have a suggestion!)

 
Blue: Newly-Minted Therapy Dog

Ashley and Ryan from Wag n’ Woofs doggy daycare/training facility in Eden Prairie kindly donated the space to test, and Pat Kinch and her team from TDI came out to administer it. In addition, twenty-three (!) ARLP volunteers came to support, observe, take photos, and work on craft projects that ARLP sells at awareness events. The Wag n’ Woofs blog put it perfectly: “All the owners were so kind and supportive of each other! It made me realize just one more reason why choosing to adopt a dog is so rewarding. Adopting a rescue dog doesn’t just bring one new family member into your life, but a whole support group of people.”

Test-Day Volunteers Enjoyed Crafts, Coffee, and Conversation

A number of those who took Sunday’s test were graduates of ARLP’s Rott n’ Pit Ed (RPEd) training class. Veteran ARLP volunteer Brit Horob describes what it was like to witness their journey: As a trainer with RPEd I’ve seen a lot of these dogs go from animal control, to a foster home, and then to their forever home. It’s not lost on me how much work goes into some of these dogs. They come to ARLP under-socialized and without any boundaries; it falls to the foster homes and adopters to attend training class and work on those issues. Sometimes the issues are minor and easily taken care of. Other times, it can mean years of re-socializing and reconditioning on a daily basis. Several of the dogs tested on Sunday came into the program years ago and have been working ever since to become well-socialized members of society.

Some of the handlers whose dogs did not pass the test were very disappointed. I hope that they understand that, although they didn’t pass, the path that they have already traveled with their dogs is something to be very proud of. The amount of work the owners have put in with their dogs humbles me.

One such handler, ARLP volunteer Laura Anderson (who helps promote ARLP’s foster dogs on Facebook and founded the Twin Cities Pack Walk group), wrote the following touching account about her experience on Sunday with her beauty-queen pit bull, Penelope:

Even though it has only been just over a year it feels like a lifetime since Penelope first walked into my life. Penelope’s timidness was apparent at the outset and I should have seen the work that was ahead of me when I first met her, but I didn’t, all I saw was the love I felt for this shy little dog. Penelope was terrified of unknown dogs and people. She was afraid of thresholds, noises, and even some toys. To deal with these challenges I had to accept a lot of realities about dog ownership that I had previously taken for granted. I remember consciously acknowledging that it wasn’t Penelope who was lucky to have me, but that I was lucky to have her. And lucky I have been. Lucky to be able to take this journey with her, to teach her to love and to trust, and to show her the way. Never, not even once, did I question whether it would be worth it; from day one, it was. 

Our first step was to take a class for shy and fearful dogs. We chose to enroll in a highly referred class with Danielle at the Canine Coach. It wasn’t until I began this class that I realized just how much more work I needed than Penelope. Prior to adopting her I had been severely bitten trying to intervene in a dog fight. I had a newfound respect for my limitations with dogs, but also a debilitating fear of aggression. I will admit I was not the best leader at first. Nothing is more challenging to a fearful dog than a fearful leader and my first lesson was that if I could not be the leader I needed to be, I had to enlist the support of my partner. My husband took Penelope through her first class with enormous success; I worked with her at home to build her confidence and began to work with other dogs to build my own confidence. We were indeed works-in-progress, but at least progress was somewhere in our equation.

The funny thing about progress is that it can suddenly move so quickly that you get caught up in the momentum and find yourself back where you began. Penelope’s next step was to enroll in Rott n’ Pit Ed classes with A Rotta Love Plus. The structure of the classes and wisdom of the instructors provided both Penelope and myself with a level of comfort and security that can not be understated. We were in the company of skilled and understanding dog advocates who knew that perfection did not make a great dog. We found a community of support and education and learned through collective ups and downs. In just two months with Rott n’ Pit Ed we were able to obtain our Canine Good Citizen title, a monumental symbol and acknowledgment of just how far we had come. Words can not explain how proud I was of myself, my community, and most importantly my little girl. We had become a team and we had built the foundation of our success on mutual trust and understanding. I had made a promise to Penelope that I would protect her and I intended to keep it.

Like any good mother I decided to push for the next step, the big prize, Penelope’s therapy title. Though I had my hesitations I figured there wouldn’t be any harm in trying – what was the worst that could happen? So we prepared and we practiced. We explored new places and people. We worked with increasing levels of distraction and we made impressive strides. Somewhere along the way I went from “well it’s worth a shot” to “we could actually do this thing.” Somewhere along the way I convinced Penelope she was ready and she followed me into the fray on testing day.

And so I had let forward progress propel me into a new an exciting place, except I forgot one very important thing:

I forgot to ask Penelope if she wanted to be a therapy dog.

People often say that therapy dogs are born and not made, that a therapy dog has a certain bomb-proof temperament and an innate desire to please any human in their path. None of these things describe Penelope at this point in her life and yet here we were entering the testing circle ready for the “ultimate challenge.” I was so distracted by my nerves that I forgot to be a leader and Penelope was so confused by my energy she forgot to be herself. We both regressed to that shy little pair entering the Canine Coach and I don’t think I was prepared for how it would make me feel.

I couldn’t get out of the ring before the tears started to flow. I was upset with myself for doing poorly, for leading my best friend astray, but I didn’t really know why. I couldn’t put my finger on what had brought the tears. I was prepared to fail and knew I would be proud of my girl regardless. What I didn’t prepare myself for was that I would so profoundly disappoint myself. I swallowed my pride and came to a very difficult realization.

Penelope didn’t trust me, not in that ring. And why should she have trusted me? For the past year I had built our relationship on the foundation of trust. A foundation that rested on the simple idea that I would protect her. I promised that I would look out for her best interests and help her develop to her full potential. That I would do everything in my power to make her happy. I didn’t just push her, I pushed her too far. I violated every single one of these fundamental principles to do something that would make me happy.

I drove home sorting through the day and turned to my girl and asked what I had forgotten to ask in the first place.

And she said: “not yet.”

And so what if she isn’t ready to be a therapy dog?

So what if she’ll never be?

All I ever wanted was for her to be happy.

And she is.

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Three ARLP alum dogs celebrate their ‘Gotcha Day’ – the day they came to their forever home for good – on Valentine’s Day. Today, their families share “love letters” that they have written to these special survivors. Happy Gotcha Day, Albert, Josie, and Pearla. It is clear that you are so very loved.

Dear Albert,

You are my love, my precious, precious love.  It is hard to believe that we have only spent two years together; it feels like we have been together for ever.  Really, I mean that: F.O.R.E.V.E.R.  Gesh, you were a brat at times and you still have your moments, but quite honestly, I don’t want to relive those teenaged years.  I had all ready raised two human teenagers and I really didn’t want to have to go through that again.  It is amazing how human teen years and canine teen years parallel.  Knowing that you would outgrow them, as my human kids did, got me through it.

I almost lost you, you know.  You weren’t with me too long and came down with Parvo, which can be a disease that would have taken you from me and I never would have known what joy you can bring.  Now you get to your share your goofy ears, your goofy long helicopter tail, and your goofy smile with so many.  You have made me so proud.

Coming home from work every night is such a pleasure because you act like you haven’t seen me in years; I love the greeting I get from you.  I love that you have to be touching me at all times, whether you are laying on my feet as I work at the computer or snuggled up next to me when we go to bed.  I love the kisses you give – okay those may get a bit annoying at times, but know that I would miss them like crazy if you stopped.  I love that you are my copilot in the car.

You are my love, my precious, precious love.  I love you with all my heart, today on Valentines Day and every minute of every day of the year.

Love,

Mom

A Poem for Jo

My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine/You make me smile with my heart

Your looks are laughable, so photographable/Yet you can clear a room with your…

On second thought, maybe I should stick to prose.

Josie, two years ago you wriggled your way into our hearts and onto our sofa, and neither will ever be the same. (Whose brilliant idea was it to get a white couch, anyway?)

In the past two years, you have slurped away tears and given me innumerable reasons to smile.  In the short time we’ve known each other we have traveled a million miles to find the right path, together. I promise you that as we continue to travel down this road, I’ll be right beside you, giving you half of my Chicken McNuggets (even if you do sometimes puke them up in the back seat of my car).

You came into my life to teach me about love: unconditional, messy, perfect love. For this, and for all of the other ways that you have ‘Josified’ my life, I thank you.

XOXO,

Mom

Dear Pearla,

Is it really true that we’re beginning our third year together? I met you for the first time two years ago today. I knew when I read the notes written to you from all the hospital staff who cared for you while you healed, that you were a very special little girl. I knew when Dr. Hunter packed up the two bags of toys, supplements, food, socks, booties, jackets, sweaters, and your crate, that you would be missed at the hospital, where you’d wormed your way into so many hearts. I knew when you first shared your incredible grin with me, that you were a little beauty, ready to capture the hearts of people large and small.

Your first year as a foster is a blur of memories, including accomplishments large and small. You learned how to use the stairs. You learned how to walk on a leash. You learned to accept being picked up, and you learned it was safe to sleep in my lap. You learned basic obedience, and you passed both the CGC and TDI tests within your first three months in my home. And yet you had few, if any, adoption applications. I learned you love to mug for the camera (as long as you had 4 feet on the ground). I learned you play patty cake when excited. I learned you rarely bark, you’re afraid of heights, you’re prone to ‘happy tail’ in your zest for expressing joy, and you love peanut butter. I learned while you are a snuggle bunny in the chair, you are a bed hog overnight, taking up far more room than your tiny frame would indicate. What I did NOT know, is that you were in my home to stay. I don’t remember exactly when that changed.  But I do remember the heart pounding fear of loss, when your first serious application for adoption arrived, well into our second year together. I thought I’d done such a thorough job, steeling my heart against the day you would leave my home, for your forever home. When that application didn’t work out for different reasons, I will never forget the sense of relief, that I had more time with you. I need to thank your Auntie Lara, for helping me see that your smiling face and wagging tail belonged in my home for good.

I have never had a single day where I wished you were somewhere else, never had that day when I needed a break from your antics. I love waking up to the thump thump of your tail, even if I have not yet seen you. I love watching you stretch after a satisfying sleep, seeing you flex each toe with a wide-mouthed yawn. I love your little nose nudges to my leg, when you’re seeking some petting. I love that you sit behind me in the kitchen while I wash the dishes, and move back and forth with me from cupboard to pantry as I put them away. I love how you run through your tricks as fast as you can when you’re all excited. I love that while you remain a victim of motion sickness, you still go for car rides because I ask you to, not because you love  the car. I love watching you prance around with a favored toy, showing off your happy conformation that would make any dressage horse blue with envy. I love your snaggle teeth, your floppy ears, and your warm eyes. I love your scars, and the education we can offer to people who see them, and assume their origin. I love the way you burrow into the pink chair’s cushions, so you can watch me while I work, thumping your tail each time I glance over to see if you’re still awake.

I can’t imagine a day without you, Pearla, and I am so very very grateful to have you in my life.

Love,

Your Mom

Filed under: ARLP Updates, Happy Endings | 3 Comments »

Blog post by a “sad ex-mom of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier” who wished to remain anonymous due to privacy concerns regarding the military. Foreword by ARLP Education Director Kellie French.

Stay up to date on ARLP’s happenings by visiting our Facebook page.

Foreword:

Reflecting on this past year I am thankful for so many things. One of the biggest is that another year has gone by and we continue to have a BSL-free (breed-specific legislation) Minnesota. We continue to live in a state where there is a law making it illegal for communities to enact-breed specific designations on dogs. I can rest assured that the two furry members of my family will not be judged, taken away from me, or euthanized simply due to their appearance.

Yet just four years ago, in winter 2008, this law was in serious jeopardy. Pit bull advocates, including members of A Rotta Love Plus and various other groups and community members, joined forces (enjoying strategy meetings at Summit Brewery – thanks Carey!) to educate legislators about the importance of judging a dog based on actions and not breed. Our efforts were successful and we got to keep our State Statute 347.51 Sub. 8:

Local ordinances. A statutory or home rule charter city, or a county, may not adopt an ordinance regulating dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs based solely on the specific breed of the dog. Ordinances inconsistent with this subdivision are void.

The time had come. It was time for me to prepare my young children for a painful loss, one that was too much for a five-year old or two-year old to process on their own. I knew when we welcomed our pup into our family, one year before our first was born, that I would someday have to mend broken hearts when she died. So why was I wiping tears from their chubby cheeks at bedtime when our dog was healthy, happy, and sleeping on the couch upstairs?

Our story starts in 2005. My husband and I had returned home from our separate deployments from the Army, and couldn’t wait to be under the same roof again and start a family. For us, the first step was to become “puppy parents” and get the cute dog that my husband and I had discussed over and over again while we would communicate over instant messaging while we were apart. We discussed different breeds thoroughly, reading books and researching online. Children were a must for us, so we made sure that the breed we chose would be great with kids. After extensive research, we decided on the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We contacted a reputable breeder and welcomed our adorable red puppy, Willa, into our home.

Willa stole our hearts immediately. She loved to snuggle, and we would cradle her like a newborn baby at night while she fell asleep. We took her to swim in streams and laughed for hours at her antics of splashing the water with her paw and trying to catch the water in her mouth. She was full of personality and life.

One year after she came home with us, we had our first son. The memories we have of him giggling as a baby while throwing Willa’s rope and tennis balls to her will always make us smile. Willa tolerated the baby when he would climb into her bed, crawl on top of her, and pull her tail and ears. Never did she bite him or threaten him, which actually surprised me given how determined that baby could be! She was part of our family, no doubt about it. My husband and I often discussed what a great decision we made with this breed.

In early 2009, I was pregnant with our daughter. We were living on-post at what was my husband’s assigned installation in Kansas. Life was good. I was weeks away from giving birth, when one day I received an e-mail that concerned me. The e-mail informed me that the garrison commander had signed a breed ban for that post. Never, ever, had I thought that this was a possibility for the military. I had followed websites reporting on breed ban legislation because being military, we move. A lot. I wanted to be informed about the places that banned Willa and avoid them. To me, it was too easy. “I wouldn’t want to live in those cities anyway, obviously [if they support breed bans] they are full of ignorant people,” I often thought to myself. Since I enjoyed living on-post, it wasn’t an issue for us. But it quickly became an issue, and a big one: within weeks, the breed ban (which included something like 60 breeds) went from just being at that post to being Department of Defense policy at all military installations.

Willa was covered under a grandfather clause in Kansas, as she was already registered at that post. Once we left on-post housing, however, she would no longer be allowed on a military installation. I still cannot accept the unfairness of that policy. Military families move. A lot! My husband was transferred the next year to attend school in a civilian area. Willa continued to be the best dog in the world, with so much personality, and by this time putting up with three kids under the age of five. Ever since the day we found out about the breed ban, it was like a dark cloud hanging over our heads when we discussed our future and how Willa was going to fit into it. We knew that with my husband’s career – and with another 12 years before he can retire – the likelihood that we could avoid living on-post for all of that time was small.

And now that dreaded day has come. My husband received his next orders; he is set to deploy in a couple of months, after he moves us back to a different post in Kansas. This means that I will be moving to a new area, with no support, to take care of a house and raise three kids on my own for a year. There was no decision. We have to move on-post. After searching, we were lucky to find fantastic new owners for Willa in my hometown, which will allow us to visit her when we come to the area. This is little consolation to a 5-year old, a 2-year old…or their 30-something parents. Our hearts are broken.

As I was putting my kids to sleep the night before Willa was set to go to her new home, I was calm. Emotionally shut-down over the situation, made easier because it seemed like my kids were either oblivious to the situation (even though I tried to prepare them for months) or they just didn’t care. I was wrong. As soon as I mentioned dropping Willa off at her new house in the morning, the tears started pouring down their faces. My little girl started weeping “I don’t want to lose my dog!” over and over, tears drenching her blonde curls. I felt nauseous. I didn’t know what to say to a 2-year old who doesn’t understand what is going on in her life. She just moved from her familiar home, and now her dog is being taken from her? I then turned to talk to my son, to see if he was bothered by the conversation. His back was turned to me. I immediately knew that he too was crying, but didn’t want me to see his tears. Then my tears started.

I knew that I couldn’t explain this to my kids, but I tried. I started talking about breed bans (first having to explain breeds), and why some people agree with them. “Some people think that dogs that look like Willa can be mean and bite other people and dogs, so they ban them from living in Army cities,” I said. “But Willa isn’t mean and doesn’t bite,” my son replied. I was silent. He was right, and nothing I could say would make this fair. I then attempted to cheer him up and make his world feel a little more secure by saying “Just remember, no matter what, we have our family.” I knew mid-sentence that I shouldn’t have said it. He replied, sobbing, “but Willa is part of our family and we won’t have her.”

For the next hour, I held my kids as the three of us cried. They eventually fell asleep. I cried for a few more hours. The pain of losing Willa and seeing my adorable, sweet children with broken hearts at such young ages was more pain than I imagined. I am haunted by the faces of my distraught kids and their weeping voices.

My husband, my children, and I have made many sacrifices for the military, and have done so with pleasure; these sacrifices have been made for the love of our country. In the timespan of mere months, my children have moved across country, changed schools, and said goodbye to friends. But the loss of our friendly, playful, humorous, snuggling, PB&J snatching, constant companion is an unexpected, undeserved injustice – and is one sacrifice I will never forgive.

Filed under: BSL, Observations & Reflection | 3 Comments »

Post by ARLP PRIORITY Paws volunteer Laura

There are subtle and beautiful moments in one’s life when you find that all of your applied learning is useless in the face of experience. These points in my life are seen most frequently in my interactions with two of the most beautiful and complicated beings: dogs and teenagers, the latter of which I work with on a daily basis. Books upon books have been written about these two mysterious entities, many of which I have gobbled up with enthusiasm and excitement. Theories, statistical data, and analysis offer a glimpse into a world that continues to mystify even the most inquisitive and researched minds. Though I am grateful to those beautiful minds who have shared their profound knowledge with me, I often find my greatest lessons come when I least expect them. Turns out, I knew very little about teenagers until they were introduced to me by therapy dogs.

Mikko, PRIORITY Paws dog
Photo by Tara Engle Photography 

The word “teenager” strikes fear into the hearts of many. Teenagers represent an intense juxtaposition of every state of being. They are unpredictable yet expected, they are irrational yet so emotive, they are adventurous and so very fearful, they are adults yet still children. The complexities embodied by a single adolescent have forever caused the head of many a parent, teacher, guardian or mentor to bang against a wall. I have dedicated myself to work with some of the most difficult souls found in the sea of adolescent confusion. Every day I work with youth who struggle to navigate not only the deeply complicated reality of adolescence but also a lifetime of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Finding a way to connect with a young soul that has been forced to build a protective and impenetrable fortress is no small task – at least for a human.

Although caring and dedicated adults may face an uphill battle in helping and understanding these special youth, each week the therapy dogs of ARLP’s PRIORITY Paws program have wiggled their way into these teenagers’ souls effortlessly. To say that our dogs’ soft eyes, warm bodies, and thumping tails inspire me would be an understatement. Our therapy dogs remind me what it means to be a mentor, to be an educator, and most importantly to be a friend. Maybe it is because dogs are simply “better people” than most of us can ever hope to be. Through the eyes of our therapy dogs I am able to see so many hidden things my youth have kept within, things that my “human-ness” prevented me from seeing. Like our youth, many of our dogs have lived through unspeakable heartbreak and hardship. They inspire by example:

Our dogs are tenacious, they represent greatness.

Our dogs are battered and bruised, they represent resilience.

Our dogs are trusting and loyal, they represent forgiveness.

Our dogs give without expectation, they represent unconditional love.

Our dogs are survivors, they represent hope.

ARLP therapy dogs say so much by simply being, and their very being says so much more than my human words will ever say. It is this silence that speaks to the voice these youth have yet to find and it is this silence from which I learn the most.

Jana, PRIORITY Paws dog
Photo by Tara Engle Photography 

I wish I could say that I am now able to connect with these youth in the effortless way that the therapy dogs do but, unfortunately, I am only human.  What I can say is that I am learning more and more each and every week. I can say that I am able to listen to their knowledge more intently with every lesson. And if I am truly lucky, someday I will be as wise as a therapy dog.

Thank you to all the volunteers, dog handlers, and therapy dogs who continue to inspire me. If you want to know how much your time and energy means to our youth, just ask your therapy dogs…they know.

PRIORITY Paws dog Josie, with human handler Sara and teen

More updates about ARLP’s dogs and programs can be found on our Facebook page.

Filed under: ARLP Updates | 1 Comment »

One of the many things that we love about ARLP’s supporters is that they are truly part of the solution. ARLP’s volunteers, fosters, supporters, adopters, and friends, make nonstop contributions — in every imaginable sense of the word — to this organization and the dogs that we are looking out for. The love, support, and commitment of ARLP’s base have made long-dreamed-of plans come true in 2011, and we’ve seen our organization develop in ways we never imagined. This family continues to grow, and 2012 looks to be even better yet.

In 2011 we launched our Get your Fix! fairs, a mission made possible by generous donations and the hard work of countless individuals. These fairs resulted in 63 spays/neuters (plus numerous vouchers given to owners who were unable to attend a fair), 156 rabies vaccinations, 189 DHPP vaccinations, and 110 microchips for low-income communities of Rottweiler and pit bull owners in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Because of YOU, we were able to reach out to these communities and offer services that these dedicated pet owners would not have had access to otherwise.

Because of the success of this year’s fairs, we hope to raise enough funds to host five Get Your Fix! fairs in 2012, which would allow us to spay/neuter 125 dogs and vaccinate more than 250 dogs for rabies and DHPP. Moreover, it would continue to establish ARLP as a much-needed owner resource for the communities of east St. Paul and north Minneapolis. This means we must once again call on the ever-generous supporters of ARLP to, as they have done so many times in the past, be part of the solution.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, ARLP supporters will an opportunity like never before. On November 16 only, a generous anonymous donor has offered a matching grant of $4000 for ARLP to use on Give to the Max day. This means that if ARLP is able to raise $4000 on this day, the matching grant will provide the same, and $8000 will be raised for our 2012 Get Your Fix! fairs.

Here is how you can help:

• Give to the Max Day lasts from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 pm on November 16 — so donate as much as you can on November 16 to get those matching dollars! For example, if you donate $25, it is the equivalent to donating $50.
• Spread the word to your family and friends about why ARLP’s mission is so important to the breeds we love, and ask them to help by donating on November 16. We will be keeping everyone up-to-date on our Facebook page on November 16, which will make it easy for you to share this initiative with your contacts.
• Win a Golden Ticket! $1000 will be given to a random donor’s nonprofit every hour. You could be that donor! Traditionally, the least amount of donations are made between 12:01 am and 5:59am. If you’re a night owl or early riser, try to make your donation during this time to increase your odds of winning OR distribute your donations throughout the day for more opportunities to win – instead of a single $50 donation, spread it out over 5 hours in $10 increments. That gives you more opportunities to win $1000.

Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. ARLP is proud to be an all-volunteer, all-donation funded organization. We couldn’t do this without YOU.

On Wednesday, November 16, donate here: http://givemn.razoo.com/story/A-Rotta-Love-Plus

Filed under: ARLP Updates | No Comments »