The Pit Bull Howls

I am reading a book in my bedroom with my own dogs, a firetruck goes by, and I hear a low howl from the other room.  Belize is a howler!  She only did it twice and both times were subdued, quiet songs.  Ador-a-bull.  I have begun to leave her out of the crate and in her very own bedroom.  So far so good.  We have not had any accidents, and she seems to only be chewing on her toys.  She also seems much happier and less anxious when I get home.  I had to try something because she was rubbing her little face off on the bars of the crate.  She has a rather large number of dog beds in there and a lazy boy.  She is living the life.  I am so glad she came into my life before it got too cold.  Now, if you will just adopt her into your family so that she does not have to sleep alone!
mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

Spay Day!

She may look a little sad now, but her life has been greatly improved by one simple surgery.  It may cost a little bit of money, and it may be slightly heartbreaking when you first get your baby home, but it is the right thing to do.  It is a simple, commonly done surgery that many vets are very experienced in doing.  This girl will never have to endure labor and losing her puppies---particularly when 499 of 500 pit bulls are put down in the US every year.  She will not get ovarian or uterine cancers later in life.  Her new owners will not have to deal with the mess of heat cycles and inconvenient bleeding.  She will be happier and better behaved now that mating is not one of her number one focuses.  She will, therefore, be less likely to wander from home.  Shall I go on?  At my house, Spay Day is one of the most important days in a dog's life!  I love you, Belize, and now you are one step closer to getting that loving home you have always deserved.

Weekend is Almost Over

Belize is sad that my weekend is almost over.  That means there is less time for adventure and intrigue!  Every day is a chance to experience something new.  Today, we did yard work, which may not be exciting for me and you, but she seemed to enjoy the time romping around with me in the backyard and smelling newly uncovered scents.

Now, She did think the rake was slightly alarming, though okay after further inspection.  The leaf blowing monster, however, was a true horror.  I let her hang out inside when I was using that beast.  The first time I turned it on she tried to hide in a faraway leaf pile, and I had trouble finding her.  I thought she might be lost for good!

So Much to be Thankful For...

When I got off work today, I scooped Belize up and we made the 45 minute drive to my Aunt's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  I did not know if it was too much too soon, but I did not want to leave her crated all day either.  We decided that if it was overwhelming we could give her a quiet room to herself while the family hung out.  There was absolutely no need to worry!  She was in heaven.

 

I was under the impression there would only be one, very laid back, dog there, but there were multiple.  Belize did great.  No one ran around and played, but they kindly shared the space, water, attention, and occasional treats.  One little chihuahua was not happy to see another larger dog and would nip at Belize's face.  It did not make her happy, but she handled it very well and was able to continue being around the adorable, lovable, little brat.  She was supervised closely, but I was so very proud of her.

 

 

 

 

She loved the human family, and she quickly became bonded with the youngest one there.  He was in love with her too, and it was amazing to watch them interact.

 

 

 

She did "steal" some food from my grandmother, which is not cool.  At my house, she does not get any human food or table scraps, but she got a lot tonight so I am going to need to make sure to get her back on the right training path.  My family could not resist slipping her tasty morsels here and there.  My cousin caught this picture.    I know it is terrible, but I couldn't help but smile in the end anyway.  I thought, in many ways, it was more important for her to have so many positive experiences with so many people of different ages.  She seemed so happy---though she may not be now.  She was very gassy on the way home!  Tonight was not a big training night, but it was an awesome night none the less.

 

 

 

 

 

Belize slept hard on the way home, and I think I will sleep well tonight too.  It is going to be really hard to let this girl go, but I know that she cannot have the life she deserves with me so I am reluctantly putting her up for adoption.  Please share her story with your friends!

mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

 



Something New Everyday

I cannot believe how quickly Belize picks up on learning new things.  She is really a joy to be around.  She loves to be pet and sits eagerly waiting for your attention if you ask her to, and she is quite content to sleep, curled up in a ball, while you read a book.

As far as her crating goes.  If you have read previous entries, you know it is not her favorite thing.  She gets better everyday.  She only whines for a minute or two before settling in and going to sleep.  She had a bath yesterday, and now she is fresh and ready to go home with some loving family.

She was a little nervous, but she liked the part where I massaged the shampoo into her coat.  Even though it is not her favorite thing it was not difficult to do.  She is such a good girl!  We even cleaned out her ears and trimmed her nails.  She has no problem being handled.  I think she is just glad for the extra attention.

In conclusion, this is what you are getting if you adopt Belize:

• A loyal companion for life.
• A dog that loves car rides and sleeps peacefully in the backseat.
• A smart dog that is eager to learn new things.
• A dog that loves all people and wants nothing more than to be with them.
• A dog that is fully vetted and healthy.
• YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND

Shall I go on?

Adopt Belize today!  She is in desperate need of a home, and she obviously deserves one.
mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

Belize Helps Me Clean

This little peanut wanted to be a part of the action all day.  I cannot wait until I put a little more weight on her and give her vaccinations some more time to kick in so I can start taking her out with me to have some real fun!  In the meantime, she helped me clean.  We found this little Santa hat.  I have no idea where it came from, but she thought it was a toy.  She was particularly invested in organizing the hall closet.

 

Then we had to sort out her room.

 

 

 

Excuse the mess in the background.  I have a book problem I am trying to work out.  I put a bunch of fluffy beds and an assortment of toys in her crate.  All that is needed now, is a blanket to cover it and some water, but Belize is quite clearly telling me that she would rather not be crated at all.  She is getting much better about it.  When I first got her, you would not believe the tantrums she threw.  I can now get her to walk in by saying "in your crate" and, while she howls and throws a fit at first, she does calm down and fall asleep.  As long as she does not have to be in it too long, she is practically perfect.  She needs to go home with someone who does not crate or who will not leave her in there too long (she is fine while I am at work--I am full-time).  She no longer has accidents in her crate and seeks it out for security now, though she is not in need of security often.  She seems pretty comfortable.

 

She mostly lounges around, while I blog and plot her adoption.  She loves attention and enjoys walks around the yard.  She enjoys toys from time to time, but she is not obsessed with them.  Same with treats.  She picks up on training quickly, and she already knows sit and down.  We are working on leave it.  When she first gets out of her crate/meets new people she jumps and, unfortunately, nips a bit, but she is already learning that it does not pay off.  Several trainers have suggested that she just has not had the chance to learn manners, and they have given me great tips on how to help her learn.  Like a fish to water.  She stops doing all of that mess quickly, and I am sure we will be able to be able to put a stop to it quickly.  In a home where she did not have to be rotated in and out for attention, I do not think it would be a problem at all.

 

 

She loves car rides, and she just lays down from point A to point B without any problems.  She has met four other dogs and has done will with them.  One of the dogs she met was unsure of her and so she was unsure of her too, but they both handled it by having repeated, curious greetings.  It seems to me like she just needs some guidance and positive interactions to feel good with others.  The other three more laid back dogs were very exciting for her.

 

 

 

She has a healthy appetite, and she is putting on much needed weight, but she has no problem with me taking away her food.  She would rather have my attention anyway.

 

I have only had this beautiful girl 8 days, and she has already proven herself to be a wonderful, loyal, and loving companion for some lucky person.  If you or anyone you know is interested in adopting this baby please contact me right away.  Please cross-post and share.  Belize needs your continued help and dedication.

mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

(770)374-1338

Get the Word out!

Please help me post these flyers in public areas!  Even if you can only do two.  I can send you the file or I can print some up for you.  I would be glad to hand em over or to mail them.  I could really use the help of my community, friends, and family!

Day 1 and 2

Meet Belize!  I just met her yesterday--in my driveway.  She is not the first starving pit bull to show up and when I saw her I was filled with dismay.  I felt completely hopeless, but I took her inside, got her some food, and started trying to formulate a plan.

 

 

Animal Control is overrun with dogs, and pit bulls are being euthanized in extremely high numbers.  All the no-kill shelters are full, as are the pit bull rescues.

 

Belize appears to be around 8-10 months old.  She was covered in fleas when I found her, but she has since been given a Capstar to kill them off and has been put on Revolution.

 

She has had her first set of shots (DHLPP/C, Bordatella, Rabies) and has tested negative for heartworms!  She has also been dewormed.  As you can see above, she loves riding in the car!

 

Help me find this girl a family by spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter, talking to your friends and family.  There is no way I can keep this girl longterm, but I can get her healthy and ready to love you for the rest of her life.

mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

(770)374-1338