To be 18 again...

It is a bit of a stretch to say the weather was warmer when it hit a frosty 18 degrees during our walk, but it was an improvement over some of the past few days when even the dogs were in no great hurry to spend anymore time outdoors than they absolutely had to.

As the pits seemed to becoming adjusted to lives as couch potatoes, a walk was a priority today. I am always amazed at how the bare canopy in the forest reveals so many disconnected lines, branches not attached to anything, trees that end several feet from the ground. I always keep that in mind on windy days.

The dogs were impatient and anxious to be on their way.

I was glad the snow slowed them down a bit so I could shoot a few pictures to remember the snows of January.

The winds have almost stripped the forest clean and only the most entrapped leaves remain.

All along the trail there were little burrows dug beneath the snow.

The snow has never lasted for so long and so deep for these little hidie holes to become abundant.

The trail is worn down in a narrow track by the deer and other animals which makes walking difficult. I have to walk one foot in front of the other, much like the original peoples who once followed these trails in search of deer.

The sound of chickadees can now be heard in the forest and the faint sounds of woodpeckers in a neverending quest for grubs hidden in the trees.

All along the trail, strange signs and portents written in a language I cannot translate.

The lake is frozen solid and strange tracks run along the shorelines that look as though the rabbits have been out cross country skiing.

The dogs instinctively avoid the ice beyond the shoreline. The middle of the lake has no tracks...perhaps the animals know when the ice is safe or not.

Domino has no trouble with footing as he careens down the steeper trail only to disappear up some sheer climb in search of doggy adventures.

The only thing growing in the forest right now is the ever resilient lichen.

We were soon all frozen and I had to stop every minute or so to thaw out my fingers. The temperatures seemed to drop with the sun.

The rays of the setting sun lit small areas of the forest with a red light.

Domino wasn't the only one enjoying mad dashes through the snow, Charm gave it her best shot.

Overhead the light began to stream beyond the trees and we all hurried to catch it.

And finally were able to catch my favorite shot of the day.

The dogs were pleased with an outing and Domino thanked me several times in "bully" language which consists of happy grunts and gracious kisses. I don't think there is a moment that goes by that I am not so pleased with my "unwanted shelter dogs". They are really a great pair of dogs. They are such a pleasure to live with. Days like today remind me that any dog you choose to take a chance on can be a great dog...you just have to take the time and energy to be a good owner. I just love my pits!

Snow and the Littlest Pit Bull

It's another lovely day in Wisconsin with wind chills dropping our temperatures well below zero and lots of snow shoveling to keep me occupied.

So even though the sun was out, I was not even a little bit tempted to venture out for too long.

Puffs and puffs of drifts were soon cleared away and the cold had teeth.

So we were stuck having the deal with Fable, The Littlest Pit Bull.

Colors of Winter

No matter how busy one is, sometimes living is more important than the perpetual "to do" list. The sun came out and despite some nippy temperatures, we were out in it.

Domino whined in the car the whole way, twitching the way Domino does when he is anxious to be out.

But after all the miserable weather we have been having, I didn't blame him much for wanting to be out. Everything in perspective, so to speak.

The trail had the consistency of walking through deep sand and it wore all of us out. We lost sense of distance quickly.

Fresh air and sunshine wiped away the cold for a long while and doggy grins agreed.

The snow had become crystals whose edges melted in the reflected sunlight.

The forest has that ragged appearance with deadfall and bark stripped away by the winter storms.

The few enduring leaves of fall glow in the sun, their skins like satin.

The forest has revealed all the nests once hidden by the canopy.

And strange still-lifes hang suspended in unusual places.

The dogs stop a moment to try to locate the source of a woodpecker's knocking.

So I linger a moment listening and snap photos of the odd little flowers formed by the fallen seeds.

Until I finally pinpoint which tree the woodpecker is in.

We meander off on our walk and my camera cannot capture the immense size of the trees.

We finally reach the lake which is covered with snow and deer tracks.

We are all worn out by then and even Domino walks in my footsteps for awhile.

The lake pools the sunlight which is dropping from the forest too quickly.

We continue on around, stopping to check deer beds along the edge and the dogs listen to my warnings about the ice.

Everywhere winter has sculpted whimsical shapes and caps of snow.

And painted things in colors none of us could put together.

No art class ever taught shape and movement as well as nature.

Is it all in the simplicity or all in the complexity?

Maybe nature is all about situational art...moments where things come to rest precariously.

Masterpieces of one moment, memories in the next.

Or maybe it is merely art in motion.

Whatever the case may be...I think it energizes the soul and brings so much joy to hearts...I can think of no better cure for whatever ails you.

So with fingers numb from the cold and the dogs looking forward to a warm car ride home, I realized how amazing that taking time to be out in nature just revitalizes my outlook like nothing else can. It's like there is something in the air in a forest that seeps into you and lingers long after you leave it behind.

BSL Comes to Oshkosh - One Step at a Time

Yesterday I was off to Petco for my bi-weekly shopping trip. The Petco trainer spotted me and said there was a dog I should stop and say hi to...of course a pit bull. Well, you know, when I approach a pit bull I never ask if they are friendly or not...pit bull lovers know 1) pit bulls are friendly and 2) pit bulls are easy to read (that wiggle butt sort of gives them away).

So I met this gorgeous red pit bull who happened to be a major dock diving competitor and I asked the owners about how the new pit bull ordinances in Oshkosh were impacting them. How strange it is that if you get two pit owners together the conversation does seem to tend to drift in that direction.

Recently Oshkosh passed a law requiring special licensing for pit bull and mastiff type dogs (yeah, I know, pretty weird). But it seems they don't plan on stopping there...it's just step one in a plan to implement a whole range of restrictions aimed solely at these types of dogs. And oddly enough it all seems to stem from the Oshkosh Police Department's desire to have dogs banned from taverns...(yep, getting weirder). I have to wonder what tavern in Oshkosh has what pit bull mastiff type dog which has spawned such a far-reaching law?

Anyways, today I sent off a letter to all members of the city council involved in the committee debating issues like mandatory muzzling of pit bulls, etc., and thought I would share it with my fellow pit bull loving friends. Partly because I had mistakenly thought we had too many pit bulls here for BSL to hit so close to home and partly because you too will be looking down the barrels of the BSL gun one day.

There ought to be some sort of legal recourse for the sleepless nights I have; dreaming of police cars surrounding my home and demanding I turn over Charm and Domino, some sort of legal relief for emotional trauma. And maybe some compensation for all the extra hours of going above and beyond to make sure my dogs don't act like other dogs...you know, running and playing and barking and just regular dog stuff, in case someone might mistake happy bully grin for fearsome attack. But, unfortunately, legal recourse seems to be limited to letter writing...so here's mine:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing as a very concerned citizen regarding the proposed restrictions on pit bull type dogs. I am a resident of Berlin but I have a very personal stake in Oshkosh's actions concerning pit bulls. I own two pit bull dogs which I rescued.

My dogs go to school in Oshkosh. That's right. Last summer, between the two of them, they completed 30 weeks of training in Oshkosh. We are looking forward to another year of attending Oshkosh Dog Schools. They completed all of their obedience in Oshkosh. One of my dogs is continuing on in second level agility and one of my dogs will be starting beginning agility. I put the time and energy into my dogs so that they are well socialized with other people and dogs of all types.

I often wonder how many people take the time to really work with their dogs, but because I care about my pit bulls and require them to be outstanding citizens, I take the time. Is it really fair to single out a type of dog rather than looking at dog owner responsibility?

I also shop in Oshkosh for my dogs. Every two weeks I make the trip to Petco to buy food, toys, etc., because of Petco's friendly welcome to pit bull dogs. My dogs took their very first obedience classes there and are welcome visitors. Petco employees often joke that I keep them in business!

My pit bull, Domino, participated in the Shelter Trek raising money for the Oshkosh Humane Society. Domino played with everything from tiny little dogs to big dogs and was a great breed ambassador.

I feel that singling out people like me who obviously go above and beyond when it comes to our dogs is so beyond unfair. I myself spend time each day promoting responsible dog ownership and urge ALL owners of powerful breeds to be hyper-responsible with their dogs.

Until I owned pit bulls, I would never have believed how truly loving and gentle they can be. I only heard about the media side. But I took the time and effort to understand that these are highly intelligent dogs which require an active lifestyle and too often they are misunderstood. Now that I have shared my life with them, I can't imagine it without them.

Please reconsider targeting types of dogs and consider a comprehensive Dangerous Dog Ordinance which addresses irresponsible ownership of any type of dog. Statistically, golden retrievers and black labs are the most likely to bite. If the intention is to protect the public, singling out pit bulls is shifting the focus away from the problem and is leaving the public unprotected from the type of dog owners who should be held accountable for their actions.

Sincerely,
Responsible owner of Charm and Domino, pit bulls

Happy New Year!

People sometimes raise their eyebrows over my crew...there's always that..."You have enough now, right?" When I think back over the course of the year, many of my absolute best memories are of the ways rescue animals have touched my life and the lives of others.

There's the transports and the amazing feeling of being on the road with canine travelers ecstatic at the sight of the open road and freedom. The teary farewells at their destinations. And the joy of hearing about their new lives in new homes.

There's all the rescuers putting forth amazing effort to save just "one more" and the successes and heart aches that go along with it.

There's the advocates who have put it all out there to add their voices to what has become a loud and determined voice to speak for those who cannot.

How can I not view the high points of my year without my own rescue stories? All the scrambling and excitement of bringing Domino from his rescue in NY to Wisconsin. Watching him bloom into the happy, healthy, confident dog he is today. And how amazing to have him at the Shelter Trek, raising money for other homeless dogs! Life without Domino? Unimaginable.

Of course, there was the summer of agility with rescue dog, Charm. Surrounded by purebreds, she proved that shelter dogs can hold their own, even if they are pit bulls.

Aw, and last but not least, little shelter cat, Fable. At under a pound, this tiny little orphaned feral girl was fortunate to end up at the shelter...and now she is a very beloved member of my crew.

My own crew are reminders that it does matter to that one life when we step up to the plate. For all those who say, why bother, there are too many to help...I must say I am so glad that there are people who do not turn away. My thanks to everyone who does their part, by donating time, money, resources or just getting it out there for the world to see. We can't save them all, but together we make a difference.

Thank you to Kathi for putting this great video together! Look at the faces of some of those who were saved in 2008. With the help of everyone, maybe we can make a bigger difference in 2009! (Thanks Maria for passing this on.)

Always the promise...

There is only so much we can take of Fable's misadventures sometimes...

So dogs and I left Fable in the capable hands of the feline crew to venture out on a rather blustery day.

Where dreary skies and a brisk wind did not do too much to dampen the joy of being outdoors.

Colors melt into the muted stark tones of January.

And summer is only captured in the potential it has left behind.

The stone reigns supreme over the forest which sleeps under its covering of snow.

And black and white counterpoints provide color.

Even as the forest sleeps, the dogs bring their own joy to it.

Domino enjoys his snow outings as much as any arctic breed.

Tackling the drifts with the same gusto as any husky.

There is no trail too untraveled for Domino!

He even checked out the boat which is now resting on a lake of ice.

We all trekked up a trail we rarely travel, following a path kept clear by the deer.

The forest quiet and still except for the wind.

Small caves of snow beneath the fallen trees.

The wind has scattered debris here and there throughout the forest.

In the midst of winter, the forest still sends forth buds in a quiet premonition of the coming spring, spurred by the lengthening days.

This trail, rarely traveled, always startles me as the tombstones appear through the trees.

It is a trail which is often overgrown and thorny except in the deepest part of winter.

Domino explores the cliff trails while we wander. We ask Domino if he is indeed, a goat, because he explores heart-stopping heights without concern.

He stays much closer these days, and at times is by my side. My protector, I call him. Sometimes it takes time for that bond to settle in and it has.

The view makes the hike worthwhile.

And even Charm takes some moments to enjoy it.

Not a sign of movement have we seen. But the grubs who dine under the bark and the holes left behind by the herds of woodpeckers who frequent the forest give away some of the forest's secret life.

Sometimes gloomy days only appear gloomy from indoors, but venturing out brushes away the gloom completely.