Bad Dog

"Creature" The Hero Pitbull

Anyone who knows me knows one thing, Greek Girl loves animals, dogs in particular.  What else could explain how I ended up having five of them?  So it's not surprising to me when I see a story like the one I'm about to share with you.

Recently a Pitbull named "Creature" saved an elderly woman with Alzheimer's Disease in New Jersey.  The woman had wandered off, her daughter and son in law called the authorities.  They came in droves, and even had helicopter's aide in the search to find her.  They were having no luck at all.  Meanwhile an unsuspecting woman was walking her Pitbull "Creature" that evening.  Creature kept taking her back into the woods, she would try to leave and he would turn back leading her to the woods.  She came upon the elderly woman trying to get up, but every time she did the branches she was lying on would break and she would fall back down.

So heartwarming, and so special one might say.  Really it is not uncommon of a Pitbull at all.  Despite being the world's most misunderstood breed of dog, they are also immensely intelligent.  How do I know all this stuff about Pitbulls you might be wondering?  "Pitbulls and Paroles" on Animal Planet of course! ;D  Seriously though... I have rescued many a dog in my day (Pitbulls included) and all dogs are good dogs.  There are not "Bad Dogs", just bad people.

People who abuse, mistreat, neglect, do not spay/neuter, backyard breed, abandon, torture and do unthinkable things to animals.  I can not understand it, they are God's creatures.  All dogs want is to love us and to make us happy.  A safe place to sleep (preferably in our beds) lol, food in their little bellies, and love.  It's that simple.  Too many people view them as dispensable, and get rid of them if it becomes inconvenient.  Or they think maybe they can make a couple of bucks by breeding them.  Not realizing that those are not cupcakes.  Chances are not all the puppies in that litter will have a long happy life with the owner who bought it.  Many will end up in shelters, and that is why thousands upon thousands of dogs are euthanized every single day.

There are dogs living in the streets who have been discarded.  The cat situation is even worse.  The Ferrell cat problem is almost epidemic in some ares.  They are not vaccinated, not people friendly, and just breed out of control.  So many things like feline leukemia, feline aides, rabies, and a whole bunch of other things that are all preventable.

Not everyone has the patience to deal with a dog that has been abused.  Some you would never know they had been abused, they are so loving, like it never happened.  Yet others like my "Pepe" are so scarred, even after almost five months in a loving safe home he still does not fully trust and is afraid.  Our poor guy had his fang tooth knocked out, burns all over his back of his little body and weighed only 9 lbs when we took him in.  He's now a plump 14.5 - little chow hound.

It's not the dogs fault the people do bad things.  Just like it's not the Pitbulls fault they are bred to feed the disgusting industry of dog fighting, and are treated like garbage.  They are not "Bad Dogs".  Yes temperament and health issues can be passed along especially in backyard breeding.  But to label and entire breed of dogs "Bad" just because people have abused it for decades it not right at all.

Creature is a hero and just one example of the incredible Pit Bull.  Right now there are dogs in shelters across the country waiting to get a second chance.  Waiting for someone to love them.  My little "Pepe" is not a Pitbull, but I can tell you that when I see him sleeping on his side, doing his little exhale and in full relaxation.  My heart breaks a million times over for what he went through.  To see his little face light up when we go for a walk or in the car for bye bye, his life is changed forever.

Could you imagine someone abusing this little face?... Well they did.
I'd like to meet them in a dark alley. Just sayin.

I've rescued and helped place all kinds of dogs including Pitbulls and they are so special.  If anyone is thinking about a companion... before you shop, please won't you consider adoption?  There are rescue's all over the country, and all kinds of breeds, including mutts.  Visit www.petfinder.com, type in your zip code, what kind of pet you are looking for, and you are on your way to saving someone's life.

Blessings, Love & Music ~

Ava :D xox

www.avaaston.com

Here We Go Again

"Pepe" Day one, just after I shaved him down... he was a matted mess.

Most people who have read my blog for any length of time at all, or who follow me on facebook know I am an animal nut.  I swear there is some secret code in animal language that goes something like this... "If you are lost, lonely or hurt, go find that Ava lady.  She'll take you in."

It's funny, I was talking to my doctor the other day and I mentioned that I sometimes do animal rescue.  He replied "Oh, so does that mean you wrangle them?"  I had to laugh... my reply: "Oh yeah I wrangle them all right."  Flashback about eight years ago in Los Angeles with my then boyfriend now husband got caught up in that very thing.  Now, picture this, we're driving down Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Hollywood and a little dog darts out in front of us.  He's not wearing a collar and this proceeds to go on for a bit.  Of course I pull over and do what else? Proceed to wrangle him.  Turns out, another couple had pulled over as well and had been trying to save the little guy for about an hour.  In comes Greek Girl (I'm like the dog whisperer Cezar Milan, only I do it in Greek.)

Long story short, after two hours and a lot of coaxing, we got him.  Wrapped him up in a blanket and took him to the vet.  He was a very cute little Chihuahua Mix.  I would have kept him, however he was twice the size of my #1 Pekingese Princess "Pookie" & my Maltese "Itty Bitty" who only weighs 4lbs soaking wet.  So I found the little guy a sanctuary in the valley, where they try to place the dogs.  However if they are not able, they can stay forever.

There have been a good number of dog wrangling episodes since then, most recently "Rufus" the Pug on a trip to Florida.  The fur-babies had just gotten over their torture of another dog coming into their home when their momma Ava aka "Dog Wrangler" hears about a little Pekingese in the kill shelter in NYC.  The lady who runs the local Pekingese Rescue where my fur-baby "BoBo" came from contacted me.  See she has an agreement with shelters, if they get a Pekingese in, they contact her.  Well she was all full, and wondered if I could go get him and foster him.  What could I say?  Well it's 3 hours before the first Presidential debate (ov vey) I say "Sure no problem".  So off to Harlem I go to Animal Care and Control to rescue "Prince", which has been changed to "Pepe".

Not really sure what his story is... because people are crazy.  You never really know if anything they say on the intake forms is true in a surrender case.  Supposedly they had him eight years...  moved someplace that didn't allow pets and had to give him away.  Greek Girl isn't buying it.  First off, that is just not an excuse.  I would live in a box on the street homeless if I had to in order to keep my dogs.  If I had to move, I would never move where they do not allow animals.

What most people don't realize is that when you make a comittment to an animal, it is for life.  Not for fun until you get bored.  Because then people like me have to come in and clean up the mess.  Dogs and cats give unconditional love.  All they want is a safe, quiet place to lay down and to love us.  They need us.

So this dog "Pepe" he is like a puppy... and not neutered.  Nothing makes me madder.  When he went to the vet the next day to be neutered, the vet said he is about 6 at most.  Anyway he was neutered, all checked over and back at the Aston house for just about a week now.  He has recovered from his trip to the vet.  Not sure how long it's going to take to get him to chill out.  If he starts to fit in with my little pack, he is welcome to stay.  However if he keeps acting like Kujo out of nowhere, he will have to be adopted out by the Rescue.  Plus my 4 fur-babies are really not cooperating.  It's like they have not decided yet if they are going to let him into the club.  They all keep giving me the "When is he leaving mom?" glare.

See... the other Pekingese will not even let him on the bed with them. Meanies.

It sure has been a fun filled week, although I have spent most of my time seeing what it's like to be a vet tech.  He is on antibiotics from getting Kennel Cough from the shelter, all my four are on different medicine from getting Kennel cough from him.  I have to give them all different medicine.  Pepe 2 times, and my other four fur-babies get their medicine 3 times a day, and they all get cough medicine 2 x's a day. Add that to the trips to potty, and special meals I whip up for them all, it is a wonder I have any time to do any music, or workout for that matter.  It's a good thing I like coffee...

After 10 Days in the Aston House...

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D xox
www.avaaston.com

Turning a Blind Eye

It breaks my heart to know she was all alone.                                                   How could anyone walk by a helpless hurting creature and not do something... 

Life, it's the most amazing gift we are all blessed with.  Each and every day we are faced with choices, these choices help define us.  As little or as big as these choices may seem in the little moments, they effect us.  It can be something as simple as if we decide to floss every day or if we will marry that special person or take a chance on a lifelong dream. 

We make hundreds of choices like this every single day.  The question is will we make the right choice when faced with something that otherwise might seem like a burden?  Will we make a choice to assume someone else will take care of that problem?  Or are we going to stop for a moment and realize that sometimes God the maker of all things puts something in our path for a reason, maybe to test us, or to see where our compass is, or how we are going to react when faced with the uncomfortable choices.  Choices like, will I swallow my pride and apologize to that person I held a grudge against when I cross their path two years later.  Or will I offer to walk with an elderly women I don’t even know across a street instead of making it home in time to watch the game.  Or what about when you arrive at a dumpster and find an abandoned dog who is covered in dirt, full of fleas and matted hair.  Will you just turn a blind eye and hope someone else will be inconvenienced or will you take that moment to realize, “this dog is here for me to care for.  This dog is created by God and is suffering.  Maybe God put this dog here so I can care for it and find it a better home.”  Or will you turn a blind eye on this blind dog?

I ask because many of you know the Greek Girl loves & adores animals.  There are very few things that upset me more than to see something so heartbreaking happen to a helpless animal.  Some people argue that they are just animals and it doesn’t matter.  But I have to argue that God made that dog for a reason.  That dog is His creation and the decision to walk by and ignore it is an expression of your character and God sees everything we do.

What are you talking about Greek Girl, that is nonsense?  I am a good person and I just don’t like dogs or am afraid of them.  Someone else who is better suited to care for them will come along and help!  Sorry, but you can’t be more wrong.  It’s like the clerk behind the counter who is working three jobs to support her family and is not smiling because everyone is mean to her.  Then you come up and have a choice to be mean and dismissive or offer her a smile that can brighten her day.  Or the man you are angry with that is in the waiting area allowing his kids to run around crazy may just be oblivious because it’s the only way he can allow his kids to deal with their dying mom in the hospital.  You see things aren't always what they seem, and how we chose to react matters. 

I bring all of this up because I was moved to tears when I learned about Fiona.  Fiona is a sweet and amazing girl.  She is a precious creation of God’s and she was abandoned in a dumpster.  Two amazing people gave their time and money to help her in her time of need.  When they found Fiona she was dark gray and covered in matted hair with a terrible flea infestation.  Not only that but she was 100% blind in both eyes.  Now because two people were willing to be inconvenienced they were able to give this little girl a new life, and a new beginning.  It’s kind of like how God sees us.  He sees us as lost in a dark and cold world.  So He sent his one and only Son to die for us in order to give us life and salvation.  Yet so often so many are left in the wilderness like Fiona, until one day you may come across that lost soul and help bring them up out of life’s dumpster.  The amazing thing is the vet was able to bring back her sight in one eye.  Just like Fiona and God’s children we too were once blind but now we can see.  So why is it so many of us don’t see what God is trying to do when God puts life’s Fiona's in our path? 

Fiona once was blind and now she can see because someone didn’t turn a blind eye.  Because someone took the time to do something.  Please watch this amazing story about the beauty and the love expressed in a simple act of selfless sacrifice by this amazing couple who took the time to help.  After you watch this video please take the time to learn more about Audrey and Eldad Hagar, their organization and what they are doing to help God's hurting creatures.

 http://www.hopeforpaws.org/

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com