the girl with too many animals...

So I inherited some sort of a soft spot for four-legged friends and can't seem to stop myself from picking up animals off the side of the road (or those that accidently walk through my yard and look hungry and in need of loving). As such - I have never needed to go to the shelter to find a pet - they just find me. It has been a blessing (had lots of great pets) and perhaps a curse all at the same time. First Muffin (the awesome cat), Grain (the one we stole from a neighbor), Pooh (the ghetto kitty), and then Oreo (the mangy nasty rat turned fluffy enlarged papillon). All great friends. Pooh and Oreo are still with me and are the loves of my life. All has been in balance in the world of happy rockgirl animals.....

Then.....Halloween 08 comes along and then enters Big. Big was a pit-bull mix who appeared to be either playing real-life frogger or maybe just attempting suicide in the street on my way to work the morning of Halloween. I see him at the 4-way and feel bad that this dog has somehow gotten loose and seems to be lost. Then, for whatever reason -- perhaps fate -- he starts chasing down my car. It was as though he saw some sort of hidden sticker on the back of my car (the one that says "SUCKER FOR ANIMALS-FOLLOW ME." That is how Oreo hitched a ride, as well.

So I can't let a suicidal frogger dog just end up road kill after having made eye contact and the poor thing entering my sub-conscience. Stupid mind. I pick the poor fellow up and bring him home to my basement where I diligently make flyers and spread them around in hopes of his owners come rescue him and love him forever. I knew it wouldn't happen. The poor thing had a choker collar on and was very malnurished.

A month later I gave up and started posting ads for him on websites and at work - trying to find someone with a big heart to take this poor pup and love and care for him. My roommate, conveniently, is in vet school and got him fixed, chipped, up-to-date on all shots, etc. We brought him into the house and he became our foster friend. For the lack of creativity - we named him after his enormous and very muscular head -- Big. Short for Big head. If you have to ask at this point why I would name a dog big -- you obviously missed the previous pet names that should pretty much sum up the fact that I completely lack creativity when thinking up names. If I ever have children - I might name them Baby Slime or Super Melon. I think thats the reason why perhaps I should not have them.

Anywho-where am i going with this jabber? Big was a joy to house train. It was 3 months into this when we realized it was time to attempt a crate. It was too much for my stomach to come home to the site of this:

But all of this I have decided was a chance for me to learn patience. Tolerance. I've been reading about it for a long time and this presented an opportunity to practice. Meditation and deep breathing can get you to a point - but at some point you have to try it on in the real world.

And what better way then by having your house destroyed?

But all this aside. Our patience prevailed. We didn't give up on the little bugger. We continued to work with him.

So Big has been with us now for 5 months. He is potty trained, crate trained, and the sweetest, most lovable dog in the world. He gives hugs, cuddles in bed with you, and now when I come home I see this:

Its a sweet site.