Another New Member

Hello…My name is Rick and I reside in Zeus and Molly’s house in Lacey Washington. (outside of Olympia and part of the USA for those perhaps in other countries) The dogs allow me and the family to live there as long as we paid the bills and keep the treats buckets full. Both Molly and Zeus were rescues. Molly came at a time when our 15 year old lab was deemed too far gone with cancer. She had finished training as a seizure service dog and was awaiting the final adjustment training. However, the family didn’t want a part pitbull dog fearing it would eventually turn on the girl and attack, I suppose. Since she still belonged to the agency, we were asked to foster her for a few weeks while they explored the possibility of a new family. Anyone that EVER fostered a dog after a few days, knows it feels it found a home. It is cruel to remove them again. Within a month it became official they were cutting it loose. We could adopt it or send it back to wait on death row hoping for the best. Even though it was socialized and even knew a few tricks, it had already been rejected a few times and spent half of its life penned up But even I had reservations about how two females would get along and a 15 year old lab wouldn’t fare too well against a much younger blood thirsty killer. Ahem *I had little to fear. The madam of the house set down her rules in which the young pup was to abide. She hung on for over 18 months, about 17 more than expected, and she seemed to have a renewed spirit and purpose. In her later days. Molly tended to her and seem to watch over her. When her life seemed to become more minus than plus, we had her peacefully put down as Molly sniffed and looked at us. She understood, but she mourned, cried For the last year she knew what her job and responsibility was. She was lost!

A month later, we received a call about a truckload of dogs was being transferred from California. Many from a dog fighting operation that would need foster care. Molly was the senor matron now and wasn’t going to take no guff from this fresh punk. 3 days and you have a new dog. I didn’t know because of his past but I tend to believe no matter of their past, a dog deserves to have someone to love and in return be loved. He deserved a chance. Eventually it will learn to trust and deserves to be trusted. That took about an hour. He is a snuggle bunny and a love sponge that loves to cuddle. He WAS fearful and unsure at first. He adapted to the good life rather quickly. The two of them are almost inseparable I am not sure of his pedigree and really don’t care. My guess is mainly Stafford Bull Terrier but a dog couldn’t care less for a piece of paper to prove he is worthy of love. He is a pint-sized tank. I found between the both of them going in the same direction determined to get the squirrel, they can drag my 230 # carcass across asphalt. We had to repair a ACL issue. I don’t know if that was due to dog fighting or possibly a breeding issue. Within a week he was running and playing with other dogs at the park far from the cages and needing to fight for his life.

To someone that didn’t know better, they would think they were raised together. One needs to go outside, the other go out to make sure he or she is not interrupted by a disruptive squirrel or whatever. Although Zeus is just not going to use the dog door. He will just look at the door and bark. He also hates the pooper scooper service we hired to clean up. So he poops in the hedge and hides them so they won’t steal anymore of his poop. She will at times wait for him to get comfortable, go to the window and bark. (He is too short to look out without climbing on the chair or couch) She will then steal his warm comfortable spot while he is looking for whatever she was barking at. They have their own personalities. She like to sleep late while at 7 pm he is yawning and ready for us to turn on the mattress pad and my wife to go to bed. He is not picky, he will cuddle up next to whomever is ready for bed. He also hates closed doors, bathroom doors included. We either leave it cracked so he can peek in to check on us or he will bash into repeatedly until he breaks it down or knocked unconscious. It was he that warned us my oldest daughter had a Grand Mal while in the shower. I think Molly sensed it coming on, we just didn’t know her signs. He just barked and refused to stop until we came to see what was the issue. Every dog need to feel useful, so to them protecting us from threat..real or imaginary, from the UPS man to falling leaves they warn us like Jack the Ripper is at the door.

I have always had dogs. But, I am still learning, in many ways each is unique. While appearing to others Zeus is tough as nails, he is extremely sensitive. The only time I call them Pitbulls is when I want to educate people of their good points. There is no backing down with them and a stubborn and fearless breed. But there are so many other qualities people need to understand. They are so loving and eager to please. There is so much bad sentiment against this breed. Molly was socialized at a early age and everyone and every dog is her friend, Zeus is a different story. He came with some serious baggage. But he is getting better. He certainly hates rain, cold and prefers to live in air conditioned comfort. He lived in a crate and not going to get in one again if he can avoid it. The same with a muzzle. He prefers his life now. They blur the line on who rescued who.

I realize this is a bit wordy and I struggled to keep it short as it was. I also have some eye issues I am dealing with so excuse any miss spelling please. Grammar was never my forte' anyway. Feel free to shorten it and change words to make sense if you wish.

Hi & welcome to the forum

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Hiya and welcome from me and Vinne, wow what a story and well done you...... and your grammar is exquisite

Hi from me & Katy, great intro & congrats on being a failed foster. Can't wait to see pics

Hello and welcome from us.
What a couple of very different stories, both reunited in one well-deserved happy and forever home. Stories told with such sincerity, thank you.

Welcome from me and Misty. What a lovely story and it's so nice to hear of dogs getting their loving forever homes. They are beautiful dogs in your avatar. Sorry to hear about your Labrador x

Hi & Welcome to the forum from Flo and me

That really is a great intro. They really do have strong personalities, each one slightly different but you will find the rain thing a common trait. Thank you for giving two wonderful pups a loving home, they really aren’t as scary as they are made out to be.

Looking forward to hearing more about your two.

Thanks to all. You certainly made me feel welcome. My two hooligans are a big part of my life. Really the entire family. It appears they are the closest thing to grandchildren we have to spoil. Spoil them we do. We also have a house along the beach. We go to on most weekend to check on and spend time there during the summer. It is pretty secluded where they can run and try to catch sea gulls. They never do and I am not sure what they would do if they did. I guess it is a crime to harass them, but it would be more who is harassing who. I think it is 50/50. It is part of the Oyhut Wildlife Marine Reserve and have Black Tail Deer fluttering around like the protected ballerinas they are. You could walk up to them and hit them with a hammer. They just look at you like “I dare you” I think Molly thinks they are big dogs pooping in their yard, Zeus on the other hand gets the same excitement he has when he sees horses and cattle. I read where the breed came from farm dogs. Maybe he thinks he is supposed to stand guard and drive away predators. Nothing excites him as much as a herd of cattle or a few mules. He just shakes with excitement. Strange dog. Then there are the squirrels. They get into the garage, and will get into the house if they can and of course they are endangered as well as protected. (You are supposed to trap them in live cages and release them) Zeus and Molly can’t read and don’t like them. Molly will drive them away, Zeus on the other hand found a way to climb the wood pile, onto the work bench and somehow go airborne. If the squirrel can do it, so will he. He would’ve hurt himself. As it was I caught him mid flight and ended up with a herniated disc and a few months in a brace. Just one of the crazy things he does. He is a happy and adventurous dog. For some reason they never give the geese and domestic turkeys people released I think, a second glance. To them it is part of the ambiance. Like the skunks and bears maybe they know better than mess with them and barking at them is better from inside. Sometimes I think the breed is screwy, but never boring.

Ah, Squirrels are always a good chase. My girl has cornered one before but I swear I saw her tell it to climb the tree and gently nudge it along with her paw