Pit Bull Spotlight: Bud
In 1903, the first people to cross the United States in a car were Horatio Jackson and his assistant Sewall Crocker. Accompanying them was Jackson’s pit bull Bud who became the first dog to cross America in the Winton Vermont automobile. Bud’s specially made driving goggles reside in the Smithsonian today.
WOOF symptoms that suggest something is wrong with dog’s ears: red, irritated, wax buildup, discharge, foul smell, head shaking, paw licking
By Cesar Millan
My sons grew up with Pit bulls. There was a lot of prejudice against Pit bulls back then just as there is today, and I can remember them getting asked what they thought about Pit bulls. They wouldn’t know how to respond to that question. Because my kids just like all children don’t think along the lines of breed. “Breedism” is something that society pushes on them later in life.
I have pictures of Andre with his bottle lying down on Daddy. The first time he played with water in a bucket, he was surrounded by 20 dogs, dogs jumping over him, water everywhere. They were having fun playing outside getting each other wet. To my kids, Daddy was a buddy to play with, a pillow to lie down on for comfort, a patient friend who always understood them.
Daddy was incredibly in touch with all of the members of the household. When someone wasn’t feeling well, he could sense it before entering the house and he would slow down to let me know. He knew the difference between adults and kids and was much more patient and tolerant with the kids, almost like a grandpa. That’s how my children saw him—as a proud and understanding friend to them. Daddy did so much to enrich my life and the lives of my kids.
So when I hear stories about parents wanting to separate their children from Pit bulls, it makes me sad for the kids. There are children with disabilities who would rather read to a dog than their own parents. Whereas the parent sees a child with a disability, the dog only sees the necessity of what the child needs: to be accepted. The separation also makes me sad for the dogs since it prevents them from showing their other side as service dogs.
What kind of message does it send to our kids when we say “we love dogs” but then reject certain breeds of dogs? Just as I wouldn’t want my sons to be seen wrongly because they’re Mexicans, I wouldn’t want my dog to be seen wrongly because he’s a Pit bull. I want people to evaluate them based on the actions they take and what they do for society—not what their breed or race attaches to them.
We never taste a perfect joy; our happiest successes are mixed with sadness
Most dogs don’t like to be left alone so they howl. Leave the radio or television on to keep your dog company when you are away.
Stubby was the most decorated dog of World War I. He was adopted by Private J. Robert Conroy and became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry, Yankee Division. He learned a lot about military life including bugle calls and how to execute a salute with his paw. He was smuggled to France when his owner shipped out and allowed to stay when the commanding officer saw him salute.
After surviving exposure to gas, Stubby became invaluable as he had learned to recognize the scent and alert the human soldiers to its presence. He also could recognize English and was able to locate wounded soldiers and alert paramedics. He also was credited with capturing a German spy, who he tripped and attacked until American soldiers took him prisoner.
Stubby was wounded by a grenade and was sent to a Red Cross hospital, where upon his recovery, he became a therapy dog, comforting other soldiers. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant and received many medals, and became the first dog to be received by a sitting president, Woodrow Wilson. He later followed his master to Georgetown and became the Hoyas mascot.
- Hope Marrington Molb
What would I do without you
My precious, furry friend?…
Part mischief, but all blessing,
And faithful to the end!
You look at me with eyes of love:
You never hold a grudge…
You think I’m far too wonderful
To criticize or judge.
It seems your greatest joy in life
Is being close to me…
I think God knew how comforting
Your warm, soft fur would be.
I know you think your human,
But I’m glad it isn’t true…
The world would be a nicer place
If folks we’re more like you!
A few short years is all we have:
One day we’ll have to part…
But you my pet, will always have
A place within my heart.
- Hope Marrington Molb
Painted by Vicki Wolff
Young puppies are prone to chewing on their owners belongings. You can address this problem by immediately stopping your puppy if he chews an inappropriate item, and instead give him toys he is allowed to chew. Praise your dog anytime you finding him chewing a permitted toy. Remaining consistent with this training method can save your favorite furniture or pair of shoes.
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From the 1940s to the 1980s, huge amounts of copper were mined in Montana for
use in the U.S.’s nuclear arsenal. Despite efforts to disarm—President
Obama won a Nobel Prize for his work on this issue—thousands of miles of
copper cable, used to connect nuclear missiles in the Midwest to military command
centers, is still buried in American soil. That’s because the U.S. continues
to maintain a sizable nuclear arsenal: 2,468 active warheads at last count, with a
further 7,000 “inactive” ones in reserve. As a way of counteracting
this huge weapons cache, From War To Peace digs up the copper cabling, recycles it
to its pure state, makes it into an alloy known as Peace Bronze™, and then
fashions it into jewelry that promotes peace. To further underscore its commitment
to disarmament, From War To Peace donates a minimum of 20 percent of its profits to
peace and social justice organizations. One weapon and one piece of jewelry at a
time, they’re making world peace a reality.
