Block Headed Bully Love: Pit Bulls I've Lived With And Pit Bulls I've Loved

Over the years I've lived with many pit bulls. These two are the latest: Petri (above) stayed with my roommate and I for a month and a half recently and Tovah (below) belongs to his girlfriend but often visits or stays over.


Above: This summer I lived with a giant mastiff/pit mix, Elle (you might recognize this photo from earlier on this blog). But the biggest, most muscular pit bull that I ever lived with was Pete, who belonged to my friend Dr. Cool in San Jose. I even wrote a post back then about how much I liked pit bulls.


Above: This lady is the reason I fell in love with pitties. Nibbles was a backyard dog living in my old neighborhood in San Jose. The very first time I met her, I was walking down the sidewalk and she came charging at me from out of nowhere, totally terrifying me. She stopped at the end of the driveway, just a few feet from me.
I had no intention of befriending her, but I was lonely and she was lonely and when another neighbor introduced us in a friendly way, I was hooked. Nibbles was unsocialized, but underneath her fearfulness and bad manners, she was a sweetheart just longing for belly rubs and attention. I would bring her over to spend time in my backyard, take long walks with her, or go spend time with her in her backyard. Sadly, she never went inside anyone's house. When I broke up with my significant other, one of the hardest parts about moving was leaving Nibbles behind.

Below: I can't forget to include the two best trained pit bulls that I know, Lilo and Zrrbrt, who belong to EB and D:

This isn't a breed that everyone cares for. They have a bad reputation in the media and that makes many people afraid of them. However, they've always been one of my favorite breeds because they bond so closely with their people. Sadly, in the past two years I've had a few bad experiences with pit bulls myself and have come to realize that there are quite a few unstable pit bulls out there. I think this is probably due to the massive overbreeding that has been going on for quite some time now.
It takes a dedicated and responsible owner to have a pit bull, especially because they have a tendency to be dog aggressive, which can make them difficult to manage. But if you're interested in learning more, I highly recommend BADRAP's website as a source of good information about the breed (not to mention they are a fabulous rescue group that pulled the most solid, stable, sweet dogs from the San Jose shelter when I was there).

Photo Contest: Your Input Needed

So Cornell has a student photo contest with cash prizes. I don't want to use my favorite pileated photo because they keep it (and rights to it I think) but I picked these three from my collection of favorites. I can only submit two and am leaning towards the top two since in them the animal is looking at the camera and they are more saturated than the cheetah too. Let me know your favorite two and if there are any that you have seen on my blog that are more memorable than these three, with the exception of my beloved pileated. Thanks! HT

PS They are judged based on originality of the animal and its environment and suitability for framing.

Ithaca On A Foggy Morning

I've been consumed lately by my two anatomy classes, neuroanatomy and ruminant anatomy, but not so consumed that I couldn't appreciate the beautiful fog cloaking the scenery this morning. It's been snowing every day. Definitely not spring yet!

Turning 32

Me, not the cat. That is my messy bed, complete with bone box lying next to my pillow, as I studied yesterday afternoon. I have this tendency of spreading my notes out over every available surface when I study.

Well, this is it, I've survived 32 years on this planet. That calls for some celebration. How about a day of class going until 8:30 tonight? Sounds like the way to go to me.

Puppy Roll: Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

I think she hands down wins the award for the cutest, most perfect patient in the hospital this week. Luckily she was only there for routine vaccinations.

I must admit she does look a little concerned in this photo about why a stranger is sticking a metal box in her face (then again, it could just be a look of curiosity). Poor puppy. Hopefully I didn't traumatize her with my camera and make her camera shy. I always forget that puppies are in a sensitive period during their vaccination series and can easily develop fears of new things so it is important to make everything as fun and not scary as possible.

Some Thoughts On Education

I'm reading a booklet called _Personal Reflections Of The Shoshone-Paiute-Washo_ published by the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada in 1974. I'm reading it ostensibly to prepare for my upcoming RAVS trip to Nevada but also just because I find it interesting.

There's a chapter lamenting the education available on reservations. I found this quote (from Walter Voorhees) particularly interesting:

To say we educate 25% of our people is stretching the point. The way people pollute the air, water and the land and destroy our resources, leads one to wonder whether we have educated anyone.

It definitely made me pause and think for a second about what makes a good education. I've learned a lot here, but I can't say that there is an emphasis on protecting our environment or sustainable living. Heck, I know a lot of our farming practices are not sustainable.

I wonder what my education would look like if it had a more environmental slant to it. I'm glad I'm reading this booklet because it reminds me to keep that perspective in mind even when it is not required of me.

Bucolic Ithaca II