Santa Paws
Today was filled with Santa Paws. Our local mall had a special time set up for people to bring their pets to have their picture taken with Santa Clause this morning. So of course we took part in the festivities!
It was fun. While we were standing in line, a guy that worked in the mall came up to me and asked if I had any puppies for sale of Storm's. I told him no, then he asked if I was going to breed her and I 
had to tell him that she had been spayed. He kept talking about her color. The pictures really don't show what her color truly looks like. Anyway, it was nice to have her complimented on. I think Santa was a little afraid of Storm. He said, "She's not going to bite me, is she?" I laughed and said, "only if you steal her cookies" and giggled a little more.
After the visit to the mall, since we were out, we decided to go to PetSmart. They had a Santa there too, so we had pictures taken there again. There is a story that happened there, that I would like to talk about.
There were a couple of small "foo-foo" dogs standing in line in front of us waiting on Santa. Everyone was friendly and petting each other's dogs. Our two Boston Terriers were in a shopping cart (it's easier to control them & they like to ride) and Storm was behaving nicely (just as an AmStaff should) with the kids that came up to pet her. The line was growing and some people came in with four Boston Terriers, an adorable puppy, a pretty female, and two BIG boy Bostons. Here's where the story gets interesting...
The biggest boy Boston, named Diesal, started barking at the other dogs and in particular, the small puppy Maltese in front of Storm. Diesal broke loose from the boy holding him and started to attack the Maltese!!!! Luckily, the woman with the Maltese pulled her up to safety before anything bad happened. Storm started barking at Diesal, telling him that he shouldn't pick on doggies just because they are smaller than him. (He was a big 37 pounds ~ the Maltese... maybe 5 pounds!) I told her that's right, but to calm down and be the better dog, so she sat back down. The other people got Diesal back into their possesion. That was the point where I stated to the people in front of me.... "If that had that been Storm (pointing to her), we would have been escorted out of PetSmart, just because she's a pit bull." And proudly showed my purple anti-bsl bracelet... that's why it shouldn't be a ban on certain breeds. Then that lead into my speech on places that have already banned pits.
But as if one time wasn't bad enough, when the people with the Bostons got in line for the pictures, Diesal almost got into a fight with another dog in the back of the line. What do you think people would have done had that been Storm doing that twice??? Finally, Diesal was put into a buggy also. The lady made the comment to him & the other Bostons, "why can't you behave like the other two sitting in the buggy". (She was speaking of Delilah & Rose, our well behaved Bostons.) She also made the comment that they did not take their dogs out to places normally. Has she ever heard of "SOCIALIZATION"???? Now don't get me wrong, I love Boston Terriers, just as I love pit bulls, but I was so aggrivated at the fact that this was happening.
Needless to say, I was proud of our doggies today. I just had to brag on them for a moment.
13 comments:
You know, I've never gotten Shasta's picture with Santa Clause. The Pet Stores are too far to walk and of course there is no way for us to get there.
If you thought your Santa was a little nervous with Storm, think how he would have felt with Shasta with her big wire cage muzzle. ROFL
That woman who said she didn't get out much with her dogs, sounds like one of my very dearest friends here in London, but then they don't understand why they aren't good with other dogs? DUH! I keep stressing and stressing over and over again to my girlfriend, she has GOT to get her dog out more to socialize. Yes he will be a big crank until he finds out that it can actually be fun.
Shasta looks at him as if he's wacko. She just sits there while he yips and yaps at EVERYTHING! It makes me feel very proud, but upset with my girlfriend as she just doesn't understand the importance.
I invited her to the Grand Opening of the Dog Park and she said no way would she take him the way he behaves. You can't get it thru their heads that they should have been doing that right from the start. Makes you want to cringe. It's sad really.
Poor Santa, he would be afraid of Shasta with that big ol' muzzle on... but there wouldn't been no need in it, because Shasta would just lick him!
When we were checking out, a teenage came up & said, she must bite... I looked at him & said, yeah she's real vicious (sarcastically) and then quickly laughed & said no... it's not a muzzle, it's a gentle leader and explained to him how it worked. He was carrying a baby chiauaua (sp?) and Storm just wanted to sniff.
If that was a muzzle, it'd be a pretty crappy one, considering she can still open her mouth with it on. *giggle* But educating one person at a time is better than nothing.
Congratulations to you and the other responsible pet owners who took their well behaved dogs to the mall and PetSmart. As to the people who "don't normally take their dogs anywhere", they need to wake up and realize that if they don't socialize thier dogs and TEACH them how to behave in public...their dogs won't know how to behave in public. Just like kids. It's not that tough to figure out.
I wish more people had common sense about animals! Then this stupid BSL wouldn't be an issue!
I sympathize with Storm - we have two minor scuffles at the party yesterday with one minor injury, but we had 17 Huskies in one house/yard, and 3 of them were recently rescued from a shelter in Baltimore, where they were taken after they were confiscated by Animal Control when they busted an animal cruelty case. These dogs had little or no socialization and were ill and emaciated before coming into our rescue, but even they were better behaved than that lady's Boston terrier, because they've been getting lessons in training and manners since coming into rescue.
But when those two scuffles broke out yesterday I too wanted to try and break them up, only my mommy doesn't always let me. But I did stand in front of my new sister Amber and block other doggies from crowding her when she started to get uncomfortable.
wow...
long story with long comments :)
awww. those are great pictures with santa. storm reminds me of the dog in little rascals. is he the same breed?
Hi Indypindy, 17 all together... that's great. I know dogs are like people & sometimes you just don't like the other & it happens; but socializing & teaching help issues like that from happening.
Jellyfish, you're right! I guess that makes us blogger-blabbers. *giggle*
Hello Casper, thank you! Yes Storm is an American Stafforshire Terrier (aka pit bull) and that is what breed Petey was from the Lil' Rascals, formerly Our Gang. For Halloween, Storm was dressed up as Petey. She didn't win a prize, but she looked the part!
thanks for stopping by, Bosco loves new visitors. I am really starting to see the regulars in this small dog blog community!
have a great day, great pics with Santa.
Hey, I'd be bragging too!
So proud of you guys for such a splendid job and taking the opportunity to explain to the others your point of view. Hopefully, they too will help spread the word that this BSL thing is nonsense.
Lovely pics too, but that's because of Storm and not of Santa. :D
Take care!
aawwwww,
there she is ,Look how pretty she is having her picture taken with Santa,Awesome pictures ,Happy Holidays.:)
Good job, Storm!
Hi M-Fax, welcome to the community! :)
Furkids, thank you very much, Storm does add a little bit to the picture doesn't she! *giggle*
Sam I Am, thank you & happy howlidays to you too!
And Hank thanx!
I think its great that your out there, defending pits. I met a weird lady once who seemed to think pit pups were ok - but they always got agressive when they were older( her words were not so nice) what is it, there not cute nemore so there mean? i heard someone say once most people owning pits were better off owning goldfish - and for the most part, i agree!
p.s.the chihuahua I adopted was very under solialized as a pup. as a result, she afraid and agressive towards almodt everything. althought i have been working with her, she scared for life and ill always be playing cacth-up. so sorry to say this some people are stupid!
Hi dog blog! Thank you. I do agree with some pit owners should only have a gold fish, because unfortunately for us there are irresponsible owners out there that their soul purpose of having the pit is to make it mean and to make $$ with it. It disgusts me. They are the one's that give us loving owners a bad name. You wouldn't believe the looks that I get from people when I'm out in public with her. Socialization is definitely the key. Keep working with your chihuahua, hopefully she'll come around! :)
Thanx for stopping by!
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