Donna once said that her shop is much like a Barber's shop in that the clients come in and share stories, and it is so very true for her dogs. If you are reading this, chances are you're a dog person so you understand completely how every dog has his or her own story. These stories, are possibly one of my favorite parts of working at Digger Dogs. I absolutely love hearing owners talk about the adventures, quirks, dramas, and habits of their dogs. We'd like to start sharing some of these stories with our readers and to start off, here is our first dog story.
I will openly admit that my favorite stories are rescue stories. This particular story is probably my all-time favorite, and maybe that's because she's a family dog. However, she wouldn't be a family dog if I hadn't been for Donna and her love of her dogs.
I can't even tell you how many dogs Donna has helped place, rescue, relocate, re-home, ect. So when one of her favorite pit-bulls needed a new home back in 1999, she pushed that girl on me. (which turned out to be the best turn of events in my life ever) From then on, I advocated for the breed and learned all I could. This is why, when my parents' neighbors found a stray pit-bull just a few years after I acquired my pit, I ended up being involved.
I will openly admit that my favorite stories are rescue stories. This particular story is probably my all-time favorite, and maybe that's because she's a family dog. However, she wouldn't be a family dog if I hadn't been for Donna and her love of her dogs.
I can't even tell you how many dogs Donna has helped place, rescue, relocate, re-home, ect. So when one of her favorite pit-bulls needed a new home back in 1999, she pushed that girl on me. (which turned out to be the best turn of events in my life ever) From then on, I advocated for the breed and learned all I could. This is why, when my parents' neighbors found a stray pit-bull just a few years after I acquired my pit, I ended up being involved.
The husband found her on the streets of N.E. Philadelphia all battered and filthy. He was a delivery man at the time and this street dog ran out in front of his truck and proceeded to follow him around with her little limp. After knocking on a few doors, he brought her home. Already owning two large rescue dogs, they weren't keen on owning another. They searched all over for the owners to no avail, and "rescues" at the time, (because of her breed) were only offering to euthanize the dog for them. When they had no where to turn, they knocked on my parents' front door hoping to get my contact information knowing I loved the breed. My mother wanted nothing to do with a stray dog of any kind and was happy with her lovely pure-bred yellow lab puppy. She admits that she had no plans on telling me about this stray figuring I had "enough to deal with at the time." As fate would have it, I just so happened to be stopping by unannounced that very moment, literally pulling into the driveway as the woman was turning to go home. And so I had a peek at the little dog, and my mother begrudgingly went with me.
The neighbors had her in a kennel on their back porch. When we peeked inside, the little pup exploded with happiness and sprayed us with the blood, urine, and fecal matter she was covered in. (so gross). I HAD to bathe her. When we removed her from the kennel what we saw brought us all to tears.
A busted back leg that was deformed and not grown as the other legs, a busted shoulder, a broken bleeding tail, she was covered in briars and ticks, five 2inch scars around her neck, and an entire side of her body covered in cigarette and cigar burns. Well, at that point it was obvious her previous "owners" were no good. So we knew she'd need a new home, but we had to get her fixed up first. No one would take a dog in this condition and with major pending vet bills. But who would keep her for now?
I was living in an apartment with a 1 dog rule so my parents agreed to be temporary care-givers. We tested out her temperament, we slowly introduced her to my pit and my parents young lab. (she did great) And the neighbors all pitched in to help with vet bills which would make her an adoptable dog. Throughout this process, Donna and all at Digger Dogs kept an ear to the ground for possible new homes for this girl.
The neighbors had her in a kennel on their back porch. When we peeked inside, the little pup exploded with happiness and sprayed us with the blood, urine, and fecal matter she was covered in. (so gross). I HAD to bathe her. When we removed her from the kennel what we saw brought us all to tears.
A busted back leg that was deformed and not grown as the other legs, a busted shoulder, a broken bleeding tail, she was covered in briars and ticks, five 2inch scars around her neck, and an entire side of her body covered in cigarette and cigar burns. Well, at that point it was obvious her previous "owners" were no good. So we knew she'd need a new home, but we had to get her fixed up first. No one would take a dog in this condition and with major pending vet bills. But who would keep her for now?
I was living in an apartment with a 1 dog rule so my parents agreed to be temporary care-givers. We tested out her temperament, we slowly introduced her to my pit and my parents young lab. (she did great) And the neighbors all pitched in to help with vet bills which would make her an adoptable dog. Throughout this process, Donna and all at Digger Dogs kept an ear to the ground for possible new homes for this girl.
That was over 9 years ago. Needless to say that my stubborn mother and father, after all their fuss about not wanting another dog, caved in to her cuteness and never let her go. They figured it was fate that her path led her to them and it was just meant to be. "Sometimes we choose our dogs, sometimes they choose us."
She won their hearts and the hearts of their entire neighborhood. She was fixed up just fine, both her shoulder and leg looking healthy as ever. Her 5 scars are mostly covered with hair at this point but she does suffer some rather unsightly skin conditions seasonally. She took years to overcome her fear of lighters and matches, and even longer to overcome her fear of bathtubs. (the most likely place to "bleed" a fighting dog in order to "prep" them for "pain tolerance" - sick, I know)
For the past 10 years she has enjoyed numerous trips to the beach, loads of camping trips, countless numbers of belly rubs, 1 skunk as a meal, the destruction of 3 expensive dog beds, countless pounds of table scraps, and a few escapes from her yard to romp around the neighborhood.
Briar Rose, as she was named, has an extreme fondness of the neighbors who found her and will often sit at the fence for hours waiting for them to come over and say hello. She seems to never have forgotten they were the ones who brought her to this great new home. She loves everyone and loves to be loved.
As for my mother's precious yellow lab, well, who do you think taught Briar Rose everything she knows? This oddball pair are about the funniest pair I've ever seen. The LOVE each other.
She won their hearts and the hearts of their entire neighborhood. She was fixed up just fine, both her shoulder and leg looking healthy as ever. Her 5 scars are mostly covered with hair at this point but she does suffer some rather unsightly skin conditions seasonally. She took years to overcome her fear of lighters and matches, and even longer to overcome her fear of bathtubs. (the most likely place to "bleed" a fighting dog in order to "prep" them for "pain tolerance" - sick, I know)
For the past 10 years she has enjoyed numerous trips to the beach, loads of camping trips, countless numbers of belly rubs, 1 skunk as a meal, the destruction of 3 expensive dog beds, countless pounds of table scraps, and a few escapes from her yard to romp around the neighborhood.
Briar Rose, as she was named, has an extreme fondness of the neighbors who found her and will often sit at the fence for hours waiting for them to come over and say hello. She seems to never have forgotten they were the ones who brought her to this great new home. She loves everyone and loves to be loved.
As for my mother's precious yellow lab, well, who do you think taught Briar Rose everything she knows? This oddball pair are about the funniest pair I've ever seen. The LOVE each other.
Their ten years together has produced countless new stories and adventures. That's because dogs really are individuals. They have their own personalities, their own friendships, relationships, they have their likes and dislikes, they have strengths and weaknesses, and they are just as affected by their environment as any human. So when they come into Digger Dogs for their grooming, yeah, they have a lot to share with us and the other dogs. It's always a good time!
Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing all your dogs' stories - keep 'em coming!
-ingrid
Thanks for reading, and thanks for sharing all your dogs' stories - keep 'em coming!
-ingrid
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