Art and Sew Forth

Furbaby Friday

This was a tough one to write! Get your tissues. It's a bit long, but you will not notice once you start. Anna, from Original Designs by Anna on Etsy, shares her story of 17 happy years living with pit bulls Nakita, Natasha, and Rocky, along with Max the cat!

She will receive 50 FREE TWEETS for being my guest today!

*Anna leaves for Portugal today to join her husband. I am not sure when she will reopen her shop, but I hope it's not too long! Have a great trip, Anna! Best of everything to you, your husband and your 'kids'!

She's talkin' about ME!

I was so happy Patty gave me the opportunity to share with you my joy and happiness - Natasha my Pit Bull Terrier. Everyone is aware of the stigma that surrounds pits. In fact, I very recently had to switch air carriers because Continental will not fly pit bull adults or pit bull mixes. This blanket stereotype infuriated me. I suggested a private evaluator. I don't know if that will reach the CEO's...but I'm here to tell you about what doesn't make the news - how loving pit bulls are.

The love of my life has 4 paws (don't tell my husband that) and her name is Natasha. An eleven year old red nose pit bull terrier.

The life of the dog princess

The first pit bull ever introduced to me was Nakita. She had belonged to an ex boyfriend, and I adopted her from him at 3 years old. She was an amazing dog. Always under my feet. I literally could not go to the bathroom without her following me! I remember one day she got out of the house. I was on the roof, and she was circling the house going crazy to find me. It was too funny. Most other dogs would have bolted down the block, but not Nakita! She was a momma's girl. I could leave her with friends or family when I went away, and she listened to them as if they were her master. Loving, kind, and gentle with dainty little feet, she was a ham and loved being loved and giving love, too.

Secrets....you're my best friend, Nakita!

When she was seven, I wanted to get another dog since she only had cat companions. It just so happened that my cousin also had a pit, which he bred, and I was lucky enough to get Natasha!! A red nosed pit at only a few weeks old.

As a tiny pup she slept under my arm. As soon as she wiggled, I jumped up to take her out to train her early. She was full of gusto and annoyed Nakita, nipping at her and antagonizing her into play. It was so entertaining to watch the two of them play and wrestle around. They became the BEST of friends. Natasha was the cutest thing! She eventually grew into her ears that looked like a nuns habit on her head!

I love you, Nakita.

Natasha and Nakita LOVED bedtime and napping. As you can tell, these two princesses had the life! At thirteen, after a full life of love , two litters, and being Natasha's and my best friend, we discovered a huge tumor on the back side of Nakita's heart that was pressing on her lungs. After a few nights in a row of her leaving the bed and wanting to find her own space to say good bye, I finally let her go. That was a sad day. When I came home without her in 2004, Natasha ran downstairs to meet us and was running around the house frantically looking for her dear friend, Nakita. It was so sad to lose her best friend that she had known since she was a wee pup.

Me? A Pain in the butt? Naaaa!

For several years it was just Natasha, the kitties, and me. Then came Rocky, a blue pit from Virginia. Actually, he is owned by my cousin who lives with me, and 'Auntie' LOVES to spoil him all day while cuz is at work! Now, they are best friends! Rocky can be a real pain in the butt - like any child. He hovers and follows me everywhere! He harasses the cat and can't sit still. Sound like a human 4 year old? That's exactly him! But what a ham he is and he is a big bundle of love.

Nothing like a dog pillow....

Max, the gray and white cat, is the mayor of town around here and actually keeps Rocky in check. Even though he has no claws, he beats the bajeezas outta him! It's rather funny watching a pit bull run from a cat with no claws. Rocky is very goofy and like a puppy-still very rambunctious. He reminds me of Nakita sometimes. I can't get up and go do something without him jumping up to follow as if he's saying, "WHERE YA GOIN? HUH HUH HUH???" His googly eyes and big head make you just laugh. He looks so intimidating with his muscular build, but he is a big goof ball.

I'm keeping the bed warm for you, Mom.

Natasha thinks she's a human. When we go to the vet, she jumps up on the hard plastic chairs, which she can barely fit on, giving everyone in the waiting room a good laugh. She loves to nap and she has her schedule down pat! When I'm on the computer too long, she looks at me like, "Um, EXCUSE me, but it's time to watch TV." After a period of time watching TV she gets antsy, staring at me as if to say, "So? Are we going to bed yet??" I tell her, "In a bit", and she puts her head down, grumbles, and keeps looking at me until we go up to bed. Sometimes she will head upstairs and hang her head low, poke her nose between the spindles, and look at me, then look upstairs, and look at me again, as if she's saying, "Bed?... Well I'm going without you!" She sleeps completely under the covers...head and all. By morning she has made her way out of the side of the blanket or up next to me, spooning.

She is eleven years old now and has brought me such joy. Her life is perfect with mommy, daddy, table scraps once in a while, her friends, and lots of naps!

Yes, we are pit bulls. Gentle, loving, loyal. Please love us. And we will love you back.

In all, I have had 17 years of my life filled with 3 pit bulls. Never have I had an incident of out of control aggression. Those who I have left my dogs in the care of had no negative issues, except the common potty accident or chewing on something. This breed is one of the most loving, loyal, and obidient I have ever come across. Pit bulls aren't bad dogs. They just have bad owners.

I hope next time you hear news of a vicious attack at random, know, in most cases, it may not have been random. People take advantage of the loyalty these dogs have and manipulate them. And thus, the breed and many individual dogs, suffer. Tough guys who think it's cool to have a pit, and people who neglect and abuse these dogs, have lead to the stereotyping. If you have the opportunity, adopt a pit. They are the most genuine, wonderful, and loving dogs. This is coming from a 'girly girl' bird and cat lover! THIS is my opinion of pit bulls. I know sometime pro pit people look rather intimidating themselves but trust me, pit bulls are for everyone. Raise them with love and obedience and a little spoiling, and you will reap the rewards of a truly mutually gratifying relationship. They love like a human.

I met Anna on Twitter several months ago. I have been absolutely delighted with the soaps I have purchased (and won!) Quality is the word! A lovely lady with a beautiful shop!

"My clothing designs are inspired by positive energy, spirituality, beautiful things and art. My hand made soaps are made for people who love to pamper themselves with rich, all natural products."

Anna

You can find Anna at her shop

http://www.annapereira.etsy.com/

and on twitter

http://twitter.com/AnnaPereiraEtsy

FURBABY FRIDAY is dedicated to our much loved furry (or not so furry!) animal friends that enrich our lives and world and make us better people!

If you are an owner of an Etsy, Artfire, or other online shop with a pet and would like to be featured here, please follow me and leave a comment with a link to where I might contact you. Those chosen will receive 50 free Tweets of advertising the following week.