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gixxerific
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Posts: 5889
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B

It has been way too long, I miss you all.

Well what is up? I have been gone too long and feel like I left my family behind. It has been a hard time for me. As some of you know I lost my dog Maya who was family to me for 12 1/2 years. I was there the day she was born. That really tore me up bad. I pretty much dropped off the face of the earth after this happened. I have dealt with this to a certain extent.

5 day's after Maya's death another family was born. Some friends who own a kennel had a mother APBT and her 5 pups deserted on there doorstep. they gave me a call knowing my situation with Maya. I went over to check them out right there I instantly knew the one that would be mine. So at 8 weeks I became a daddy yet again. Her name is Lucy, we had a hell of a time trying to pick out a name. The day before she came home we found out that one of the staff and the owner were both calling her Lucy as in Lucile Ball. Lucy is red, the funny thing is they both were calling her this unbeknownst to the other at first. So keeping the irony alive I had to keep the name. She is such a cute little thing and so small after we got her home. In the first week she took a turn for the worse at just 8 weeks old she stopped eating and drinking. I thought it might just be a fear of new surroundings and stress. I was watching her at every moment than I noticed a very small amount of blood in her stool. I knew it was Parvo, 1 1/2 hours later I was at the vet with her, I was unfortunately right, it was parvo. This was actually my worst fear from the beginning, pit bulls seem to be highly susceptible to parvo and I was watching for it very hard. She stayed at the vet for 2 day's the vet said it could be 2 weeks. I caught it so early that she came right around with the treatments she was getting. We really didn't have the money but what do you do?

Now she is doing great and a little hellion. But really she is a great dog, even potty trained for the most part. She is great with people, kids, baby's and all. She is also great with other dogs. I really think she is going to one hell of a dog, will she be a Maya class dog it is possible but that is a very high benchmark to reach. I just love this little girl to death as do EVERYONE else. Especially my kids they can't get enough of her.

My wife keeps telling me if it weren't for me she might not be alive right now. If it wasn't for my constant supervision I would have missed the parvo which is usually a death sentence. She is lucky to be alive and I am lucky to have her.

I have been intensely relearning how to train and raise a pup it has been a while and I wanted to do everything right. I have been spending a lot of time reading books and hanging out with the fine folks pitbullforum.com. They are as passionate about APBTs as the people here are passionate about gardening. Actually the 2 forums are carbon copy's of each other only with a different main topic. That and constantly hanging out with Lucy trying to get her on the right path. It's like having a newborn human minus the diapers but add in cleaning the carpet due to lack of the diapers. :P

Sorry this is getting long winded but I feel like I should explain why I left my family here without any warning or without any reason. I feel like I have done wrong. But it has been a trough time and I am sure you understand. I'm better and I will be stopping by more. Hell gardening season is right around the corner.

Following is the reason I have gone I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.

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gixxerific
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Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04317.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04316.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04335.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04331.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04446.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04425.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04498.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04502.jpg[/img]

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gixxerific
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Posts: 5889
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04581.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04541.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04621.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04661.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04634.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04493.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04483.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Lucy/DSC04735.jpg[/img]

gumbo2176
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Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:01 am
Location: New Orleans

I've had pits before and love the breed. The last 2 I had were red nosed pits out of Missouri from Hemphill stock. I also had a nice black male out of Texan breeder Maurice Carver. I raised them over a 25 year period starting in the 70's and the last one I had was put down in 95 due to cancerous tumors in her stomach.

At this point in my life, I just don't want any more dogs that require a lot of attention, and I've raised enough pits to know they like to be exercised a lot or they can get a bit on the destructive side. Especially before they fully mature at around 2 years.

Without a doubt, once they are mature and settled into a household, they are some of the best dogs I've ever raised. That is a fine looking pup you have and kids love pups.

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webmaster
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Posts: 9478
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:59 pm
Location: Amherst, MA USDA Zone 5a

Welcome back!

Condolences on Maya and congrats on the new pup, looks mighty cute and lubby dubby. :)

Green Mantis
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Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 6:52 pm
Location: Alberta, Canada zone 1a

:D Awwwww, Lucy is so cute, looks VERY spoiled as well. Fantastic how she came into your life. Also great you watched for parvo and knew what to watch for. Thankfully she's still with you. Looks like she will keep you very busy. Congrats on your new girl. I'm sure everyone is happy for you and your family. :)

tedln
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Posts: 2179
Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2009 6:06 pm
Location: North Texas

Glad to see you back Dono. Love the pup! We have three of them. They are just our kids that we don't have to worry about buying their first car or getting them through college.

Ted

DoubleDogFarm
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Posts: 6113
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm

Welcome back.

Great looking puppy. The start of many more memories.

Lucy chewing reminded me of a photo of Pepper. She is about 3. At 7 plus she still chews on sticks.

[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Jacob%20and%20Pepper/Dogs004.jpg[/img]

See you in the gardening forum.

Eric

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Halfway
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Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:48 am
Location: Northern Rockies

Very cute and welcome back.

We had to put down our Shepherd who was 14 and our Chocolate lab (my hunting buddy) who was 13 in the past 18 months. Very, very tough on the family.

But, we always have their antics to remind us of the great lives we provided for them and the intense joy they provided us.

Dixana
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Joined: Wed Mar 31, 2010 11:58 pm
Location: zone 4

Aww Gixx I'm so sorry about your dog. :( It's hard to lose a best friend.
But the pup is SOOO adorable!!! She is absolutely precious! She also looks like she's going to be a handful :lol:
Good luck with her! I don't care what some people say, pits make the best pets!

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applestar
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Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)

Ah! THERE you are! :D
[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=175853#175853]I said a few days ago that we need you back[/url] and here you are. 8)

LUCY is SOOOOO CUUUTE!!! :()
A balm to to ease you through the tough times... probably doesn't give you the chance to mope. :-()

Welcome back. :wink:

petalfuzz
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Posts: 632
Joined: Sat May 31, 2008 3:37 pm

I love the pic of her in the santa hat! So cute! I loved reading your story, very touching. I'm sorry for your loss but so happy for your gain. Glad to see you back again!

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Ozark Lady
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Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2010 5:28 pm
Location: NW Arkansas, USA zone 7A elevation 1561 feet

Hi Gixx, glad you found your way back to us.
We don't mind sharing ya, with Lucy and the pitbull forum, just don't forget us.
Now, if they steal ya away, we know where to go looking for ya! :lol:

Parvo is very deadly, glad you caught it in time. I have had pups that I didn't get it in time... from shelters, and gone so soon. You did good!

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gixxerific
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Posts: 5889
Joined: Fri Jun 26, 2009 5:42 pm
Location: Wentzville, MO (Just West oF St. Louis) Zone 5B

Thanks all.

Now where did I put that garden trowel again.? :wink:

I'm way behind I haven't even ordered seeds but I still have ton from before.

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sprout
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Posts: 20
Joined: Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:42 pm
Location: sunset zone 18-19

Sorry about your Maya. I'm glad to read that Lucy pulled through parvo and is so spunky! She is super cute.



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