On a beautiful warm sunny day in June 2021, our lives changed. Fred and Saki were playing in the driveway when a neighbor came walking in the woods. As most dogs would they ran up to say hi. The very next moment, I heard gunshots. He shot Saki once in the neck and Fred three times. Claiming they attacked him. Anyone who knows my two loves knows that is farthest from the truth. He walked away like it was nothing. Saki was lucky and was home that night with a through and through bullet wound in her neck, nearly missing her spine. Fred was not so lucky. He was in critical care for four days. With three blood transfusions, a docked tail, open lung surgery, and now a limp, he has proven the resilience this breed has.

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Anyone who knows me personally knows the absolute love I have for my dogs. Tyson was my first pit, he was given to me by a very special person, whom I lost a year later. For the next 14 years of Tyson's life, it was he and I. Taking on whatever was thrown our way. And man, was it a lot. Through life's struggles, I always had him. But his breed put a lot of restrictions on our journey, some I could weasel around...But it was something I just couldn't wrap my head around. How could anyone hate such a wonderful breed? When Saki came into our lives, I wasn't quite sure. It was just the two of us for so long and he was at an older age. But he fell in love with her right away, showing her the ropes. He had always been my hero and soon became hers. Losing him was one of the hardest days. We had 14 wonderful years together. And over those years I promised him I would always fight for pitties. Fred came to me unexpectedly, I wasn't ready yet, and still grieving. But he had already suffered so much, I couldn't say no. Saki became a wonderful (sometimes annoying) big sister and the bond between them is unbreakable.

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As a pitty mom, we are a different (and sometimes difficult) kind. We have to always be on alert. People never understood my uber protectiveness over mine. There are reasons why I do things MY way. To protect them. WE only know our babies. They are our world and we will fight to protect them and together we will fight harder to protect the breed. 

 

Since losing Tyson, Saki and Fred took over his role. They have been by my side every step. Every struggle. He passed on his fighting spirit. I think he knew I wouldn't know how to go on if I lost them. Fred reminds me of him every day, with his old man soul. Saki as the protector. Because of him, they fought to stay with me to continue our crazy-ass journey ahead in life. 

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