Goodbye Sissy Coco-puff

I have never known a pit bull before.  They have a bad reputation, but the reality is the only ones I've have come face to face with have been calm, friendly dogs.  Pickles and I ran into an unleashed, unsupervised pit bull on Pineburr the other day - I had seen it before but it had been chained.  I put on my best, happy, "what a good dog" act and stood there while the dogs investigated each other's scent.  I looked away for a few seconds and when I looked back they were staring at each other.  I thought, this isn't good, so I gave Pickles a tug and we continued on our way.  The nameless pit bull trotted back across the street.  

There is a white pit bull down South Avenue who pretty much ignores us when he sees us. 

Man, are they big dogs - deceptively big.

Well Sissy Coco-puff is a pit bull puppy, not quite 3 months old, so ugly she's beautiful.  She has a beautiful chocolate brown coat with a white chest, green eyes and huge puppy paws.  In the last few days I became very good friends with her.  She belongs to our neighbors & she'd come over and drink water we sat out on the porch, she'd get up in my lap (with help) chew on my finger & lick me to death.  She's a friendly, outgoing dog without a fear in the world. 

The neighbors are moving, and could not take her where they are going.  It was tempting to say, "We'll take her", and the emotional part of me wanted to very much.  But we have Pickles, and we weren't sure how that would play out between the two of them.  Not to mention the expense and work involved with bringing up a puppy.

However, we were instrumental in finding what we hope is a very good home for her.  Some people were doing some work trimming some trees for us and one of them, who had recently lost a dog & still seemed to be grieving over it, took her.  They seemed to bond right away, and he still had a little dog whistle that he carried around.   He sat there on our porch and was teaching Sissy to come at the sound of the whistle, and she was learning, right before my eyes.  She'd walk off a little bit, he'd blow the whistle to get her attention, then call her & she'd come running and was rewarded with pets & praise.  I think Sissy is immensely trainable. 

None of us really know this person, but we got a personal reference from his boss, and he seems like he really bonded with the dog.  He doesn't seem like the type that will breed her to death, or try to turn her into a fighting dog.  He wants a pet, and a dog who'll ride with him in his truck. 

I never got a picture of Sissy.  Ratz, how'd I let that happen.  I never heard Sissy bark.  Gonna miss ya Sissy.  I wish you all the best.