Guest Blogger: ’ Volunteer in addition to Blog Contest Winner Alicia Drosendahl
Fear, hope, trust, Fe will: seemingly contradictory damage that all add together upward to stand upward for the life of a “bully breed.” Ignorance, hatred, discrimination, in addition to prejudice cloud the persona of the Pit Bull, the High German Shepherd, the Rottweiler, the Chow, the Doberman in addition to oft times the Great Dane.
Growing upward an alone child, I works life my best friend inwards a High German Shepherd/Doberman mix named TJ. To echo countless nostalgic remarks, TJ genuinely represents what it agency to hold upward “girl’s best friend.” Even though I was initially afraid, I grew to love her every bit my ain furry sibling.
So, the twenty-four hours later my thirteenth birthday (the showtime twenty-four hours that I was officially former plenty to volunteer for ), I attended ’ volunteer orientation.
As I progressed through the Open Paw domestic dog treatment levels (first dark-green in addition to so yellow-collared dogs), I kept noticing this cute lilliputian “pocket pittie” named Salmon. Seeing how my mom, a long-time volunteer, loved her, I was intrigued to conduct maintain my showtime regard alongside her. The yellow-level domestic dog that I walked was Salmon.
The lilliputian spitfire grabbed at my heartstrings in addition to refused to permit go. I learned to motility my shoestrings out of the way when she was inwards a mood, for she took out her frustration on shoes. I was non fazed past times this at all because inwards a really foreign way, I could relate. All she wanted was a friend to play alongside in addition to a household unit of measurement to love her. The trials in addition to tribulations of 7th degree inwards world schoolhouse made me regard this “difficult” Pit Bull every bit a dog who was but looking to figure out what life means.
Even later my delightful introduction to Pit Bulls, I was all the same hesitant to a greater extent than or less them. I had heard the stereotypes in addition to seen the word stories of Pit Bulls injuring people. However, when ’ Pittie residents O’Bannon in addition to O’Ney entered my life, my entire perception changed.
The “O’Pits” were Pit Bulls that were rescued from a local fighting ring. After months on a courtroom concord in addition to so a hold off for medical in addition to behavioral evaluations, the O’s finally made it to the adoption floor. My mom had been assigned to mentor O’Bannon, a sweetness man child who had to conduct maintain ear surgical physical care for because his ears were so infected. He was deaf, but all the same toddled to a greater extent than or less similar a champion, soaking upward the sun, the love, in addition to the Natural Balance treats. The hesitance inwards his eyes was heart-wrenching, but in that place was a subtle promise that lingered. After months of interaction in addition to bonding, the fearfulness dissipated, becoming a hopeful hold off that was oft partnered alongside a funny lilliputian tap dance. H5N1 domestic dog who had been through Hell, alongside visible scars, had non given upward on the world, which inwards plough persuaded me non to surrender on the harshly stereotyped breed.
“NEY NEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY” was the telephone telephone that oft came out of my rima oris that summer. Echoing off the kennel walls, in addition to confusing the public, my telephone telephone permit my friend O’Ney know that my mom in addition to I were coming to pass fourth dimension alongside her. As I rounded the corner, I heard the paws on the rungs of her cages, prematurely putting her paws upward for her harness. Her large brownish eyes, charming grin, in addition to the endearing “wiggle butt” never ceased to amaze me. She had been through Hell too, but she constantly emanated an unbridled love. An undeterred lover, O’Ney solidified my faith inwards Pit Bulls every bit genuinely beingness “lovers non fighters.” If O’Ney in addition to O’Bannon could love similar that later what they had been through, I could accept a stand upward in addition to topple the faux stereotype.
Countless other Pits conduct maintain passed through in addition to works life their ways into my heart. My experiences alongside the biggest, baddest, bang-up breed (a.k.a. the Pit Bull) inspired the subject for my Senior Project. At North Hills High School, 1 of the requirements to graduate is to accept a “Graduation Project” class. Out of the selected courses, I chose Leadership. In gild to top the course of pedagogy in addition to fulfill the requirement, I had to come upward up with, create, in addition to execute a service projection that benefitted someone. I chose to sell bracelets in addition to bags alongside the message “Help Don’t Hurt.” The profits benefitted a local bang-up breed rescue organization. The final, essential ingredient of my projection was compiling in addition to presenting a PowerPoint Presentation close the faux stereotypes. As someone who has e'er disliked presenting, my offering to introduce to my degree was uncharacteristic, but also prove of how passionate I am close the breed I love. After presenting, I took questions from my swain students and, surprisingly, my teacher. My presentation was supposed to finally for xx minutes. Including the enquiry in addition to answer session, my presentation took 35 minutes of the xl infinitesimal degree period. Even though I was nervous, I permit my instincts in addition to passion accept over, in addition to was able to alter many minds, including my teacher’s.
Without the experiences I’ve had alongside Salmon, O’Ney, O’Bannon, in addition to countless others spell volunteering at , I would hold upward a completely unlike person. I wouldn’t conduct maintain cared close my Graduation Project, nor would I conduct maintain stepped up, compiled in addition to executed an effective presentation. Compassion, drive, in addition to patience conduct maintain all been taught to me past times 4 legged friends who but give off to hold upward pit bulls. I conduct maintain seen these dogs come upward out of the darkest of situations, thence inspiring me to locomote on on working alongside all dogs, fifty-fifty if they are scared or seize alongside teeth shoes when they acquire frustrated. Without my love companion TJ, I never would conduct maintain been inspired to volunteer at , permit lonely encompass the bang-up breeds. The so-called “vicious, evil, nasty, bloodthirsty” dogs are everything but. Working alongside them has taught me to never, ever approximate a mass past times its cover, whether it hold upward a four, three, or two-legged creature. You never know when a spitfire domestic dog named later a fish volition blindside yous in addition to alter your life forever, inwards the best way possible.
Alicia Drosendahl was the first-prize winner inwards our volunteer weblog contest! Congratulations in addition to give thank yous you, Alicia!
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