She came to us about a month ago already named. Georgia, the 85 pound American Bulldog, has a heart of gold and an intense stare. She sits next to you on the couch with her hind legs extended in front of her like a human. Her gaze penetrates the soul; I find myself tempted to take her to a coffee house and sit across from her explaining in detail all of my hopes and fears while we sip cappuccinos. Her hefty frame and large paws lead her through life on a clumsy path but if she ever hurt you it would be a complete accident. She lets baby Jace crawl on her face and lay his head on her short, brown-spotted, white fur. She is well trained and can come, sit, stay, and lay down, she even knocks on the door when she needs to go outside.
Eric found Georgia on Craigslist (he has a mild addiction I think). "She's a great dog," the lady said. We congregated in the parking lot of a gas station right next to a small, shut down fruit stand. As Georgia paced back and forth on a long pink leash, 1-year-old Jace watched intently from my hip. "She loves to ride in the front seat," the lady continued. I set Jace down on the pavement-Georgia walked up to him and started licking. A thrilled giggle escaped his lips and Eric and I exchanged a glance than meant "YES!"
"For some reason she is afraid of people who wear hats, but as you can see she is great with kids." The lady continued recounting "selling points" for Georgia unaware we had already made our decision. It turned out Georgia had a thing for chicken...the live kind...and the lady's boyfriend couldn't take it anymore. We handed the lady $60 and climbed in to the car. Georgia promptly found a spot on my lap (a spot that caused both of my feet to fall asleep by the end of the ride home). The lady's parting words were "she does like to chew things...just so you know..."
The first few days Georgia got herself acclimated, Eric and I joked about all of the ways the lady was wrong. Eric wore a hat all the time and she didn't even seem to notice. We left her in the house and she hadn't chewed a thing. Did this lady (I can't remember her name) even know this dog? Then my fear began that since we got her from Cragslist was Georgia even her dog to give away?
It all started about a week later...with the Easter Bunny. I came home from work to find Connor's stuffed Easter Bunny mutilated in the living room. Stuffing was everywhere like a sporadic snowfall mixed with scraps of baby blue fur. A small blue tail was all that remained recognizable. We have approximately 872 stuffed animals so i admit I wasn't too upset and honestly Connor, being 5-years-old and more into playing baseball and searching out bugs, wouldn't notice; furthermore, Easter was about a month ago and the toys newness had worn off. Mickey Mouse got it next. As a little girl at heart i was horrified to come home to a decapitated, tailless Mickey Mouse-smile still intact. Day after day I would continue to find "presents" upon returning home: chewed diapers, a golf ball, my library bag, Connor's bike helmet, markers, crayons, and countless stuffed animals (I think we are down to 750 now). The latest ;however, leaves me shocked...if not a little impressed. In one sitting Georgia devoured eight, whole, restaurant-sized, everything bagles and a bottle of tadpole pellets, then washed it down with a full bottle of baby Motrin.
Georgia came to us already named-and we love her! We love her everyday as we put her in the fenced-in backyard before we leave.
Ha! Is Georgia still a puppy? God, I hope so - for your sake. Our Sasha was into everything as a pup and now that she has ripened she doesn't lunge for everything dropped or everything available. It sounds like you have a friend for many years. And an 80 pound bulldog? You also have a sentry and alarm system as well. It sounds like you and the family are doing well. I know that you are in for a wonderful summer. Jace KNOWS about the world now, and you and Connor will be his teachers. Thanks for your comments on my blog.
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