In the early spring I adopted a pitbull.
I walked in the Humane Society to get “a dog” for companionship and my life changed in a way I could have never imagined before.
See, Patchouli was the very first dog I saw.
And with one head tilt and one tail wag, he had me.
Keep in mind I knew nothing of the breed, save for the usual horror stories.
“Pitbulls are vicious”
“Pitbulls have locking jaws”
“Pitbulls turn on their owners”
Etc.
On top of it, Patchouli is one of “those”: forced to fight, then used as bait, beaten, tortured with cold water, left out in the elements in a cage with a heavy chain, then used as bait.
Eventually dumped on the side of the road in a plastic bag.
Somehow landed at the HS.
Adopted by a guy who tried to make him fight again, abused him some more and returned him. (The dog is “no good” he said )
Adopted again by a family who couldn’t handle his trauma so they returned him... again.
By then he was scheduled for euthanasia.
Patchouli is reactive to other dogs and he’s afraid of men. It took him a month to learn to trust my better half.
But...
I haven’t had a single nightmare since I got him March 23rd.
I have severe PTSD and when I’m not ok, the whole world falls apart, I lose all my bearings.
Patchouli knows, if we’re out, to either walk me home or to the car.
He can even pull me down, sit on me and calm me down if need be.
And he has already protected me several times. (#metoo)
I do not treat him like service dog because he is too nervous for that, but since he came into my life, I only use cannabis (California: legal) for physical reasons, rarely for PTSD freak outs because he calms me down faster than my vaping pen.
So... for almost 6 months: no nightmares. I can’t tell you guys how awesome that is after 50 years of daily nightmares. I now sleep a full night sleep... at 53 years old
So we moved out of the city into a cabin on 3.5 acres of land, so secluded you need a P.O box.
First neighbor is a mile away.
All we hear is wildlife, we see maybe 2 cars per week.
And now I have blissful peace and quiet, long hikes and nothing but wildlife.
And none of this would have happened if not for Patchouli the pitbull, super cuddle monster who viciously demands his share of belly rubs and kisses, wags his tail at hummingbirds and destroys a tennis ball in under 7 minutes .
I know many here will tell me of the dangers of that vicious breed. But to me, he is the difference between a good productive day and cowering in bed stoned off my socks unable to put 2 thoughts together.
So, first, if you’re going to get a dog... please ADOPT. The dog overpopulation is becoming a serious problem. Puppy mills are atrocious. And in those shelters, you never know, but you might find the one dog who will click with you and change your life forever.
And that is the story of Patchouli the pitbull.
I walked in the Humane Society to get “a dog” for companionship and my life changed in a way I could have never imagined before.
See, Patchouli was the very first dog I saw.
And with one head tilt and one tail wag, he had me.
Keep in mind I knew nothing of the breed, save for the usual horror stories.
“Pitbulls are vicious”
“Pitbulls have locking jaws”
“Pitbulls turn on their owners”
Etc.
On top of it, Patchouli is one of “those”: forced to fight, then used as bait, beaten, tortured with cold water, left out in the elements in a cage with a heavy chain, then used as bait.
Eventually dumped on the side of the road in a plastic bag.
Somehow landed at the HS.
Adopted by a guy who tried to make him fight again, abused him some more and returned him. (The dog is “no good” he said )
Adopted again by a family who couldn’t handle his trauma so they returned him... again.
By then he was scheduled for euthanasia.
Patchouli is reactive to other dogs and he’s afraid of men. It took him a month to learn to trust my better half.
But...
I haven’t had a single nightmare since I got him March 23rd.
I have severe PTSD and when I’m not ok, the whole world falls apart, I lose all my bearings.
Patchouli knows, if we’re out, to either walk me home or to the car.
He can even pull me down, sit on me and calm me down if need be.
And he has already protected me several times. (#metoo)
I do not treat him like service dog because he is too nervous for that, but since he came into my life, I only use cannabis (California: legal) for physical reasons, rarely for PTSD freak outs because he calms me down faster than my vaping pen.
So... for almost 6 months: no nightmares. I can’t tell you guys how awesome that is after 50 years of daily nightmares. I now sleep a full night sleep... at 53 years old
So we moved out of the city into a cabin on 3.5 acres of land, so secluded you need a P.O box.
First neighbor is a mile away.
All we hear is wildlife, we see maybe 2 cars per week.
And now I have blissful peace and quiet, long hikes and nothing but wildlife.
And none of this would have happened if not for Patchouli the pitbull, super cuddle monster who viciously demands his share of belly rubs and kisses, wags his tail at hummingbirds and destroys a tennis ball in under 7 minutes .
I know many here will tell me of the dangers of that vicious breed. But to me, he is the difference between a good productive day and cowering in bed stoned off my socks unable to put 2 thoughts together.
So, first, if you’re going to get a dog... please ADOPT. The dog overpopulation is becoming a serious problem. Puppy mills are atrocious. And in those shelters, you never know, but you might find the one dog who will click with you and change your life forever.
And that is the story of Patchouli the pitbull.