JUST HOW 'DANGEROUS' ARE PIT BULLS?

In my haste to spread the word about Maryland's misguided law (nothing gets a 'recovering' angry guy worked up like picking on Pitties), I forgot to include some statistics from GIMME SHELTER about the odds of being killed by a Pit Bull. While the numbers are a few years old, they illustrate how the media's obsession with these 'killer' dogs is perversely overblown. I'm including them now to give you a sense of perspective.

Eugenie and Tanner

- According to CDC studies, about 10 persons die each year as a result of dog attacks. Of that number, Pit Bulls are responsible for approximately 28% or 2.8 deaths

-  In 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission reported 7 deaths from fireworks. Based on that number, you are two times more likely to die from a fireworks mishap than from a Pit Bull attack.

- Approximately 10 people a year die from snakebites, three times the number killed by Pit Bulls.

- From 1990-2003, 756 Americans (an average of 58/year) died from lightning strikes. That means you are more than 20 times more likely to be killed by lightening than by a Pit Bull.

- CDC statistics show that every day 10 people die from drowning, the second leading cause of non-intentional death for people ages 1-14. A person is 1,300 times more likely to drown than to be killed by a Pit Bull.

- Every year in the U.S., more than 1,700 children (roughly 5 each day) are killed by their parents or guardians, either through abuse or neglect. A child is more than 600 times more likely to be killed by their caretaker than by a Pit Bull.

-  For every Pit Bull that kills, there are MILLIONS that DON'T!

Resources-  Centers for Disease Control,  Consumer Products Safety Commission,  National Lightening Safety Institute,  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

A TOTALLY FREAKY PIT BULL and A TOTALLY STUPID LAW

Wasn't sure what to write about this week when a online petition came in that I just I had to share it with our friends. It's asking the Maryland Appleate Court to overturn a ridiculous piece of legislation passed by the morons in the Maryland Legislature in 2012:

Tracey v. Solesky, No. 53, September Term 2012, Opinion by Cathell, J.

STRICT LIABILITY ADOPTED IN RESPECT TO ATTACKS ON HUMANS BY PIT BULL DOGS AND CROSS-BRED PIT BULL DOGS.

Upon a plaintiff’s sufficient proof that a dog involved in an attack is a pit bull or a pit bull cross, and that the owner, or other person(s) who has the right to control the pit bull’s presence on the subject premises (including a landlord who has a right to prohibit such dogs on leased premises) knows, or has reason to know, that the dog is a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull, that person is liable for the damages caused to a plaintiff who is attacked by the dog on or from the owner’s or lessor’s premises. In that case a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of negligence. When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous.

                                                                                                                         ~~~~

In practical terms, the law means that in any incident involving a Pit Bull, the dog's owner or a or a landlord who rents to the owner of a Pit Bull would automatically be guilty of owning or harboring a 'dangerous' dog, thereby exposing those people to legal liability. Labeling Pits as inherently dangerous makes their adoption much more difficult, leading to more euthanized dogs.   If this strikes you as wrong-headed and unjust (Imagine a law that said, owing to the nature of the Mafia, all Italians are inherently criminal) sign the petition asking the Maryland Supreme Court to overturn the misguided, bigoted law.

'Inherently Dangerous' Tanner about to claim another victim

                                                                                             ~~~~ 

On a lighter note, if you enjoy watching canine athletes strut their, check out this video of  Tre-T, a Russian parkour super Pit Bull who treats the city like one huge urban dog park. Like Tanner, Tre-T's an American Staffordshire Terrier, but just a tad more energetic.

Tre-T literally bouncing off the walls

Announcing...the GIMME SHELTER CAMPAIGN

Tanner, Eugenie and I are thrilled to announce the start of the Gimme Shelter Campaign to help rescue animals. We had already committed 10% of the book's profits to animal rescue causes when our friend and fellow writer, Dan Cohen, suggested we offer interested organizations discount codes so that their members could save on the book and earn donations for their groups. It took a few weeks to work out the tech kinks but now it's a reality. By pointing their members and supporters to our online store, www.buygimmeshelter.com, and using the unique codes that we supply, they earn $1.00 for every book sold through their groups. In the coming weeks, we'll be announcing some of our 'partners'. Right now, if you know any organizations that could use a helping hand, have them get in touch with us to learn how they can join the Gimme Shelter Campaign.
                                                                      ~~~~
Now that Genesis Awards are behind us, we'd like to thank the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for letting us contribute to the cause by offering e-copies of GIMME SHELTER to the celebrity presenters. Hope they enjoy the book as much as we appreciate all the hard work the HSUS does raising awareness of animal issues. For a look at photos of the star-studded gala, check them out on Facebook.
                                                                        ~~~~
Lastly, my sister and mad dog lover Honey pinned me a photo of the most decorated war dog in the history of the United States. Wanna guess the breed? That's right, a Pit Bull named Stubby.

RACING (raging?) IN THE RAIN

This past Monday, Eugenie and I had the honor of attending a book signing and Q & A by Garth Stein, author of the wildly popular "The Art of Racing In The Rain".  - "Enzo knows he is different from other dogs: a philosopher with a nearly human soul (and an obsession with opposable thumbs), he has educated himself by watching television extensively, and by listening very closely to the words of his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver. Through Denny, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition, and he sees that life, like racing, isn't simply about going fast. Using the techniques needed on the race track, one can successfully navigate all of life's ordeals. On the eve of his death, Enzo takes stock of his life, recalling all that he and his family have been through."

Stein's appearance marked the first in the initial season of the Malibu Library's 'author events' and it was terrific. He read from his wonderful novel, told personal anecdotes related to the creation and publication of the book including how his then-agent told him that no one would ever read a book narrated by a dog and that no one would ever be able to sell or publish it. He didn't gloat but then again he didn't have to, since the book has garnered all sorts of praise, spent 150+weeks on the 'best seller' list, earned a gazillion dollars and is now being made into a major film by Universal Studios. He was charming, funny, serious, insightful - in short, it was the author as performance artist par excellence.  With my first two author 'events' fast approaching (details to follow shortly), this newbie was taking serious notes. I couldn't help thinking that, unlike Garth's racer hero, Denny, my issue is raging in the rain, the sun, the snow, the fog or just about any condition you can think of. If you're wondering what I'm rambling about, you need to get a copy of GIMME SHELTER.  And while you're buying books, if you've never read Stein's gem, get it. And you tough guys, be sure to buy a box of Kleenex, too, because you'll need it. 

Garth Stein signs 'Racing' for Lou and pal Robby Mazza, foreground

THE MORE WE GIVE...

Tanner and I wanted to take a moment to mention some animal organizations and their upcoming events that you might want to consider supporting:

-The Humane Society of the United States, Genesis Awards - the equivalent of the animals Oscars they celebrate the role that the news and entertainment media and high-profile individuals play in rasing awareness of animals issue. They are being held on Saturday, March 23, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. If you have a few bucks to spare (pay, more than a few), tickets are still available at 310.440.0600. At Tanner's urging (and with some help from our neighbor and fellow dog rescuer Gary K.) we've donated digital copies of GIMME SHELTER to the VIP gift bags for this year's gala.

Operation Blankets of Love - an award-winning non-profit 501(c)3 public charity. They collect, transport and distribute recycled and new pet-related items to comfort stray, sick, neglected and abused homeless animals in shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries and foster groups. In addition, as an Emergency Response Team, they partner with those organizations to provide relief and comfort to animals that are displaced or endangered by catastrophe.

St. Martin's Animal Foundation - Founded in in 1999, SMAF is committed to aleviating the suffering of animals through the power of media. They will be hosting a 'Mad Hatter Benefit' on Sunday, May 19, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. at La Maison Lounge 11608 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA. 661-269.2164.
                                                                  ~~~~~
On a different front, as friends and readers of Gimme Shelter know I've been studying and teaching martial arts for over 30 years. Since 1992, I've had the honor to train and teach under Sensei Mel Pralgo at Conejo Family Karate where we practice traditional Okinawan GoJu Ryu karate - the "wax on, wax off" style made popular by the original Karate Kid movies starring Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio. If you know anyone who could benefit from this amazing mind-body training, check us out. And be sure to tell them Tanner sent you.

4th from left, Sensei Mel Pralgo, far right, Lou Spirito

REBELL, DEXTER AND THE LUCK OF THE IRISH!

As some of you know, before Tanner came along, the dog love of my life was Rebell, an Irish Setter I rescued when I was a wild child wannabe actor living in Greenwich Village during the 1970s at the height of the sex, drugs and disco era. While GIMME SHELTER is mainly devoted to our wonderful Pit Bull baby, and how he helped me finally grow up, Reb, and our Dalmation from Hell, Roxanne, get a lot of page time, too. Since today is St. Paddy's Day, I thought I'd post a picture of the big red mug, and one of Tanner with Dexter, his Irish Wheaton Terrier pal. For a rundown on the history of the Irish dog breeds, check out Cesar's Millan's latest newsletter.

Rebell @ 'Head of the Meadow' Beach, Cape Code, MA

Tanner & Dexter, the cereal killer

from GIMME SHELTER:  "These peaceful strolls [with Tanner] were a far cry from New York and my walks with Rebel. Morning and night, those streets throbbed with the energy of eight million bustling souls leaving their mark on the Naked City. Every trip meant seven flights of stairs, or waiting for the elevator and a possible scuffle with one of the hulking Shepherds, Akitas, and Dobermans that called our building home.  For fun, we had the parks. There was Washington Square where Rebel made a game of rumbling over the homeless men who bunked in the weedy grass, and tiny James Walker on Hudson Street where we played ball in the snow at 4 AM after I’d finished driving my cab, cheered on by Norway rats the size of wildebeest.

'CHANGE OF HEART' & META WORLD PEACE

Like lots of writers and bloggers, I keep a file of stories I find interesting that I might want to share. In an old issue of Cesar Millan's newsletter, I came across an article by Sarah Kosinski Cope about how she went from Pit Bull phobic to become a staunch advocate for the breed. Her 'change of heart' was so dramatic that she even started a non-profit that fosters and places Bullys. If you have a moment, check out COHPBR on Facebook. 
                                                                    ~~~~
For a change of heart of the two-legged variety, how about Laker forward Meta World Peace, formerly Ron Artest. In an LA Times piece, irascible columnist T.J. Simers details how the former 'thug' and NBA pariah, who was suspended for a charging into the stands and brawling with rowdy, drunken fans, has become a self-controlled model citizen. As we angry guys know, it's a hard feat to accomplish. Hats off to Meta/Ron, and here's hoping the  Lakers make the playoffs. 

Eugenie and I with 'the Dog Whisperer' @ the SHARE benefit, Santa Monica, 2008

More 'thank you's - In the last post I forgot to mention Tony Greco from Screenwriter.com, and Ron & Justine Fontes at Sonic Publishing for plugging GIMME SHELTER. Also Sveetie, Zari, Sophie, Davidson Garrett, Bonnie Saito, Lisa Malta O'Leary, Paul Cheesman, Linda Nocon and Andrea Knipe for taking time to review the book.

THANKS...GRAZIE...DOMO ARIGATO

It's been almost 6 weeks now since GIMME SHELTER went live. In that time, we've had a bunch of wonderful comments from readers who found our little 'tail' entertaining and inspiring. Tanner, Eugenie and I find it especially gratifying to learn that other people find understanding and comfort from reading about my 'anger' problem and how it's possible to get a handle on it, even after so many years. 

Although we acknowledge them in the book, we want to give a shout out to some of the people who helped make the book, and my transformation possible: The staff and volunteers at the Agoura Hills (L.A. County) Animal Shelter for keeping Tanner safe until he joined our family. Kathryn Galán, for her editing expertise and formatting prowess without which this book wouldn't exist. Dan Cohen, Davidson Garrett, Joe and Linda Simone, dear friends, talented writers and sharp-eyed readers whose encouragement and suggestions helped me immensely. Gary Horn, my pal, screenwriting partner and fellow

curmudgeon for insisting I keep on scribbling no matter what. The late Caren Bohrman, a terrific agent who loved her writers, even the temperamental one. 

Dr. Judy Dunn, Dr. Zari Hedayat, Dr. Andrea Brandt, and Dr. Fran Walfish for their invaluable insights into human psychology. Trainer Tony Rollins, for helping Tanner and me reach our full potential. Dr. Lisa and the staff at Malibu Coast Animal Hospital. Rob Lerner, CPDT-KSA, and Howie Baker, DVM, for their help with the sidebars. Senseis Andy Diaz and Mel Pralgo whose priceless instruction and wisdom kept me from going over the edge. 

Tanner @ 'The Farm'

My in-laws Melissa, Gene & Sandra, Stephanie & Ernie and their son, Armand, for their love and encouragement. My parents for the lessons they helped me learn. My sisters, Honey and Mary, and my brother, Tony, who rode the childhood rapids with me, for their emphatic love and support. Debrah Caraway for her rescue efforts and the photo collage of Tanner. Carl, Roberta & 'Charlie', Robby, John & 'Lola' and ‘Porter,’ Hiroshi, Bonnie, Wren and 'Winnie', Zari, Ahmad & 'Dexter', Dani, Rich & 'Kona', Doug, Jeanne & 'Ceba', Bettina & 'Otto', Olivia & 'Nikita', Fernando, Mia, 'Reina' & 'Lucy,' and the gang at Malibu Dog Park for graciously sharing their friendships and dog toys with us. Ed King and the gang at A Course In Miracles for taking me into the fold and helping me “see things differently.” 

Finally...Tanner, an amazing dog, terrific companion, and my 4-legged therapist, for his gentle, healing, soulful nature that helped me discover my better self. Finally, Eugenie, my wife, best friend, and the love of my life, for always believing in me when I didn't deserve it, and sticking by me until I saw the light.

OSCAR NIGHT - 'BEST PERFORMANCE BY A DOG' (and some humble pie)

It was a tough night for Tanner and Eugenie; they failed to predict the key awards, and had to listen to me crow about Argo's Best Picture win. We were all glad to see Life of Pi pick up some gold, especially Tanner who loves all movies featuring 4-legged creatures.

In keeping with the Awards, check out this video on 'Skidboot', a cattle dog who takes the 'BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING DOG' hands down. Tanner was quick to point out that he's much cuter and that he could learn all those commands and tricks, but being a terrier (American Staffordshire) he simply doesn't want to. Hmm.

TANNER PICKS THE OSCARS

Last year Tanner proved to be a wiz at handicapping the Oscars; albeit his method was sketchy, he tabbed the Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor nods, along with a slew of other winners. Given his track record, Eugenie and I decided to let him offer his thoughts on this year's races.

Tanner & Lou on State Street, Santa Barbara, 2/18/13

In the Best Picture category, we didn't see three of the nominees - Beasts of The Southern Wild, Django Unchained and Life of Pi (Lou's fault since Eugenie and I were bugging him to get the screeners).  Of the other six, Les Miz was overly long with uneven singing and a plot that jumps from a riveting 'A' story (Jean Valjean v Javert) to sappy, with the love at first sight between Marius (a rich frat boy slumming as a revolutionary) and Cosette. It's a bit of a downer, but nothing compared to Amour, which made me want to run into traffic (Remember, I'm a dog and seppuku isn't an option). We all found it sheer torture and it left us wondering how in the heck these two snooze fests get nominated when the bubbly, brilliant Intouchables came away with bubkes. But I digress. 

'GET WELL' PORTER

Tanner asked me to send 'get well' wishes to his friend and running buddy (literally) Porter. Robby & John Mazza adopted Porter, whose first home was the South L.A. County Shelter. The poor pup had suffered a broken leg, which his first foster owner had repaired. At that time, they used a metal plate and screws to help it heal. It left him with a slight limp but he was still really active. Lately, though, when the leg began giving him problems, Robby and John turned to the Malibu Coast Animal Hospital for help.  After inspecting the big boy, they put him under and removed the plate. Porter made it through with flying colors and is now resting at home, sporting a very cool Rambo camp bandage. He's on restricted duty for a while but should be back to his super self very soon.

Porter, aka Rambo-dog

PUPPY BOWL (RUNNING WITH THE BIG DOGS)

Lou was busy shouting and eating with his pals and so we had to catch the Puppy Bowl after the Super Bowl, which wasn't all that super until the last quarter. If you ask me (and my doggie friends) watching all those wiggly puppies crashing about was a zillion times better. Anyway, if you missed it, just hit the link above and check it out.

Speaking of adorable pups, you know that expression, "If you can't run with the Big Dogs, stay on the porch"? Well, here's a short video of a stout-hearted baby Pit Bull out to show that he belongs with the big boys.  Enjoy.

Book Update: We've finished all the corrections on the paperback edition of GIMME SHELTER which should be available on Amazon within the week. Be sure to get one.

GIMME SHELTER Goes Live

Thanks to a loving nudge from Eugenie, this past Friday, January 25, I read an except from GIMME SHELTER at Bank Of Books, our newest local bookstore.  The manager, Ann Lambert-Vannoy Benoit and her daughter,  Krystyn Lambert, host monthly 'author' and 'poetry' nights, where local scribes get to read from their works or their favorite authors. The large, receptive crowd, included several friends and neighbors who'd come to lend their support.  Hopefully, this was just a preview of things to come.  My thanks to them, and to Eugenie and Tanner for making the evening possible.

For a great description of the scene at this welcome new addition to the community, check out the recent post by our friend and Malibu Times contributor, Alexis Deutsch-Adler.

@Bank of Books, Malibu, January 25, 2013

For anyone who's thinking about following my lead and self-publishing, e-book or hard copy, I have two words: Kathryn Galan of WynnPix Productions. I was totally clueless about formatting, cover design and a zillion other details that left my head spinning until Kathryn stepped in. 

A MAJOR SCORE FOR TANNER

After a long week spent building a website, dabbling with FaceBook and tweaking proofs for the paperback edition of GIMME SHELTER, Eugenie, Tanner and I had an awesome playdate with our friends, Robby and John, and their 'kids', Lola and Porter. While the dogs ran roughshod all over the property, we humans shared a bottle of wine and and the local news. Like every visit, much of the dog time was spent tussling over toys. When we were leaving, Robby and John surprised Tanner with a slew of rubber toys - hotdogs, birds, truck tires - that her dogs so nicely agreed to share. Poor Tanner was crazed, longing to get at his new 'babies' and wondering why we would make him leave the coolest place on earth. Eugenie and I vowed to stash the toys and not to break them out until he'd trashed his newest ones, which were less than a week old. Hah! Barely an hour after we'd returned home, Tanner was splayed out on the living room floor, munching on a a slime-covered ice cream cone.

Tanner & Lola

THE PRICE OF FAME (all work and no play...)

I hope Lou doesn't mind but I thought I'd do this one on my own to voice a little complaint.  Don't get me wrong, he's a great dog daddy but he's been super crazed with this book thing lately and so we haven't been playing enough. Part of that was due to the recent rain (I might look tough but I really don't like the rain, windy days or when it's too hot - anything above 75 degrees) but most of it was because he's been hunched over the machine he uses to make words, pounding on the keys, cursing something called MicroSoft (he's really fond of this other thing, though, called Apple).  Now that the book is up on Kindle and almost ready to be printed, he seems to be calming down and getting back to his real business, which is taking me to the dog park, the beach and the churchyard next door. There, it felt good to get that off my furry chest.  

Before I go, I just had to share the coolest story about Pen Farthing, a former British Royal Marine, whose charity, NOWZAD, helped reunite adopted pets with soldiers and military contractors after they leave Afghanistan. Reuniting these dogs and cats with their soldiers takes planning worthy of covert ops, and it's expensive:  Rescuing a dog can cost $3,500-$4,000, a cat, $2,500.  If you're as moved by the article as we were, maybe you can make a contribution.

January 19, 2013|By David Zucchino, Los Angeles Times

KABUL, Afghanistan — She was just an ordinary brown mutt, a stray, but Pvt. Conrad Lewis loved her. Lewis, a British paratrooper in Afghanistan's Helmand province, adopted the dog and named her Pegasus. Everyone called her Peg. In his letters home, Lewis described Peg as a member of his military family: "I have taught her to sit and give me her paw.... She patrols with us, she is not afraid of the Taliban or their bullets."

A break from the book!

When Lewis was on Christmas leave in Britain in 2010, he told his father, Tony, that Peg was so important to him that he wanted to bring her home when he returned from his deployment. "That's your job, Dad," he said. Two months later, in February 2011, Pvt. Lewis was dead at 22, shot by a sniper.

Tony Lewis and his wife, Sandi, were determined to honor their son's wish. A friend put them in touch with Pen Farthing, a former British Royal Marine whose charity, Nowzad, helps reunite adopted pets with soldiers and contractors after they leave Afghanistan.

The parents, the charity and Conrad's fellow paratroopers hatched a plan: Peg was slipped aboard a military helicopter, then disguised as a military working dog. Afghan army soldiers were paid to deliver her to Kabul.

The Nowzad kennels in the Afghan capital nursed her back to health. Six months later, in November 2011, Peg leaped into the arms of Tony and Sandi Lewis in Claverdon, Warwickshire. "Having her here means so much to us," Tony Lewis said on Thanksgiving Day. "She is a link to Conrad's time in Afghanistan, a symbol of his sacrifice. She is something he loved, and we love her too.... She has his spirit." (read the entire article)

GIMME SHELTER - Available on Amazon.com

Tanner and I had planned on adding a 'New Year's' post but thanks to my friend and neighbor, Kathryn Galan (Luna's 'mom'), we spent the first two weeks of 2013 formatting and publishing GIMME SHELTER for the Kindle store on Amazon.com, where it is now available for all Kindle devices, iPad, iPhone and Mac and PC computers. We are very, very, very jazzed and eternally grateful to Kathryn for making this happen. To order GIMME SHELTER now, just click the "10%" link below the cover photo.

10% of the profits from this book will be donated to animal rescue causes

We'll detail the publishing process as soon as we recover but, for now, here's all you need to know to get the book.  First, if you don't have one (hard to imagine since it seems like we shop there daily) create an Amazon account. Then go to Amazon's Kindle store or just type in GIMME SHELTER or my name, Louis Spirito, and you'll be directed to the book.

If you don't have a Kindle or iPad/iPhone, you can download a free Kindle program and read it on your laptop or desktop computer, like I did.  To get the program, click either Mac or PC and you will be taken Amazon, where they will tell you how to download the program.  Installation is very easy.

Tanner, Eugenie and I would like to thank all of our family and friends for the ongoing support, and we look forward to having GIMME SHELTER spread the word that rescue dogs, and Pit Bulls in particular, can make wonderful, loving companions.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGBULL

After a bizarrely hot summer, things were just getting back to normal in our house when Tanner, and his 2-legged daddy, were thrown another curve.  Back in August I had undergone outpatient surgery.  The procedure was minor but the bill, as anyone who's been there knows, wasn't quite so trivial.  Having covered my insurance deductible, I decided to see a specialist about my achy left hip.  I knew there was some wear and tear (thirty years of marital arts will do that) but I was stunned to learn that the cartilage was gone, leaving me with bone on bone.  Since the condition and pain would only worsen, Eugenie and I decided I should have it fixed asap.

On October 4th, we drove to St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, where Dr. Andrew Yun and his team worked their magic performing a minimally invasive surgery that left me with a matched set of bionic joints (the right hip was replaced in 2006).  A mere thirty hours later, I was back home in bed.  While I could stand, shuffle a bit and even climb our four flights of stairs, albeit with great difficulty and some pain, walking Tanner was out of the question, and so Eugenie stepped into the breach.

First thing each morning, she got me out of bed, tugged on my TED socks and shoes, and got me moving.  Then hit the road with Tanner, who was sorely miffed that she didn't know, or didn't care about our routine, which included a long stroll on the grounds of the church next door. Back at the house, Eugenie focussed on getting us fed and making sure I did my walking and PT, leaving no time for morning 'play'.  Tanner was forlorn and confused.  "Why was dad acting so strangely, and why was he neglecting me?  And what was he doing walking with that scary black stick?"

At first, the painkillers made me queasy and just eating breakfast left me exhausted.  About the only thing I could manage was lying in bed, blowing through the detective novels (Daniel Silva's 'Rembrandt Affair', Michael Connelly's 'Echo Park') I had stacked up like planes at LAX.  Tanner seemed perplexed to see me horizontal (It's rare I even nap) but that didn't deter him.  If dad couldn't or wouldn't fuss with him, he would fuss with dad.  Ignoring a mound of pillows, and the cords from the portable ice machine, he popped up onto the bed and nestled up against my ailing left leg.

The patient, with 'Florence Nightinbull'

It went on that way for a week, until I finally recaptured my chi and abandoned the bed for the upstairs recliner.  Once I quit our Tempurpedic, Tanner returned to his own bed where he could keep a watchful I on me.  When I made a run to the kitchen for ginger ale or Gatorade, he shadowed me. If I mummy-stepped my way upstairs to the bathroom, he tagged along and flopped down on the rug until I made the trek back down.  When I joined Eugenie and him on the afternoon walk, he slowed his pace out of respect for his gimpy owner.  Around the 2-week mark, I finally shed my cane and a few days later I took the reins for our morning walk, as if nothing unusual had taken place.  Tanner's brief nursing career was over.

Although he's quit nursing for the time being, Tanner stills wants to be of service to his fellow creatures, both the 2-legged and 4-legged sort.  That's why he said to mention our dear friend, M.C. Callahan, a terrific ballroom dance instructor, who generously devotes her free hours to two animal charities in the Coachella Valley where she lives.  Healing Horses in Indio, CA offers equine therapy to improve the lives of special needs children.  Located in Desert Hot Springs, Save-A-Pet offers food and shelter to dogs in need.  It's an outdoor facility so, with the cool desert winters nights coming, they need donations of old towels, sheets, and blankets.  So clean out those closets and put your old and unused items to a good use.

SUMMERTIME BLUES (Goin' To The Chapel)

When Tanner & I penned our last entry, Summer was in full bloom and we were bracing for an invasion of Spirito relatives that were about to descend on Calif for our niece's, Margaret's, wedding.  As it is most years, the weather was sunny and cool so I phoned my brother and sisters and told them to pack accordingly; this wasn't New Jersey with it's scorching temperatures and brutal humidity.  Hah.  Mere days before their arrival a heatwave hit, bringing unseasonably high temps and tropical moisture.  My sibs were miffed and poor Tanner, who hates the heat the way most people hate taxes, was drained.  He lazed around panting and huffing like he was circling the drain.  

Bad enough that the 'monsoonal' flow (whatever the heck that is) wrought havoc on our routine, forcing us to cut short morning walks and to skip our dog park play dates.  With the heat came an onslaught of ravenous fleas that feasted on Tanner's delectable pink belly and rump.  Every morning Eugenie and I would decimate the little buggers only to have them return in greater numbers the next day.  Frontline, borate powder, flea shampoo - nothing stemmed the insatiable horde.  

As often happens with Pit Bulls, the bites led to a nasty case  of folliculitis, and a three-week round of Keflex.  At first, getting Tanner to take the pills was a snap.  We'd wrap them in a piece of cheese, and down they'd go.  Somewhere around day 3, he sussed out our ruse, and so we moved on to turkey, deli ham and Prosciutto di Parma.  For the briefest moment, I thought about trying to force-feed the pills to him.  Then I thought about his timid nature (and his shark jaws) and decided to spring for rare roast beef.  The bloody meat did the trick, and the bumps disappeared.  To prevent another attack, we blasted the house with diatomaceous earth.  The cleanup was messy, but the fleas have cleared out.

                                                                       ~ ~ ~

One month later and the heat has finally begun to ease.  Football dominates the sports pages, crowds are enjoying one last beach hurrah, and we're celebrating Labor Day working like dogs, that is, doing nothing in particular.  Despite the heat and my sister's emergency root canal, the wedding was a huge success, as Margaret and Ryan pledged their love surrounded by their dearest and dearest.  Eugenie and I gladly played host to family I hadn't seen in years, and Tanner got to meet and charm a host of two-legged 'uncles', 'aunts', and 'cousins', all of whom fell madly in love with him.  Natch.  We'll do it all again 4 months from now, when we fly to NJ for a second niece's (Margaret's sister, Kristina) nuptials.  If the cool weather holds, we'll resumed our long morning jaunts and our doggie play dates with Kona, Luna, Dexter and Charlie.   Fingers crossed.

                                                                       ~ ~ ~

I wanted to share a photo from my oldest sister, Honey, a Lieutenant with the Hudson County (NJ) Prosecutor's Office.  A lifelong dog lover, she's had a slew of big, feisty pups.  The current roster includes 'Aldo' a 100-pound hurricane refugee, and Harley, a Rottweiler rescue (her 4th Rottie).

PIT BULLS IN THE NEWS

Spent the morning cuddling with Tanner who was lucky to make it out of the shelter after spending seven weeks on death row.  We left him resting in his bed and made our weekly stop at the Malibu Farmer's Market, where dogs are not allowed.  There was a pet adoption adjacent to the market and about half the dogs were Pits, no surprise there.  One was 'Benny', a beautiful white boy who was also deaf.  Dogs like him usually do well in homes where another dog can act as their ears and get them to follow commands.  There were two Pit pups, a blue fawn with the same tan and white markings as Tanner, and a cute brindle.  We have a friend will who says she wants a dog like ours and so we're hoping that she might adopt one of them.  If you know anyone who might have room for a 'ferocious'  bundle of love and kisses, contact The Forgotten Dog Foundation at 310.990-2020, info@theforgottendog.org, or check them out online at www.theforgottendog.org.

In other Pit Bull news, the Maryland state legislature recently passed a law declaring that all Pit Bulls are inherently dangerous:

Tracey v. Solesky, No. 53, September Term 2012, Opinion by Cathell, J.

STRICT LIABILITY ADOPTED IN RESPECT TO ATTACKS ON HUMANS BY PIT BULL DOGS AND CROSS-BRED PIT BULL DOGS.

Upon a plaintiff’s sufficient proof that a dog involved in an attack is a pit bull or a pit bull cross, and that the owner, or other person(s) who has the right to control the pit bull’s presence on the subject premises (including a landlord who has a right to prohibit such dogs on leased premises) knows, or has reason to know, that the dog is a pit bull or cross-bred pit bull, that person is liable for the damages caused to a plaintiff who is attacked by the dog on or from the owner’s or lessor’s premises. In that case a plaintiff has established a prima facie case of negligence. When an attack involves pit bulls, it is no longer necessary to prove that the particular pit bull or pit bulls are dangerous.

In practical terms, the law means that in any incident involving a Pit Bull, the owner or a or a landlord who rents to the owner of a Pit Bull will automatically be guilty of owning or harboring a 'dangerous' dog, exposing those people to legal liability.  In all likelihood, it will making adoption of Pit Bulls much more difficult, leading to more euthanized dogs.  If this rankles you (Imagine a law that said, owing to the nature of the Mafia, all Italians are inherently criminal), contact the Maryland State legislators and tell them to reconsider their prejudicial, misguided law.

The Writer and 'inherently dangerous' Tanner

Sadly, Maryland doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity and Pit Bull-phobia.  After a 2-year battle, Lennox the Pit Bull was euthanized because of his genetic makeup as a banned breed.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/07/lennox-the-dog-is-put-to-death-in-northern-ireland.html  One way to end the senseless slaughter of unwanted dogs is to eliminate puppy mills.  If you would like to help, you can voice your opposition by signing a petition to encourage the USDA to crack down on them. 

ANOTHER SMALL STEP

Those of you familiar with Tanner's story will remember that, when he first left the shelter, he was one very skittish pup.  A scuffed shoe or a dropped plate would send him flying.  Thanks to Eugenie's constant affection (she never took her hands off him) and my concerted efforts to reform my foul temper, he finally began to relax.  First, we were able to coax him up onto the sofa for TV cuddles.  Then, he learned to stretch out on our bed when invited.  Of course, he stayed in the middle, close enough to let us touch him but far enough away to avoid us when he chose.  Just recently, though, that's begun to change.  When we're watching movies in bed (been enjoying Ric Burns epic documentary New York) he been allowing Eugenie to drape her legs across his body.  And the other night, he curled up in my lap!  I'd been busy working at probation and doing a hurry-up rewrite on my play so we think it was his way of saying that he missed me.  Regardless, it was awesome to see him acting like the beloved family dog that he is. 

We'll see how he handles the fireworks and firecrackers this week.  Even if he freaks, we'll be there to buck him up. 

note:  Since I penned the 'June Gloom' headline, we've had most blue, sunny skies.  Maybe my public kvetching moved the weather gods.  Either that or we've been lucky for a change.  

JUNE GLOOM (AWOL From The Dog Park)

Dudley and Blanche

Ever since his 4-year anniversary, Tanner and his humans have been busy with a host of projects, including finding a home for GIMME SHELTER. The journey continues and we hope to have an agent in place by Eugenie's birthday (June 21). In addition to tweaking the book, crafting a proposal and starting a rewrite on my play, "All That He Could Be" (the true story of the only solider to successfully challenge the ban on gays in the U.S. Military - a black drag queen!),  I've been I've been teaching at Probation and Eugenie has been carving like a mad woman. She's submitting to several galleries and competitions and applying for grants as well.  On top of that, we took a quick trip to Palm Springs to visit Eugenie's mom, for Mother's Day. It was 100+ and Melissa's AC was out!  Thankfully, our friends Toni, Ron and Alana let us stay at their place in Palm Desert. Tanner dislikes the heat and long drives but he bore up surprisingly well.  On a sad note, Melissa's beloved Pug, Dudley passed away recently, a few months shy of his 15th b-day. Dud was a funny, mischievous little imp who trained his owner to do his bidding. For most of his life, he spent the summers with us when things got too warm in the Desert, so we'll miss him terribly, too.

'Make-Up' cuddles

In addition to work and travel, we've been fixing up the house in anticipation of our niece Margaret's wedding two months from now, when all of the Spirito famiglia will descend on SoCal, many for their first visit since we moved here in 1991. We can't have them thinking we live in a slum, albeit one with palm trees and an ocean view (if you stand on your toes in the upstairs loft). Like his grumpy 'father (and our late cat, Blanche) Tanner HATES changes to his environment or routine. Sprucing up the master bath fits that label, and he's been on edge the entire time.  It doesn't help that we've been AWOL at the dog park lately so Poor Tanner has had to make do with local play dates, extra treats and cuddles in bed.

As it too often does, the 'June Gloom' has settled in bringing overcast skies and chilly (by California standards) temperatures. Tanner likes it cool but not foggy, and he detests the rain. I like it warm and sunny, so I'm bummed. 

                                                                                               ~  ~  ~

"Our first year here it rained all spring and the lousy weather lasted well into fall.  Like a kid who’d been promised a trip to Disneyland but forced to settle for a T-shirt, I felt gypped. And ill. Before we quit New York, Eugenie’s mom graciously supervised the fix-up on our Malibu rental. Under her decorator’s eye, the place was painted top to bottom, the floors and furniture refinished, and new carpeting installed. The work took all of February.  During that time it rained so fiercely that she kept the doors and windows shut tight, allowing the petrochemical fumes to reach critical mass. When we boarded the plane that would take us to the Left Coast, we had no idea that we’d be moving into a toxic time bomb. Shortly after we arrived my head began to pound. I was green, listless, and in constant agony.  I tried aspirin, massage, and meditation. Nothing could blunt the pain. Either I was dying, or I was allergic to California. I agreed to give it one more week; then I was flying back to New York where I’d stay until I recovered. In desperation, Eugenie took me to see a homeopath who diagnosed me with chemical poisoning. I scoffed, but I took the little sugar pills and the headaches went away." (from "Gimme Shelter: A Damaged Pit Bull, an Angry Man and How They Saved Each Other").

                                                                                              ~  ~  ~

Right now Tanner is crashed out on his bed, taking advantage of a lull in the hammering and sawing to catch up on his sleep. He'd better since we're off to Fashion Island in Costa Mesa tomorrow to visit with Eugenie's godfather, Gene, and his wife, Jennifer. There will be tons of Yorkies, Shih Tzus  and other pocket pooches at the mall so Tanner will makes lots of new 'friends' and probably scare a few uptight O.C. residents.