Tuesday, February 14, 2012

BSL is BS.

BSL-Breed Specific Legislation.

This topic is something that easily gets my blood boiling. People are uneducated on the topic and completely ignorant in regards to what constitutes a truly "dangerous" dog. Most people couldn't answer simple questions about the breeds that are deemed "dangerous", and in most cases cannot even properly identify them. The media has done a fantastic job of making people fear these dogs. Instead of the people taking it upon themselves to learn about these breeds, they agree with the media and the bad representation that these animals are given.

Yes, I happen to own an "agressive" breed of dog. Is he agressive? If I could put a picture up here of me rolling on the floor laughing....I would. He is the sweetest dog you will ever meet. Now, our Aussie...can't say the same for her. Due to her breeding and the lines she was born from, she has aggression issues. So, as responsible owners we take the correct precautions to ensure she is always in a comfortable situation in which nothing bad can happen to her or others. However, when we walk around with our two dogs people fear our German Shepherd. He is the one who wags his tail and is happy to see people, but they won't come near him because the media has forced them to think his breed is mean. Then they go to pet our Aussie and she growls. The people say "oh, but she looks so nice!". And our German Shepherd doesn't?

Society's views on these breeds have been tainted and it is sad. These animals are paying for the stupidity of their owners and those who don't care to take the time to properly educated themselves about the breed. Sure, if my dog bit someone he would most definitely injure them. However, as a proper owner, we are training him to ensure that doesn't happen. Gunner is trained to bite and release on command. Therefore he knows when he can bite and doesn't just bite in random situations. In fact when he touches skin he immediately releases and will come give you kisses :). The most important thing about owning one of these breeds is training the dog properly. We have spent lots of time and money to properly train Gunner, but in the end it is going to pay us back ten fold. He is going to be such an obedient dog, and a proper protector for our family.
Any dog can be viscious, and yes the bigger ones are capable of bigger injuries, but a lot of elements go into the circumstance. What were the people in the situation doing? Was the handler in control? Was the dog showing signs of anxiety and the people tried to pet them any way?..etc. Simply blaming the breed of dog is complete ignorance...nothing else.

Pit Bulls are deemed viscious and it's sad. They are only what man creates them to be. Those with bad genes shouldn't be bred...if they are it's mans fault...not the dogs. The ones who are mean because they are forced to fight until death...that's the mans fault...not the dogs. The ones who snuggle with you and are your best friend through life...thats the mans fault...not the dogs. In the end the man is the one to blame. No one will ever be able to convince me that an entire breed should be demolished because of the actions of a few. Ignorance at its best.

If you are one who agrees with BSL....just do me one favor. Take one of these breeds home for a week and tell me that the entire breed should be put down.

Losing yourself in motherhood.

Happy Valentines Day! This day of "love" has gotten me thinking about what most people, especially women (mothers), forget to do; love themselves.

When you become a mother you realize that things are going to change, forever. You realize that you are going to have to give up some things you are used to, to get accustomed to the new ways of raising your child. Unfortunately, along the way most moms completely lose themselves....never thinking to do something for themselves.

After having Trenton I had major PPD, major. I completely lost who I was, and was just lost in general. After going through all of that I can happily say that I am in a better place. One thing that helped me was finding time for myself, and time for my marriage. I began classes because I was so upset that I didn't have a college degree before getting pregnant...it was my goal. So, now here I am getting ready to graduate with my Associate's degree and begin classes toward earning my Bachelor's. As a mother and a woman...I'm feeling pretty strong right now! Rewind to this time 2 years ago and you would have seen a person rolled into a ball, in bed, crying.

Trying to make time for my marriage is also important. It's very easy to lost that connection between one another, and also easy to forget about it. So, every couple weeks Trevor and I take the time to go out on a date, just the two of us. I also give Trenton "room time"so that I can get ready and "primp" for the day.

It may sound silly to some, but remembering who I am and what is important to me (yes, even just putting on a bit of mascara each morning) has helped me out of that rut.

I put Trenton, Trevor, and even our dogs before myself every single day. However, I have come to realize that there needs to be a balance. It's great to always give, but don't forget that you are important too. Don't forget about the goals that you have in life, and don't forget about what you love to do. When your littles one are grown and gone you are going to be left in your home with your husband and your life together. I personally want my marriage to be fun and exciting, and my life to be just the same, even after Trenton leaves the nest. That's not to say I won't be sad, because I will be, but I still have my life with my husband to look forward to.

You can throw yourself heart and soul into being a mother, but do not forget about yourself. Save a little bit of your heart for loving yourself so that when your little ones are gone that heart isn't completely broken.