The First Annual Bully March

 Strelka and I attended the First Annual Bully March at Piedmont Park this weekend, and we had a blast.  I was feeling really under the weather, but I am glad we went anyway because she LOVED it.  Seeing all those other happy, well-behaved pit bulls made her wanna play and bound and walk for days. 

 

 

 

At the end of the march, she decided it was time to roll around in the grass.

 

 

A few children popping their heads out of a tent was a pleasant suprise for her.  She loves kids and is always very curious about them. 

 

When we got home, I needed to take a nap, drink plenty of juice, and try to regroup, but Strelka still really wanted to play so Sergei and her ran around the backyard for a bit before I put her in the crate for our nap.

 

The Atlanta Bully March was a great event, and I look forward to attending it again next year.  I hope to see a lot of you out there too!

 

 

Shelter Angels posted this video on their Facebook.  You can see Strelka and me 2:23 to 2:33!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quu0E6EEzY0&feature=youtu.be

The Life of Strelka-Lelka

Strelka and I met up with Melissa and Thai on Thursday night.  We went to the East Atlanta Farmer's Market.  Strelka showed off her pirate outfit, though she decided the hat was not neccessary for the ensemble.  The lovely lady at Big Daddy Biscuits gave her a cookie and took her photo to post on Facebook later.  We ended up buying some delicious chedder/bacon biscuits.

 

Then we went back to Flat Iron for Soysage reubens and a beer.  Strelka crunched on her treats and watched all the new people walking buy.  She even met an adorable little baby that is also available for adoption.  I believe the puppy was part of the group called Southern Hope.  Let's hope baby and Strelka both get a home soon!

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is the first annual Bully March in Atlanta!  I am super excited and so is Strelka.  We will attend the march together and then I will be at the Bully Rally without her later.  Hope to see you there!  And, as always, this little pirate is available for adoption and ready to go home with you!

 

 

 

The Increasingly Exciting Life of Strelka

Strelka has been keeping busy!  This weekend she dropped by Taj Ma Hound for some more treats, ate them outside Kavarna, got a bully stick from the pet store in EAV, and then went for lunch at Flat Iron.  While at Flat Iron, She met a really nice woman who ended up inviting her over later to meet her boyfriend.  She gave her little rainbow tie-die bandana wraps and lots of attention. 

 

 

She also finally got to play with Sergei.  Sergei is one of my pups that has a complicated personality.  He is fine to share the yard with Strelka, but he refuses to share the house and so (unfortunately) I have to rotate them, my two getting attention when Strelka is not and vice versa.  We had to work very slowly to have this yard time, but it was worth it.  The dogs had a blast and Strelka was really great at reading Sergei's communications, which made him much more comfortable.

After all the excitement of the weekend, Strelka wanted to curl up and play with her toys.  She is adorable.  We are looking forward to meeting a new friend on Wednesday!  Who would have thought she would become such a social butterfly when I found her two months ago?  This girl is going to be in a loving home soon.  I can just feel it.

Two Flyers to Choose from!

Virginia Holcombe was kind enough to make this flyer, and I love it!  Between this one and the one that Christy Thompkins-Freeland made, I know we will get this girl adopted soon.  Please e-mail me for the PDF or hard copies so that you can help me by hanging them up around your community.

Strelka in Oakhurst Village

Strelka and I met one of my friends for dinner in Oakhurst last night.  I took her to Taj Ma Hound for a baked cookie, shaped and decorated to look like a dancing skeleton.  She also got a new toy--like she really needs one more!

Then we went to Steinbecks.  I gave Strelka her new toy, but she was too interested in watching all the other people and dogs.  She wanted to meet everyone, but the first two dogs she met growled at her.  She was frightened, but a really nice man with a really big, curly-haired, well-behaved, ADORABLE pup came and sat with us.  She did not know if the dog would be friendly or not so she got a little defensive at first, but she realized he was not a foe and they quickly became friends.

After dinner, we went back to Taj Ma Hound for their Thursday night Ice Cream Social.  Krista gave us some free ice cream and encouragement.  The ice cream was layered to look like a candy corn.  We saved it for later, but Strelka loved it.  There were so many dogs at the social!  It was a little overwhelming for Strelka at first, but her curiosity got the best of her.  I kept her on a leash since there were all sorts of different doggie personality types in the room, but she still made friends.  She loved all the little daschunds most of all, but she also met a grey and white pit puppy she thought hung the moon. 

We met a nice man and his dog, Baulderdash, who looked so much like Brady, the pit bull mix that Strelka lived with when she was in foster for a month.  He was adorable and so sweet.  Strelka did not know what to think of him at first, but he was a gentle big ol' lug and how could you resist his persistent charm? 

In the end, we had a blast and learned so much.  Strelka is still growing up, and it is important that she is socialized a lot now while she is young, but it is also important that she feels safe.  She has been through so much already.  We took it slow, sat in the corner, and only stayed for about 20 minutes.  It was the perfect amount of time to have some fun, get some treats, and then head out.  She was able to rest, while the rest of us sat anxiously watching the vice presidential debates.  The life of a dog.

Do you want to adopt this girl and take her on brand new adventures?

Strelka has new Flyers!

Christy Thompkins-Freeland made Strelka this flyer.  I love it.  It is way more encourgaing than the last one.  Please let me know if you would like me to e-mail you the PDF so that you can print some up and hang them around your community.

Anyone Good at Making Flyers?

This is the current, boring flyer.  Is there someone out there that could make me one that is more attention-grabbing?  I would love the help. 

Give this Girl a Home for the Holidays....

Don't you want to bring this little pirate home before Halloween?!  She is fully vaccinated, microchipped, spayed, and has been kept on heartworm and flea prevention. 

Exploring East Atlanta

Strelka's puppy side is finally coming out.  She loves playing with toys and getting attention.  She is not as docile as she once was, but she is a lot more eager to explore new places and meet people.  She is so incredibly loving and sweet.  I cannot resist those pleading eyes, and that happy tongue that hangs out of the side of her mouth when she is pleased. 

Today, we took a trip to the Park Pet Supply in East Atlanta.  The two women working there were really nice.  They were sweet with Strelka, and she loved them.  One of them said she had rescued and adopted out a girl that looked a lot like Strelka but larger.  She assured me that I would find this baby a home, and it felt so good to have the extra vote of confidence.  They handed her a bully stick that she could not resist.  In the end, we purchased the stick, a brand new Halloween toy, and some--try not to get too excited--poop bags!  We even earned some free treats as frequent shoppers.  The pet store has been kind enough to let us keep a flyer hanging up there.

Then we walked around East Atlanta, stopping at the cd store to listen to some Whitney Houston, before heading over to Joe's for an iced coffee.  They also let me hang her flyer up here.  We are lounging around on the patio together now, meeting new people from time to time.  She is loving her bully stick and is content to be in her favorite place--at my side.  It is amazing how bonded she becomes to people.  I have said it before, but I will say it again, someone is going to be so lucky to get this girl.  She will be smitten with them for life.  This is the kind of pup that thinks her owner can do not wrong and wants nothing more than to please them.  I am looking for someone who will feel the same way about her.

I couldn't get any pictures of Strelka in EAV because my camera, conveniently, ran out of batteries.  This is a picture of Strelka hanging out with one of her biggest fans and past foster caregivers, Jasmin Butler.

Belka (now Roo) Update

I had the pleasure of having a sleepover with Roo a couple weeks ago.  She stayed at my house overnight so that I could take her to her spay appointment.  She was wonderful.  Her new family has really done a great job with her.  She was so brave and so eager to interact with people and other dogs.  We played for hours that evening, and the next night I laid beside her after her surgery.  I read her articles out of the new yorker and gently rubbed her until her mom came to pick her up.

                  Mom told me via a text, "We're so glad to have her!  She is the perfect fit for us :)"

I so hope that we can find a wonderful family for her sister, Strelka, as well.  Strelka seemed, from the start, like the one that would adapt to the good life the most quickly.  It was great to see that Belka/Roo was able to become as social and loving as her sister.  If you are looking for someone to love--Strelka is the baby for you.

                                                     mckelvey.laura731@gmail.com

Starting Off on the Right Paw--Basic Obedience Training

We make sure to practice our basic obedience every day so that when Strelka goes into her new home she will have a good headstart on her training.  We are so hoping that someone takes a liking to her soon.  She is going to be the perfect pet for some lucky person.  They just don't know it yet.

Strelka knows exactly where to go for dinner and how to sit pretty while waiting on it.  Did I mention that she is perfect?

 

Strelka is crate trained.  Here we are, out in the rain, for a bathroom break.  Even the dogs I've had for years won't do that!

 

We do not believe in all work and no relaxation though. Often, Strelka and I just cuddle, read books together, and wait for  ADOPTION DAY.