My late husband and I worked in rescue thru East TN Boston Terrier Rescue (Joe Raibley) back in 2003. At that time, ETBTR was just getting started, and Elwyn and I had the west side of the state while Joe worked the east side. However, Elwyn passed away in 2007 I had to find homes for the Bostons we had, so I could I care for Elwyn under hospice care.

Elwyn and I had gone to his brother's house, and Annabel was tied to a chain, completely wrapped around, no food, no water. Elwyn went in and told his brother that either he gave us Annabel or we were having the animal control officer involved. So that was my first Boston. But the time Elwyn's health started to fail in late 2006, we had about a dozen, along with other breeds as well (including a real honest to goodness arctic wolf...  But here is Annabel, and while we found homes for the other Bostons, Elwyn's great-niece wanted her, so we gave her to them.  I was taking care of Elwyn day and night by then. I kept in touch with Jessica and Annabel lived until a year ago when she passed away due to old age. So here is Annabel.   

I remarried in 2011, and at that time, Ken had only one dog... a mutt named Skaliwag. However, I started hanging out on Craigslist, trying to explain to people what that "free to good home" would probably be... either a bait dog in pit bull fighting or else sold for animal research. I can usually talk the owner into surrendering the dog to the appropriate rescue group, but once it backfired.

 An owner told me that the dog was a boxer/terrier mix, and for some reason, she was determined that I would have her or she would have her put to sleep. Finally, I gave in and gave her my vet references. When she brought the dog over, I knew I was looking at a 100% pit bull because I know my pits... almost was killed with one of my own back in 1998 that I raised from a puppy.

But I didn't say a thing... just took Baby Girl in.  

It took me about 5 days to tell Ken that she was a pit bull. Course, he had already figured that out. When I took her to have her spayed, the vet tech I had known for years said she had figured I would NEVER have had another pit, after that attack, because they almost had to amputate my right hand and right foot... He did that much damage in about 15 seconds. If not for the fact that 3 of my other pits were in the house, I would have been dead. 

I found Dixie on Craigslist, but this time I knew she was a pit... I know that some pits may resemble a boxer mix, but Dixie is 100% white pit and I knew it. Two vet techs had rescued her and she had every parasite known to man, heartworm positive, etc. It took them almost a year to get her healthy enough to have her spayed, but I knew immediately she was MINE.

She was about 14 years old, and one morning she woke up with breathing problems. We took her to the vet, and Ken had always wanted a chihuahua. So he just asked "you don't by chance have a chihuahua you want to get rid of, do you?" And believe it or not, an owner had come in just a few minutes earlier to have her euthanized because she could not afford the food and vet care.

So needless to say, we went in with one dog and came out with two. And Emma and Dixie are BEST FRIENDS... they sleep together and the whole nine yards. Dixie is a HUGE pit, about 85 lbs. So big that when we got her, I had to get my son to come over and install a larger doggie door. The biggest one they made! And Emma is about 8 lbs.  She is also a "senior citizen"... about 15 years old.

All of my dogs are really seniors, and am in the process of starting the paperwork for a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is going to be called "Senior Citizen Canine Rescue", assuming I make it to the "senior" site, since I have battled everything from kidney cancer to a perforated ulcer to a stroke to a broken hip on Memorial Day, but am still going strong. My hobby is eBay... I have an eBay store called "Kaitlynn's Korner" after one of my granddaughters, and I don't really make much money... it is just a hobby.

Once a dog lover, foster mom and foster failure: how life's turns can be so strange but so rewarding.

Sharon Johnson

You just let your dog out, he rushes past you in the joy of his first morning playtime. At least that was what you thought he would do. Just as you take that first morning sip of coffee, you realize that he has headed straight into the tall grass at the edge of the fence... The grass you had not weed whacked yet.

As you watch him, you observe instead of doing his morning business, or sniffing out the place where the squirrel usually comes down out of the tree, he is busy nipping at the tall grass, making some funny faces as he tries to chew a reluctant sprig of the green stuff. With the trouble he is having, it almost makes you imagine the grass is trying not to be swallowed. You are smiling as you continue to sip your morning coffee and watch his silly actions.

You continue to muse this state of things as your dog wanders off to his favorite stop in the yard for the serious stuff.   Then a thought pops up. Why would a dog keep eating grass? Should you panic? Is this normal? Should you call the vet? You start to really worry. This is not the first time that he has done this.

Finally he is finished and is ready to come inside. His timing was just right, you thought as you took that last sip of coffee... But you just cannot take your mind off of the grass eating issue.

That did it! Your worry will not go away until you find out... You call another dog friend and even though she assures you that, “Lots of dogs like to graze every now and then", as you listen to her words over the phone, you know she is trying to assure you; however, you are still not sure, “Eating grass is a natural thing. My dog Jasper does this all the time."

Perhaps we can help bring more assurance to this issue.  We also had some questions we felt we should look up and this is what we found.

There are a few theories about dogs snacking on grass.

1.  Eating grass may be a natural instinct that makes pets feel better, but occasionally this herbivorous habit can upset the gastrointestinal tract and cause vomiting. In general many vets and experienced pet owners feel that "your pet may be self- medicating, much as you do when you reach for an antacid. However, be careful."  Experts still aren't sure whether grass prevents or causes vomiting, so giving your pet grass, could worsen his already upset stomach!  "Even cats, tend to eat grass when they have hairballs to get rid of."  However, if your pet vomits or develops diarrhea whenever he visits the backyard, you should discourage his vegetarian impulses by restricting his access to grass.

   Remember, chemically treated lawns are dangerous for your pet. If you spray your yard with fertilizers, insecticides or weed killers, don't let him eat the grass.

   Call your veterinarian if your pet continues to eat grass and shows other signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy.

2. Other opinions explain that " Some dogs may just develop a taste for the green stuff, and eat it because they like it!" Dogs do crave their samples of greens every now and then, so "nothing to really worry about". In nature, actually dogs will sample grasses, sticks, wood, fruits and berries. Just as humans may crave crunchy salad, dog may crave grass.
3. Since Dogs in the wild do not eat every day, they have a bit of  a scavenger side. "They will eat what they find and this may include, rabbit feces, sticks, old bones etc."   You may already have noticed that if left unsupervised, especially a young dog will likely eat just about anything he finds in your home, cat litter, pens, pencils, shoes, or even your son's diaper. (oh yes and much much more!)
4. Here is another explanation. I really like this one, Why dogs eat grass?:  Wild canids (e.g., wolves and fox) eat all of an animal when they catch it. Since they eat many herbivores (plant-eating animals), they end up eating a lot of grasses and plants that were in the intestines of these animals. In addition, they have been known to eat certain berries and other plant material. Dogs then, may eat grass because, in reality, it is a normal part of their diet.

Ok so your not going to panic if your dog eats a little grass now and then.  But what If you just do not want him acting like a goat? What if your neighbor uses grass poison, and  you worry that the poison might be spilling over into your yard?

1. Supplement his diet with some green beans or broccoli may cut off some of his desire for grass. It could be your dog is simply looking for food with a higher fiber content. Ask your veterinarian about special diets rich in fiber.  What! you did not know this?  Neither did I until last year. The idea is if your pet is an avid grass eater green beans or broccoli he may decide that he likes your greens better.
2. Don't pull your dog away, should he demonstrate the desire to eat some grass. Just make sure the grass has not been treated, and then treat your dog to a healthy dose of greenies.
3. Also have you heard this explanation?  That eating grass may be a developed behavior. He sees an older dog eating it when he is playing with others and just joins in.

In any case, grass eating is basically a normal behavior, and is not of concern unless your dog does it excessively or where poison has been used.