Junior was originally my oldest son's dog, brought home when he was only eight weeks old. As with many families, he stayed with the family when my son left home and went through his puppyhood and adolescence with all of us. Junior was a working dog, though we didn't fully appreciate just how much he did for us until after his death. He was charged with protecting our homestead, the children, the cats, the chickens and ducks, against the endless stream of night time invaders that encroach at dusk and don't cease until dawn and the daytime marauders as well. Raccoons, skunks, foxes and loose dogs that would make short work of our poultry, were kept at bay. Junior would not tolerate alien predators near the family or our poultry. He took his responsibilities seriously but always seemed to know what was a threat and what wasn't. Everyday, Junior came in contact with dozens of people; meter readers, UPS drivers, propane deliverers, housekeepers and employees and the endless stream of teenagers and small children visiting my sons and their little sisters. Junior never hurt a soul and unless he observed strange or confusing behavior, rarely even barked and if he did bark it was just to let someone know that he was there and paying attention. Junior's only failing was his imposing, muscular appearance and the public prejudice against his breed. We are a single parent family and his strength, confidence and alertness was a great comfort to all of us, we knew he would do all he could to protect us. Once, my daughters, then two and five, and I were hiking nearby our home. My youngest daughter was about fifteen feet ahead of me on the trail and her sister a few feet ahead of her, when Junior suddenly stopped short and looked across the trail to our right. Without hesitation he charged through the brush only a few feet from the trail and went head to head with a mountain lion. We saw only the tail of the lion but heard them both growling and the brush snapping and breaking. Luckily, after a few seconds Junior returned to us, positioning himself between us and where the lion had been, and the lion left. If the lion had persisted it could have killed him and we know he would have given his life to protect us. Since his death all the other tasks he performed that we took for granted or weren't even aware of are becoming evident. Junior must have kept the chickens out of the strawberries and the salad garden and off the deck because they were never a problem before. The cats are now trying to make holes in our screens to get in the house and jump on the table when no one is looking, they never did either before. Most important is the companionship we have all lost. Junior was sometimes the only adult I had to talk to and my four year old daughter played dolls on him or used him for a pillow or rode him like a horse. My seven year old fears that someone will now be able to steal her from her room in the middle of the night, something that could never have happened when he was here. We love you so much 'Boo'. We miss you so much.		Visit our media page and add your voice. The DOJ and the State Attorney General will only respond to public pressure 'There is no such sign that specific breeds are subject to any form of breed typic agression or have from constition or force a specific dangerous aspect' .Dr Werner Eymann, a veterinarian and friend living in Berlin, wrote this paper, at my request, regarding the character of the breeds commonly known as pitbulls. To read it in its entirety click here. The author is German and he has kindly written the paper in English, I have chosen not to edit or correct his work in any way. .
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