oh dear. what a week!
the main focus of my week was finding a dog. as i "reported" in a previous "column", i have begun the search to find the "perfect" pet for me. also in that previous "column" i included a photo of a boxer/staffy mix that i was keen to meet. Today was our "coffee date."
turns out that the breeds i really like are amongst the biggest shedders. and i may have an allergy to that. i most definitely have an aversion to dog hair being everywhere.
decisions, decisions.
ONE of the reasons i feel i NEED a dog, is because i'm too anal retentive about keeping my apartment clean. i get so weird about it that i sometimes don't let friends come over because i don't want my apt. getting dirty.
but i don't want to be that guy.
i want to be the guy that has friends over. i want to be the guy who is more carefree about things and less uptight. i think a dog will make me become that person, because it seems that a dog sort of beats any pretense right out of you. at the same time i can still fulfill my stringent and regimented nature by constantly teaching my dog obedience!
i look forward to joining my west hollywood brothers and sisters as a proud pet owner.
So, back to my "coffee date" with Elroy.
today i visited with linda blair (yes, THE linda blair) out at her dog rescue in acton, ca. this was the sight for my meeting with Elroy.
i really don't know how she does it. linda almost single-handedly runs an enormous dog rescue and cares for some 20 dogs at a time. she has a few volunteers, and occasionally pays others to help, but pretty much it's just her. this woman has a tremendous love for dogs.
i spent about 2 hours with her today and toured the entire facility. i won't lie to you, these dogs have it made. most of her "guests" appear to be of the pitbull mix and purbred bull terrier varitey. "some people think i run a pitbull rescue. but i don't! i run a dog rescue. it's just that the pitbulls never leave, because nobody will adopt them. and i cannot turn my back on these beautiful dogs." she explained. i put quotes around that, but it's still really me paraphrasing what she said. but that's pretty close.
to read more, click below...
linda really relys on donations from animal lovers to help keep her rescue afloat. if you would like to donate (tax deductable!) please visit her website
in running this rescue linda has learned how to build dog houses, erect fences and run a business. and when i say "dog house" i mean two story, wind resistant, miniature versions of the homes we see on wisteria lane! and when i say fences, i mean 7 to 8 feet high, and dug deep into the ground and encased in concrete so the dogs can't dig their way under.
Elroy is a hurricane katrina survivor, although i think he must've been born after the hurricane, he shows clear signs of abuse. linda warned me ahead of time that Elroy would probably not show any interest in me. she was right. he showed none.
later today i met a wonderful man named terrell. terrell is a school teacher who lives in so. central. in his "spare" time he rescues dogs from the street and rehabilitates them. i met with one of his success stories today, a german shepherd/boxer mix named yancy. yancy was really sweet and lovely, but yancy is definitely a diamond in the rough. i think i may require a less "spirited" dog. but i'm going to go back and visit yancy next weekend to re-evaluate. i liked his moxie.
i'm also planning to attend the North Hollywood Super Adoption on Sunday, April 27th from 11am to 4pm at the North Hollywood Recreation Center at Tujunga and Magnolia. It's billed as THE LARGEST PET ADOPTION IN CALIFORNIA. so it's sure to be "interesting."
i know that it's not in West Hollywood, and i know that my "column" is supposed to be all about West Hollywood and the things that i do there, but i did once get naked and climb into a straight friend's bed in North Hollywood near Tujunga and Magnolia...and if that isn't "West Hollywood Style" then i don't know what is.
I admire your "self-improvement through canine adoption" theory. I think you might be onto something, since being around a toddler made me realize it doesn't really matter if things get stained or broken. And it sounds like you could get voted off Homolulu island if you don't go to the dogs, so to speak.
Posted by: Nictate | April 27, 2008 at 07:53 AM