by Lorraine Monfils
Almost two years ago, I had the honor and the pleasure of meeting a beautiful dog named Emma. Emma’s start in life was not an easy one. She was rescued from a locked car in the hottest of temperatures by the police and taken to the local shelter. She was pulled from that shelter by that area’s humane society and ended up in Clarkesville, Tenn. From there on out, Emma’s life moved in a more positive direction. She was adopted by a couple who drove halfway across the country to adopt her.
Once her new parents and Emma arrived at their home here in Maine, it was clear that Emma was no ordinary dog. She excelled at everything. Perhaps that was because her new parents were devoted to her well-being and trained her extremely well. Once Emma had settled in she joined Silent Sidekicks and became a therapy dog. Every week, Emma visits one of the local nursing home and brings joy and love to the people there. She makes them smile and they look forward to her visits.
Emma was chosen to become a member of “I’m not a monster,” which in itself is no easy task. Emma became a monster elf and it was decided to do a fundraiser with the help of her mom for all of the dogs and cats in need. This holiday season, Emma chose several animal rescue organizations to help and The Ark was honored to be one of those organizations.
This dog and her mom raised over $3,000 in much needed supplies, food, litter and so much more for the animals in need.
Emma is a pretty extraordinary dog, not to mention a local celebrity. You heard me mention the organization “I’m Not a Monster.” This is an organization devoted to the well being of pit bulls and making sure that people understand that they are not bully dogs. It is a wonderful organization that has the highest standards.
I am not sure where the term “bully breeds” came from. Is it the size of the dog or the temperament of the dog? A dog is a reflection on us as pet owners. All dogs require training and discipline. You can tell when a dog has had a lot of training and time spent with it, and you can also tell when it has not. When a dog is loved, it gives love in return, and when it is taught right from wrong it becomes a well-behaved dog.
A dog becomes a bully if it is trained to be a bully or has had no training at all. When we get a puppy, its future lies in our hands. We mold that puppy and we are responsible for its behavior as it grows into an adult. Believe me, there are many trying moments when you are raising a puppy, whether it be a pit bull or a chihuahua.
So many dogs out there are being labeled bully breeds, but if you stop and put things in perspective and hold pet owners accountable are we really being fair in labeling dogs that we do not even know? Emma is the perfect example of a dog that has been labeled and is anything but a bully breed. Emma has set an example for everyone out there. Emma is a purebred pit bull who brings kindness and tenderness to everyone she meets. She is smart, is loving and is a faithful, loyal companion.
Despite a rough start in life and being labeled a bully dog, Emma has become a remarkable dog. She has set a standard that we should all pay attention to: it is not the breed but instead the individual dog and its training. Emma, hats off to you and everything that you have accomplished.
Please join us at The Horn on Jan. 15 for a fundraiser. Come out and enjoy great food and great company all for a good cause. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Ark Animal Sanctuary.
