Check Socket

Ronnie "Angel" Graves (as mom has renamed him) sent me a box today @ IPC!! So glad I woke up early to come in and see all my girlies. Anywho, the next step in my new leg came - a "check socket", which we will make sure fits and all the measurements are right for it to fit on my kickstand. After we take care of this and send it back .... the last step will come which will be a SHINY NEW LEG!!

Can you tell how excited I am?

Also, many thanks (seriously, so many thanks) to EVERYONE who contributed to my Christmas Wish - we reached our goal and paid for Huey's surgery!! He is coming in with me tomorrow to Integrative Pet Care to start his therapy with Dr. Molly and Jeanine and I promise to show him the ropes like a good ole' boy.

Love,
Fifty boy, the two legged (soon to be 3!) pitbull

Huebert!

My pal Huey is about $250 away from having his surgery costs covered! Can you send your friends, family, coworkers, etc... here to help this holiday season? I know how much you have all helped us so far, and not a minute goes by that I don't think about it. Thank you all!!

Huey begins therapy next week on Tuesday. Let's wish him luck! I promise to show him the ropes over at Integrative Pet Care. I know the place pretty well and love all the girlies over there - they really know how to make a dog feel better!!

My christmas angel Ronnie is busy working on my prosthetic that Robin helped me send ... I cannot even wait, mom is losing her mind over it! I am so curious about what it will be like to be a tripod, since it's been so long since my legs went missing. What an exciting time and I owe thank you's to so many people. Maybe we will just need to throw a little party when my leg comes so I can thank everyone personally.....and show off my new and improved kickstand! I'm going to ask mom right now.

Rescue Dogs!

I forgot to tell you about Anne Calcagno, the woman behind "Love Like a Dog"

She wrote a book and started a blog for people like mommy and her friends to write their stories of how they got their rescued pups (me!) and their lives together. It's a really cool thing and she is always looking for more contributors, so if you have some time email her your story - I personally love reading about everyone when mom let's me go online. The first story is my pal Rudie, check him out!

I also had the pleasure of meeting her at the Pinups for Pitbulls holiday market and she is fantastic!

So send your story asap and be a part of Love Like a Dog!

Have you become a fan of me on facebook yet?

Well you should check it out here!!

Love,

Fifty

Court Case Dogs

Check out this awesome article about Safe Humane Chicago's Court Case Dog Program - make sure to watch the video they posted at the end, it's really great! Mom and her One Tail crew helped save Pudge, Dimple and Raisinette and are already ready for their fourth dog.

Oh and did you hear who is a big advocate for these dogs ? Watch this video to find out (he's kind of a big deal over here in Chicago, and mom is a huge fan).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDNcfSAAU_o&feature=related

My Big Day

Just in case I haven't had enough excitement lately, the biggest day yet has finally arrived: I am getting my kickstand fitted today for my new leg by the incredible Robin Spencer (http://www.pawstoembrace.com/) She is making an appearance tonight at IPC to help mom make an impression cast of my kickstand that we will then ship off to my angel, Ronnie Graves, down in Florida who will be giving me the leg for my Christmas Gift in honor of his pup "HoneyBear". I couldn't be more excited or grateful for everyone's kindness this year, and I am making so many thank you cards so people know just how amazing they are. Life is great and I have so many people to give sloppy kisses to for that!!

I posted a picture with mommy that Tracy took at the Pinups for Pitbulls Holiday Market we just went to (see previous post for that excitement!). We had a blast, can't you tell :)

Wish me luck tonight that I can sit nice and still while the impression is made, and I promise to keep you fully updated on the progress of my new leg. Happy Wednesday!

Pinups for Pitbulls

Hello Snowy Chicago! I am keeping warm and cozying up next to mommy on the couch, but I must tell you about my day today. We were invited by the lovely Miss Nicole and godmommy Heather to attend the Pinups for Pitbulls Holiday Market/ Calendar release party in Chicago @ Anything is Pawsible. It was so fun! I got so much attention, with lots of belly rubs and kisses, and my photo taken with so many great people. I felt like a celebrity! I made a CD to play for all the guests with a bunch of songs that I like about dogs. I hope they enjoyed it. My photo in the calendar with Heather, Red and Tulip looks so great, it even made it onto the flyer. Take a look (in the center!). It was such a fun day but boy am I wiped out. As soon as my mom got my booties off I was in bed snoozing, and woke up just long enough to eat my dinner.

I'd like to say thank you to everyone today who gave me some loving, to Miss Nicole for having me, and to Heather for the great photo in the calendar! If you haven't picked up your PFPB calendar yet, you can do so by clicking right here @ the Pinups for Pitbulls website. Mom got a cool hoodie too that she hasn't taken off yet.

Stay warm!

My cool, artist girlfriend Margie (Glass-Sula) and I got to meet last Friday! She is wonderful, and she is the angel behind The Gutter Dog Project. She paints GORGEOUS paintings of rescue dogs, donates them to the cause, and then the rescue group uses them to raise money for their organization. As you all know I was chosen (along with two gorgeous ladies) this year and on Friday, mommy and I spent her birthday driving out to meet Margie and pick up the final piece. As you can see .... it's unbelievable. Not only is the painting one of a kind magnificent, I had the best time with Margie and her mom. I got so many belly rubs, I couldn't stop rolling around!! Mom said I was being a total ham (ok, guilty as charged ...) We took photos which I will show you once I get to see them, so you can see the woman behind the magic that is The Gutter Dog Project!

So from the bottom of my heart, my mommy's heart, and One Tail at a Time - THANK YOU MARGIE GLASS-SULA for all you did for me, for us, and for all the dogs who need you. Mom hung the painting on the wall to take some photos and I can't stop staring at it ... the next photo will have me in it (except this morning I'm still tucked in under the covers. see photo1)

Go check out her blog and website - her birthday is this week as well so give her many well wishes!

Christmas!

So. It's my first Christmas with my new family and I have a pretty hefty wish: a new leg to hop around on. My godmother Heather made this for me:

http://pinecone.chipin.com/fiftys-christmas-wish

People from all over the country are donating their hard earned money to help me out! I can't even believe this, I really better make sure to behave.

I have to get to bed now. I am going to start making thank you cards as soon as possible! The process for my new leg has begun, and I will keep you posted on the excitement to follow.

Love,

Fifty

Ps - come to my birthday party this week! I turned five on the 20th, and will be celebrating Wednesday night @ Archie's in Humboldt park. Come say hi!

Handsome stud

I had such a great swim last week with mom! I know I don't look like such a tough guy with that snood on, but hey, I'm not embarassed. Mom says it's my best swim efforts yet - I added time on to each swim set (an extra 15 seconds each time) and added a whole extra set! My total this week was 6 minutes, with plenty of rest and massage jets in between. Not bad for a two legged dude. Kathy, one of my office girlfriends, took a few photos of me.

I wanted to include a link my favorite thing ever, The Gutter Dog Project, because this week I am the featured dog!

http://thegutterdogsproject.blogspot.com/2010/09/2011-gutter-dogs-meet-fifty-one-tail-at.html

I caught a sneak peek of my painting ... and it's incredible. Also, Margie's dog was in the photograph as well and she is the long lost twin sister of my best pal Red!

Come on down to IPC and say hey to me soon, and meet my newest lady friend Dr. Rosie!

Cuba Marsh!

Just had a great holiday weekend! Went for a four mile "walk" (and wagon ride), to prove to all the disbelievers that I can do it! Went with my sister Izzy, and my cousins Buck, Newman and Kramer - and everyone's humans, of course. Four miles sure is a long time, and I sure don't like to sit still in my wagon - Mom even had to ride in it too for a bit to hold me down! The ride home back to the city was great, I slept on my pillow in the back of the car with the wind blowing on me .... Hope everyone else had an awesome holiday too! Now I must sleep .... so tired ....

Resistance Pool Therapy Session

Yesterday I went back into the resistance pool for my twice weekly therapy session - it went great! I added 30 seconds to my overall time swimming - mom was very proud. I did lots of passive range of motion stretching and got a very good rest with the massage jets on. I'm very exhausted today, but I feel amazing - can't wait to go back in tomorrow! It's very important to space therapy out with a day in between so I don't overdo it. So today is just a nap day in the office with my little pal Uma.


Eileen promises to photograph me in the pool tomorrow - I've been very shy in that red snood, but I know I need to wear it to protect my ears!


Last night as a treat for doing so well in therapy I got to go for a ride in my wagon with Red and Izzy ... I felt so strong after my pool session that I kept wanting to get out and hop, but I know I should've stayed in and relaxed. I promised mom I'd behave better next time.

I love my human girlfriend

Oh boy do I love Sarah.

I'll be in the pool tomorrow morning at 11:00, so right now I need my beauty sleep :)

What? I fit! ....sorta

I've been having a great time hanging out in the office with my friends every day at Integrative Pet Care. Yesterday I played with Reyna, Ana is her human, and today I'm making friends with Uma, Doris is her human! The only thing is...I like to lay in their little bed and it hasn't been going over so well with my new friends.
I've been very active lately so today they put some Traumeel ointment (a homeopathic anti-inflammatory) on my elbows and my "kickstand" (that's what they call my partial rear limb, because I use it just like a kickstand!). I feel much better now so I'm going to go take a nap before I get in the pool later!

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Last weekend I got to go on a mini vacation to "suburbia" with mom and Izzy. It was awesome! So much grass to lounge in, lots of dogs and kids to run with, and a whole lot of people around to spoil me even more (grandparents are the best at spoiling!).

My grandma bought me a new wagon - now I can easily get down to the boulevard to hop around and impress people - before, I was way too tired from walking the three blocks. I let Izzy and my new pals Kramer and Newman go for a spin too.

When I got to IPC on Monday I told all my girlfriends about my fun trip and how much I missed them. Then, I got lots of massages and treats - just like always.

Tomorrow morning I have my photoshoot for the Pinups for Pitbulls 2011 calendar. Wish Red and I luck ! We are going to wear our best collars :)

Long work day!

I hung out at Integrative Pet Care all day! Fortunately I was able to nap here and there in the office. Here is a picture of my brother Red and sister Izzy picking me up after work!

Fifty owning the office :)

Dog Party!

This past Saturday was One Tail at a Time's second annual family reunion, and while I am not a OTAT dog, my sister Izzy is so I got invited. It was a blast! Look how happy I was:


Izzy and I met the smallest dog I've ever met named "Teddy" - I think my size freaked him out but eventually he took to me. Izzy and I ran around all day (with lots of rests) together and finally Red came to hang out too.


By the end of the party, I was passed out and ready to get home to my bed.


I also wanted to send my girl Trio a shoutout - Happy Birthday! I'm sorry I missed your big day on Monday but I promise to see you soon. I will be back at IPC soon for another Pool session so stay tuned!

Resistance Pool round two!

Yesterday was my second visit to the Resistance Pool. Jeanine took me in there and showed my mom how to help me swim and stretch my legs out. They made me wear this ridiculous cap over my ears! (I did look pretty cute though). I was still a bit nervous, but I think I will be swimming twice a week now so I need to man up.

After I got home I fell asleep immediately (see photograph above). I slept in the car too then dried off in the sun.

Today I am going with my sister Izzy and my best pal Red to the Wauconda Dog park! Hopefully it won't be too crowded and I can run for a minute then just relax in the shade.

Also, to anyone looking for an awesome addition to their family, my "sister" Bella is available for adoption through One Tail at a Time!
Here is her petfinder link:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/16841568

I'm so excited to see her again this week, my mom found her an awesome foster home just four short blocks away - I can easily walk four blocks! I bet she'll take lots of photos to show everyone.

Lawn chair or Throne?
My mom heard a rumor that I love to lay in lawn chairs, so Kathy (IPC's office mgr) brought me one from her house. Today I am in the office, in my throne..er lawn chair... watching all the comings & goings!

Fifty's First Date

I had a date recently with a beautiful girl named Trio, as her name suggests she, too, was missing a limb. We got along famously and hope to meet again soon! You should also check out Trio's organization The Trio Animal Foundation, they do wonderful things for homeless pets!

My first Post

Hi everyone, Fifty here! Thanks for finding your way to my blog. I'm excited for the way my new life has been going. I had a little bit of a rough patch back there, but things are looking up. I guess my background story might help get everyone up to speed:

Last year I jumped over the fence of my old yard because I wanted to play with a little dog and someone shot me in both of my right legs. I'm not really sure why I got shot, I only wanted to play! After surgery, I ended up losing all of my right front leg and now I have only part of my right back leg. Or so they say, I can barely tell because I get around just fine!

I was rescued by the Illinois Doberman Rescue (Plus!) and lived in a wonderful foster home with my foster mom Julie for a long time. She's great and I love her, but the cat there wasn't so fond of me trying to pick it up for playtime. Then, I met Kelly in June. She came to visit me, and I got to go home with her! So far things are going really good. I have a new sister, her name is Isabelle and she is a total diva. We play sometimes, but we mostly like to lounge together in the sun.

Kelly took me to her work the week I met her and I love it there! I got to hang out in the office with Sarah all day and it was really fun. Then, Dr. Molly took me in the pool! I was so nervous and I just floated in my life jacket, but I think eventually I started to figure it out. I definitely am going to be brave next time if I'm going to impress Trio. She's my new girlfriend, I met her this week and she put the smooch on me. She has one more leg than I do, so we can hop around together.

So I started this blog to keep track of all my treatment from my girlfriends at Integrative Pet Care. Jeanine taught me some exercises to do last week and I'm very excited to practice every night at home. I'm so happy to be a part of this family. I've already made a lot of new pals and look forward to seeing everyone each time I come in.

Right now I think my pal Red and I are going to get some food next door at 90 Miles. Their patio is dog friendly so if you do good in your therapy session I bet your human will take you there too!

Have a safe and Happy fourth of July everyone!