Different dog breeds tend to put people in a particular frame of mind automatically. Some are thought of as being cute and cuddly, and others as aggressive and dangerous.
Pit bulls are one breed that often has a negative image. They are thought of as being dangerous and aggressive, but that isn’t always true.
Many people with a pitbull in their family say they are the kindest and sweetest all they have ever had. Even still, there are some owners who treat the dogs aggressively, using them as fighting dogs or guard dogs.
One place where peoples tend to have a problem is when they are at a shelter. They are not typically the first dog to be adopted, and this can leave them feeling alone and rejected.
Such was the case with Bridget and Louie. Those pit bulls were dropped at the shelter, and nobody knew why.
According to The Dodo, it was said that they only had each other, and they needed to learn what love felt like. Minda Harris wanted to show them herself.
Rather than leaving these two dogs at the shelter to fend for themselves, she went with her husband and brought them home to foster.
Louie, the smaller black dog, was not one to come out of his shell. He would always hide behind or under Bridget, frightened of everything around him.
Bridget had no problem protecting Louie, but she wasn’t as nervous. She made herself at home immediately after getting there.
These two dogs had to be trained properly. They didn’t know how to live in a house acceptably, and they had to learn how to sit on command.
As they continued working with the dogs, Louie followed Bridget everywhere. Eventually, he started to open up, and they noticed the change. That especially happened when they met the other dogs in the family.
They observed as the dogs played together, but it wasn’t long before they realized the pit bulls would be fine. They were still attached to each other, but they were now comfortable in their new home.
Another problem surfaced when it was time for adoption. Minda knew that they had to be adopted forever, and that is when Monica stepped up to the plate.
She had followed the story of the dogs for months and knew that she could provide the proper home for them. Today, they have been living with Monica for a few years and are living the good life.
I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.
