For those who love dogs, this one is for you.

Dear Blog Diary,

Kuma is the Japanese word for “bear”. Japanese word, two syllables, sounds cute. My dog Kuma is a cute little bear-looking dog. Perfect.

I sat at my desk yesterday looking at the SPCA shelter website. I’ve grown to really like Staffy’s which are basically just small pit bulls. I’ve been considering adopting one. Just a fantasy, never serious.

I walk home from work. Coming down 12th towards Central Ave, a grey pit bull comes running at me. No collar, no identification at all, except crystal blue eyes and a smile. He didn’t look malnourished, no fleas or ticks. I think he had a UTI. Kept peeing every 20 seconds and possible had UTI crazy brain. He did still have his balls so maybe crazy energy ready to go. Just running around, in the street, giving me a heart attack.

With the help of some lady named Devin who was just walking to work, I get him back to my apartment just using my leash. Kuma’s collar was way too small, so here’s a leash cord wrapped around his neck, choking himself as he tugged constantly, and he did.

Kuma isn’t a social dog and out of all the breeds in the world, if there was one that Kuma hates, it's pit bulls. She was attacked by a pit bull years ago. I just wanted to bring him inside to grab Kuma’s food and water bowl as fast as possible. I yell at Kuma to stay back. She doesn't. So Kuma’s home turf, not many dogs come over ever, and here’s me bringing the enemy into the house! I kept the leash tight and if this pit bull with no collar or anything to grab onto attacked Kuma, there was a knife on the table and I’m fully prepared to choke out a dog and get bit in the process. Sounds bad, but it's true. I would never forgive myself if Kuma got hurt.

He sniffed Kuma’s butt. Kuma always squares up when any dog does that. No trust. Kuma squares up.

He starts licking Kuma’s face.

Eventually, Kuma didn’t like that. She snips at him. WHY!? Do not give this dog a reason. Dog just being a dog! And you snip. Dog is being friendly, you're not friendly...let's go then! But what does he do? He retreats and lowers his head. What a relief, and also Kuma need to chill.

I call Hamilton County to come get him. They show up, “wow, change of pace.” What do you mean? “Nice person, nice dog.” Apparently people usually just call in “get this dog out my yard” and usually a mean street dog.

Pit bulls have a reputation and it’s often earned. Statistically, they send more people to hospitals than other breeds. If you wanted to make a dog for fighting, you’d make a pit bull. Capable of so much damage – and love.

Reminds me of my homie Timber in Denver. He's a rottweiler german shephard mix that looks scary and is anything but. I told my mother about this pit bull. She says how she doesn't like it, will never babysit that dog, and tells me to never let it get around Kuma. Understandable. The truth is, that's really cruel. Dog just trying to exist in this world. I walk Kuma and everyone wants to say hi and pet her. She looks like a toy teddy bear. When I've walked Timber, people cross the street, they never say hi, and despite his big smile, here's the look of a stone cold killer! He doesn't deserve that.

I tell the police everything I can. Before they take him away, he keeps jumping up on me, standing on two legs, and putting his chin on my belly as I scratch his head. Always a big smile.

They tell me he is chipped. The associated address was a mile-ish away. They call. Whoever answered the phone simply said, "No. I don't know. No." They clearly couldn't speak English. Police said they'd stop by for a door knock. I hope he wasn't abandoned.

I tell them, "Obviously I don't know his name, but I've just been calling him Shogo." I've always said if I had a boy dog, I'd name him Shogo.

Am I ready to adopt a dog? A pit bull? Is Kuma ready? It would be a long road. I'd have to crate him constantly. It would take a lot for me to be comfortable just letting those two be around each other.

I'm not one for cosmic signs and fate type bullshit. There are merely coincidences. Nothing more. Still, there was some magic yesterday and there were a lot of coincidences.

They asked me if I wanted to know his real name, per the chip in the system.

His name was Bear.

Best,

E

#ARTiculate