Here’s a really long video of Finn playing with his toys, spazzing out. I’m sure I’m the only one who will ever watch this video in its entirety, but take a look anyway! It’s really cute, but feel free to fast forward:
watch the video
Thanks to my friend Marc for making it for me….And to Janny for co-starring! 
I should probably back up and tell you a bit about Finn, my dog who just turned 2. Got him at a shelter in New Rochelle, New York, with my soon-to-be ex-husband. There’s more to that story, but I’ll save that for later. Back to Finn.
The shelter found Finn tied to a dumpster. No one knows how long he was there or who left him there. But he was emaciated. When I brought him home, he was 25 pounds when he should’ve been double that for his size. (He’s now a healthy, but lean, 60 pounds).
But if I’m forced to answer, I’ll say he’s a boxer-pit mix, with a little hound thrown in. His eyes are pit-like, as are his shoulders. His body is pure boxer, but his nose is distinctly hound. (See pics below.)
When I first moved back to NYC, I met a woman in Central Park, while our dogs were playing. Out of ignorance, I asked what type of dog her dog was. She said brown.
I said I understand.
After having Finn for a year-and-a-half, I still often get asked what type of dog he is. Inside I want to scream because that woman from Central Park was right. Who cares what breed he is?
He’s Finn. And he’s brown and white.
It’s illegal to discriminate human beings based on race or color, but unfortunately the same doesn’t apply to breeds of dogs. Well, except in my city, New York, where there is “legislation that [prevents identifying] dangerous dogs strictly by appearance rather than individual temperament.” (That’s from a great article, by the way.) Thank you, New York, for being truly the melting pot of the world, welcoming everyone, no matter race, color….or breed.
In that article, it also talks about BSL — breed-specific legislation, which are in place in many counties in many states in the U.S., making it legal to discriminate and kill based on breed alone. If we, as citizens, allow this to continue, god knows where this will lead next. Pitbulls now… who’s next?
Welcome to my new blog, Please Be Kind. It’s part want, part need. I want others to be kind to the love of my life, Finn, who’s a pit bull rescue. But I also need others to be kind to all dogs without any preconceived notions. It’s nothing short of discrimination otherwise. As cute as Finn is, we are still treated differently than other dog owners and it is so frustrating and upsetting. And I need to get this frustration out someway, somehow. So the best thing I can think of is to try to educate people that not all Pit bulls are fighting dogs. Many are lovers. Mine especially.
