Member-only story
A Bittersweet Goodbye for My Best Girl
12 Years Ago, a friend told my ex (Jason) and I that he was fostering a sweet Pitbull named Roxie. I remember going to Central Park to meet them on a sunny, warm day, when it seemed all of New York was outside enjoying the weather.
She could run…boy could she run. Halfway across the great lawn in a minute and then back to where we were with a simple call or whistle. We fell in love with her, and adopted that little munchkin.
She was athletic — which was perfect for Jason. Often, she’d accompany him on rides around the park, doing 6 miles without breaking a sweat, or a stride. She was also very obedient and smart, which worked well for me. No chewing, no scratching, minimal barking — she seemed the ideal NYC pup.
Those of you who knew her during that time might be more inclined to remember a beautiful brindle dog that had a somewhat prickly personality. She could never really be comfortable with strangers, and would often growl when meeting someone new. We tried all kinds of techniques to calm this behavior, but whatever original traumas had led her to be rescued, obviously were too great for our talents.
Amusingly, every dog walker, daycare, boarding or training person who met her instantly fell in love. She was smart and obedient (as I mentioned) and once they established dominance she was grateful…
