During Happiness Happens Month we’re posting lots of blogs including many from guest bloggers.
Today we’re happy to share a post from Viveca Stone-Berry about her passion for animals including an opportunity to help one of the rescue groups she works with.
One man’s pest became a woman’s savior and fur-ever friend.
Brutus was a red-nosed pit-bull “owned” by a male acquaintance. He was playful, loving, friendly – everything a great pup should be BUT he had this one HUGE problem. Brutus put the “C” in chow hound and counter-surfing. Sounds amusing until you’re living it. My friend was living it and losing his sanity.
To make a long story short, I offered to help out by “fostering” Brutus in our home for three to four days a week and “training” him to ignore food. My husband warned me this arrangement wouldn’t last and that he absolutely DID NOT WANT to adopt Brutus. He was right on the first count.
Yep, within two weeks of our deal, Brutus came to stay forever. The first thing I did was change his name to Happiness, “Happi’ for short. Why? Brutus sound soooo unfriendly and the agreement with my husband was to foster, then adopt him, to OTHER people. And I’ll admit it here …. Just looking into his goofy face made me feel … happy.
After the new name I got to work on the new habit – ignoring food. I worked with trainers, clickers, animal communicators, the power of NO, the power of pleaseeeee … We compromised. Happi goes into the crate during dinner with a little goodie and we – the pack leaders – are, mostly, left in peace. Aside from this organized truce he continues to be the King of the Countertops (and of any unprotected chow) and we continue to live and let live.
It is after hours where Happi really shines and why I’ve given many, many thanks to God for forcing him into my life!
Before Happi I suffered from anxiety and often couldn’t get to sleep or stay asleep. I tried everything. Pills worked to get me to sleep but then it was hard to get up in the morning and definitely no way to live. One white night I stumbled downstairs and crawled onto the couch with Happi. His solid, calm body and gentle snores soothed me to sleep. Today, three years later, he is the only sleep “aide” I need.
I read somewhere that pit bulls are especially beloved as “emotional therapy” dogs. Before Happi I knew a woman who credited her friendship with a pit bull named Gracie with her complete recovery from stage-4 cancer. I am not an expert, nor a doc, but I can attest to his magical powers with me.
My husband Michael finally fell in love with him too.
© 2013 Viveca Stone-Berry
Meet Viveca Stone-Berry
In a perfect world, every home would have dogs and cats, and every dog and cat would have a home. Let’s make it happen.
“Mom” to four dogs, four cats and a bird; Foster mom to revolving pack and clowder, Author, Adopt Foster Volunteer: Pup & Purr Opportunities Calendar and co-founder Dog Caption Cards where we “raise FUN with friends and FUNds for our fur-friends.” For daily inspiration and humor, visit her on Facebook at: www.Facebook.com/AdoptFosterVolunteer and www.Facebook.com/DogCaptionCards
You can reach Viveca by email at: Viv@adopt-foster-volunteer.com
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Written by Pamela Gail
Pamela Gail Johnson founded the Society of Happy People in 1998.
The Society is grounded on Pamela’s four key Practical Happiness Principles:
Pamela identified 31 Types of Happiness that are on the SOHP App Happiness Counter to make it easier to recognize moments of happiness.
Pamela also plans and organizes the Society of Happy People's annual happiness celebrations:
She's also a speaker, trainer, and author.
A few of her personal smile starters include her monthly book club, yoga, traveling and meeting new happy people.
First of all, Happi says hi! So do all the foster pups from Rainbow Animal Rescue!
We want to thank for the sharing our story and for all the hard work you’ve done to bring more happiness into our world!
Cheers!
i read this earlier on my phone and tried to comment but could not.. the dog Happi is very much like my girl Sweetie PIe that We found wondering the streets nearly 8 years ago… she has been such a blessing to us along with to a stray cat that found us in July 2007 that just happened to be pregnant. so after looking for her family and not finding anyone we took her in and Sweetie Pie and 85 lb APBT helped take care of her and her kittens.. to this day the mother cat (Hunny Bunny) and one of her kittens (Chloe) are still with us and our other kitties… Hunny Bunny and Chloe eat breakfast and Dinner with Sweetie Pie each day. They always find us.. there is a big neon sign on our house and us that says free room and board LOL.. only animals can see it— humans can’t LOL Animals bring such joy to our lives.
As a pet rescue mom, foster mom and pet owner, I can attest fully to the positive power animals have on our lives. And as to the power of a red nosed pit bull, I also have first hand knowledge. We took Wylie into our home in January as a foster and he is here forever. He is the most loving, big “goofy faced”, furbaby we have ever had in our home. He presence is powerful because of his keen watchful eyes, quick wit and overall size, but mostly because of the “magic” he brings to our home. I am right there with you Viveca.
ps. I wish I could show you a pic of Mr. Wylie Bear, he is could be Happi’s brother.