As I sit with my Carbon, watch her breath fast and hard at times, readjust herself frequently, fall with standing(sometimes, but more frequently now) and have trouble climbing up the shortest step, I wonder "is it time"? She has started staying under the blankets in my bed until after 1200 noon now, it use to be 1000 am. She gets up reluctantly and stretches. She can not run anymore, she is short of breath and she loves my heating pad. She sleeps all night and now most of the day. I have only heard her scream once, I thought my heart would break as I picked her up,all 70 lbs of her, laid her on my bed, grabbed my heating pad and popped my Tramadol in her mouth. She was trembling and laying against me, I rubbed her knees held the pad on her and sang to her until she calmed. She does not seem to be in pain at this time. She smiles her big grin and wags her tail all the time when she is awake. She even played with our little Vadar kitty once that I know of. She has never acted out, she has always been gentle to kids and is playful with puppies. She raised Hayley our younger pitt and they sleep together still after 4 years, LOL with me. I love them dearly and do not want my Carbie to suffer, at this time she appears to not be in pain.

     Carbon at 9 months was rescued by my son, he had wanted a dog and a pitt bull, I screamed and jumped into the chair when he brought her in about seven years ago. I had no clue what to do with a dog, I was a cat person. I went to Petco where I received some education, then the library and the internet for more info. Did you know that pitts use to be the family dog? Also they were the first dog to ride in a car across country in 1903. They have served in the military and are used for search and rescue. They are bad watch dogs because...they are not meant to bite people, it has been bred out of them. They, the handlers have to be able to get in the dog ring to pull them apart so if the dog bites, the handlers kill them. Ugly thought I know. At work one day I said something about my beloved pitt and our clerk said, 'oh those dogs are horrible" and my reply was "Yes people who are ignorant do think that". Please do not get me wrong, any dog no matter how wonderful they are can and will bite. Bad owners contribute to this issue also. The little ones are not put out in the media as much as the bigger ones, and truthfully when a pitt has a bad day, it can be fatal. Bad people such as thugs use them as a symbol of their own ignorance. A pitt is also the most abuse dog. They are extremely loyal, loving and intelligent, a great companion.  She is crying now, I will be back...Nice warm blanket, heating pad,and nose kisses, she is back asleep. Funny thing, if someone would have told me I would have not only one dog but two, I would have said "HELL NO" , that hell no went to 'I wish I could rescue more', now back to telling my son NOT to bring anymore animals here for a while. I lost my Fabeo 4 years ago and my Wookie Monster just recently, now Carbon's clock is ticking and my heart just can not handle this emotional heartbreak. My Carbon watches me, perks her ears up and wags her tail, she follows me and lays beside me now, that was a hugh breakthrough for a dog who had been abused. She has no acls, I found that out 3 years ago, she has cataracts and I think her right eye may be blind,...I found on her several days ago, a growth on her chest, my heart stopped, today she has a lump on her eyelid. No I will not do any surguries on her but my son and I have started talking. I want to wait so I can take her one last time to the foothills, my son will come so he can carry her, then let her and Hayley enjoy themselves. She is only 8, but had a horrible 9 months in the beginning.   My Carbon has been such a joy to me.    Here are some websites enjoy!                            .https://www.google.com/search?q=famous+pit+bulls&hl=en&tbo=u&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4MXGB_enUS509US512&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=qIQDUbSgHIWWiALzzYH4Bg&ved=0CGsQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=628

   http://www.ywgrossman.com/newblog/?p=1013     http://www.pbrc.net/poppysplace/famouspitbulls.html 

 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/04/20/heroic-pit-bulls/