My Neighbor Nick
by John Flores
This little boy you see with Penny is my neighbor, Nick. Nick is 8 years old and just loves Penny. It’s very obvious that Penny loves him right back. She listens to him the way she listens to me and this kid just has a way with dogs. There are two things I want you to take away from watching these videos:
- Walking a dog is not so much about physical strength as it is “energy”.
- Teach your kids to respect animals. Education is a very important component to the welfare of animals.
One day I was walking Penny and I asked Nick if he knew what kind of dog Penny was and he replied, “A grey dog”. That just made my day because he had no clue about her breed and was not affected by any of the negative stereotypes that surround her. When I explained to him that she was a “pit bull”, he gave me a look that said, “I’m already bored. Please don’t try to “teach” me anything right now. I just want to play with your dog.” I took the sign and simply asked him, “So if someone were to ask you about what a pit bull is, what would you tell them?” He replied, “Well, they’re kind of lazy unless you have a ball and if you don’t like to get licked, don’t get too close to their face or they will lick your face off.” That was all the answer I needed.
These days, Nick actually sets “play dates” with Penny. In fact, when he sees me walking Penny, he leaves his friends to hang out with her. It’s almost comical to see the looks on people’s faces when he has Penny on a leash. I love breaking negative stereotypes without ever having to say a word.
Recommended Posts
Through No Fault of Their Own Part V
September 12, 2017
A Letter To The Men of Pawsitive Change at Corcoran State Prison
September 06, 2017
No Fault of Their Own Part IV
August 22, 2017