Right around this time, pit bulls were getting bad publicity. I had heard news stories about terrible incidents between pit bulls and humans, and quite frankly, I was apprehensive about spending time with this dog. However, despite my reservations, I sensed a sweetness in him and I decided it was worth trying to win him over.

Bear's favorite occupation was to ride around in the car with Paul. He'd ride for hours on end, often licking the upholstery or with eyes glued to the scenery ahead. Bear always sat up stick straight in the front passenger seat. When Paul and Bear drove through town, people often mistook Bear for a human passenger.

Then I came on the scene. When I tried to get into the front seat Bear was always there. We'd have a pushing competition- both of us throwing our body weight into each other until I'd call it quits or Paul would intervene on my behalf. It's pretty impossible for a petite woman, or most people for that matter, to move a pitbull around.

One night, with Paul's help, I finally got Bear into the back seat. Bear was so angry that he wouldn't even look at me. At that moment, I decided that all he needed was some love, so I grabbed his massive head and started to kiss it and the next thing I knew, Bear had melted into a puddle of fur on the back seat.

From that moment on, I have been Bear's second best friend. He follows me everywhere, sits on my feet, protects me when I am scared, and makes me laugh daily, He also reminds me daily that it is important to play like a child. As a matter of fact, Bear loves to play with children. He has the patience of a saint, tolerating their pokes and jabs and endless demands for hours at a time.

The bottom line is that you can't judge a dog solely by its breed, and that all creatures need love and affection. Love and proper care can melt the heart of a dog, even if that dog is a stubborn, hard-headed pit bull.