But progress didn't stop there. She started to trust an ever-widening group of people. Then her caregivers began training Bonita in basic good manners, the same they did with the other Vicktory dogs. Bonita, however, took to it more than most. In fact, once she learned a few tricks, she liked to show them off for attention. The wave was her specialty! Bonita learned that when she waved at people, they'd come over and give her some lovin'. You could hardly stop this girl from waving day in and day out!

She became such a star student that Carissa picked Bonita as the next dog she would take through the Canine Good Citizen classes. Carissa had already helped another Vicktory dog, Oscar, pass his tests with flying colors. "Bonita was totally going to pass," Carissa insists. "She was wonderful."

Poor Bonita had so many health problems in addition to her teeth and although the wonderful vets at Best Friends tried very hard, the surgery was just too much for Bonita and she finally gave up and decided to have a nice long rest.  What better place to do that than at the beautiful, sunny beaches near The Rainbow Bridge?    And of course shopping with Princess Daisy, although I doubt that is terribly restful!

And again, from the story:  "Those who loved Bonita knew her as a love-crazy lap dog. Yet even with strangers, Bonita was making great strides. She began to see a world of possibilities with each new face - amazing progress from when she first came to the sanctuary. It's safe to say Bonita left a hole in the lives of those who knew her that won¹t be filled any time soon. And her life stands as a legacy and proof that no dog, given love and understanding, is ever beyond transformation."

You go Bonita... I wish I had met you.  I am sure we would have become friends.


                                     

And I want to give credit to  David Dickson, for writing the story about Bonita and to Gary Kalpakoff for this beautiful Photo Graph
 

Love and Licks for All the Victory Dogs,
Your Friend Bob
Blogging PitBull Extra Ordinary


Today is Dentist's Day, by the way, and I'm sure this will remind you that your dogs and kitties need dental care too.