Sway Love
August 24, 2011
A story of love, grief and inspiration
By Josh Liddy
I’m not sure how to begin this article other than to admit that grief has played a significant role in shaping the last four years of my life. That sounds like a sad and depressing thing, but over time you come to realize what it means and to put it in its proper perspective. Before trying to do that – allow me to describe who I loved, how I came to love and who continues to drive a fire under me that will never be extinguished.
Love at First Sight
I found my first pit bull abandoned on a country road back in Ohio in 2001. I’d just graduated from college and was back in my hometown for the summer. As fate would have it she would come very cautiously out of a cornfield at the same time that I was checking my dad’s mailbox. I’ve always loved animals, so it was my first instinct to try and call her over to me. She was very skinny and most likely the dumped runt of somebody’s litter. She was so scared and tried to run away, but then she would reappear. I just stayed at it until she felt comfortable enough to take a chance on me. Once she did, for me at least, it was literal love at first sight.
I’d always had family pets growing up, but this was different because I was 20 years old and essentially on my own. She would represent a step forward as a human being, being my sole responsibility, and I embraced that role with everything I had. My parents had divorced a year earlier, and at the time I was living with my mom. God bless her when she found out that Sway was a pit bull. Mom had a mini-freak out, but it passed within minutes because she knew what was obvious to anyone – that Sway and I had a bond that was pretty special, and she wasn’t going to be a complication to that. It’s funny because I didn’t even know Sway was a pit bull myself. I didn’t care. I don’t see animals like that, boxed up with a label. It honestly didn’t matter to me at all. But when I went into the local shelter to submit her registration information it was interesting to see the animal control officer trying to fear-monger me into relinquishing the dog. All these rules, all these warnings and stereotypes – and that was the first, of many, experiences with breed discrimination.
Sway would cling to me, and wouldn’t let me out of her view. I remember taking her to a baseball game that me and my friends were playing that first weekend, and she actually stood out in the infield with me the entire time. This became my new “normal,” and everywhere I went for the next eight years, she went with me. This got difficult in 2004 when I decided that I was going to move out to California. I was going to drive all the way out and I didn’t necessarily have a plan, a job or a place to stay. For those reasons alone, I couldn’t bring Sway with me, and so she had to stay behind with my mom until I could figure my new situation out and arrange for a flight for her. On many levels this was one of the hardest things that I ever did, and it was capped off by watching Sway climb up over the back of the couch and watch me through the living room window as I drove away.
Six months later it was time for her plane to touch down. I remember the night perfectly because I had a performance to do at the Key Club, and this was literally my first time ever being on a stage in Los Angeles. You would have thought that I’d have died of nerves from that alone. But I was so nervous about Sway’s flight and everything going perfectly that this song I had to do was the least of my concerns. I zoomed through it off of anticipation alone, and then drove myself to LAX to pick her up at cargo. Seeing Sway being wheeled out to me was definitely one of the most joyful moments of my life. She was here and normality could ensue.
There were all these new things for her like the beach and the numerous dog parks, going to the music studio and hiking up completely new terrain. She was never a fan of the water, but if I ran into the ocean she’d certainly follow me. I’d play football with her at the beach, and she’d chase rebounds when I’d play basketball at the city parks – always staying so close to me and never letting me out of her sight. She’d teach all of my friends and people that came in and out of my life what amazing animals pit bulls were, opening the eyes of many and creating her own little space within so many people’s hearts. What an incredibly loyal and loving soul she always was – my best friend in the whole world.
Fighting for her Life
Both of our lives were altered in 2007 when she started showing signs of extreme weakness and fatigue. After running numerous blood panels it was discovered that her red blood cells were rapidly dropping. In a matter of months I watched her go from an energy-driven pit bull to a frail and fragile being that needed consistent medical support to stay alive. It was discovered that she had a rare and complicated blood disease called autoimmune hemolytic anemia, which is when a patient’s immune system begins destroying its own red blood cells. This became immediately life threatening due to the fact that the red blood cells are what deliver the oxygen to the body.
For the next two years life with her was a series of peaks and valleys. The first four months went downhill so fast that it left everyone reeling. Within a month her red blood cell level had dropped so low that a blood transfusion became necessary. This was the first of eight over the next six weeks.
On top of that there was complication after complication. In Sway’s case, the medications caused very severe side effects that included muscle wasting. Her red blood cell level finally began to at least hold after taking the drastic and alternative measure of adding a human anabolic steroid to her regimen. The cells were holding at 1/3 of a normal dog’s level, but over time Sway had become so used to the lower percent that her body just adjusted. After her initial meds were drastically reduced her body began to partially recover. In combination with the weekly anabolic injection she slowly inched towards an almost entire year of this new normality. At one point prior to cutting her medications she hadn’t been able to stand on her own, and then one day she was up and on her feet. Victories like that would put me over the moon. Eventually she had gained the majority of her weight back, and although her red blood cell count never rose, in time she was back to doing the many things that she loved to do, albeit at a slower and more controlled pace.
During the next many months her body began declining again, and shortly after her blood count followed. After another ultrasound Sway was diagnosed with multiple inoperable shunts on the outside of her liver. This meant that all of her food nutrients and supplements, as well as her medications, were being improperly absorbed and essentially diverted around the liver and into the heart. Since shunted blood was not being detoxified by the liver, it was creating the possibility of toxins circulating through her blood.
Saying Goodbye
Three months later, my 8-year-old, 45-pound pit bull was down to 17 pounds. It seemed as though everywhere we turned it was between a rock and a hard place. Her latest blood panel was showing pancreatitis, on top of the ever-present AIHA and the liver shunts. Her blood count had dropped to 11 percent (normal range 45-50 percent). Fluid therapy for the pancreatitis would dilute the blood even further, and then she would immediately need transfused again. During the last 48 hours she had taken a drastic turn for the worse, and at that point she could barely lift her head.
I had to make the heartbreaking decision to put her down.
It was scheduled for 2 p.m. that day, and I spent every second laying next to her. An hour before it was set to happen, Sway passed away naturally in our bed with me talking to her and giving her kisses. Coincidentally my mom was also in the room, as she was out here for her yearly visit from Ohio. It’s almost as if Sway knew something that everyone else didn’t. It was like my coming to grips with the current reality would align with my mom’s visit, which would align with her taking her last breaths, and naturally.
I remember the last moments vividly, and it’s a surreal thing to have the one you love there with you one second and then literally gone the next. The questions immediately fill your mind and saturate all of your thoughts.
Where did she go? Did she know how much I love her? Will I ever see her again? Did I do everything that I could have done?
Then the regret and the second-guessing tries to take hold, and sometimes it succeeds. I ran so many scenarios through my mind that at times I felt lucky to have survived the mental torment. The permanent separation that happens in those last moments is like being thrown overboard and into the coldest of waters, like a shock to my body and a shock to everything that I knew to be my reality.
The Process of Grieving
The selfish side of me viewed it as “loss,” as my best friend in the world being “taken” away. At the same time, in Sway’s case her blood disease and all that did her harm was also silenced – and in that I tried to celebrate that she was no longer feeling those potential pains or abnormalities. I’m not an overly religious person, but two days after Sway’s passing I was lucky enough to have a moment that happened to me that is incomparable in scope to anything that I’ve experienced before or since. It was one of those things that may happen once or twice in a lifetime, a proof of God moment if you will. It was the single greatest reminder that this is just a temporary separation and not a permanent one, and it was a blessing that leaves me thankful.
With that being said, the immediate aftermath of Sway’s passing was still devastating for me. Even with the prior two plus years slowly preparing me for this possible outcome, it was the most difficult thing that I’ve ever been through. I say “through” because it was/is a process that you have to take part in, the grief, instead of avoiding or suppressing it.
People who read this and automatically then think that my life must not have been hard up to this point, or that I haven’t faced numerous worthy adversities due to the fact that I’d be willing to acknowledge the death of a pet as something most significant, would be mistaken. It’s an impossible task to get someone who clearly hasn’t loved an animal to then understand what it means to deeply and genuinely love an animal. That’s fine, and I will hope that one day someone or something will have as profound of an affect on that person’s life as Sway had on mine. But you can’t let those types of people rush or trivialize the grieving process.
For me, some days my grief was so heavy that it rendered everything else unnoticeable by comparison. As the time passes, be assured that this will lessen – for some slower, for some, faster. But also be prepared to feel many different things, including guilt, when you do begin to feel better. Sometimes I’d get mad at myself for eventually having more better days than bad, almost treating my grief as if it were the only remaining link that I had with Sway. This is completely untrue. Try to keep in mind that you should strive to eventually get to the point of embracing the times when you can be genuinely happy, as that is exactly what your loved one would want for you. This is some advice that I am still learning to take.
What to do with the grief until you actually reach that point? Anything besides bottling it up inside. That is always the least healthy response to anything, especially something like this. Talk to someone. Write or journal your thoughts – even if it’s just for you, as it serves as being therapeutic in nature. Artistic? Work on a project in dedication, or just simply try something totally new and dedicate your effort to the life that your loved one lived. Just make sure to invest in becoming more emotionally in touch with how you are feeling – be honest with yourself.
Siphon off all of that potentially negative energy and turn it into a positive reaction (be it volunteering, helping another through a donation or raising awareness) – I’d like to think that that’s one of the best ways that you could honor your loved one.
Finding Inspiration
What I did was sign up to do a triathlon. This is something I’d never done and I wanted to see if I could set that goal and then follow through with doing it. Unfortunately my bike chain literally snapped during the event and I was unable to finish – so I signed up to do another one, finished, and then did another one.
I also adopted a new pit bull mix, a little brindle one that I named Neola. When I saw her picture online I knew that it was something that I wanted to do and that I was ready to take that step. Shortly after I adopted another one, Odilia, because I wanted them to have a buddy. This is something I always wanted for Sway but never did; I was always so overprotective and cautious with her. Every now and then I see her in both of them, and their unique personalities have made my life more complete.
To further honor Sway I started going into shelters and photographing all the pit bulls that unfortunately pack each facility. Just being onsite and visiting with them is special enough, but then to have a hand in potentially saving a life – that is a priceless feeling. As I familiarized myself with the realities of this entrenched backward sheltering system, I began to form strong opinions and then to speak out in ways that I never originally intended. I created a website (SwayLove.org) that would not only house my shelter photography, but would also allow me to do video blogs and write articles that were centric to what is going on inside of these facilities. Pit bulls are being discriminated against at an alarming rate, and not just in the ways that most of us have grown to understand. The shelters themselves are using bad temperament tests and other sideways maneuvers against these animals, as means of justifying their killings. Legislation continues to be thrown around, tweaked and at times shoved down our throats. Media continues to fear-monger and much of the general public continues to be extremely susceptible to being swept up and into an angry mob of hate and ignorance. These are all things that I am now focusing a lot of my energy on, and all in the name of honoring Sway.
Sway continues in many ways to be present in my life – most noticeably through empowering my efforts to help pit bulls, but also in so many other subtle and silent ways that are only known and appreciated by me. That’s the gift – that somehow things live on. Would I give anything to have her back and healthy? Of course, but I’m also OK now, and the thought of her being my biggest supporter is all the fuel that I need. I’m thankful for the time that I got to spend with her and for all of the things that had to happen in order for her to come stumbling out of that cornfield at that exact moment 10 years ago. I’m also grateful for those that now reach out to me and for those opportunities that I will have to reach out to others. The love that Sway and I shared surely helped form whatever strength I needed to deal with her loss. These are the bits of perspective that I spoke about in the first paragraph. Like Tennyson wrote, “Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
That’s important to grasp I think, knowing that in reality some people just never have that much to lose. Special bonds don’t just come along every day … for some people they may never, or maybe that person just isn’t in a place to even notice them if they did. For this reason alone I am blessed beyond explanation. I certainly still cry when I need my moments, but love healed my grief, and love created the courage to participate in that grief. It’s the one thing that never ends, love – the literal foundation for everything that is good in this world.
Sway Tribute from claritysix on Vimeo.
That was a beautiful memorial to Sway. Thanks for sharing about her.
Love this story and as all the stories here bought tears to my eyes. I am very compassionate person and like you I love my babies very much as do my family. I went to your website and it crushes me to read, hear and know what is happening these dogs. With so many positive stories there are far more horror stories. Like you I am not a 503 and have no pull in the “dog world” however, I am trying to do my part. What I am finding out is the majority of the rescues/ issues are in California. Yes, I’m aware of other states that may face the same issue however, the rescues and issues are coming from California. I’m located in VA and attempted to volunteer and wrote a proposal for the organization where I adopted my babies and have gotten the run around which is disheartening. Last night I went to bed thinking I don’t have the support I thought I would have and another failure however, after reading your article one person can make a difference. I will contiue to move forward and pray that my e-mails, letters and proposals will land in the “right hand” at some point. Thanks for sharing
@laffin1 We are lucky Josh shared his story, we hope it inspires people.
@theprettychic Josh is truly an example, one of many, where one person can make a difference. With all your passion, we are sure you, too, will make a difference for pit bulls. Rescuing your babies is just the start.
I have “virtually” known Josh and Sway for 3 years, as our dog Tiggs was also battling the same disease at the same time, and Josh and I were members of a very dedicated online support group. I logged on daily to see how Sway was doing and to get advice for Tiggs. I remember when Sway passed away, my heart was broken and we felt that loss very deeply, since we had nearly lost Tiggs more than once to this disease. Out of that grief, it has been so inspiring to watch Josh grow as a pit bull advocate and give back to honor Sway’s legacy in so many ways. We will never forget Sway and we feel honored to have felt the love that Josh and she shared. Wonderful tribute to a beautiful girl!
@woofslc Thanks for sharing that Melissa, it’s not surprising Josh and Sway have touched so many.
Beautiful….so beautiful. Thank you Josh for opening your heart and sharing such a painful and touching story. It is clear that this is indeed a true love story. I felt the same when I lost my beloved pittie Lucy. May God bless you during your time of healing and grief. I am sure that Sway is smiling down on you and waiting for you to play with her again some day. – Sandra
Thank you for such a beautiful story. I especially appreciate your efforts to delve into your loss as well as move through it. And thank you for this comment:
“It’s an impossible task to get someone who clearly hasn’t loved an animal to then understand what it means to deeply and genuinely love an animal. That’s fine, and I will hope that one day someone or something will have as profound of an affect on that person’s life as Sway had on mine.”
Aw thanks for sharing- this was so sweet I almost cried
Powerful writing and video – dogs have such a special place in our hearts – you were her world and she felt so safe. The tears were definitely flowing.
Thanks for writing this, Josh – it & your tribute video to Sway touched me very deeply. I have been a dog lover & have lived with dogs as companion animals all my life (I am 52 years old). Ten months ago, I too discovered the wonderful, sweet & intelligent ways of the Pitt Bull when we adopted our beautiful brindle Pittie mix, Jolene. We started out by fostering her for the county Humane Society after they (a no-kill shelter) rescued her from the county animal control kill facility. But that fostering arrangement lasted only a week before we adopted her ourselves, even though we already had three big dogs. She is the love of my life & I therefore certainly can relate to the powerful emotions you so successfully captured in your words and video. This initial fostering experience with Jolene got me involved with the county Humane Society (the Humane Society of Forsyth County, Georgia), first as a volunteer at weekend adoption events, then also during the week at the shelter spending time with the dogs outside of their runs & in play areas. We see Pit Bulls & Pit Bull mixes often in our shelter as well, and they are always the sweetest, most loving dogs. I, too, have become an advocate for Pit Bulls in my community & amongst my family & friends. Together, we ALL can make a difference, in the memory of Sway & countless other wonderful dogs who are so unfairly stigmatized. God Bless!
Thanks for writing this, Josh – it and your tribute video to Sway touched me very deeply. I have been a dog lover and have lived with dogs as companion animals all my life (I am 52 years old). Ten months ago, I too discovered the wonderful, sweet and intelligent ways of the Pitt Bull when we adopted our beautiful brindle Pittie mix, Jolene. We started out by fostering her for the county Humane Society after they (a no-kill shelter) rescued her from the county animal control kill facility. But that fostering arrangement lasted only a week before we adopted her ourselves, even though we already had three big dogs. She is the love of my life and I therefore certainly can relate to the powerful emotions you so successfully captured in your words and video. This initial fostering experience with Jolene got me involved with the county Humane Society (the Humane Society of Forsyth County, Georgia), first as a volunteer at weekend adoption events, then also during the week at the shelter spending time with the dogs outside of their runs and in play areas. We see Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes often in our shelter as well, and they are always the sweetest, most loving dogs. I, too, have become an advocate for Pit Bulls in my community and amongst my family and friends. Together, we ALL can make a difference, in the memory of Sway and countless other wonderful dogs who are so unfairly stigmatized. God Bless! – Tom
You have an amazing heart! I have never understood and almost feel sorry for people who have never known this love. My Rottie ~ Gypsy ~ was my first dog (as an adult) my responsiblity. I miss her everyday, she was 13 and has been gone for almost 4 years. I now have many others including a Bullmastiff, Rottie/mastiff, catahoula and my newest ~ my pittie baby Peanut. He was dumped as well when he was about 5 months old. Never owned a Pit before and several family members tried to convince me not to keep him because of his breed. He just turned 1 year and he is an awesome dog, the personality is unbeleivable! I love him dearly and have also started to follow many different pit advocates. We will one day change the worlds perception of these wonderful creatures
Beautifully written and though it brought tears to my eyes it filled my heart with joy. I never wanted a pit bull but my fiance was a pibble lover so when we went to our local rescue I was very hesitant he had them bring a 45 lb 6 month old blue and white female pit bull into the visiting room. One sloppy, wet kiss later I was in love. 6 months later a friend told us about a male pit bull that needed to be rehomed. We decided ‘Lulu’ needed a brother and brought ‘Loks’ to his furever home. I’ve been an animal lover by entire life but the connection I have to these two crazy, goofy dogs is unlike anything I’ve ever known. Perhaps it’s because I know that others see them and judge them immediately or that so many are being forced to give up their beloved pibbles due to BSL. Thank you for sharing your incredible journey with Sway and reminding us all that one person can make a difference. WE FIGHT SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO.
Your love for your dog is so very moving. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Everything about this is beautiful. – laurengrosso
Josh,
What a wonderful, heartfelt tribute to your best friend. I could not agree with you more on so many of the points that you brought up. I found myself shaking my head, yes, YES, as you talked about your feelings for Sway (such a fitting name too). I’m sorry for your pain and grateful that you penned a memoir in tribute to Sway. I feel the same about my boy Luke, now 10 years old and a rescue from the mean streets of New Haven.
Thank you for all of the things that you are doing to help the other Pittys.
As I watched your tribute I cried and smiled all at the same time. You could feel your bond and your love for eachother. I lost my girl a year ago. At first I too wondered if there was something I could have done differently, then the anger set in of having her taken from me. The torment was overwhelming. I still find myself bartering with god to give her back to me. Until we meet again. I love you Tayo.xoxo
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings on <3ing Sway and life… "well done". You are a gem <3 ~Susan
Josh
What a tribute to Sway once again. I still find myself brought to tears when I remember your journey. Each time you would post news about Sway’s fight I would wonder where you found the strength to keep fighting. The love we share with our furry children never ends and I am sure we will all be reunited someday.
Penny
I truly believe often times our “rescue” dogs actually rescue us. They find us and our lives are improved more than we could ever give to them. This story breaks my heart in a good way. This kind of real and unchanging love is rare and should be treasured. I can’t help but think of my Ruby and my husband. She dug herself out of a backyard in the 115 AZ summer heat to find my now husband on the other side of the wall as an 8-week old puppy. They are soul mates. It is people like you, myself and my husband, who are changed by the furry soul mates who find us that can make a difference. They chose us for a reason! Thank you for sharing.
Josh,
you never cease to amaze and impress me, this was beautifully written and I related to so many points you made here, someday I will have to share my story with you but 4 years later and I still can’t talk about it, you are a unique and special person and a gift to this world as was your beautiful Sway, she will live on forever through you, I LOVE YOUR VIDEO TRIBUTE to Sway, I cried through the whole thing, absolutly beautiful, you always touch my heart and it is a privelege to know you, never change and keep doing what you do, much love to you my friend,
Karen
This is such a beautifully written article. Josh you are an incredible person and an inspirational advocate for this breed. I only discovered this site a few days ago but everytime I come here I’m amazed that there are so many like minded people who want to make a difference in the lives of these dogs. It genuinely gives me faith in humanity.
Josh
So incredibly amazing, beautiful, touching….just indescribable. I cried throughout this wonderful tribute to Sway, as I too, had such a bond of love with my Doberman Isis, who died of cancer at age 6. How fortunate some of us are, to have such an amazing dog in our lives….we have been blessed.
Thank you so much. The love you and Sway share will bind you together forever….and one day you will be reunited…….God bless you
Thanks so much everyone… I was at work today so unfortunately I couldn’t respond and stay as active within the comments as I would have liked. I look forward to reading through them and I take great pride in my dog and the life that she lived!
That is the most beautiful tribute I’ve seen. I’m still crying.
wow that is one amazing beautiful story but sad. i understand what you are going thru i lost my best friend almost 4 weeks ago, my horse tequila. but this is amazing what you are doing bringing a wonderful light to these awesome dogs! thank you!
@StubbyDog@laffin1 Thanks all… and thanks to StubbyDog for the opportunity and the platform.
@theprettychic I’d say to keep them on their toes… “Them” being your local shelter authorities or whomever/whatever else you choose to speak out against. Yes, you are 1 person, but it will surprise you with how many other people become receptive to your message. Stay genuine, stay clear and level-headed but firm with your messaging, and start speaking out against whatever you are seeing that is “disheartening” to you… Truth be told, within the current shelter system there is plenty of stuff to write about, and the animals (specifically pitties) need as many advocates as they can get.
@woofslc Love you Melissa & Tiggs!
@woofslc Love you Melissa and Tiggs!
@sueko2791 I know so Sandra, and I very much look forward to that too… RIP to your sweet Lucy, thanks for being her person, pits should all be so lucky as to have someone who deeply cares.
I can’t stop crying. Well written and so inspirational! Pits are like angels. Thank you for sharing all of that.
@AnnColeman Thanks! At the end of the day you I guess just hope that those types of people will come to understand what you meant by having something that eventually enriches their life to such a level.
@JenniferBelle Thanks for reading…
@JulietteKlaatschSherwin Thank you, she was/is my world too!
@tntracy That’s great! The “failed” foster attempt, haha, resulting in another pittie getting another loving forever home… To your comment about visiting the shelters: People don’t realize how very important visiting shelters are, and just spending precious minutes, seconds even, with the dogs… It may seem like something overwhelmingly small, but in the true midst of things it means the world to these dogs, to know that people care and want to show them kindness. Everyone should make it a habit of visiting shelters, just to interact with those amazing animals, if for nothing else…
@dogcrazy Yes! You’re definitely in the right place to meet up with those like-minded and passionate individuals who these dogs need… Peanut is so lucky! Thx for taking a chance on him.
@Loks&Lulusmom Awesome, thanks for saving Lulu and Loks, keep fighting ignorance and the discrimination that is so rampant in this world!
@authorbessiemac No problem, thank you for reading…
@laurengrossolaurengrosso Thx.
@daymoore Thanks. I think that pain is kind of like a consequence of love, it’s inevitable eventually, but NEVER will it or should it deter people from embracing love, trusting in its power, and giving your whole hearts. The proportion of positive energy that you get back from a pittie’s love trumps every negative connotation a trillion times over. Pain, fear, death… all small things when dwarfed by true and genuine love, something that is timeless.
@Nicolle You’ll see Tayo again though, trust in that.
@SusanPollard-Tietge Thanks Susan!
@PennyCarlson Thank you Penny, you are a very genuine and loving person and I appreciate the support of yourself and your husband! It means a lot…
@katereeve Totally true. So true. My best to you three!
@KarenGuzman Thanks Karen, keep fighting the good fight for Riley and keep me up to date with the goings-on. I’m sorry to hear about your loss you mention here, and hopefully what I wrote in the article helped in a small way… Sway was a gift to the world, I’m so grateful to have been a part of her life.
@Fuppoff Thank you, let’s keep trying to outweigh all of the bad in the world…
@MargieCaporusso Thank you for your supportive message. I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Isis, but you know how lucky you were! I hope you’ve since opened your heart to other animals, and if not, I hope that time soon comes!
@SusieHieronymusO’Leary Thanks Susie, anything I write or whatever I bring to the table is fully due to Sway and her affects that she had on me. She was/is the greatest!
@MarlaBurton Thanks Marla, and my condolences on Tequila… Embrace your grief and you will surely come through the other end of it.
@MargaretBehr-Gonty They are all angels indeed! Thank you…
I personally saw this from beginning to end and witnessed Josh s love for Sway and Sway s love for Josh. Both r truly amazing. I have learned alot from this union of the hearts and am so proud that my son is the amazing person he is. I gain strength in so many ways from Josh and the way he looks at things and values things. This is a beautiful tribute to both of you. I love u Josh.
What an amazing tribute, I’m still crying. Your story and the love you had for Sway reminds me so much of my relationship with my pit, Bella. It warmed my heart to read this article and I am so glad that more and more people are becoming pit bull advocates.
i wish i could have met sway, what an amazing girl she was…. and the gift of her presence in your life has continued to give to so many. wish i could give her a big kiss!
@JodyLiddy I love you too Mom!! And everyone, check this out… My Mom, who is 3,000 miles away, actually ended up adopting one of the pitties that I had photographed out here in a Los Angeles shelter… Her name is Kuma, and she was flown across country to be with the best person I know, my very own Mother! Another Sway-connection come to life…
@LindzyTalbot I second that, all it takes is for people to be around them for 5 minutes… The truth cannot be denied or avoided once given a chance, and once their love is so selflessly (and immediately) shown. Thanks for loving Bella…
Amazing, amazing video! OMG, the tears keep coming! I’ve always admired your shelter dog photos. Working on the east coast to help save our NYC shelter dogs, I know how powerful these photos and videos are for saving our wonderful dogs! Thank you!! When I put together videos for the shelter dogs, it’s sooo important to have just the right music. LOVED the songs you had in your video. Do you mind sharing their titles and artists? Especially that last one… Just took my breath away.. the perfect match… your images and music. A true piece of art and a wonderful tribute to Sway and the love that you two shared!!!
@KellyContant Thanks Kelly, I appreciate it!!
@JoshLiddySwayLove@JodyLiddy Oh, how wonderful!!! Thank you Josh and Jody for saving another life!!!
Josh,Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful heartfelt story. Although your story made me cry, it really made my shitty day that much better. It’s always a treat to read a story about how a pit bull changed someone’s life in a positive way; also knowing that Sway was able to have such a loving owner that every pit deserves is also uplifting. I’m really grateful that you were able to step up to the plate and start your own pit bull advocacy website in order to help save not only their lives but also their reputation. There definitely needs to be more people like you around. After having an argument yesterday about pit bull discrimination, this definitely makes it all that much more worth it.
“Special bonds don’t just come along everyday … for some people they may never, or maybe that person just isn’t in a place to even notice them if they did.” Very powerful words, Josh. I swear this quote just moved mountains for me and opened my eyes to some of the people in my life. I can now understand why they cannot understand me. They have yet to experience that undying, unconditional love that I have had the pleasure of embracing.
And as always, your Sway tribute brought me to tears! <3 <3 <3
~Tessa Overstreet
We all want a “Sway”. I have a “Bear” and he is a wonderful pup. Life keeps getting in the way and we keep moving on and “Bear” helps it move a little slower. Sway was a special young lady as Bear is a special young man, I would not know what to do with out him. I wish that there was no cruelty to animals especially to dogs in-specific Pitbulls and the like, they deserve the chance just like Sway and Bear. I always think that Bear saved me from life and the monotony of it all. This was an uplifting story of a great love story that still yearns in all of us if you just let it. Thank you and keep writing these fantastic stories, continue with the two new one’s, who know’s the books may be so popular that they could fund a challenging advocacy.
I’ve watched your Sway Tribute video several times in the past. Each time I’m blown away by the profound love you had for each other and the photography is literally breathtaking. I hold it together until the last song comes on singing, “If I could just see you…”
I’ve had several dogs during my life. But, I’ve never had a bond with any of them like I’ve had and have, with my pit, Blade. My son brought him home when he was just a lil 5 week old runt. And, I swear, the very first time I laid eyes on him, it was love. I’ve almost lost him so many times. He’s had parvo, was shot 4 times by a policeman, was hit by a truck, just to name a few.
I know I will more than likely have to face losing him one day. And, for that reason, I hope you don’t mind if I save this beautiful tribute you’ve written, so I can look back and read it to help me through the days when I won’t want to go on without him.
Josh~ I am so very sorry for your heartbreaking loss. The Lord has also blessed me in this life to have experienced a very special bond with my dog Sky, who we rescued from a puppy mill. Sky was totally and completely devoted to me and he had great JOY in living every single day… until he was taken from me too soon, also from a rare terminal illness. It’s my deep love for him that propelled me into rescue, to save as many others as I can… in Sky’s honor. May God continue to bless you, and thank you for sharing your story. Lori
@JoshLiddySwayLove@JodyLiddy THAT IS FANTASTIC!!!! I love the rescue stories!
I’m so sorry for your loss. You did do all you could. I understand how you feel, as I have had several fur friends/pets deteriorate from illness too.
It’s only in hindsight that I realized I may have let my pet suffer because I couldn’t handle making the decision to put them out of their pain.
You are a more compassionate person for having had Sway. Anyone that doesn’t understand compassion and empathy for creatures that are weaker or different from us aren’t worth the energy or time to try to convince them otherwise. It’s a shame to say that but people who will step over the weak aren’t strong or good people.
Good luck with your animal welfare, ie taking pictures of pitties and trying to help them find homes.
oh wow!!! so many emotions…… first what a beautiful job sharing your story and the story so many of us can relate to.. i feel so blessed to have been loved by and to have loved one of these perfect creatures…
your writing is truly inspirational of what healing is really about….thank you…i think we all need to be reminded from time to time to help keep things in prospective….and to remember we will see them again…
thank you Josh
So heartbreaking and inspiring. Sway was incredibly lucky to have found you.
I once went to a shelter in Los Angeles while helping a friend look for a lost dog. My lab-pit mix Charlie Dog Houdini went too. As you may have guessed, Charlie was an escape artist par excellence. AS we came to the desk after looking through the shelter, an attendant was approaching Charlie… he’d forced open the sliding window in my truck and followed me. A couple of years later when I married my husband, Charlie sat in the front row with my mom. When the dancing started, he wouldn’t let me dance with anyone but my new husband. When Charlie passed, a friend kindly offered to let us bury him on her land, on a sunny patch with a drift of irises naturalizing. A few weeks later, on a drive, we passed a hillside and I saw Charlie laying in the meadow there. When I stopped the car and got out to look, there was no dog of any kind there. I don;t know if that qualifies as an epiphanous event, but it made me smile for the first time in weeks.
I have been rescuing critters and re-homing them for years… and this economy we live in has made this incredibly difficult. While it is true that I have a large yard, the fact is we had 5 dogs dumped inside our fence within a 2 month period, and coupled with the 6 we already had, we could not afford to keep them all. I tried for an entire year to place a very sweet, big, 90lb boisterous pit girl unsuccessfully. When I began have problems walking, and fell as she gaily trotted past me, whacking me with her tail. That was a year ago, and I cry every time I think of the fact that I had to surrender her. I was lucky enough to get her a spot in a local no-kill shelter, but still.
So, this may seem disjointed to others, but I wanted to share a little with you just as you have shared a little with me. Thank you for a beautifully written piece.
What a sweet story. Thank you so much for sharing. I have the same bond with my dog, Sage, and I often describe my love for her as Sage Love, so I loved hearing about your Sway love. Sage is a rescue girl with a rough beginning and I like to try and I’ve her my best every day to make up for it. It is hard for me to imagine a day without her here; I can only imagine your loss. Thank you so much again for your story and all you do for pups in need.
If you want to see Sage, you can visit her website http://www.sagetails.com.
Your story and video tribute have me in tears. Beautiful.
I cried my eyes out reading this…and then watching the video. YES, special animals change us FOREVER.
Sway looks very much like our 9. Our 17-year old beagle/doberman Son passed away and three weeks later we rescued 9–just three months old in the Dog Pound, in a breed biased county. He is our first Pit. We look at him and it’s like that part in “When the Grinch Stole Christmas”–our hearts grow 10 sizes. He has changed us, as now we KNOW pits and while I always fought for them, I fight HARDER now. He is showing so many people what Wonderful dogs they are…
and yes…
we WILL be rescuing a friend for 9, too.
Having lost furbabies to chronic illness, I understand your fight, your grief. You wrote beautifully about it. I’m so sorry for your loss.
This is a BEAUTIFUL story. THANK YOU for sharing SWAY,her life and yours. The both of you were lucky to have each other.
I cried the whole time I was reading this story. THANK YOU for sharing!! Any of us that have shared the love of an animal like this understands the devastation of your loss. Way to turn your energy into something GREAT!
i cried, laughed, cried, smiled, cried and could not stop crying long after the video ended…. the end where she was wiggling all over the bed was just a delight to watch… thankyou for sharing sway and yourself with us all no matter who we are…. would love to know the tracks you used also…. may you always be warmed by wonderful memories x
Josh~What an incredible love story! Thank you for allowing us to share in that love and in turn, share your grief. Like most who have commented before me, I cried through the end of the video with Sway wriggling on the bed, happy as can be. What an incredible girl she was! I became mom to my first pit, Spud, after finding him at a local hockey game…who knew?! But he has changed my life in ways that cannot be put into words. He is what true love really means. We adopted my second pit Sasha, earlier this year, and although a handful, we cannot imagine our home without them both. Thank you so much for such a moving tribute to your sweet love. If it can make even one person think twice about this breed, what an honor for Sway’s memory! Much love to you and your four-legged babies in the future!
Such a beautiful story of love and companionship. Thank you for sharing this amazing, wonderful story! I can barely type this through the tears. The connection between a pet and their owner is such a special one that you can’t fathom, until you experience it yourself. This will make me hug my pup a bit tighter tonight and cherish all the moments we have together. Thank you again Josh for sharing Sway’s story and for continuing both of your messages of unconditional love. <3
This is the sadest thing I’ve ever read. I’m literally bawling my eyes out. And the video made me laugh and cry at the same time. I have a blue nose pit bull named Piglette, she reminds me of Sway in 1,000 ways. She’s goofy like so, and she’s just one of those dogs that you can’t stay mad at long. People automatically think she’s basically evil because of her breed. To me, this is like saying a disabled person is not a person. It’s wrong, and disgraceful. If one thing could change how pit bulls are viewed by the world, this would be the one perfect example I think, that they’re not all the same. Everyone deserves a second chance. This includes animals. I’ve had a dog from puppy hood who, at 13years old (a long life lived), passed away from diabetes. Watching him suffer was the most painful thing I think I’ve ever experienced…and when he finally closed his eyes peacefully that storming night, I not only cried in mourning…but also in the thought that he was in a better place and no longer suffering. I still find myself remembering him sometimes, laughing about it, and then crying about it. He’s the one dog I had for so long that he literally grew with me. To me that’s something you can’t recreate. It’s a one time experience that you shared with something you loved dearly, and then sadly had to say goodbye to him a lot sooner than you wanted to. I blame myself a lot for him ever getting into the condition that he did, even though I know if I did it over and over a thousand times in my head…I couldn’t guarantee a result that would honestly be much better. Age was not on his side, though sadly his body did not have to be the way it was either. To this day that burial is in the back yard of my childhood home. I remember making the headstone for him out of wood, painting it grey with the words “Brandon, the best puppy ever.” written across it in black paint. His red collar sitting across the top, old and weathered by now surely from being out in the world for a good almost 5 years now. But I’m sure if I looked at that name tag, I could still read his name on it well. I cannot emphasize how deep my feelings are for Sway and her owner. But I’m sure many can’t.. He brought a whole new level to the visual of an animal. They are not just an animal. They are family. This I think, made that very clear in the most perfect of ways. This story will be forever in my heart and forever loved. I shed tears for Josh Liddy and his beautiful little Sway.
That was a beautiful story. Thank you for being willing and able to share it.
Amazingly beautiful
thank you for sharing Sway with us! i have a red nosed pit bull mix named lucille ball, “lucy”. she, too, is my best friend. i consider her a spokesperson for the breed. funny, loving, sensitive and totally loyal. would i ever adopt another pit? in a heartbeat!!
Thank you for sharing your love of a Bully!!! I had one that saved me from myself and gave me something to live for. She was everything to me and we made the perfect pair. I had Xena for 12 years until she got sick. I spent everything I had to try and fix her but in the end I had to put her down. She taught me how to love and to not judge a book by its cover!!! I now have a red nose name Kara and she is showing me a whole new world. I would have to say that the best thing about Kara is that she loves me no matter what is going on and always knows when to come up and kiss away the troubles of the world. I could not even think of what my life would be like without either one of them. They helped make me the person that I am today and I will always be greatfull for that!!!
Thanks a lot Erica for your comments about Sway, and also for your work with the NYC dogs. I see their beautiful faces all the time through Urgent2 and other pages… The songs were Ray LaMontagne and Brandi Carlile songs. The last song is an edit I did where I took the words off… The band goes by the name of Barcelona.
@MichelleQ Thanks Michelle, and happy to bring something positive to the table. I agree, there needs to be more people, and it’s not as hard as it might look, so all: please consider doing all that you can… Your passions will show through!
@JoshLiddySwayLove Thanks!!
@tess99d Thanks Tessa, I appreciate it. It’s frustrating sometimes if others scoff at how you may love your pet, but I think it’s just what I tried to describe, so that makes me able to tolerate whatever is said a little better. Thanks for watching and being moved by Sway.
@TimothyA.WAlter Thanks so much Tim, and for making such a special place in your life for Bear. You know, I’d love to eventually write a book, it’s certainly on my bucket list, so keep in touch and hopefully we’ll see! I wish you and Bear the best…
@PamelaRussett Oh my goodness, so sorry to hear what Blade has been through… Shot by the cops 4 times?? Man, it seems like so many of them are just control-obsessed bullies who love to stomp on life in whatever way they can get away with it.
But yea, absolutely save what I wrote if you have the desire to… That’s basically why I wrote it, in hopes that other people will relate and that it may help others who are dealing with similar things, or with loss in general. How is Blade nowadays? Hopefully well…
I can barely type through the tears, I’m sitting here in my office balling. This story touched my heart. Not everybody understands the bond that happens with pets. They are more than just pets they are family. I have become upset a few times at the loose way people generalize pets…”it’s just a dog…” They are more than that….I pitties are my family. I spoil them with all the love they can handle, I look forward to coming home from work everyday to their wiggly booties and propeller tails. The love is unconditional.
Thank you again for sharing such a touching story. I’m gonna give my babies a little extra love today.
@sheltielover Likewise Lori, that’s great that you have that heart-dog that is fueling all of your future work and assistance towards bettering the lives of many other animals… What was Sky’s illness if you don’t mind me asking?
@Pink_birrd Thank you for reading and for the good wishes. I will keep going so please feel free to follow those efforts on facebook.com/swaylove
@AlexExley Thanks. Yea, I can’t explain exactly how it will happen, but my heart knows I will see Sway again, and in the mean time I feel her presence and her support on a daily basis, although I can’t reach out and touch her. Someday!
@palmuccim I know it’s cliché, but I was certainly the lucky one. Mutual good fortunes I suppose, but I’m forever indebted to God for bringing Sway into my life. I was extremely lucky to be a part of her amazing time here on Earth.
@annieviolent Thanks for reading/watching.
@SaraCooper No problem Sara, thanks for sharing… That’s a beautiful tidbit that you shared about Houdini, and I don’t doubt that you saw what you saw. It’s mysterious but God gives us nudges of support in ways that maybe only you can can see at that specific time. You never know. What ended up happening to the pittie that was taken to the no-kill? Is he still there or was he eventually adopted? Are you able to visit? Thanks for sharing and for opening your home to rescuing…
@KimberBush Fantastic notes about 9. Is that him in your icon?
@JulieRobbs Thanks! I was soooo lucky to have found her, my life was completely changed and many of my best qualities are directly related to having Sway as a best friend.
@jenchanginghearts I appreciate that Jen.
@PatriciaWoudwykMcGuire It’s funny, because she did stuff like that all the time while I was on the computer… I’d hear her rustling in the covers and 1 day I just decided to set my camera up and capture her being a goofball without her seeing me looking at her. I’m glad to share, and thanks for reading and thanks to StubbyDog for giving me another platform… The songs were Ray LaMontagne and Brandi Carlile.
@dwead Wow, I appreciate your words and support so much. Spud and Sasha sound amazing, and thanks for opening your home to them… Good Pit Bull owners/guardians are what this world needs more of, because every Pit Bull is born good. They are the most delightful animal, fixed with the biggest hearts and the greatest capacity to show love and accept love.
@AshleePeterson Thank you as well!
@LizSisk People that just automatically think Pit Bulls are evil, are living in a complete fantasy land of backwardness… In reality, their POV and energy is the evil thing, and they are making our world a far nastier place. I totally relate to you saying “growing with me,” as that is surely something unique that adds another layer of love and richness to the situation. Bless Brandon, and thanks for loving little Piglette… I’m happy to hear that she reminds you of Sway or vice versa. All Pit Bulls/mixes are so fantastic, I can’t say that enough. Thank you for your thoughts and recognizing Sway as a huge advocate in and of herself, for her breed/type… I hope her story makes someone on the wrong side of reality then crossover and give a Pit Bull a chance… They certainly wouldn’t be sorry.
@LyndaScheirer I appreciate it.
@EstherGarza Thx Esther.
@JanKurtzPaxton That’s what I like to hear… Big hugs to Lucy.
@AngieBaldwin So cool to hear, great stuff. Xena sounds wonderful, and I fully understand the phrasing of “saved me from myself” … Please check out Ryan Adams’ cover of the Oasis song “Wonderwall” … It is written about this type of a thing, and it reminds me so much of Sway and Mr. Adams version is incredible (so is the original). Bless Kara, and thanks for sharing them both in your post and for having such a true and open attitude towards one of the greatest animals on the planet!
@StacyBallesteros-Ortiz Always unconditional huh? They are amazing. Thanks for being touched by Sway’s story, and sorry for making you cry at work!
@JoshLiddySwayLove Thanks for the music ideas. I will check them out!!! Please keep up the wonderful work with the Bullys!!! There are so many lives we can touch if we just look past ourselves!!!!
Oh my gosh, this is one of the most touching, inspiring and beautiful stories i have EVER read….thanks SO much for sharing your amazing story with us, Josh! I will NEVER forget it, and will think about it often
I. too photograph pitties and other bully breeds at my local shelter, and now more than ever I am more motivated to get those pups as much exposure as possible..thanks again…you’re amazing!
Thanks everyone for the overwhelming responses and comments. Although this is a tough thing, it is something that I learn more about daily and am able to embrace in order to try moving forward. All your comments and notes about how Sway has affected you, and to what her story means to each of you… They are all very special pieces to read, and each helps me and puts another smile on my face. I cherish any good and genuine feelings that I can get, and to know that each has a foundation of bringing me back to Sway makes each new thing that is birthed from her story just as important.
@DaniellaBallestas Thank you Daniella. Keep it up, you are doing good work with that!!
i should not have read this at work (where my pit bull, Lola, is not)…….. what in inspiration. thank you!!!
Thanks so much! I really do hope so….pitties and bullies are the most amazing dogs! I really wish people weren’t so quick to judge and ignorant about them..they truly are amazing. @JoshLiddySwayLove
@ElizabethMickey Give her a hug for me when you get home!
@DaniellaBallestas Yup, the problem is too many ignorant people lacking in common sense and logic. Certainly not the Pit Bulls.
@JoshLiddySwayLove ill see if i can squeeze one in there for you between the million ill be giving her. haha. theyre the most hug-able dogs on earth. i beyond love what your helping to do for the bread.
Sky had cancer of the stomach lining, which prevented him from absorbing the nutrients in his food… I can’t remember the medical name for it. It took us 6 months of endless tests and finally an exploratory surgery to diagnose why he was getting sick. He was on various medications which helped him for awhile, but eventually his body gave out. The day he died, he was feeling so GOOD and was happy and he ate a good breakfast… I was getting my hopes up again.
Then suddenly, our door bell rang and Sky fell over… like he was having a stroke, and when I picked him up, he went limp in my arms. (My husband is usually at work at that time of day, but for some reason, he was still at home, thank GOD.) We rushed Sky to our vet a few minutes away, and they did CPR and everything they could to revive him… but sadly, he had died instantly. I was SO SHOCKED and STUNNED that he was GONE. I felt like we had had no preparation for this, I was totally devastated.
Then my daughter explained to me that besides Sky’s undying loyalty and devotion to me, Sky gave me one last gift. He loved me so much, that he didn’t force me to make that horrible decision that we all have to make when our babies are ill and suffering. She said I should be thankful that I had such a GOOD morning playing with Sky and that he went so quickly without suffering..
I always knew Sky would never be able to live if anything ever happened to me. He would’ve died from a broken heart. So, now I have learned to live without him.. so like you, my heart is still mending. <3
@sheltielover I’m so sorry to hear that… It’s good that you’ve used what happened and are able to see the silver linings, although that doesn’t take the pain away.
That was all I could “choke out” at the time. I was moved beyond words; it is so wonderful all you are doing to honor and because of Sway. My sister & brother in law rescued the most beautiful Pitt, her name is Trudy and is the most precious girl you can imagine. Austin has lots of fans of Pitts & animals in general. Keep up the good work & much love to all of you and your “babies”.
@EstherGarza No worries, thanks for speaking so highly of Trudy and maybe one day you might adopt your own?
@JoshLiddySwayLove If I am ever able to buy a house I plan to adopt/foster lots of pups. I am an apt dweller right now & 2 pets is the limit. But it is DEFINITELY on my “bucket list”!!!
Oh, wow. What an incredible story, I of course am crying, but that’s not a shock. Thank you for sharing!
@JillianManning Thank you for reading and for your support.
Thank you for putting into such beautiful words the feelings that true pet lovers feel about their pets when in good health AND when that turns bad and worse and finally it’s the end. The last one we lost was our cat, Charley, whom we loved with all of our hearts. He was a part of our family – just as Sway was yours.You know about siffering for a long time and worded it beautifully.
I didn’t know much about pitbulls until the past six years or so.Our County Shelter is full of them, just like most Shelters are. Thank Heaven we are a no-kill Shelter as much as possible and much is done to try and find families for the Pitties. Then I found Tia’s show and Shorty’s show and became more of an advocate for these beautiful dogs. I can’t have a large dogs due to living in a Condo or I would have one.
Thank you for sharing your innermost grief with us. I think we all have felt sad after reading and then elated that you’ve healed enough to have your new little ones. God Bless.
Beautiful story and spectacular tribute. I cried through the entire thing. I recently lost my Pitbull. I too faced bias and discrimination because of her breed. But that dog stole my heart at 9 weeks old and took it with her when she was abruply taken from me and put down, without regard for who she really was. I wish I had taken more pictures of her so that I could put together such a beautiful dedication as you have for Sway. I wish that people would see what a beautiful heart these dogs have. Thank you for your touching words regarding the grief. I so feel guilty that I could have done more and feel like I shouldn’t stop feeling miserable without Delilah because it would be disloyal to her. She was a loving and loyal part of our family and we will forever miss her. RIP Delilah…..
@LoriPodpora I’m sorry… What do you mean she was taken from you and put down?
This is the single most touching story I have ever read. Thank you for putting all those genuine feelings in writing. It’s amazing and I can relate 100%, even though both my dogs are still very much alive, thank God! I was crying throughout the entire read, but that video in the end really pushed me over the edge. I see so many antics of Sway in my two Frenchies… she was beautiful. Thank you so so much for sharing this.
Arlette
@ArlettePandolfi Thank you for that response, it means a lot. Best of health to you and your 2 kiddos.
i have been blessed to have always had dogs in my life, this story touch me to the depths of my soul. i also recently lost my husband unexpectedly and i was able to relate a lot of your story to the loss of my husband as well as the dogs that i was fortunate enough to share my life with. you sharing the story of sway, put many things in perspective for me and i will forever be grateful to you and your beautiful sway. best of luck to you in your future endeavors with your new partners.
Robin
@robinhblaine Thank you so much Robin. I’m so sorry to hear that… I do wish you the best and glad that what I wrote resonated a little bit. One day at a time for sure!
What a moving story… I was touched by your unconditional love for Sway and her unconditional love for you… Dogs are truly mans Best Friend……Rest easy Sway
@yellastar98 They definitely are. Thank you.
@DarcyShaw Like you I learned more about Pit bulls due to my daugther and I watching Animal Planet Pitbull and Parolees. I am very opnionated individual however, advocate is something I never pictured myself being that was until I learned about the plight of these beautiful dogs. I have two and this story along with many other have opened my eyes. One my family will have to deal with the losing both of our beloved pitties. The just thought alone brings tears to my eyes. Each day I go home with a more love for them. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could feel this much love outside of my family. Sasha and Krusher have definitely bought something out of me not even my children (who I adore and love unconditionally) done. Pit bulls aren’t that big and some are fit for condo living.
@theprettychic @DarcyShaw Thank you both so much for taking the time to read and for the support. I’m glad to see the trend of “learning about/caring for/opening your heart to Pit Bulls” being put into action here!
you are a truly wonderful young man josh! how fortunate for you and sway she came out of the cornfield just in time for you to find her. your story touched my heart. thank you for honoring sway by photographing pit bulls locked up in shelters.
@JanKurtzPaxton Thank you for supporting me. I couldn’t imagine my life without the influence of Sway, and I’m so grateful that that wasn’t the case. Sway was truly my greatest gift in life. She’s right up there with my mom as the most influential and wonderful people/souls that I’ve ever encountered.
Wow! I had the finish the rest of that story with tears in my eyes. I feel like I know Sway, because she sounds so much like my little red nose, Kyah. I can truly understand how you felt, because I know that’s exactly how I would feel if anything ever happened to Kyah. She is only two however, but disease does not discriminate.
Like you, I have had other animals in my household while growing up, but none have stole my heart quite like Kyah. My feelings for her run so deep – I’ve never known a love like this before. She loves me unconditionally, is always happy to have me around and greets me every day when I come home from work. She is the best thing in my world.
I thank you for sharing your story, as painful as it may have been for you. I know in time you will heal, but will never forget Sway. I want to thank you for bringing to light what is happening in animal shelters all across America. So many people need to be educated on what is going on and that these are truly great animals. Thanks again.
@avegas72 They are the best, right? Give my love to Kyah, and thank you for your support! Love that dog every day, never take her for granted…
Thank you. I needed that good cry. And my Roxy knew…. so I cried into her shoulder.
@SteveFurman Thanks for reading, my love to your dog!
Thank you. I needed that good cry. And my Roxy knew…. so I cried into her shoulder.
What a beautiful tribute to your beloved dog. I recently had to put my 17 yrs. old dachshund down & I was in so much grief that I thought no one could or would ever understand. I waited a couple of mos. but instead of starting to feel better, I just kept feeling worse. I’d start crying and/or yelling at God for taking him away from me. Now I’ve got another puppy who looks a lot like my other dog (except for his crooked tail) but I still call him by the other dog’s name a lot. I had two other doxie’s before this last one, & never thought I would ever be as devastated as when my 1st one died. Somehow I managed to stop grieving, maybe because I got another puppy right way, but I strongly hope & pray that we will all be reunited one fine & beautiful day, & then we’ll all cross the rainbow bridge together & enter heaven together. Imagine a place where there’s no sickness or hatred. Only love. Also, lots of ponds, beaches, forests with trails, & anything & everything they & I all love to do!!!! I cried while reading your whole story. You had that special “love & bond” with your pet that most people will NEVER feel. I don’t mean to put anyone down that loves their pet, but I don’t think of any of my doxies as pets at all. They are all my children & will always have a huge part of my heart! Thank you so much for the story!
@CherylVanasse We will be reunited, somehow, some way. Never doubt that.
She certainly was a gorgeous girl! Your story is so touching, and I appreciate the transparency with which you wrote about your grief. Someone who’s never loved – and been loved by – a dog simply can’t understand what it’s like to have to say good bye to a 4-legged best friend. I also appreciate your efforts to help pit bulls. I’m new on that journey, but trying to find ways to make a difference in the lives of these magnificent animals. Thank you for all you do!
@christielici0us Thanks for supporting. Genuinely do what you can, that is definitely a worthy effort.
Josh, I want to thank you so much for putting your heart and feelings into words for all of us to see. Your story is so touching and genuine. I have had the heartache of losing 2 of my best buddies so far in life. But I am now the proud Mama of 3 more kids, they are all rescues as well. They don’t get along very well so I have to keep them seperated. Aquaintances keep telling me I need to get rid of 2 of them, sorry that is not an option. I love the breed and I will deal with the good and the bad. I love them with all my heart. LB (short for little bitch), she is my oldest, my middle is Darby, then my youngest Rukkus, his name so fits him. They all have so much personality, totally different from each other.
I also thank you for all you are doing for the breed. I wish Icould of delt with the hurt I felt from losing my 2 in such a productive way as you have. I hope some day to start a rescue for the most misunderstood breed. I have property in california city and Havasu, but I have to care for my mother for now,she is sick. But she is now a lover of the breed. All of my Pitties take turns keeping her company. When she’s gone all I have is my dogs.
Thank you again for all you do for the Breed You are definetly an inspiration. Please keep up the awesome work you are doing. You have already saved so many lives, Thank you Sway for giving him the reason. God Bless you and yours!!!!
@elee33z I appreciate your comments about this. Thank you. I’m so sorry to hear of your losses, it’s beyond tough, but also glad to see that you’ve since rescued again. My 2 girls have their issues as well, but you work at it and love them endlessly.
I too lost a very special pitter to AIHA when she was only 8. Procol Harem’s ‘ Whiter Shade of Pale’ was playing on the radio as we drove home from that last visit at the animal hospital, the day I said good bye. I can’t hear that song without crying .
That dog would run next to me on my bike to work, chill under my bench at the bike shop where I was employed, try to lick all the kids who came in, and slept next to me at the end of every day. She even learned to climb a ladder to my loft bed. She was there with me unconditionally loving through a major heart break and patient as I fell in love again. She helped welcome my first child into this world with a kindness and permissiveness I never imagined any animal could show. She is still on my dresser awaiting my courage to spread her ashes on her favorite trail way up in the mountains. It isn’t fair how short their lives are as dogs compared to ours as humans who love them. It isn’t fair that I had to constantly educate and defend her breed, assure she was an ambassador always with impeccable manners because the impression she made would reflect on other dogs with lives at stake by laws and legislation.
I said I would never .ever. have another dog. It hurt too much. And then I said I would never. ever. have another Pitt. I was too tired and jaded by comments and misinformation. Too saddened by my hesitance at dog parks and people who would cross the street just at our site. Angered by extra premiums on insurance because of a label. NOT AGAIN.
And time passes. And we have another child and a new job that takes my partner out of town for weeks at a time. And a break in down the street. And children growing up with out a pooch, tragic.
And so goes the check list: short haired, medium sized, good with kids, adaptable energy level (couch potato to single track regularly) intelligent, high desire to please, friendly, barks at strangers, just a great dog……
And one fateful morning I woke up and just KNEW I had to go to the shelter and look. It was months earlier than I planned on adding to our family. Of course we came home with a Pit Bull. And I can’t imagine life without her. I can’t understand why a breed that is so loving and so forgiving, so intelligent and so eager to please has become so demonized.
So here we go with another doggle full of life and love and manners and education armed owners set out to change minds and hearts…sigh. Impossible to not love and be inspired by these animals, their history, their spirit.
Thanks for all you do Josh!
I would wish, for every dog, for however long, the chance to give and be given the sweetness of this pure devotion. It is all they ask..
@cathykarr Us too Cathy…us too.
What a beautiful tribute, to the “love of one’s life”…Bless you, Josh: One day, you and Sway will again be united for all eternity…
Josh, you a beautiful person, thank you for sharing this.
bless you, you are a beautiful man. i hope that I can be as gracious as you on the loss of my beloved Sassy, as I know her time is coming near. she is a dachshund and will be 13 in dec. She picked me from a litter of puppies and she owns my heart and soul. She has been with me through the worst times in my life and has always made me smile and laugh through my tears. I often wonder how my life will go on without her. Your story gives me proof that it indeed will. I know it will for I have lost dogs before, but Sassy is my daughter and best friend all in one. Oh how I love her so, just like you loved Sway. Bless you for giving 2 more babies homes. You are truly a beautiful man. Big hugs
Thank you for sharing this beautiful post. A friend shared it with me and it really hit home. I lost my best friend of almost 15 years, Calpurnia, my beautiful kitty cat, just two weeks ago. The pain is still so raw, and so many people don’t understand because they have never experienced such a strong bond with an animal before. Calpurnia will be in my heart forever, just as Sway is with you. I hope that I can eventually find the kind of peace you seem to have.