New Recurring Dream

I've been having a new recurring dream.   Well … the location is recurring.   The dream takes place in the upper level of a building.  There is a narrow staircase that leads up to a large empty room that is supposed to be either a dance  studio or a dog training hall.  It's never 100% clear which.   The theme of the dream is also never 100%  clear.  I always wake up fuzzy on the details of the 'story' the dream is telling.  But … it's always drenched with fear and a sense of danger.   Last night it featured me trying to protect a small child from an imminent threat.

Harley Dawg

Harley Dawg came into my thoughts the other day.  Harley was an American Bulldog and one of the most special of all the dogs I've owned.   When I first met Harley I was not looking to adopt,  but I couldn't get him out of my mind and had a dream in which Harley was an 'old' dog.  He was only one year of  age at the time so dreaming that he was with me as an old dog seemed like a sign that we were meant to be together.   Harley was loyal to a fault and I always knew I was safe with him at my side.   He loved all people ,  but he loved me best and there was never a shadow of a doubt in my mind that if I were in danger,  Harley would protect me.

American Bulldogs are often mistaken for Pit Bulls even though they (AB's) are a larger dog.  And so it was back in 2005,  when Ontario implemented BSL  (breed specific legislation) banning Pit Bulls,  Harley and I came under attack.   A television show aired a fairly inflammatory piece about the ban,  heavily skewed against the dogs.   It was either W5 or the Fifth Estate.   I can't remember which although I'm leaning towards W5.    I've tried googling to find episode lists from 2005 but was unsuccessful at finding any archives.    At any rate,  the episode incited already biased against the breed people,  to an even more prejudiced stance.    The day after the episode aired, I was out shopping and Harley was with me.  Harley was like my emotional support dog - he came everywhere with me.   I didn't feel safe without him.   But I digress.   This particular day,  I came out of the shops to find a man standing by my van taunting Harley.  When I approached the vehicle the man turned his ire towards me and started yelling obscenities and accusing me of owning a "dangerous dog".   He yelled that he'd seen the tv show and knew these dogs were banned and he was going to go home,  get his rifle, and come back to kill both me and Harley.    I don't need to tell you the terror I felt in the moment.  On the one hand I wanted to open the van door and let Harley out to protect me.   But on the other hand I feared for Harley's safety if he were to step outside the van.   And I feared for my ability to  'keep it together'  if anyone laid a hand on my Harley-Dawg.    I tried not to engage this lunatic man while I hurriedly put my bags in the van and climbed in,  locked the doors, and drove away in near to hysterical tears.   

If only that man had known what a total love bug my Harley was.  He was not a threat to people.   People don't know their bullie breeds and in the early days of BSL all blocky headed dogs were at risk.  BSL is still in place in 2020 but there seems to be more tolerance for  non-pit bull bullie breeds.