Roommates can be a pain. At one time or another, almost everybody has dealt with the roommate who always leaves a sink full of dirty dishes or who blasts music late at night. On the flip side, though, a great roommate is a lot of fun to have around. But the perfect roomie? Well, that’s something quite rare. Just ask Oliver and Meryl.

Vicktory dogs Meryl and Oliver, seized from the property of former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, are discovering a whole new side of life in each other’s company. They’ve only been living together a week, but already they behave like high school sweethearts. Couldn’t have happened to two more deserving dogs, either.

When they first came to Best Friends, neither one was ready for doggie friendship. Oliver was so shy and nervous that anything new felt scary. Whether learning how to go on car rides or just seeing new equipment in the play area, Oliver didn’t like anything outside the “norm.” (He’s come a long way since then.)

Meryl, one of the stars of National Geographic’s “DogTown,” had her own issues to work through. The whole concept that people could be friends was a brand new idea that took some getting used to. But she got there. In fact, Meryl now loves people so much that she sprints toward them and doles out slobbery kisses every chance she gets!

Always on the lookout for more ways to help the Vicktory dogs, their caregivers have been taking them on supervised play dates. And Meryl and Oliver hit it off so well, time after time, that it seemed they could even become roomies. They decided to give it a try.

Here’s a little game they’ve developed: There are two dog houses in their play area. The game starts when one of them zooms across the open space and jumps into a dog house, with the other dog following right behind. The one chasing jumps in and gives a playful nip to the other dog’s heels, and then they reverse the process. The chaser becomes the chased, darting to the second dog house with the same rules in play.

This game of tag/hide-and-seek happens over and over. In fact, sometimes they keep at it for so long you wonder why they haven’t worn a three-foot trench in the ground! Safe to say, these two are not going to be filing for a roommate swap anytime soon.

Story by David Dickson
Photos of Oliver (black and white) and Meryl by Molly Wald

All of the work at Best Friends is made possible through your support. Thank you!

March 25, 2009 : 4:16 PM ET
posted by: aileenw

The Best Friends web site and the Best Friends network are dedicated to providing information and ways for the animal loving community to connect on behalf of the animals. As a result, Best Friends offers the opportunity for our visitors to comment and converse with each other to build a constructive dialogue around the needs of the animals. Dialogue that we hope will lead to positive action on behalf of the animals by people everywhere. When people choose to pervert this dialogue and redirect the focus away from the welfare and needs of the animals and instead to themselves, and to perpetuate rumors and falsehoods, Best Friends may choose to block their destructive and distracting comments. We choose not to do this and are committed to doing this as little as possible and it is sad when we need to. I am happy to answer any questions that our supporters might have about our work on behalf of the animals at aileenw@bestfriends.org. Of course, we love to have people visit so they can see first-hand the miracles they make possible. By the way, the wonderful program referred to in the comments is actually called the My Best Friend program which was created by one of the Best Friends founders, Jana de Peyer. It’s a very special way for a single donor to sponsor one animal who lives at Best Friends and provide for that care for one year. One of the things that we encourage our My Best Friends members to do when they can is to come see their sponsored animal in person.

March 22, 2009 : 10:33 AM ET
posted by: fred7

CENSORED!

BF has just learned how to delete posts on news blogs, as they have been doing on their forums for some time now. If they continue, then consider that YOUR money will be used to edit what YOU say! Whether you agree with them or not, these blogs are the only remaining place to hear honest opinions from others.

Many, many posts have just been deleted from many of the news blogs, including A Very Special Life and Old Dog Grows Wings. Dozens of posts from many different people who raised questions or gave comments unwelcome to BF. If you care about honesty, please CALL BF and LET THEM KNOW! You are the DONORS who make BF possible! They are at 435-644-2001. Extension 4537 for the Welcome Center.

Ask also about the RentaDog Program. Where, for $5,000/year your dog remains at the Sanctuary and will not be adopted. You will be the SOLE provider for that dog. Possibly along with a bunch of other SOLE providers(?) Fake activity reports on your dog arrive every few weeks. Ask for Janna DePeter, the sole manager of this secret program.

exfriender@gmail.com

March 12, 2009 : 4:28 PM ET
posted by: Skywolf

For the past year I have been volunteering several days a week at my local Animal Services (dog pound) here in Alabama. The local policy is that if it's a Pit bull and not claimed by the owner it is euthanized. Even if it's a puppy, there is no chance for them. During this time, I have seen maybe 3 pits that I would not want to approach, the rest I have been more than willing to give them a biscuit and pet them through the wires of their pens. They have been so pathetically eager to be petted, moving their heads just right to get an ear scratch, throat tickled, etc. Some of them have been so torn up they couldn't move, scarred with old injuries and some that have obviously been a much loved pet and never fought. Approximately one third of our pens are taken up my pits and very few owners ever show up to redeem them. It breaks my heart every time I walk down an aisle and see a black X and the food dish is absent. This means that that dog will be gone before COB that day. I give them a biscuit and talk to them for a bit, give them some good scratches and then I move on to the next pen. It breaks my heart daily to see this, but being a city run facility with little funding we just don't have the space or the manpower. On occasion, a pit mix will get to go up for adoption, depending on the age and personality of the dog. The cage card will read "Terrier/X". What I do at Animal Services is work with the dogs that are up for adoption, not with the dogs in "the back". I guess what keeps me going there is doing what I can for those that I can do something for.

March 11, 2009 : 12:57 PM ET
posted by: Karens123

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I had to let you know that Las Vegas is trying to put toogether a football team and one of the players they are talking about is MICHAEL VICK! We have to put a stop to this NOW!

March 11, 2009 : 12:57 PM ET
posted by: Karens123

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I had to let you know that Las Vegas is trying to put toogether a football team and one of the players they are talking about is MICHAEL VICK! We have to put a stop to this NOW!

March 11, 2009 : 12:57 PM ET
posted by: Karens123

I wasn't sure where to post this, but I had to let you know that Las Vegas is trying to put toogether a football team and one of the players they are talking about is MICHAEL VICK! We have to put a stop to this NOW!

March 10, 2009 : 9:49 PM ET
posted by: pat hymel

As the owner of a red nose pit, I hava a soft spot im my heart for these nobel dogs. In fact my pit (Scrappy) must feel the same way about me because he has taken a snake bite for me. What your are doing for the "victory dogs" and for all pit bulls is wonderful. Please keep up the great work. My financial support for your orgaization will be continuing in the future.

Best regards,

Pat Hymel

March 10, 2009 : 4:51 PM ET
posted by: jjcoers

ahughes -- It sounds like you are one who's "gone off the rails" with your negative attitude. You may have had a bad experience with a Pit or some other breed in the past, but that doesn't paint the entire breed as vicious.

You, on the other hand, may be...

March 5, 2009 : 9:16 AM ET
posted by: pottlesark

One of the best dogs I ever owned was a pit and she got along with kids, cats, rabbits, horses, most dogs, and even some of my chickens. Though when she did play with the chickens, she usually ended up bleeding, not them. One day I WILL own onther pit or two. But right now I do not have the life style the is best for a pit. And most pit owners don't realize what type of lifestyle they require. I am very happy that best friends is able to show the world what these dogs can be like.

March 1, 2009 : 11:24 PM ET
posted by: strayone

ahughes is obviously a novice when it comes to dog behavior. I hate to inform you, but many dogs kill squirrels is their yards. Lots of dogs who are not properly introduced to cats will be aggressive toward them. That is not a breed specific trait. Pit bulls are not "time bombs waiting to go off". They are living breathing creatures that deserve to be cared for and loved just like any other dog. In the early part of the 1900's pit bulls were a common family pet. People are forcing them to be something they are not. Treat any dog bad enough and you will get the aggressive behavior you are looking for. Pit bulls are loving,very sensitive dogs. Shepards bite more people that pit bulls do, but I still love shepards. You are drinking the koolaid of the nuts promoting breed specific bans. Shame on you, get informed before you open your mouth and perpetuate more lies. See www.pbrc.org.