piloerection

Riley has always been a little different. I am pretty certain she’s the only female dog in the neighborhood that lifts her leg to pee. And then there’s that whole coprophagia thing which surfaces every winter. Needless to say, I wasn’t surprised when she started exhibiting another new behavior, incessant raising of her hackles while on a walk.

Piloerection, or the hair standing on end at the shoulders or from the shoulders down the back is a sign of arousal or excitement associated most often with fear. It is a function of the nervous system and is an involuntary reaction to a stimulus such as fear or cold.

An afternoon walk lasts about twenty minutes. I took my camera today and snapped a picture of everything that made her hackles stand on end. When I initially noticed this behavior, I would stop, sit her down and pet her. That was completely ineffective and since it doesn’t seem to bother her I just let it go now. It’s just another addition to the list of things that make Riley special.

White fence at the house where a dog lived about four years ago
Petie's House

The street

Trashcans from a distance

About to see her nemesis the mailman


Hole in a fence where she saw a dog one time

Rabbit

House with a tiny dog in the window

Kids on bicycles

Just saw a squirrel

This house gets her every time and I am not sure why

Wooden fence

if you're reading this

November 5, 2010

If you are reading this letter it is because I wanted you to know that my encounters with you have had an impact on my life.

I spent nearly 10 years working on the Research on Pathways to Desistance project at Temple. During that time, my path crossed with several hundred people, all of whom were involved with the study on some level.

My work landed me in state and federal prisons, county jails and of course all over the city of Philadelphia. I have done interviews in houses with no heat, houses with mice and roaches (I even brought a few home with me in my lap top bag). I’ve sat on floors when there was no furniture and on steps when the house wasn’t a safe place to be.

I can’t say that I know what it is like to live in these places. At the end of the day, I was able to retreat to my home in South Jersey. But I thank each and every one of you for taking the time to share your stories with me. You didn’t have to and I know that.

As you all should know by now, the research project at Temple has ended. On my last day of work, one of the young men that I had done interviews with for eight years was shot and killed at a playground. He wasn’t the first (and he won’t be the last) person that I interviewed for the research project that was killed.

Every day when I read the news about another homicide in Philadelphia, I brace myself when I get to the part where they name the victim. Tonight was no different, only this time; I felt an overwhelming sadness as I read the name. It was another young man whom I'd interviewed for eight years. He was shot in the chest several times and died a few hours later. He left behind a son who adored him and a father who only wanted the best for him.

If you are still reading this, please know that even though we might have only spoken a handful of times over the past nine or ten years, you have made a difference in my life. I wish that a better path lies ahead of you. I wish for you to be safe, be smart. I wish that I never have to read your name in a news article like the one I did this evening.

Best Wishes,

Donna