Charlie (every dog needs a name) is a young (somewhere between 9 and 18 months, as best as the vet can tell) pit bull terrier (probably a mix) who showed up in the backyard today while I was mowing the lawn.  He was hungry and thirsty, and it was obvious that he hadn’t eaten much for days.  We’ve taken him to the vet to have him checked out and cleaned up, but we’re not planning on keeping him.  He’s a very sweet dog who gets along well with people, cats, and other dogs, but Debra and I just can’t handle another pet right now.  Having so far failed to find the owners (driving the neighborhoods and searching the papers for lost dogs), we’re looking to find him a good home.  Placing a pit bull is difficult, though, because a few bad actors who raise the dogs to be mean have given the breed a bad reputation.  Fortunately, Pit Bull Rescue Central and other similar web sites contain a wealth of information, and everybody we’ve talked to or contacted via email has been extremely helpful.  With luck, and with the help of others who care, we’ll find a home for Charlie.