BY Desmon Walker
My childhood was spent in the company of pitbulls. This made it a no-brainer to adopt one from a friend months before college graduation. Taking home Nino—named after the main antagonist in New Jack City—became one of the best decisions ever made for my family.
Nino’s temperament was quite the opposite of that of the movie character he was named after. He was protected and loved by an entire family tree. Best of all, he knew how to reciprocate it back. During a stay at my mother’s home, he once halted a suspected break-in attempt with a few loud barks toward the back door. The good deed was paired with an everyday duty to look after my wife whenever I wasn’t home.
Contrary to popular belief, pitbulls aren’t naturally aggressive. Often panicky, Nino avoided perceived threats at all costs. From fireworks and thunderstorms to water, or shouting, he wanted no part. One time I made a hard turn while driving home from the store as he sat in the backseat, causing a new ironing board on the seat to shift. In a split-second decision, Nino jumped left, out of the window of the moving car. He usually flinched and asked questions later.
Despite his tendency to take flight over fight, Nino was still very curious. Nino once chased a flock of geese right into the depths of a pond, though I’d never seen him swim. Fortunately, he swiftly made a U-turn and doggy-paddled back to the bank after realizing his error.
During a different escapade, I left Nino alone at a friend’s house for a few hours. While exploring his unfamiliar surroundings, he ventured down a dark basement staircase and broke his leg. That week I learned how little difference there can be between medical costs for humans and animals.
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Lessons in life
Without uttering a single word of English, Nino knew how to nurture, and spared no opportunity to be nurtured back. He demanded attention, especially within the confines of his own home. Whenever we walked through the door, he met us with an abundance of joy. When we reached into the kitchen drawer for keys to leave, he was at our feet with eyes or barks of persuasion. Periodically, he’d dart out of the door without waiting for permission to tag along.
Nino kept my household grounded. His persistence to go after what he wanted, whether a car ride or food, taught me to do the same in life. Short of marriage and parenthood, he gave our family meaning that was unmatched. He evolved from a companion into a best friend, sharing more time with me than most humans.
When my first son was born in November 2023, I felt everything I needed was finally under one roof. This was the beginning of another lesson: family—and Nino was that—won’t live forever. In May 2024, the same month that he turned 11, and my son turned six months, Nino died on a day when he seemed to still have years of life remaining.
Despite having mentally prepared for his time to come to an end, I rode a rollercoaster of emotions for weeks. Finally, it became easier to accept that my son-before-my-son had come, seen and served
his purpose.
Desmon Walker is an entrepreneur, real estate investor and cofounder of Narratent Digital Marketing. Born and raised in Champaign, Illinois, he is a 2016 graduate of Southern Illinois University and lives in Chicago.
