I was a young girl around 8 years old when I met my first pitbull. I have always loved dogs and would go up to pet them whenever I could. We never had dogs at home so this was always a special treat.
My mother and I came out of a store and were walking along a sidewalk when I saw a man sitting on a bench with a dog next to him. The dog was white with some light black splotches and a big blocky head.
I don’t remember what distracted my mother, but she turned around, saw me petting this dog that was only slightly smaller than I was and she yelled out, “Get away from that dog now!” I remember being upset thinking that the dog didn’t look mean and couldn’t understand why my mother was yelling.
The dog was a pitbull.
Years later, I’m living in Phoenix involved with animal rescue. I had two dogs—perfect mutts, and two cats. The kids in my neighborhood all knew my dogs as I walked them every day. Whenever they found a stray, there would be pounding on my door.
One morning I opened the door to see one of the most pathetic-looking dogs I have ever seen. She was emaciated, had what looked like bite marks all over her. Her head was hung low and she looked like she had been through hell.
She was a pitbull.
I looked her over and handled her, and she seemed quite sweet and friendly. I took her inside and set her up to rest in a spare bedroom. I later introduced her to my dog, and he wasn’t having it, so I scrambled to find her a place. Thankfully, a friend had recently told me about one of her friends looking to foster dogs. Voila! I had a short-term foster and went about looking for a rescue to take her. Thankfully I found the perfect place, Lost Paws.
Venus was spayed and vetted. She was cared for physically and loved, and flourished in their care. I visited her periodically and would take her for hikes. She blossomed into such a beautiful dog when she was cared for as she should be. Then she was adopted into a home perfect for her, with an active woman who loved hiking and running daily. I cried with happiness for this perfect happy ending.
I got more involved with Lost Paws as my way to say ‘thank you’ for the kindness they paid Venus. She likely would not have made it out of the county animal care and control facility as a scared, under-socialized pitbull.
I fostered two of their dogs—one that I sprung directly from county who was on the euthanasia list for a cold. I nursed him to health, and promptly ‘foster failed’ by adopting him into my home. The second dog stayed here for ‘staycations’ but she was such a great fit with my male dogs that she never left.
My pack was now complete, including two pitbulls.
I live with these dogs and love them. I volunteer with them, and I advocate for them with every fiber of my being. As a marketer, I have extreme dislike the media campaign against them and know that if people took the time to get to know them, they would realize that under the blocky head is a big heart devoted to loving people. They are great with kids, they are great with other animals, and they are perfect reflections of the love and care they receive.
I’m participating in a contest with my rescue called The Lost Paws Amazing Race. Every week we are given four activities to do with our assigned dog, taking pictures along the way. The activities are like going shopping, going to a restaurant, taking a picture by a public art space, spa day and going to a dog bakery. Activities not only to get them out socializing in places that they will likely go when in their forever home, but also giving them exposure to find their forever family.
My dog is Gemini. Isn’t she gorgeous? She is shy, affectionate and incredibly sweet. She is very under-socialized and anxious about new experiences, and it seems that almost everything is new to her. It only took one outing for her to connect with me and two for her to start marching up to people, even groups of people, to say hello. I am so enjoying watching her as she learns about new experiences and settles in to enjoy them.
Whomever gives this girl her forever home will be incredibly lucky. I am completely in love with her and will commit to taking her out regularly until it happens for her.
Gemini is one-and-a-half and appears to be a pitbull crossed with a greyhound. She is tall and lanky with a silvery blue coat with tan undertones. She has beautiful gold eyes. She will need someone who will support her confidence as she learns and grows. She is good with other dogs, though would need a slow introduction. Her interest at this point seems more in people. She has a moderate energy level, so she would love someone who would take her out places and for walks and hikes but is also willing to snuggle. Beware if you meet her—be prepared to fall for this sweet girl.
Please share so we can find her a forever home.