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OH HAPPY DAY!
2007-08 Rescue Stories with Great Endings
Pit bulls have it tough these days. They're mistreated by some, feared by many. The dogs below are special because
they survived the worst of starts, yet remained friendly, optimistic and all-forgiving. And now, they're
loved, cherished...spoiled! by wonderful owners who saw past the media hype and
right down into their bullytough hearts. Read and enjoy. We're so proud of these
dogs and the people who helped save their lives.
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Stay Tuned: Happy Ending stories and photos on their way for: Bob, Uba, Hector, Audie, Jonny Justice, Teddles, Bubba, Harvey, Otter, Sweetie, Josie Kat, Newman, Roller, Daddy-O, Harley, Kinzie, Jelly Roll Jones, Piglet, Stella Polari, Joey, Tank, Skeeter, Madison, Millie, Texas, Peter.
 Bug - Now Winston
Bug was an Oakland Shelter dog who bounced back to the kennels when his original adopter exploded with dander-related asthma. We felt so bad for both of them that we made room in our Pit Bull Hall kennels. He was such a soulful, low-key guy that he lolled around in his kennel, seemingly depressed...until those wonderful moments when he could be outside playing with his PBH girlfriend dogs. Look how cute he was on Christmas Day: Video
 A couple came to us after grieving the loss of their beloved pooch Lucy. They were hoping for a new companion, this time, a dog-social dog that could accompany them anywhere. Bug filled the bill. They met him just as we were shutting down the shelter but despite our hurries, it was easy to see the 'Oh Wow, Oh Wow' looks in all three sets of eyes when Bug melted into their hands. The rest is history: Bug now wears the dignified name of Winston. He lives a charmed life with two doting humans, he flirts shamelessly with the family cat (who barely tolerates his hopeful pleas to play fetch), he romps joyfully with friends' dog, he serves as a BR demo dog and he's about to earn his Canine Good Citizen certificate. And we haven't once heard anybody sneeze in his presence - a good sign! Many thinks to Suzanne and Peter for opening your hearts to Winston. Every day is Christmas for this boy now.
 Sleep Well, Sweet Mason
Sweet old Mason showed up in a Los Angeles shelter at the end of his life. He was somebody's pet at one time, already neutered and clearly loved. BR's Bullyhaven Project is able to help a tiny handful of displaced seniors each year, and Mason won the lucky ticket back in July of '07. He went to stay with Steve and Nicole in San Diego before coming to SF to live at Bullyhaven headquarters. This fine fellow made many dog friends during his golden years and received endless snuggles and pampering. He passed on exactly one year later, a much loved pooch. Mason will be dearly missed. He was a special reminder to all of us how absolutely wonderful senior bullies can be. Thank you Susi and Charlie, for caring so much.
 Dutch, now Audie
Audie was our first official adoption of a Vick dog. He was grabbed up by none other than BR's ace trainer, Linda Chwistek and her husband Bill. Linda's been looking for an agility dog for ages and when she met Dutch and recognized his courage, drive and natural talent, she told us "I haven't been this excited since I tasted my first candy bar!" Unfortunately, a specialist noted that Audie's joints would not be able to endure the stress of the sport, so Linda sadly resigned to let him go so she can continue her search. Until she phoned us that is, to report that she wants him anyway. ha! Dutch made such an impression on these guys - and they meet hundreds of dogs every year - that they couldn't let him go. While Linda is still looking for her agility star, there are plans to give Dutch a different, less strenuous vocation (details to come). The angels sang a special love song on the day this dog found his forever home. And we smiled for a week straight...Okay, we're still smiling. Thank you Linda and Bill.
 Elvez!
Elvez was just a gangly pup when we met him at Oakland Animal Services. He was identified by a staffer ACO Dave Walker from WA's Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) as a dog worthy of evaluating and he was right - Elvez was a cool guy who did well during his get-to-know-yous. Weeks later, we were surprised to see this boy still at the shelter so brought him into our Pit Bull Hall project. He grew into a strapping young man, and his sensitive nature charmed us as much as it challenged us (he could be a drama queen and complained a lot in the kennels). He was however so darn affectionate and charming!
 Treven had been hoping for a new dog when he learned about BR via news of the Vick dogs. He was soon matched to Elvez and spent every Saturday in Pit Ed class, catching up with the skills that Elvez had learned while at the shelter. They've since earned their Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate together - a great way to begin their new relationship. Elvez is still a bit of a drama queen and Treven is learning how to navigate a world that doesn't understand how kind and sensitive this breed can be. We expect they'll have many adventures and opportunties to educate together as time marches on. Thank you Treven for opening your heart to the ever handsome always heart-full Elvez.
 Tyson
Tyson was a little snorty senior with lots of green snots and messy diarrhea when we first met him at Oakland Animal Shelter. He grunted and groaned from his kennel as if to say, "Me! Me! you want ME!" A staffer from Michigan Humane Society was participating in one of our Pit Ed Camps and she heard his plea loud and clear. Tyson was finally noticed as he deserved to be! After a group evaluation that served as a camp exercise there was no mistake that this little guy had once been somebody's well socialized, well loved pet. How he came to lose his home is an unknown, but it wasn't long before he was part of Pit Bull Hall. He charmed everyone who met him, but his age seemed to keep adopters at bay.
 In the meantime, one of our longtime supporters asked to be a foster mom. Kerry had an older dog so we knew we needed to match her with a dog social boy that wouldn't pester her older mistress K9 too much. It was no surprise to anyone that Tyson stayed for keeps. How could you let a little jewel like this go? Tyson brings so much joy to Kerry. She takes him everywhere and he happy obliges his fan club wherever he goes. We're grateful to Jennifer of Michigan Humane Society for first noticing this tiny elf's impish style, to the Pit Bull Hall team for loving him in the interim and of course to Kerry! for giving him a home and for keeping him in the BR family.
 Deja - Now Clover
Deja Blu now Clover came to us within a week or two of BooBoo Divine's arrival. They were so sisterly that we had to wonder if they were related. Like BooBoo with the butchered ears, she was similarly insulted with a long burn mark down her back. We recorded this trend of burned dogs here: Bounce Back. Not only that, Deja was un-ceremoniously dumped outside of the East Bay SPCA by someone who didn't have the - ahem - time to bring her inside to fill out owner surrender forms. She was first spotted by a shelter employee seconds after being booted. She was running after her owner's truck as if to say "Hey! Wait for me!" .. still hopeful and willing to clamor for that former home. Sheesh. These dogs sure know how to forgive.
Pit Bull Hall became her new home and this once-skinny girl absorbed all the things she'd never had before: the comforts of kindness, regular meals, leadership and a promise of a future. When Kevin and Monica came by to look at our dogs, they'd told us that they wanted a dog social male, but they were immediately drawn to Deja ... a dog selective female. Ha! We asked them go home and sleep on this very big decision, but we weren't surprised to get an email that screamed "We want Deja!". Well of course they were meant to be together. Deja now lives with two of the happiest people you could ever hope to meet. She gets to enjoy their active lifestyle that includes lots of outdoor activities (mom is a triathlete) as well as swimming pool fun and all the spoiled girl attention any pit bull can hope for. This is the kind of adoption that makes us smack our foreheads and yell "Day-Yum!Tthe world really is full of goodness and grace." Thank you Kevin & Monica for two important tasks in 2008: restoring our faith in people and giving Clover the home of champions.
 BooBoo Divine!
Three strikes and yer in! This beefy blue gal bounced around a bit before landing in her personal paradise – at home with Larry and Elizabeth in Santa Barbara. We know that it always works out the way it's supposed to, and sometimes it just takes a little extra time. That was true for this girl.
BooBoo's new folks were committed enough to bring her up to training class from Santa Barbara in order to qualify for our crop-eared girl. Fortunately they have family in the area and were able to visit while in the East Bay - a big plus for Boo Boo since the family was just as smitten with her.
She was one of the few dogs that we actually we knew a little of her history. We blogged about her escape from the scissor-wielding kids and the people who took her in, but then neglected to provide medical attention for her stubs. Those days are long gone and BooBoo Devine has scored big-time with a huge play yard, high fence (and man can that girl jump!), and two peeps that feel like winners of the lotto.
We're also lucky since we'll be able to see the muscle-clown in class from time to time when the clan is paying family visits. Welcome home you beautiful girl!
 Sammie (now Chiquita)
Sammie was one of those pit bulls that we just couldn't pass up. She pressed her stocky self up against the shelter cage begging for us to take notice. And we did. While Sammie was stellar with all people she met, she was a bit sassy with impolite dogs so we enrolled her in a group class at a small dog training club where she had the chance to polish up her manners and to learn to turn the other cheek. And then to our delight, one of our committed foster homes, a recent college grad, raised her hand to continue Sammie’s schooling. This foster home drove two hours each way on Saturday mornings to bring Sammie to BR Pit Ed classes.
A few wonderful potential adopters put applications in for Sammie, but the perfect match for this sassy girl wasn't to be found. We worried just a little about a happy ending for her. But our foster home assured us that she’d stick with us, and Sammie stayed happy and even became best of friends with the foster home’s cat. We like to say Sammie saved the foster home's cat late one night.
 Time went on, and just when we really started to worry that Sammie would never find a happy ending, again to our delight and a lot of surprise we received this sweet note:
"So I spent this week contacting real estate agents, local pit
rescues/shelters, and figuring out at each school what the housing situation is
like. I also talked to some graduate students to figure out some more
details on time constraints and creative problem solving methods used
by graduate students who have families or other responsibilities.
Basically, at the end of this, it seems like I was worrying more than I
needed to about time/housing. All that said, Sammie is an amazing
dog, I can't imagine any way a dog could be more perfect for me and I would like to apply to adopt her.”
It seems that while our foster home was preparing for graduate school, she had quietly and methodically been looking at her choice of Masters Degree programs in towns throughout the United States that would be pit bull friendly. We always knew that Sammie was smitten with her foster person, but it turns out that our foster home was equally smitten with Sammie.
Emily, thank you for looking over Sammie Banana for what seemed an eternity and for helping her find her way. The perfect match was under our noses all along. All our best to the both of you as you head out to new adventures in the Pacific Northwest!
 Betty B. Bling
Betty B. Bling showed up in the Oakland Animal Shelter as a full grown adult in a young puppy's body. She was so confident and full of herself that we had to laugh. What a little Viking she was! Her good looks were guaranteed to attract an impulse adopter but it was clear she needed a smart dog owner to help her through Charm School. So we grabbed her up and introduced her to Anna, a solid BR volunteer who knows how to bring the best out of sassy pups. Betty formed a fast alliance with Anna's equally sassy son Josiah, and we've enjoyed endless hours watching these two conspire to take on the world together. We knew from the start that Betty would probably end up in this family for keeps, but it still gave us happy fuzzies to see Anna sign her paperwork. This is one of the nicest, silliest, most likable little hellions we've met in a long time and we couldn't think of a better home to shine up her halo while still allowing her naughty side to peek out and have a good time. The world is a better place for having these three sweethearts together as a family.
 Gabby!
Gabby earned her name by being one of the most vocal pit bulls we've ever met. She garbled, woo-ed, ruffed and chortled her way right into our hearts but - unfortunately - right out of her Pit Bull Hall kennel once we realized the public was not ready to have a big brassy pit bull make conversation with them (kenneled pit bulls tend to scare the pit-bull-shy public if they're seen as bouncy, barky or otherwise 'scary' ) We were in a pickle because Gabby's rescuer brought her from the central valley where she was set to be euthanized due to her fight wounds.  We tucked her into a crowded foster spot for a quick fix and scratched our heads over best next-step options. Thankfully Gabby was happy to be surrounded by dogs and kept herself busy with lazy play dates during this transition.
Pit Bull Hall member Inga raised her hand to help us out for a few days and snuck her under her landlord's radar to make it work. As you can guess, those few days turned into a permanent arrangement. We were thrilled when she and her beau James asked to adopt Gabby for keeps, and even happier, when they decided to buy a house to keep her safe from landlord woes. As of this writing, the couple is in escrow and Gabby is officially adopted and home for keeps. Happy Days! Many thanks to Lynn for bringing Gabby to our attention and to Inga and James for rearranging your life (and finances!) to give her a home.
 Ace now Whitley
Just over a year ago, we traveled to Corning CA - in the middle of cow-dotted fields - to survey a very special shelter run by Second Chance Rescue. The shelter was tiny, but filled with a lot of heart and - you guessed it - mostly pit bulls. We came away with a new respect for this busy org's accomplishments, but we also came home with the realization that we were in love with one of their star dogs - Ace! Second Chance has a tough time getting adoptions in their tiny community so we knew that helping him out would boost some spirits and help spread the word about his beginnings. Ace came on down to the bay area and went to live with another dog and a tiny toddler -- who both adored him in a big way. He made himself at home until his forever family appeared. Dennis and his wife Yvonne's adventures with falling in love with pit bulls and finally bringing Ace - now Whitley - into their lives is nicely documented in this very sweet article, written by Dennis: 'A Passion for Pit Bulls' Big thanks to Second Chance Prez Debbie Eaglebarger and congrats to Whitley's new family. Photo compliments of www.BayWoof.com
 Oh Leroy!
Leroy's happy ending story has been a long time coming. He came into a make-shift prison shelter as a pup just after Katrina. He grew into an adult dog in the hundred year old barn of that shelter, and while he did, he worked hard to win the favor of the inmates who cared for him. Being a stringy little ding-dong of a thing, he didn't get much respect from the burly inmates - but that just made him try harder. By the time we met him, he'd learned to shake his bobbed tail wildly in hopes of making a new friend. He was an absolute spazz, and he made us laugh like hyenas. Once home in CA and acclimated to life in BR, he moved into Pit Bull Hall where he fine-tuned the art of being Leroy.
 Leroy was a most interesting character in the hall. Some of the newer volunteers were put off by his unbridled happiness, so we developed a whole workshop on "How to work with a dog like Leroy." He was endearing and affectionate, mouthy, excitable, bouncy, and he had a big browned-eyed helping of love-you-tender soul. I did start to wonder who in their right mind would fall in love with such a gangly goose, when Pit Bull Hall's own trainer Sara Scott admitted to having a crush. This talented young trainer enjoyed channeling Leroy's antics into impressive feats. He's come so far in her care that he's been helping kids learn about the fun of dog training in a program at Animal Rescue Foundation. We're told that he's converted quite a few folks by being the perfect clown. The best news is, Leroy gets to stay "in the family" and show off of his great new tricks, and Sara gets to be the proud owner of the silliest pit bull in the western world.
 Miso Luvlee!
Miso is one of those dogs that we really hated to see leave. She was such an easy guest in Pit Bull Hall that she actually made life easier for us. She got along well with every dog we had which made it easy to exercise everyone in big fun play parties. She also didn’t mind her kennel situation...It was just home to her; the place where she got to meet nice visitors and hang out with all her buds.
This pup has so many wrinkles in her face that we have to wonder if she's part Sharpei. As you can see in this happy ending photo, Miso’s new mom Stephanie is a big fan of the squishy faced, wrinkled dogs, and it seems that Miso is too – they've all become fast friends!
We had plenty of interest in Miso, but since she's such a social butterfly, we decided to wait for a home with other dogs. As much as she's smitten with her humans, she loves to play with the four leggeds. These three are quite a trio.
Miso is so well trained that she's just about ready for CGC classes, so it shouldn’t be long before she’s a girl with a title. There will always be a special spot in our hearts for this scrumptious little gem. Welcome home, Cutie Pie!
 Little Man!
Little Man was an important part of 2007 for many people. We first met him in the very crowded Hillsborough County Animal Care Services during meetings with their staff. They were looking into the possibility of starting a pit bull ambassador program, so we were happy to extend our friendship. During a shelter tour, we were blown away by the old world looks and giant sized charisma of this little dog: It truly was love at first sight. How came to come into our program was documented here in this: ASPCA Report Once in CA, Little Man started heartworm treatment and flirted with the resident canines, waiting for the day he could come out and romp with his new friends with wild abandon. He was later very happy to be reunited with some of the staff from the Tampa Shelter during BR's first Pit Ed Camp of the year. Here he is, being an obedience star during class with Dr. Roese, the shelter's lead veterinarian.
 At a Pit Ed Camp later in the year, Little Man won the favor or Mike Kaviani, Senior Care Specialist at Irvine Animal Care Center. Mike has been a serious pit bull advocate, and knew that he wanted a special friend to help him educate his community about the breed. Hearts and flowers floated around their heads when they first met (Little Man has that affect on people!) and Mike went back home determined to purchase an apartment that would allow him to bring his friend home for keeps. Once everything was lined up, he came back to Oakland to collect him and bring him to his new life in sunny SoCA. What a lucky coupla of dogs. Their lives were briefly interrupted by the fierce wild fires this summer, but Little Man took it all in stride and worked hard to keep everyone at the shelter in good spirits while they waited for news on whether the fire was headed in their direction. An easy job for a natural born clown. We sure miss the little stinker, but knowing that he's traveled across the continent to score the job of Mike's celebrated demo dog has made it all worth it. We expect great things from this pair! Congrats to everyone involved in helping Little Man find his place in the world: Hillsborough Animal Care Services, Animal Farm Foundation, the ASPCA, and Carolyn and Penny for providing so much fun and friendship during the long wait.
 Twizz - Now Meika!
Mizz Twzz was such an easy-going, low-key darling that we expected she would fly out of Pit Bull Hall in record time. Instead, she hung around for way too long. Maybe it was her melancholy nature or her age (middle age) that kept people away, but we were truly miffed. We knew her as a tender, affectionate soul with an impressive ability to connect deeply with her friends. (Driving her home from the shelter on her first day with us, this rescuer found herself weeping in traffic when Twizz looked deep into my eyes as if to say "Thank you.") She found a temporary home, but alas, even that one didn't work our for our girl.  Sometimes these take-forever adoptions work that way because a special someone is meant to have this particular dog, but things in their life aren't lined up right just yet. At least, that's what we tell ourselves once that absolutely perfect home finally appears. In Meika's case, that perfect home was with BR Alum Taz and Lady Lia. Who knew? The two dogs acted like soulmates when they knew each other duing their stint at Pit Bull Hall. When they met again later on, it took all of ten minutes to decide that they should never be separated again. We're thrilled. Lia's home is now abuzz with the pracing, cavorting, snoring, loving, smiling of these two pit bulls...As it was always meant to be. Many thanks to Lia for giving them both the lives they were meant to have.
 Lil'Bit - Pit Bull Hall Dog
This thirty eight pounder named Lil'Bit came to the Oakland Animal Shelter
with the telltale signs of a sordid past: she'd been bred, fought, unsocialized
to other dogs and to the general world at large. She's a softie, so being bounced from
ghetto home to shelter kennel was a bit overwhelming for her. During a
search for candidate dogs for our program, she flashed big brown hopeful
eyes and broadcast a gentle nature that melted our hearts. Despite her past, we just had to give
this gal a chance.
Dogs with fight scars are often condemned due to the
belief that they can't be trusted around other animals. We have simply
learned that many dogs that have been set up to fight can be taught to *not* fight
if they have a strong human bond and a good leader who sets up new rules. Lil'Bit had both, and after structured dog-socializing opportunities and lessons with her committed foster dad, was soon running
loose with a small well-socialized dog pack and enjoying a drama-free life. This, at the very same time that naysayers were demanding that all
the dogs from Micheal Vick's dogs should all be destroyed due to "unstoppable violence." We knew better!
 Lil'Bit did so well that she graduated from her dog-dog lessons and moved in to Pit Bull Hall to be worked by the team of PBH handlers. She didn't need to spend
too much time there though. Her hopeful eyes grabbed the hearts of Debbie and Joe, who had been Tula's devoted family. Jackpot!
It was love at first sight and Lil'Bit now spends much of her time poolside
with her new parents and dog buddy Theo. We often wonder if dogs like her
dream about their past life - probably do - but we take solace in knowing that she now
gets to wake up to creature comforts and a big slice of the Good Life.
Many thanks to the Oakland Animal Shelter for treating each and every dog as an individual - even scarred up
little former fighting dogs like Lil'Bit.
 Wags - Pit Bull Hall Dog
Recently, science claims to have determined that there is proof of something us dog-lovers have known all along – that is, that dogs can smile. Before that, the doubters believed that our canine friends were merely panting when seen with their mouths open and corners wide.
And then there is Wags and her kin, the more rare variety of "Grinners," who actually pull back their lips and bare their teeth in impulsive joy! To the novice, this gesture can be mistaken as an aggressive expression. For those who know better, it's a sign of a truly special creature and Wags is certainly counted among them. This wiggle-butt was emaciated, had teats that hit the floor, and was bald to boot with a nasty case of mange. She was quite a sight and resided in the Martinez Animal Shelter for months, grinning at every passerby, huuuuuuundreds of passersby. A trainer at the Easy Bay SPCA finally noticed her and took her into their program. She received treatment for her persistent skin problems, her teats slowly raised up, and she continued to grin at anyone and everyone who would look her way – all day, everyday.
After seven months without a nibble of interest, we offered to take Wags into our Pit Bull Hall program since we were secret admirers of hers all along. There she finally met her unlikely match, a woman who admittedly wouldn’t even stick her head in the door of PBH during her first visit to the shelter. Not a pit bull – not for me. But Wags grinned at her through the glass and on her second trip to the shelter, Karen decided to take a look at the “grinning dog” after all.
Wags now lives happily with the convert Karen and her husband Louie, their three cats, and a Chihuahua mix. She gets to travel to Stanford University twice a week to be prodded by Karen’s vet tech students and Wags is now grinning more then ever. Oh lucky girl!
 Dango - Pit Bull Hall Dog
'The Dang' showed up at the Oakland Animal Shelter with a horribly broken leg that was removed thanks to the quick thinking of the OAS staff and with the help of U C Davis vet school. He was still in stitches when he came into our program and spent his recovery in Pit Bull Hal where the team worked to build up his strength and stamina. Such a silly guy, Dango kept a great attitude and gained quick manners while having a good time. He even learned to ignore the coveted c-c-cats when he hopped past the shelter's cat rooms each day (Not easy!)
 Just as he was getting bored with us, Richard and Christine showed up to meet their new friend. They had just purchased a home and were hoping to make it complete with a dog. The decision involved convincing Christine's mom, who was originally not to keen on having a canine around. She played it cool at first -- until Dango worked his charms, that is. Now she participates in training the household tripod, and having him around has become a family affair. We just love when that happens! Dango is in good hands with this crew and rumor has it he'll be working towards his CGC certification as a way to celebrate the happy match. Congrats to everyone, and special thanks to the Pit Bull Hall team for turning this limpy little guy into a well-polished three legged super star.
 The Amazing Ru
What a long road for a big pup. Ru-Ru washed out of the Katrina flood waters way back in 2005. We met him in 'Barn 5' of the chaotic rescue station in Louisiana and helped him get on a transport van to a waiting shelter in San Diego, CA. Months later, while checking in on some of our favorite flood dogs, we learned that Ru's time was up in the shelter. Close call! BR volunteers Nicole & Steve made quick arrangments and Ru was saved once again. He settled right in and made himself at home in his new foster digs. He was such a nice guy that a favorite trainer decided to help Ru become a certified therapy dog with a special focus of working with children with autism.
Some more months went by and Ru was a great dog with a lot of training but zero adoption interest. A decision was made to bring him up to Pit Bull Hall where he might attract that perfect home. Sure enough, Ru's person was only minutes away. How did we know they were meant to be? ... She works with special needs kids and wanted to find a good buddy as a mascot and helper in her work. Destiny. His audition for the job involved meeting a mob of happy kids who would put him to the test. Ru took the interview in stride and he was hired on the spot. Now Ali and Ru are a team. They work side by side helping special kids become super kids. Many thanks to Nicole and Steve for bringing Ru to safety and for giving him such great skills for his new life. And thank you Ali for involving him in all the good work you do!
 Boris
This big hearted bubba ended up at the Oakland Animal Shelter as a stray. His people found him, but left him behind when they learned that he couldn't come home with his balls. Apparently Boris was destined to be a big daddy Stud-Muffin, and without a way to create a cash crop, he was useless. He was pretty shook up and even hand shy when we first met him, so he went to live in a foster home where he could decompress and learn about a kinder side of humankind. It didn't take long before he was romping with the resident house dogs and feeling his confidence again. Once he felt more like himself, he went to live at Pit Bull Hall where he charmed the public with his enormously large head and warm, tender eyes. Movie
 Meanwhile, outside of Houston Texas, Jim and Patty were healing from their own heartaches. Their beloved boy Buck had passed on from cancer and their house was suddenly very quiet. They had been long time supporters and Net friends with BR, and watched so many of our dogs make their way to new homes via the magic of the Internet. When they asked if we would ever place a dog with them, we jumped for joy. Of course we would! Enter: Boris. His gentle eyes struck a chord with both, and they were soon on a plane to CA to meet their new love. Our PBH team laughed; Texas was the *perfect* place for our bigger-than-life friend. Boris loaded up on a plane and is now in the lap of luxury. We look forward to the reports as he settles in and charms Sheena, the resident canine. Many thanks to J & P for opening your hearts again and for giving Boris the love and security he so deserves. We know Buck would be doing zoomies to see you both happy again!
 Hula Girl...Now, Abbey!
This blue bombshell wriggled her way to fame by catching the eye of the out-of-towners who came to Oakland as part of BR's spring Pit Ed Camp. As part of an exercise in identifying breed ambassadors, these shelter workers set out to find a good fit for our Pit Bull Hall kennels. After meeting every dog in the shelter, it was unanimous - Abbey was the resident Star! She was absorbed immediately and made an easy transition into our program. She became a world-class flirtpole champ, and soon earned the notice of dog-shoppers, Ann and Mark. These east bayers worked hard to shape her manners up in class, and are on their way to Canine Good Citizen class to shine up Abbey's halo for the next phase of her ambassadog role. We're so proud of all of them. Many thanks to our Campers for their sharp eye and to Ann and Mark for opening your hearts to your first pit bull.
 Wally!
Only twenty fours hours were left for Mr. Wally at the Martinez Animal Shelter when we pulled this little charmer (pictured right). His previous owner returned him to the shelter only a day after adopting him and setting him up for failure with a yard scrap. Four hours in a yard with several other dogs on the first day home is simply too much too soon(!) and doomed him to be deemed unadoptable to anyone but a legitimate rescue group. We're sure glad we saw Wally when we did. Foster parent Marie was a first time foster home for BAD RAP and fell for Wally over his long foster period. He has proven himself to be the best of playmates with his new sister Honey (left) and the two of them provide endless entertainment for Marie who claims Wally to be a true mama’s boy and a big goofball at heart.
 Jolee...Now, Callie!
This cow-dog formerly known as Jolee lived for a spell in the Pit Bull Hall kennels. A committed softie, she was a bit worried about the big bold world but started to find her footing after forming friendships with other PBH dogs and of course, the encouraging team of handlers who doted on her. Callie hopscotched from foster care to her forever home in sunny Sonoma County. She now enjoys a happy life with longtime BR volunteer Roxanne (pictured) her husband, daughter and house full of happy critters. Shelter? What shelter? Callie gets to romp her days away with a hunky pit bull boy, Jackson, and she fits right in with the family's older lab, pomeranian, cats ... and even their goats. What a party. We get to enjoy Callie almost week when she comes to Pit Ed class, and we expect she'll be earning her CGC title sometime soon. Thanks to her special helper Elizabeth. and, Welcome home sweet Cow Girl!
 Chickie Sue!
My, my, my. Miss Chickie Sue's situation sure caused us to lose a lot of sleep way back in the beginning of the year. After waiting patiently for several months to find a home, our girl started showing signs of extreme kennel stress. Blog Link With no available foster homes, we had to consider letting her go to peace rather than spend any more time in confinement. The Pit Hall Team rallied hard for a better solution, and soon Chickie Sue was sofa surfing like a homeless hobo all over the bay area. Lucky for all of us, Chickie LOVES a good adventure, so this solution was quite fine by her. It couldn't last forever though, since she was illegal contraband on the rental leases of her helpers. Oh the drama! Just as we were thinking of switching breeds and taking up a saner hobby, like french bulldog rescue (which gets an average of 300 applications for every one dog), Chickie's saviors showed up. Amanda and Jason have a rowdy boy dog named Brutis ... A dream come true for our beautiful party girl. They trucked to the bay area several times (a 6 hour round trip) to spiff up their handling skills and within weeks, Chickie Sue was home for good. It's amazing how that happy ending photo makes it all seem so easy! The dedicated Pit Bull Hall Team gets a lifetime of thumbs up for their devotion to this dog. And of course, we'll always be grateful to her adopters for working so hard to make her yours. WELCOME HOME CHICKIE SUE!
 Katrina Holly - Now, Bailey!
This was an extra special adoption for many of us in BR. Holly was an unclaimed Katrina dog who, like Taz, ended up waiting in a prison shelter project for eight months. When her time ran out, she was the first dog we layed eyes on when we walked into the old dark barn during our visit to Louisiana. We didn't quite know what to expect or how the dogs would hold up after all that time, but there was our first dog, wiggling wildly with a big happy HELLO! After evaluations, she flew to San Diego, where diehard pit bull pals Steve and Nicole treated her heartworm and waited for an adopter to find her through BR's website. No such luck. Nearly a year went by without a nibble...How depressing! So after months of TLC and obedience training, she said good bye to her friends and took a road trip to Oakland to live in Pit Bull Hall in hopes of finding a home this way. Wouldn't you know it? On her very first day there, a Hayward woman looking for a family pet wandered in and fell in love with Holly.  She'd never had a dog before, but she knew that she wanted a companion that would be good with the family cat, as well as kids since she directed a program for autistic children. Holly fit the bill and then some. Once she went home with Andy and her husband John, she got busy with earning her kibble by attending camp every day. The kids loved her. Andy told us, "
We wanted to let everyone know that we have seen an extremely positive effect over the kids with having Bailey around so much. At first there were only one or two kids who were really interested in her and now just about all of them have taken on the responsibility of caring for a dog. Bailey is so great with them. Some of our really shy kids have become more independent, outspoken and most importantly for us more outgoing. Having Bailey around has given them something to talk to others about and given them someone who loves them back unconditionally.
I was just telling Donna today that our autistic kids and animals seem to connect on the same level. They seem to approach things and see the world the same way." Who knew that a dog would be blown so far from her homeland to end up with a job so important? Thanks to Nicole & Steve for your endless patience, and Andy & John for seeing Bailey's potential.
 Gulliver
Gulliver was just another out-of-luck stray at the Martinez Animal Shelter when two staffers pointed him out and asked for help to keep him from turning into a statistic. Even though he's as much American Bulldog as he is pit bull (we see a lot of pit/AB mixes in this shelter), his temperament was thumbs up. So he moved into Pit Bull Hall and got busy with flirting with the public and teaching the Shy Jolee how to enjoy rowdy games in the play yard. The best part of this story is his soon-to-be-adopter, Jordan. Jordan had been dreaming of the day that he could own his very own dog and he finally found his chance when he moved into a dog friendly rental. He settled on a pit bull as his breed of choice, but soon learned about all the prejudices that would come along with owning this breed...Starting with landlord - who happened to be his mom! Needless to say, he went to great lengths to convince her that the breed was fine and at the same time, he worked to show us that he was right for Gulliver. What a time! After some hair raising set backs with his mom, Jordan finally won his case and Gulliver came home. We couldn't be more impressed with this young man and his devotion to being the model dog owner. We all celebrated Gulliver's adoption by writing this blog, detailing the The Trials of Gulliver. Congratulations, Jordan. You certainly deserve to enjoy this beautiful dog!
 TRUDY: Round Two!
Marshmallow Trudy was one of our all-time favorite alums. Unfortunately bad luck sent her back to us when her former adopter hit some hard times. We were sad to see the family split up, but of course happy to take her back in. She was absorbed into foster care and got reacclimated to life in the bay area. Such an easy-peazy dog, we knew some lucky adopter was going to score when they finally met up.
 Enter Nadia and her hubby Koala (right). They knew they wanted to adopt a pit bull, but had to convince Nadia's parents and landlords first. Her folks had heard nothing but bad news about pit bulls, but had never actually met a true breed ambassador. After a one hour phone conversation with a BR Rep, they were ready to let their tenants give Trudy a try. We knew all it would take would be one meeting, and we're so grateful that they made the trip up from Los Angeles to delight in their new grand-dog. Consider them converted (Thank you Trudy!) Now Nadia, Koala, Trudy and their cat are one big happy family and we're so glad for everyobody. Many thanks to Marty and Luca for taking care of Trudy while she waited for her Round Two home to find her!
 (Katrina) Taz!
Getting Taz to his happy ending was no small feat. He was washed out of of his former life when Hurricane Katrina hit, then sent to a prison shelter project outside of Baton Rouge to wait for his family. Months went by and he was still an orphan, so three BR reps flew back to Louisiana for a second rescue mission. We barely noticed Taz at first - he was so unassuming and quiet, tucked away in the back corner of the large barn that had served as his home for eight months. But boy was he happy to finally get our attention! Our hearts went THUMP when we finally brought him out into the sunshine for look-over.
 Taz flew back to CA and, surrounded by a busy household full of dogs,learned how to chill out around dogs and even enjoy their companionship. (He went from a Dog Aggressive brat to a Dog Tolerant flirt!) His stoic nature and optimism helped him coast through two more months in confinement while he kicked a case of heartworm. Fans from as far away as Ontario Canada and Bermuda sent him gifts so he could stay entertained during this time. Almost one year after we first met him in Louisiana, Taz was finally in his new home for keeps. Lea had been considering whether or not she was ready to open her heart to a new dog when a friend told her about Taz. It was clear from their first meeting that they were meant to be together. We sure enjoyed our year readying Taz for adoption, especially when his happy ending brought so much joy. Lotsa people to thank: 'Hollywood' at the Dixon Correctional Institute for looking after the brindle boy, Dr. Lisa for keeping him healthy while at the prison, Dr. Maggy for the heartworm care, PBRC for helping to pay for it, the Pit Bull Hall team for the TLC, and finally to Lea for giving him such a nice life.
 P.F. Pester Chesterfield
This wee urchin had a most interesting start in life: he was confiscated in a drug bust, having lived his life on a boat (floating meth lab) in a local harbor. Pester was so wiggly and happy to see the responding officers that one of the policemen, smitten, bought him a collar and regularly checked on his progress at the Martinez shelter. Pester is of an old-world style of breeding that we don't see as much 'round these parts, particularly given the Big Blue Blockhead and "American Bully" mutant fads - he's aaallll terrier, and like his cohorts Taz and Little Man reminds us of what this breed was meant to be. This smartypants little gamedog charmed everyone at the shelter with his wiggly, optimistic nature and his adorable underbite. Little did he know that he'd soon charm the pants of a young gal who'd originally been searching for a female Dane! Nickie took one look at Pester and all bets were off - this was her dog, and he seemed to know it as well as she did. Pester spent a short stint in fostercare learning basic commands, how to chase squirrels, and that he's not the center of everyone's universe - most notably older female dogs who have limited patience for overconfident adolescence. Pester is currently in competition with Taz for Smallest Male Ever in the Program - he's gained 2 pounds in 6 months and still fits the collar (same setting) given to him by the policeman. This 35-pounder proves to us all that good things do indeed come in small packages. Thanks so much to the officer for taking a personal interest in Pester, to Jen Aumbacher for calling him out to the BR crew, and to Nickie for being open-minded enough to go from a mellow large-breed female to a pint-sized firecracker gamedog.
 Sadie Mae!
Sadie came into the Oakland Animal Shelter with damaging bite wounds on her front legs. She was still beautiful and won the hearts of staff and volunteers. OAS called in the media to cover her story, in hopes that it would attract a home, but no such luck. After a couple of surgeries to clean broken bone chips out of her legs, she moved into Pit Bull Hall where she wowed the public with big warm eyes. It was disappointing to us when homes passed her by because the scars on her legs. Apparently it was a turn-off to many that she would always show signs of a past trauma. But Sadie didn't hold grudges with dogs or people and we knew her perfect home would eventually come along.
Sho'nuff, she attracted the interest of Ingrid and her new husband Hayden. They took her home on a trial basis and by the third day, told us she was home for good. Sadie is an exceptional ambassador in their care. She struts around Lake Merritt greeting any and all, and is lining up to be a new CGC star. These are the kinds of happy endings that shelter workers live for when they're so accustomed to seeing the sad stuff. From Ingrid: "She has really added so much to our home and we feel so
lucky every day to wake up to her, come home to her ... She is such a lover
and a snuggler, and she is a great breed ambassador - she has made many
friends in the neighborhood already. People gush over how friendly and
lovey and beautiful she is."
 Tula aka 'Tooch'
Sweet Tula is no longer with us, but she deserves a happy ending for a life well lived....
She first earned a spot in our program when her big brown eyes begged for a connection way back when she was the property of a local bad guy. Confiscated from an abusive, neglectful home at just four weeks old, she lived the bulk of her early weeks in the Oakland Animal Shelter while the authorities dealt with her owner. Her brave brother Hiro marched right out of the kennels on his first day of freedom, demanding to be adored. We obeyed. Tula was not as brassy as her brother, but ever hopeful. She came to live at Pit Bull Hall and quickly put us to work designing new ways to keep her entertained. She was a flirt pole junkie, an obedience maverick and a committed social butterfly to all. She greeted everyone with a 'Woo woo woo!" - which loosely translated into, "Come on now! Let's go play!" Sadly, she developed a noise sensitivity issue during the long weeks waiting for a home. Rumbling trucks became her demons and sent her into a panic. It was clear that our girl's problem was being exacerbated by the hard surfaces of the shelter environment. Foster homes are always hard to find, but keeping her kenneled was no longer an option. She lucked out with a kind Oakland couple who gave her everything she needed to find peace of mind. She settled into normality and found a steady friend with the couple's own pit bull. Her website bio listed her as 'Special Needs Dog' due to noise issues. We wondered who, if anyone, would want a funny little pit bull that needed calming meds and a safe place to hide whenever the garbage trucks came around.  The bully gods sent Joe and Debbie (left). They had previously adopted a worried pit mix boy whose evolution into a well adjusted pet inspired them to help another - so, Tula finally found her home. She moved into Doggy Wonderland and soon became the neighborhood darling, spending long days perfecting the art of play with all the local canines. Her people bragged that she was the most well behaved dog around and they shared fun updates and beautiful photos of a growing Tula as the months marched by. Unfortunately, time caught up with her and her noise demons escalated when she hit social maturity. A behaviorist confirmed that her issue was getting more serious - management was possible, but nothing would bring her peace during her times of panic. Her family gave her the kindest and most difficult gift of all and let her go.
 Joe told us
"We had a great time, and we were so lucky to have her." We know Tula would say the same about her time with you. Those of us who knew Tula are eternally grateful to Joe, Debbie and Theo for opening your home and hearts to this pup and for going the distance with her until the very end. You were her salvation and her heaven on earth.
In a karmic coincidence, just days after she passed on, Tula debuts as Miss June in BR's 2007 Pit Bull Hall Calendar. She's prancing in the photo in her characteristic strut and a favorite 'toy' in her mouth, always on a mission to have a good time. We'd like to think that Tula's big spirit lives on and wherever she is, she's announcing: 'Woo woo woo! Hurry up! Let's find some FUN!'
 Gus!
Gus showed up at the Sacramento shelter twice before the tender age of 14 weeks old, the neglected potential stud dog of a local backyard breeder. The second strike meant that he'd be neutered, and his owner had no further use for him. Gus was taken into our program and soon charmed all resident dogs and humans with his laid-back style and hunky chocolate good looks - though the terrorist Chihuahua, Tidbit, was never won over and ruled his life with a wee iron fist. Some folks think Gus might have a Rottie or Lab back in his family tree somewhere, but he's not telling. What we do know is that this tricolor stud makes friends and fans wherever he goes, and he's just a damn nice dog. Gus' unusual appearance means that ordinary Joes are drawn to him, and pit bull people aren't - not great for a dog on a pit bull adoption site, but we figured his people would show up eventually. Luckily for Gus, a family in Nevada had been looking around for a family dog - no breed or appearance criterion required - and Gus was the perfect match. It just so happens that Gus is now living with the niece and nephew of a BR Rep, so he gets to be part of the BR family in two ways! Thanks so much to Jessica, Melissa and Tidbit the Terror for taking care of Gus and keeping him in line, and congrats to the Krauss family (especially Liesel and Avery) on their new family pal.
 Sputnik - Now Choco! - Pit Bull Hall Graduate
Choco was once called Sputnik, back when his ears stood at full mast. He was a silly, albeit spicy little teenager with other dogs when he first came to us. He was sublime with people though, so the Pit Bull Hall crew helped him learn quick obedience skills and leash manners, and Chickie Sue showed him her favorite moves during play dates. Still, Choco was inclined to sneak a few opportunities to showboat his bravado around other dogs when he thought he could get away with it. Enter Alan and Celeste - first time pit bull owners who had a limited dog experience and a cat at home too boot. We felt good about matching Choco with a cat, but letting him go to a first time home would mean setting lots of guidelines in place so everyone could be sure that he didn't decide to make up his own rules and take advantage of his new owners by pulling out his squirreley teenage habits. Alan and Celeste stepped up to the plate in more ways than one; they drove long distances for class and even more important, practiced and fine tuned their leadership role with regular training sessions at home in between classes. Choco responded by maturing into a gorgeous and well behaved gentleman. We were very proud to sign him over to his new family and see them move from the beginner's class onto CGC Prep. He's well on his way to becoming a titled ambassadog in their good care. Congrats to the whole family!
 Friar Firkin - Now Rhino! - Pit Bull Hall Graduate
Firkin now Rhino showed up as an Oakland street stray, frantic and scared. He ran up to a pedistrian with big worried eyes. The gentleman kindly brought him to Oakland Animal Services where he earned some double takes from a staff accustomed to more traditional looking pit bulls. Sort of a pit bull but not really a pit bull, his style represents a new breeding fad that's busy producing big money puppies for a crowd that likes their dogs low and wide. Unfortunately Firkin's arrival signals that the fad is starting to take hold in the bay area and more homeless rhinos will be knocking on shelter doors. His looks brought flurry of emails and a riot of interest from dog shoppers. It seemed that everyone wanted the little blue novelty. We played it cool and warded off impulse shoppers, knowing that true love would arrive in a cool, composed package. Lucky for us, Firkin attracted the hearts of David and Mary. With zen-like patience, they set out to show us that they were the right home for this little bulldozer, even going to far as to buy a condo so they could put a permanent roof over eveyone's heads. When they kept returning to the shelter for visits, we knew we had a committed couple. Firkin is now living in his Oakland hills home, enjoying hikes and cuddle sessions, and is getting ready to start his CGC Prep classes. We're so proud of this trio and love knowing that he scored such a sweet home. Special thanks to Sara Scott and the Pit Bull Hall team for helping the cowardly lion come out of his shell and find his bullydog confidence!
 OH Crikey! - Pit Bull Hall Graduate
We met Crikey the same week that Steve Irwin passed onto new adventures. The pup was bigger than most and wore his name well. After a fun foster stint with a batch of north bay bullies, he moved into Pit Bull Hall. He got busy right way with winning hearts by pressing himself into the bars of his kennel and practicing his best sympathy routine with big sad eyes. The Pit Bull Hall team shaped up his manners and laughed at his big dorky antics. He attracted the attention of a home in Tracy that had recently suffered the untimely loss of a pit bull love. Crikey is good at mending hearts and moved right in, ready to make things right for his grieving new human mom. Stacy and Charles are enjoying their big lug and are happy to have a new bulldog in their lives. Welcome home, OH CRIKEY!
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