(WRITTEN BY ME 1-10-10)
My trip to the local county shelter today left me heartbroken and teary-eyed (as usual). So many dogs, mixes, mutts, and pure breeds its so astonishing and sad. The shelter workers have hard jobs to do, I swear if I worked here I'd be even more of an emotional mess than I am already So many dogs, unsterilized, without manners, barking uncontrollably, pacing in their runs, acting out. Others quiet and scared, well behaved and sweet natured sitting in the corner of their cold cells unaware of the eminent danger that hangs over their lives. A younger gentleman approached the front desk, cash in hand, ready to pay his fines in order to reclaim his impounded dog and accept a county citation issued for his dog being at large. Just hours earlier a pure bred 2 year old English Bulldog, who looked more like a pot bellied pig than anything, found her way to the shelter after the landscaper accidently left the gate open. Her time in the shelter was just a couple hours before her mommie came to get her out, but others spend days (their last days) in this place. Yes, I am taking about innocent dogs being euthanized. These dogs, some perfectly healthy, trained, well behaved, and housebroken, are being put to sleep due to lack of space. For whatever reason they found their way to the shelter; whether picked up as a stray running loose, as innocent victims of foreclosure, or dumped because of the financial stress their owners face, these dogs are innocent it is NOT their fault, yet they pay the price WITH THEIR LIVES!
When I visited the Broward County shelter Pompano Beach location today, I observed that most of the dogs there were in fact pitt mixes. They each have their own story, and even though I did not know their history, I am sure that at some point in their younger days they were once some family's beloved puppy. So how did they end up here? I will never know, I can only speculate, but I CAN help make a difference. A momma pit-bull caught my eye as I made my way down thru the kennel runs. Despite the yelping, barking, obnoxious dogs on either side of her, she maintained her calm poise. She came to the front of her run as I peered in to get a better look. Her nipples were big and sagging. it was apparant she gave birth recently. Where were her babies I wondered? Could this have been a case where she was disposed of by her owners only after she gave them pups, putting money in their pocket? After she was of no further use to them did they dispose of her? Her kennel card said she came to the shelter as a stray on 1-6-10. Momma wiggled her butt and repeatedly brushed her boney sides on the front of the cage door. Dying for just a scratch or to be petted, I couldnt reach my hand in to stroke her no matter how much I wanted, it was against the rules, I didn't want to get in trouble. Tears in my eyes, I had to move on. The next dog didnt look so adoptable, growling at me with his teeth showing, the next had ADOPTED written on his kennel card YEY! Someone wanted him and put a deposit for when he was ready to be released my heart was happy again! Then another.ADOPTED! I made my way back down the kennels to make an exit. I wanted to end this visit on a happy note for a change, after all, I was just there to drop off some donations and to look, nothing more. But as I passed by Momma she looked at me with such sad eyes. she had a look that killed me inside. I had to do something, so I took some pictures to crosspost online and get the word out. Momma and her friends were running on limited time, I knew that. Please, please, please, in my head I prayed that people would consider a visit to their local shelter instead of going to the pet store or a breeder. These dogs need a home more than anything their LIFE depends on it! If just one of my posts gets forwarded and crossposted, maybe, just maybe I could assist in saving one. Just one If I could Id take them all, God knows I would. We have 29 in the program right now, all our foster homes are full, we even have our newest shelter bullie from yesterday in the quarantine shed. (Oh, Truman, you are such a good boy!) We have to make a way. whats one more I think, as I try to convince myself. Convincing hubby, on the other hand will be a bigger struggle. Lets just stick with the pictures I tell myself.

On the way out, I write down Mommas ID number. She doesnt have a name, only a number to identify her, how sad. I talk to the guy in charge on the way out, asking him to put Adopt-A-Bull Rescue as a rescue contact just in case shes in danger of losing her life. Just in case, it comes down to life or death for her, I wanted to know.or maybe I didnt. Shockingly I was informed that she was already in danger!!! Her 72 hours were up already! She was in danger of being euthanized at any moment!!! She came in with no tags, no microchip or tattoo, no collar or anything her legal time was 72 hours, 3 days, not including they day of admittance. Today was her 4th day. It was execution day!!!! It was 3:21pm exactly, I remember because my next question prompted me to look down at my watch. I asked what time they closed.. 4:00pm. I had 39 minutes to figure something out. . . .



The guy in charge told me hed be most appreciative if I could find a way to save her. He said hed hold her one more day and postpone putting her to sleep to give me time to figure something out overnight. I asked if I could spend some time with her outside, maybe take her for a walk. We spent a good 30 minutes outside walking around together and cuddling. She really was well behaved and so so so sweet. I snapped some pics of her and we sat down together for some bonding time. It was really cold outside and although I didn't want to return her to her cell, I had to... for now at least. And so, I sit her on my laptop, crying my eyes out just trying to compose this plea to save Momma. The shelter is closed on Monday and Tuesdays but he said hed meet me back here tomorrow and open up if I could find a way to rescue her. I left with his personal cell phone number in my hand and the burning image of Momma marked in my head. I dont know what it is about this dog, but something is telling me to take action - Her life depends on it. Every one already thinks Adopt-A-Bull Rescue is a pit-bull rescue instead of an English Bulldog Rescue, so what if we rescued our first pit?........

ADOPT-A-BULL SAVED HER!
I kept thinking about Momma all night long. When I woke up this morning, I called the shelter guy in charge on his cell phone and asked him to meet me at the shelter at 8:30am. I was her last hope, I knew it was meant to be when I met her yesterday 39 minutes before her time was up. (They were closed today, but he opened just for me to save Momma.) I called in a bit late to work and told them Id be arriving with a special guest for the day.



Momma is absolutely precious! She is such a good girl, estimated by our vets to be around 3 years young. With her three toes and missing front tooth, shes still the most bull-ti-full pit-bull weve ever seen. We went to the vet today and had some tests run. Besides some superficial scrapes, hair loss and scabs, she is in good health and she is even 4dx heartworm negative!!! Her blood work is still pending and the vet detected a slight heart murmur, but over all, this girl is in good shape! She has the absolute best personality, and is quite the low-rider for a pit-bull. The vet staff commented on how low to the ground she was, and me, not knowing anything at all about how pits normally look was delighted to hear this. Shes our first pit-bullie!!! Lol! I am so happy we were able to save her.



Not all bullies are as fortunate as the ones we call our own....
http://www.adoptabullrescue.com