We received SO many GREAT stories through the PIBBLE contest, we want to continue to share them!
THANK YOU for your continued support in the fight to end BSL!
I arrived home around 4:30 on a lazy cold afternoon and opened Facebook to catch up with my friends’ and see what excitement they had going in their lives. My friend, Lynette, had posted a picture of a dog she picked up from a “kill” shelter to transport him to a veterinarian’s office because he was being rescued by Texas Bully Alliance. I had no idea what kind of dog he was nor did I care, I had fallen madly in love with his soulful eyes and knew I had to have him!
I called my friend and asked her about this beautiful sad looking dog. She told me that he was so scared, thin and pitiful she wanted to cry. She introduced me to the Texas Bully Alliance because I wanted to know everything about this guy.
To my horror he was used as a bait dog and has scars all over his body and head. He had heart worms, tape worms, mange and part of his jaw is actually missing. His front teeth were pulled and his canines was filed down to the roots. I cannot imagine what this sweet guy had been through but I knew it was my calling in life to adopt him and give him the love and home he deserved.
His name is Zion, meaning Heaven of safe place. Zion had surgery to repair his jaw as best as possible and he was treated for his other conditions.
After five months of foster care he arrived at my home for a trial run. When he jumped out of the truck I could not help but cry. (tears of joy) I followed him for five months and bugged the people of the rescue so much that I am sure they were glad when I finally was able to take him home! I had never been around Pits and heard all of the horror stories but I didn’t care, I only could see his soul in the first picture and knew he needed me. He and my little dog, Buddy who is a therapy dog, fell in love also. They are inseparable; they sleep together, eat together and well do everything like the brothers they have become.
I adopted Zion and renamed him “Zion The Magnificent” on April 13, 2013. He didn’t know any commands and was very shy at first. He was very shy and scared of the cats. I told my husband I would give him a week to adjust before I started the training process. My mother was so afraid that he would hurt my little dog and me that she begged me to reconsider.
Today my mother kisses him and he is allowed to sleep in her bed! This is a miracle because my mother has NEVER kissed a dog in her life! She now tells everyone how wonderful Pits are and she will cut someone off if they talk bad about the breed! I am so proud of her. She also tells me if I don’t bring Zion and Buddy when I go visit her then don’t bother. (I know she is kidding….well maybe not)
After a week Zion realized he was safe and started to feel comfortable. The biggest joy I received was the morning I flipped on the light and I received my first EVER Pitty Smile! My cup runneth over. Today Zion knows all commands including sign language. He is the love of my life and I cannot imagine my life without him. I will proudly march in Washington to stand up for all Pibbles but mostly for my four pawed Angel God sent to me when I needed him most. Yes it was Zion who rescued me not I who rescued him.
Thank you, Shelli R. Dutta
