OH HAPPY DAY!
2008-10 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.

Stay Tuned: Happy Ending stories and photos on their way for: Pepper, Ferdinand, Jimmy Legs, Raodie, Huckleberry, Brutus, Mikey, Elvessa, Trudy Too, Bubbles, Frodo, Bubba, Newman, Roller, Fly Girl, Joey, Madison, Peter.

Daisy Mae - Fight Bust Survivor

A homemade sign - "Welcome to Your Forever Home Daisy Darling" - greeted Daisy at the door when she went to her new home. Can you stand it? She walked in that house like she knew exactly where she was. She wagged like a maniac while inspecting every corner, loved up on her new people, then settled herself right into her waiting dog bed with a chew while we chatted at the kitchen table about all-things-pit bull. It's hard to believe that this personable little dog came off of a chain in Oklahoma just one year ago. She was swept up in the big seven state dog fighting raid and made Tim's acquaintance when he went to evaluate the dogs as part of the larger rescue efforts. For old time's sake, check out her first video, filmed in the Claremore shelter that housed her.

Daisy's little body is one of the funkiest, most crooked bodies we've seen on a dog. She needed one knee surgery and may need another to help her get around. Foster parents Letti and Jamal get major kudos for their work with the special needs dogs they've fostered for BR. Her new home tells us that her health is one of the main reasons they knew she was theirs. They looked over all our dogs - fawned over would be a better word - then decided that Daisy was it. They adored her, and felt that she needed their TLC the most. Jeanne and Neil are longtime pit bull lovers, having owned the breed for over 40 years. They showed us a lifetime of photos with their beloved dogs. We just love knowing that Daisy has found her place in their long line of cherished pets. She seems like she was always part of their family and in a very real way, she always has been.

Ernie CGC - former Vick dog

See that proud face? That belongs to Sasha Gibbs, and she has every reason to be peacock happy with her boy. Ernie came from the Vick case in 2007. He served as our 'test dog' during the evals and was a trooper throughout. When he moved to CA, he was brilliant inside his foster home, but became a bit of a tweaker outside whenever he was surrounded by dogs on leash. We can't really blame him; the poor boy had a lot of changes not to mention pressure on him - a Vick dog under the media microscope, and all. So many non-pits have wiggle room in their street manners and a naughty labradoodle will barely earn a glance from the public, but Ernie had to be better than the best, and for awhile, that was a tough goal to meet. So we switched him out of his original foster home and into a quieter setting where he could re-start his training. Sasha and Andy and their dog Hana took him under their wings and even helped him learn how to be chill around their two housecats. This family worked their butts off under the guidance of trainer Linda Chwistek to help Ernie learn ambassadog manners, and week by week, he improved. (We had to laugh: Wouldn't it figure it was the pit mix that needed extra obedience training? )

Flash forward to summer 2009. When the day came that Ernie received a good adoption application, we saw Sasha's face drain of color. She ran off to make a phone call (calling Andy, we presume) and returned about two minutes later to tell us that they wanted to adopt him as theirs for keeps. Of course we were thrilled! To sweeten the story, Ernie went on to earn his Canine Good Citizen certification, along with so many other ambassadogs. Sasha, Andy and Ernie showed everyone what's possible with training and determination. We'll be forever indepted to them and to Linda Chwistek for their unwavering committment to shining this boy's halo.

Howie! - Ambassadog!

Howie was covered in tar and very worried about the world when we first met him at Oakland Animal Services. He needed the security of a team of friends and a quiet ward, so was the perfect candidate for our Ambassadog Program. During his stay with us at the shelter, Howie gained the kind of self confidence that comes from having a routine, a 'pack' of steady dog handlers, and the foundation training of obedience. We watched him bloom from a Worry Wart, to a happy , bouncy boy.

This American Bulldog mix attracted the attention of a Scott and Jodi, who were struggling to help their boxer Bailey get over some separation anxiety that started when their boy-dog passed on. It was clear that Howie and Bailey were meant to be together; they both perked each other up and became very devoted to one another. This adoption was held up a bit when Howie started barking at skateboards, so Scott and Jodi were put onto the task of helping him get over this foible with help of a trainer. The day Howie ignored a grumbling skateboard was the day he went full adoption! We're so proud of everyone. Howie's parents are moving the clan to Texas in spring '10, and the extra work they did helping Howie tolerate skateboards will translate into some lovely ambassadog manners in their new home. We will miss them all and wish them well in their new adventures!

Aberfoil! - Ambassadog!

Aberfoil was such a clownish punk when we first met him at Oakland Animal Services, that we even caught our ever-patient trainer Sara counting to ten on some days. He was determined to jump jump jump, so she taught him it was okay to use the springs in his legs as long as he avoided using human body parts as a launch pad. Fine! Aberfoil became highly skilled at impersonating a kangaroo and would hop hop hop in front, next to, and around people as high as possible with the biggest "Lookit ME!" grin he could muster. Good lord Aberfoil!

We used to wonder who would ever fall for the Dorkish Wonder, but Carol and Hank put that question to rest. They've been wonderful for him since he went home on a pending adoption contract and it's been a joy to see him morph into their perfect dog. We couldn't be happier about this adoption. There is definitely a CGC in Aber's future with this devoted family. Sir Aberfoil! Our shelter memories of you will always make us slap our foreheads, roll our eyes and break into giggles.

Gemma!

Gemma was a senior dog-in-crisis when we met her at Oakland Animal Services. Not eligible for the OAS adoption program due to her advanced age and poor health, she was destined to end her 12+ years at the shelter. Her warm personality made this a particularly difficult decision, so we begged up a temporary foster spot as part of our Compassion Hold project to help make her final days as peaceful as possible. Gemma lucked out when Kerry raised her hand to help the damsel in distress. In her own words: "Sweet old Gemma seems to have decided to stick around on the planet for longer than any of us thought. She’s put on a bit of weight, eats enthusiastically, goes on short (about half a block), slow walks, and hasn’t stopped wagging her tail since I brought her home on April fourth! Speaking of home, I’d like to make it official and adopt her." It's a happy day when we're able to do a u-turn on a dog that faces such difficult odds. We put Gemma in our 2009 Happy Endings calendar to celebrate her new LIFE, and it felt so good! Bless you Kerry!

Salvador - Ambassadog!

Salvador came into Oakland Animal Services with a nagging limp in his front leg from what appeared to be an impact-injury (car crash?). We didn't have a foster spot for him at the time, so he lived in our Ambassadog kennels while we fussed and worried over that leg. X-rays didn't give us any information, so we tried to keep him happy while waiting to see if containment and minimal activity would start the healing process. Our wonderful trainer Sara helped him enjoy his stay in the shelter by engaging him in fun obedience sessions. Here he is showing off for the camera. What a cool guy.

Jackie and her husband Greg contacted us during their search for a therapy dog prospect. Jackie plays an important role in the pretigious Delta Society, so we knew this would be a fantastic opportunity for some lucky dog. Salvador was our first draft pick! His handsome looks and affectionate nature made him a natural for therapy work, and his strong desire to please would make training him for this role a snap. The family met Sal with their rottie girl Sophie and everyone fell in love. So our once-sad street stray got two long-awaited events in the same week: a surgery to correct his limp and a brand new home. We so look forward to watching Sal become a certified healer in his new job. When he's not training, we understand that he's become a committed sofa surfer with his new guy Greg. Many thanks to the Ambassadog crew for giving Sal the TLC he deserved and to Friends of the Oakland Animal Services for helping to pay for his surgery. Welcome home sweet buddy!

Hector CGC TD ATTS - Former Vick Dog!

Hector may be one of the most recognized faces in pit bull circles. He first met the world when this article hit the papers, announcing the arrival of the former Bad Newz Kennel dogs to Real Life: AP News. He was one of the first Vick dogs we met when we arrived in VA to help evaluate the 49 dogs. We were nervous: What would they be like? Could they show the world how great pit bulls are? Our questions faded fast once we spotted Hector - He greeted us with his world famous smile and tail-wagging nonchalance as if to say, "Hey! Where've you been? I'd really like to get out of here now!" Hector surprised us again by being a dog tolerant dog, which was hard to understand because his body bore the scars of numerous dog fights from the abuse he'd suffered at the hands of fallen football star Michael Vick.

It was important to us that such a high-profile dog find a reponsible home that could help show the world what a great dog he was, and that hope came true when Roo and Clara Yori raised their hands to be his family. Even though they lived all the way out in Minnesota, we knew they'd been working hard for years to right the wrongs committed against pit bulls, and they'd already made one pit bull - a dog named Wallace - famous as a world champion disc champ. Hector is a bit too mellow for disc work, but he loves people and quickly earned his Therapy Dog certification.

The evaluator that tested Hector for his new job was very impressed and wrote us this wonderful letter,praising his character and obedience skills. Now home for keeps with his people Roo and Clara, Hector is part of a pack of dogs big and small. He continues to impress people and find his way into positive news reports like this: Fox News Report. It's clear that Hector was meant to play a large role in helping people recognize that pit bulls are not only deserving of our compassion, but they give back to the world when we give them an opportunity to shine. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who worked so hard to make sure the Vick dogs would not only be saved, but that they would thrive and set a positive example for pit bulls everywhere. Our friend Hector is totally onboard with that plan!

Lolo - Ambassadog!

Lolo - the bionic blue - is home for keeps, thanks to everyone who said 'Yes' to a once very out of luck foreclosure casualty and shelter dog. The work that went into saving this particular dog's life is above and beyond anything we've done as a collective before... Starting with the shelter that took her in, to Pit Ed Campers who first identified her as a dog with the right stuff, to the Badrappers who worked to keep her sane in the shelter while we sorted out her bad knees at several vet offices, to all the donors who helped pay her huge bill, to the foster home

that raised their hand to help her recuperate, to the surgeon who did the marvelous work of making her whole again, to the Pit Ed trainers who helped her get her manners back in order once she was feelin' fat and sassy ... and finally, to Thomas and Meg, the Oakland couple who committed to making her part of their family. Whoops. We can't forget the two cats who are still not thrilled to be sharing a home with a blue ball of energy. Sorry, cats. Whew! Can we collapse yet? Lolo, you nearly wore us out but you were sure worth it. Welcome home, darling.

Harvey

Harvey is a sweet, silly, and sometimes clumsy boy who came to us from a Santa Cruz area shelter. While most of our dogs remain in one foster home until they find their happy ending, Harvey found his by taking a journey through a few BAD RAP foster homes. We hate having to move dogs around since it can be stressful, but Harvey remained content and never lost his silly charm as he sofa surfed around the bay. North bay residents Kirstin and Joe fell for his photo on our website and began driving well over an hour each way to come to our weekly Pit Ed classes to get to know this goofy boy they nick-named "the Marshmallow Man."

The big test was how he and potential sister-dog Zoe would do as a team. To everyone's delight, they became fast friends. But just as this family started putting ink to paper to sign their adoption contract, their landlord got cold feet and decided to ban Harvey based on his breed. ACK! Joe and Kristin persisted and compromised (this included many conversations and a new renter’s insurance policy). After a couple hand-wringing months, Harvey became Zoe’s permanent couch potato buddy. Big thanks to our foster homes who go the extra mile for our dogs! And thank you Joe and Kristin for not giving up and for convincing your landlord that Harvey really was home for good.

Frida CGC - Ambassadog!

Frida was owner surrendered as a senior citizen to Oakland Animal Services. She'd walked a rough road in her former life: She was in poor health, she'd been bred many times, she'd been fought, her ears were chopped off with scissors and she'd suffered some kind of chemical burn that left a bad scar on a large part of her body. Those strikes against her on top of being dog aggressive to boot made her a less-than-likely candidate for the OAS adoption program.

Enter the Ambassadog crew! Our team was crazy about her warm, people-focused personality and her been-there-done-than sensibilities, so we committed to seeing if we could help her learn back some of the dog/dog social skills she was cheated out of in her former life.

It took six months of steady work and lonely days at the shelter, and there were certainly days that we doubted Frida's ability to live as a normal dog, but she eventually decided to turn the corner and show us that she could do it. When she was finally able to be relaxed around other dogs, dedicated Ambassadog volunteer Yvette asked about taking her home to live with her male dog. Hmmm...A true test if ever there was one. The leap of faith paid off: Frida and Nick the dog became acquainted and developed a sweet relationship. Yvette's step-by-step process for introducing the two dogs was published in this popular Blog Post. Things continue to go well for both dogs and their people, and Frida ecently earned her Caninie Good Citizen title. We couldn't be prouder of everyone involved for their positive attitude during her long early months -- especially Frida. While not every dog is able to get over their past in a shelter environment especially, Frida's metamorphosis is a happy reminder that many dogs can, given the right kind of leadership and opportunity.

Texas - Therapy Dog

Texas came to us as a sweet lil' pup from Oakland Animal Services. She was a wee bit shy at first, but she bloomed quickly with a little help from new friends.

While Tex was learning about the world and getting her bearings within our program, Judy was starting to look for a companion that would be a friend to her brother's dog and maybe even find a job as a therapy dog. They seemed perfectly suited when they finally met; Tex's tender style was a natural for therapy work and Judy got busy getting her certified immediately. We are so proud of both these ladies and love knowing that they're a team. Welcome home Sweet Texas!

Diesel - formerly Bemis

We met this silly boy when he came into Oakland Animal Services as a stray. He was as sweet as he was excitable...A perfect project dog for our Ambassadog Program. Bemis lived at the shelter while we worked on teaching him good manners. He fell into line quick for the training team but he also knew how to take advantage of a soft hearted handler by turning into Mr. Super Spazz, gyrating on the ground when he didn't want to follow directions. What a dork!

He attracted the attention of Carly and Bruce, who were looking for a super social dog to add to their family. Luckily, they know how to let a dog have a good time while keeping those basic manners in check. Diesel moved into their home and started a fun friendship with their female dog Scarlet. He made us all proud in Pit Ed classes and graduated to CGC Prep class on his big adoption day. We love watching him with his new people - they bring out the best in him and in turn, he gives them plenty of reason to laugh!

Teddles CGC - former Vick Dog

Every great lady deserves a great dog. After a five month trial foster period, Cindy officially adopted Mister Ted. We signed him over after Pit Ed class one Saturday, in between the bustle of the thousand details that come along with doing classes. It was fitting that Ted's big journey with our group end with the very low-key signing ritual; He'd been at home in Cindy's heart since she first laid eyes on him, way back when she was still unaware of his rough beginnings. We just loved that she didn't know (or care) that Ted was once a resident of 'Bad Newz Kennels.'

Teddles first got his bearings in the home of foster parents Christine and Rob Allen. Their young son Sam (who named him) was Ted's first best friend. Gentle Sam made him feel right at home after he got here from Virginia, and even though he had to hug the walls when bull-in-china-shop Ted broke into happy zoomies around the house, they worked out a very sweet friendship that was made famous in the Washington Post with Carol Guzy's photo series Shelter for the Scarred.

Ted came a long way from his time in VA. He was hand-shy from rough treatment in his early life, and shook like a leaf when he heard popping sounds (gunfire). All that's behind him now. Ted has adjusted beautifully to his quiet new world and lives a simple life in the suburbs with Cindy's family and beloved female pit bull. He recently earned his Canine Good Citizen award. We couldn't have wished for a better happy ending for this tender boy.

Oh Owen!

The story of this adoption match is long overdue! We received this photo and email from a high schooler one winter morning about a very young puppy he'd found tied to a pole. He told us: "the pup is now living here in my apartment with me and my family but here we cant have dogs because the manager won't let us. also we live under low-income so we can't afford his shots, we are just helping the pup with whatever we can but sooner or later.. we will run out. i have asked people if they want him, but they all say that they have a bad reputation so i cant give him off to adoption. please i REALLY need your help, i don't know what to do with the puppy, he is only 5 weeks old." Ack. We're not generally set up to take puppies this young into our program, but his photo sure did a number on us, and besides, his teen rescuer deserved some help for doing the right thing. So into our program he came. We got busy socializing the hec out of him with a bevy of adult dogs, and waited for the right home.

'Tank' grew up into a wonderful dog and won the heart of Debbie, who was looking for a pet that could blend into a housefull of small animals. That would be Tank. His name was changed to Owen and he grew into a strapping mixed breed dog - Yes, part pit bull, but a DNA test (Hey she was as curious as we were) revealed that Owen had strong markers for - eek! - golden retriever. Wow! Never one to discriminate, Debbie loved him just the same. She later helped him earn his Canine Good Citizen certification to celebrate his important role as Pit/Golden Ambassador. Welcome home indeed, Sweet Owen!

Daddy-O!

Daddy-O came into Oakland Animal Services when kennels were more than full. This spelled trouble for the senior boy, especially while younger dogs were competing for adoption kennels. We didn't sleep well the night before he was set to be put to sleep, but with no room at the inn, all we could do was hope for

a last minute miracle. Little did we know that the miracle would show up for an appointment to work on our mobile office.

Holly is a contracter and had volunteered to help us with trailer repairs on that fated day. Daddy-O came out to the yard for a final romp...and the rest is history. Our big headed boy drove home with Holly to be a foster dog and he never looked back. He now shares his home for keeps with his big hearted contracter friend, her partner Magnus and their mastiff-mix Sophie. Thanks for reminding us to never give up Daddy-O. And forever thanks to his new people for jumping in to help him when he needed you most.

Tulip!

Like so many stray dogs, young Tulip showed up at a local animal shelter with an injury. Surgical exploration during her spay didn't turn up anything to explain a swollen, oozing wound, though we all suspected trouble - as in, infection lurking there. Dedicated shelter and BR volunteers Catherine and Brett offered to take Tulip out of the noisy shelter to let her rest and recover quietly at their home for a few days. But after just a couple days home, they realized they were smitten with this little sprite. They made it known that they wanted to adopt, swollen thigh and all. They had to leave town for a few days so Tulip went to another foster home for a few more days of TLC where she played gently with the resident Pit bull. We continued to worry about that injury. When Catherine and Brett returned, they made an appointment with a vet who decided to do yet another surgical exploration. The vet found nothing, but just as she was closing, decided to take one last more invasive look and discovered ... a foxtail! buried deep in Tulip’s upper thigh. She removed it and within days, Tulip was on the mend. This pretty girl is still recovering, but through this journey so many people have had a hand in changing her life. Thanks to Carol and Larry for watching and worrying over Tulip. And thank you Catherine and Brett for giving this gentle dog a chance to run and play like every pup should. Welcome home Miss Tulip!

Uba! - CGC

The world first met Uba when he appeared in newspaper that spelled doom for the dogs from Bad Newz Kennels. In this New York Times article, entitled 'Menacing Dogs Await Their Fate,' we saw a worried little guy, hoping for a friend. Most readers know the story: Within days of this terrible article, BR Reps were in VA as part of an ASPCA-led evaluation team, and the rest is history. Uba was one of the first dogs we evaluated and instead of taking our fingers off, he went into a full-blown happy play bow when he saw another dog. Some Menace.

Fast forward to 2009. Uba has been fostered and adopted by Letti de Little and her partner Jamel. This little bust dog started out shy and ungrounded, but has since bloomed into a real dog. He's earned his Canine Good Citizen award, and is now enjoying the dog sport of Rally-O. He lives with a cat, a dog named Lulu and now helps newer foster dogs get their bearings. When he's not in the media (Sport Illustrated, ESPN, Animal Planet), he's giving good hugs to his friends and reminding us all to trust our hearts instead of sensationalistic newspaper headlines. Welcome home Uba - Indeed!

Visit Uba on the Vick Dog Blog

Kinzie!

Kinzie came from a large cruelty case in AZ. She was swept up with over 100 other pit bulls. Her feet were scalded from standing in filth and she'd never seen a leash or visited the world outside of a small pen. We were drawn to her gentle nature and her quiet optimism and earmarked her for life in CA once the courts cleared her for rescue. A volunteer drove her and three other survivors to Oakland and they started new lives.

Kinzie was with us for several months before she finally found her perfect person. Monica was a pit bull devotee and was looking for a smaller pit bull that would get along with Zapata - her brave little chihuahua. Who else but Kinzie? We were thrilled to see this work out for all. Keep your eye out for this adorable family in SF. We understand that they turn heads wherever they go!

See Kinzie's Movie

Harley!

Natasha had no intention of getting a pit bull when she came to visit a dog at Oakland Animal Services, but the shepherd mix she'd hoped to see had been adopted, and while she was wondering what to do, a goofy dork of a dog caught her eye. Harley was rolling around on the lawn and acting like a first class clown, and she was sucked right in to his charms. It took some convincing, but Natasha made a plea to her husband to give him a look. They made several visits to see Harley - each time warmed them up ever so slowly to the thought of having a - gasp - pit bull in their life.

Soon Harley was in their home, playing the part of perfect pet. They tell us that he's done an excellent job helping their once-worried friends and family recognize how wonderful his breed can be, and he's even won the 'cat neighbor' over. It didn't take much! We're so proud of Natasha and Ash for giving this boy a chance and for keeping up with his training. He was once a bit of a spazz, but thanks to the Ambassadog crew at the shelter and his new people's consistent obedience work, he's a fantastic ambassador and a one of the nicest dogs you'd hope to meet. Congrats to everyone who worked so hard to give this shelter dog a real life -- And welcome home Harley!

See Harley's Movie

Retha!

Ambassadog Retha is in her new home for keeps after being courted by Claudia and her beau, Thomas. Thomas is an Oakland Police Officer and he told us that he's brought so many strays to the shelter during his shifts that he knew he wanted to give a home to a shelter orphan once the time was right. Retha's now the center of their universe and counts a young boy named Angel as one of her very best friends. This is Claudia on adoption day at Pit Ed class. Happy much, girls? Retha and Claudia are now getting ready for their Canine Good Citizen exam. We look forward to seeing them on our Hall of Fame Page. Congrats to the whole family!

Stella Polari CGC !

We met Stella during a trip to the Detroit area for a conference. Of course that trip had to include a visit to the Detroit shelter! (Michigan Humane Society) MHS was not adopting pit bulls out at the time of the visit, and it was just too hard to walk away from all their hopeful pit bulls in lock-down, especially this beautiful chocolate girl who'd been swept up in a dramatic drug raid. Stella's eyes called out for help, and we had to ask if we could have her. Within days she was on a plane to CA. (See her arrival here) She had some healing and catch-up to do to help her find her bearings, but she soon bloomed in the care of her foster mom Katie Moyer and under the tutelage of trainer Linda Chwistek.

During her time with us, she was being secretly admired by BR volunteer Elizabeth. We were thrilled when Elizabeth finally announced that she wanted to take Stella home as her one and only. Together, they've become a real team. They earned their CGC certification in record timing and have since been bitten by the training bug. And, since her adoption in CA, the Michigan Humane Society has changed their adoption policy that once bannned pit bulls. We couldn't be happier. Thanks to everyone who cared about Stella, and who still care for the homeless pit bulls that follow her.

Otter CGC !

Otter came to us from the Marin Humane Society after staff worried over her excitable personality. A few days in foster care revealed a playful and social dog that likes to be the center of the party. She lived with several animals big and small before winning the hearts of Carol and Larry. They lead an active life as divers and wanted a dog that could join them in their boat during regular dive trips -- With a name like Otter, how could they lose? Carol and Larry got right to work with helping Otter earn her Canine Good Citizen certification. Once they passed the test, Otter was theirs for keeps. We're so proud of this family. Many thanks to Sam for scooping Otter up into your home and for helping her find her place in the world.

Ollie Pop!

Sweet Ollie is such an unassuming, good hearted fellow. He earned a kennel in our Ambassadog program and learned his manners so quickly that he made dog training feel like kids's work. But our sensitive guy started having trouble living in the kennels almost right away -- it was so hard for him to be alone for such a large part of his day. Just when we were getting really worried about our boy, a couple showed up with a simple request: They never had a pit bull before, so needed a 'beginner's dog,' and, one that would get along with their very old, very feeble little minpin. It took all of 12 seconds before we collectively chimed --- "OLLIE!"

We arranged a meeting at the shelter with Ollie and Jim, Kathy and their sweet little dog Roxie. Roxie turned out to be even more feeble than we expected, but with missing teeth and tired old bones, she still managed to give Ollie some old fashioned Bitchy Queen attitude and lay down the law. Perfect! Soon our boy was out of the kennels and in his happy home, playing second fiddle to a dog 1/5 his size. Jim and Kathy have become a steady fixture in our Saturday classes and Ollie is still being the perfect pupil and listening to their every word. We love happy endings like this!

Jelly Roll Jones

Mr. Jones with the Jelly Belly (aka Jelly Roll Jones) was one of the first dogs we pulled into our partnership program with Oakland Animal Services. He was clearly somebody's spoiled little - ahem - monster before he lost his home. He was lovable and sweet, but used to getting what he wanted. He was also a brat with other dogs. Oy vey! The Ambassadog team knows how to polish up a shine in just about any dog and Jelly soon fell in to line and showed us what a good boy he could be.

His manners improved so much that, when Stephen and Lisa inquired about getting a dog that could co-exist with another dog and a parrot, we were almost sure they could be a match. Sure enough, Jelly worked his charms and left the kennels to become a part of their happy family. We love knowing that he has a big beautiful yard to bomb around in and a home of his very own. Have a great life, Mr. Jones!

Bob the Dog CGC TD!

Ohhhhh Bob! No one can meet this dog without falling into a deep well of heart-thumping love. How he ended up at the Oakland shelter, we'll never know. This boy was such a groovie, likable fellow that we couldn't help but want to see him in the White House as the official first dog. But alas, the Obamas moved just a little too slow and missed out when Alex and Chui raised their hands to be his forever people. A & C had been getting trained to be BAD RAP volunteers when they fell for the pup.

They knew he was extra special, so worked fast to find a rental that would allow them to adopt a pit bull of their very own. Once they scored a primo place in the Oakland hills, it was a done deal -- Bob was officially a dog with a home. We couldn't be happier to know that he's still "in the family." bob has since gone on to earn his Canine Good Citizen award and his therapy dog certification. Special thanks to Pat and her human Bob for giving this sensitive guy a break from the kennels and TLC while we waited for Alex and Chui to get moved in - and welcome home Bob!

Jonny Justice CGC, TD, ATTS - former Vick Dog!

Jonny Justice became a poster child for fight bust dogs after surviving Bad Newz Kennels in 2007. No sooner did he get his bearings in his new California home when he started meeting weepy, appreciative fans (left) and getting invitations to appear on television shows and in newspaper photo essays. Holy moly Bat Man! He took it all in stride and was quite the media darling - mugging for cameras and generally being a first class ham. When he wasn't getting interviewed, he was working hard on his manners and acclimating to life in the big city. San Francisco was very different from his former life in Virginia, and he had to adjust to big loud trucks with wheels that humans called buses, and disturbing events called "getting a bath" -- shudder! The upshot was that he was now sleeping on a soft bed and enjoying play dates with favorite friends and getting LOTS of love from the nice people that called themselves 'foster parents.'

One day the nice people called foster parents decided that Jonny should live with them forever, and we celebrated one of the first Vick dog adoptions. Cris and Jennifer have gone the distance with this special pup and handled all the media attention like pros. They knew that he was more than just a pretty face though, so got him busy with earning his Canine Good Citizen title, passing his American Temperament Test and then, working as a Reading Assistant dog. Now Jonny helps kids learn to read while reminding everyone he meets that some of the nicest dogs on the planet can come from some of the crappiest beginnings. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to get this pretty boy to safety and into real life as a normal dog.

Josie Kat!

We get so many requests for help from out of county rescuers and it always pains us to have to say 'No' to their special dogs. But one inquiry was impossible to ignore: A rescuer in the north counties witnessed her neighbor beating his beautiful tan dog so, while he was away, she secreted her to a safe hiding spot before she could be killed. The dog had a big bump on her skull from her beatings but remained cheerful and optimistic. It was clear that this dog couldn't stay in this town so we moved a few mountains to make room for her in Oakland. We named her Josie Kat and fell fast in love with beautiful face and resilient spirit.

Josie came to live in PIt Bull Hall and cast a spell on all the boy dogs who were clamoring to know her. We had so much fun with Miss Kat while she was with us and almost hated to see her go to her new home - Almost! Josie scored a wonderful new life with Castro Valley couple Nafia and James. It took a while before their cat was happy about the arrangement, but they eventually worked out an odd sort of friendship. Josie and her people went on to earn the Canine Good Citizen award together a few weeks later and made us proud all over again. Many thanks to the brave rescuer who first brought her to safety. You did a wonderful thing.

Piglet!

Piglet was so distracted when we first met her at Oakland Animal Services that she looked at everything except us when we first took her outside. We had a strong hunch that she was searching for her former owner and no one else would do. After a couple of weeks, she must've decided that they weren't coming back for her and we were her new best friends. We adored her for her sassy, independent and comical nature, but worried whether she'd be able to last in the difficult shelter setting. It's not an easy place for any dog to wait for his future. When she started to disintegrate in the kennels, we took her home rather than see her lose her spirit. No problem! ... Once in foster care, Piglet got very busy with telling everyone how things should work. When we weren't pulling our hair out over her 'enthusiastic' habit of singing and talking about EVERYthing, we were doubled over laughing. What an unusual, hella funny dog!

Occasionally we play a game and try to imagine who the perfect adopter would be for our foster dogs. Never have we come this close to imagining the real person who showed up to adopt her. Friendly person with a busy social life...Check. Work at home but likes to get out for energetic walks...Check. Good sense of humor that can put up with the likes of The Pigs..Check, Check!

How did we get so lucky to find Janet for this little dog? They're both cut from the same cloth and share much of the same outlook on life. Pigs immediately helped Janet drop 10 lbs on fast, daily walks. And together, they're acing BR's training classes and are on their way to CGC fame. Lucky dang dog! Thank you Janet for stepping up for the Pigs. We love seeing you both having such a good time together!

Audie - former Vick dog!

We first met Audie in Virginia, back when he was still known as one of Michael Vick's dogs. He went to live in San Diego for foster care with Steve and Nicole, the couple who drove him back from VA. He was so spirited and dog social that a certain trainer in the bay area started wondering: 'What IF this little one could do agility work?' Linda Chwistek had been dreaming of finding a rescued pit bull or staffy bull for agility work for a long time, but none of the hundreds of dogs that she met ever fit the bill. And then came Audie. Not only did he have all the qualities she was looking for, he was adorable to boot. But as luck would have it, he was born with two bad knees -- not a good prospect for the stress of exercise. Linda arranged to foster him at her home and spent some time scratching her head over possibilities. Could he enjoy a different, less stressful vocation like Rally-O? In the meantime, she and her husband Bill fell in love with the little imp and decided they would adopt him for keeps even if his bad knees prevented him from ever getting near agility equipment.

A consult with a local surgeon offered some hope, however: Audie just might be able to be an athlete with the right kind of corrective surgery. So he went under the knife and after healing and getting his strength back, he started to show Linda that, not only does he like doing agility work -- he's good at it! It's fantastic to see this hard working dog trainer so excited about her new prospect. Linda has been giving so much of herself to help other dog owners that we figure the cosmos are working in her favor for Audie's future. Keep your fingers crossed! In the meantime, she and Bill are having a blast with their cutest, deliciously naughty little rascal.

Sweetpea

When we introduced Sweatpea on our available page, an adoption for this brindle gem was already pending. Rarely do we search shelters to hand-pick a dog for a potential home, but this potential home was different. Peter and Denae fell hard for another BAD RAP dog, but the match up wasn't quite perfect. They stayed patient for months, so we kept our eyes open for a perfect match. We found one in Sweet Pea. She is easy going, cat friendly, dog social, and a therapy dog in the making. She came out of a Northern California shelter where a local Pit bull advocate sponsored her heartworm treatment while a foster home gave her a safe place to heal. Fast forward a few months, and since Sweetpea’s adoption has been finalized, she has earned her Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certification, become fast friends with her two feline roomies, and is on the way to a therapy dog certification. She spends her days lounging with her people and many Saturdays coming to our CGC classes to assist the new dogs in training. Thank you Peter and Denae for waiting for the perfect match. We can certainly tell that Sweetpea was worth the wait!

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.

2007 Happy Endings

Not for use on other websites or off-line publications without permission.