Brian the pit mix transformed from crying puppy to beloved pet
Michael and Alicia Stiteler of La Verne, Calif., wanted to adopt a
puppy and they found just the one, an Australian Shepherd mix, on
Petfinder, listed by Chihuahua Haven Rescue. It was their dream come true, but it ended abruptly when they got him home. Brian, as they named him, cried and cried and cried. "The first few nights with a crying puppy ... were pure chaos," Alicia says. "We started regretting our decision and wondering if we had done the right thing. They decided to return him and called the rescue.
"We held each other and sobbed," Alicia says. "We felt guilty for taking on a responsibility we couldn't handle."
And then fate stepped in. It snowed where they were to meet the rescue person, and she asked if they could wait a week. Soon, Alicia says, "we realized that Brian ... was just trying to get used to his new 'digs' ... by the end of the week, we knew Brian wasn't going anywhere."
The first few months were tough, but training and time helped.
Meanwhile, Brian became a beloved member of the family. "As if this
weren't already enough of a learning experience, we had one
more 'chestnut' thrown our way," Alicia says. "A DNA test showed that
he was mainly Staffordshire Bull Terrier."
Alicia had many unfounded fears about the "pit bull" breed. "I subscribed to the 'all pit bulls are evil' school of thought. I feared he would grow up to become a locking-jawed, child biting, mailman eating, homeowner's insurance rate-raising killer... Brian's gentle temperament, sweet demeanor and fear of his own shadow have completely changed my view of the bully breeds.
"In the end, we ask each other every day, 'Can you believe we wanted to take him back?"
Previous Happy Tails:
A lonely cat is reunited with her foster home soul-mate
A rescued pit bull helps a daughter through a time of loss
A Pekingese poster child for senior-pet adoption
Two dogs - one with mange, one abused - come home
Saving a starved and scarred Pit Bull
An abandoned cat comes in from the cold
A puppy-mill Chihuahua learns to live outside a cage
Sacrificing to save an abused, overlooked pit bull
A sick, abandoned puppy's incredible before & after pics
Someone sees beauty under the scars
A 'wild' Chinese Crested puppy comes home
A dad with Alzheimer's gets a 'miracle dog'
The rock-star cat who looks like a polar bear
A senior Dalmatian loses weight, gains new life
Lovebirds go from hoarder to happy home
A former bait dog finds safety and love
A perfect match is worth waiting for
A deformed kitten gets a happy ending
The victim of a cruel prank finds happiness
A rescued Border Collie mends a broken heart
Alicia had many unfounded fears about the "pit bull" breed. "I subscribed to the 'all pit bulls are evil' school of thought. I feared he would grow up to become a locking-jawed, child biting, mailman eating, homeowner's insurance rate-raising killer... Brian's gentle temperament, sweet demeanor and fear of his own shadow have completely changed my view of the bully breeds.
"In the end, we ask each other every day, 'Can you believe we wanted to take him back?"
Previous Happy Tails:
A lonely cat is reunited with her foster home soul-mate
A rescued pit bull helps a daughter through a time of loss
A Pekingese poster child for senior-pet adoption
Two dogs - one with mange, one abused - come home
Saving a starved and scarred Pit Bull
An abandoned cat comes in from the cold
A puppy-mill Chihuahua learns to live outside a cage
Sacrificing to save an abused, overlooked pit bull
A sick, abandoned puppy's incredible before & after pics
Someone sees beauty under the scars
A 'wild' Chinese Crested puppy comes home
A dad with Alzheimer's gets a 'miracle dog'
The rock-star cat who looks like a polar bear
A senior Dalmatian loses weight, gains new life
Lovebirds go from hoarder to happy home
A former bait dog finds safety and love
A perfect match is worth waiting for
A deformed kitten gets a happy ending
The victim of a cruel prank finds happiness
A rescued Border Collie mends a broken heart
