Elissa

All of our dogs are currently in foster care in Guadalajara, Mexico. They are listed in Oregon for adoption purposes because our rescue is based there.<br/><br/>Once an adoption is approved, the dog will fly to Portland, Oregon (PDX). Most dogs arrive within 2-4 weeks after approval, depending on flight availability. <br/><br/>The MexiMutt Project is an initiative of Born Again Pit Bull Rescue. Millions of dogs live on the streets in Mexico, and our rescue works at the source through spay/neuter programs, rescue, medical care, and adoption into loving homes.<br/><br/>Since 2019, we have matched 500+ dogs with loving homes & spayed/neutered 3,500+ dogs.<br/><br/>INTERESTED IN ADOPTING? Please fill out an application at: bapbr.org/apply<br/><br/>We are unable to respond to adoption inquiries submitted through Petfinder.<br/><br/>**************************<br/>NAME: Elissa<br/><br/>AGE: 3 or 4 years old<br/><br/>WEIGHT: 30 lbs<br/><br/>BREED(S): Pit Bull, Poodle, Dalmatian, Supermutt, Cocker Spaniel mix (DNA TEST RESULTS ATTACHED ABOVE IN PHOTOS).<br/><br/>GOOD WITH KIDS? No, she is a very nervous dog and she would prefer an adult only home with low foot traffic.<br/><br/>HOUSEBROKEN? Not 100% yet. As rescue dogs that lived on the street or tile/outdoor surfaces, they'll need some time to adjust. Most of our dogs adapt within 1-2 weeks of consistent training.<br/><br/>LEASH TRAINED? No - she is very scared of leash walking - she will need a house with a fenced backyard and she is not used to being touched or carried. <br/><br/>ABOUT: <br/><br/>Elissa was found in an empty lot. Not hurt. Not sick. Just... still.<br/><br/>No barking. No running toward anyone. Just a small dog standing quietly in an overgrown lot, as if she had long since stopped expecting to be noticed. As if stillness had become her only way of surviving a world that hadn't been kind to her.<br/><br/>That stillness broke something in her rescuer, Daniel. He took her home and spent the next year and a half doing the quiet, unglamorous, sacred work of earning her trust one gentle day at a time. And then, after all that time with him, she came to us on April 3, 2026. <br/><br/>Elissa has been waiting for a home for over a year and a half.<br/><br/>She is not the dog who barrels toward you, tail spinning, ready to love you before she even knows your name. Elissa does something harder, and something rarer: she chooses you. Deliberately. Quietly. On her own terms.<br/><br/>When you first meet her, she'll disappear into her crate. She'll watch you from a distance with those careful eyes. She'll need you to simply be there not reaching, not rushing, not asking anything of her. Just present. Just patient.<br/><br/>And then, one day maybe after weeks, maybe after months.... she'll come to you. Not with a crash or a leap, but with this calm, tender certainty that will absolutely undo you. Because you'll know what it cost her to trust again. And you'll know she chose you. But when she finally decides you are safe, the love she gives is quiet, deliberate, and incredibly meaningful.<br/><br/>3 months after arriving at MexiMutt Headquarters, Elissa is finally beginning to feel safe. She plays with the other dog in the house. She feels more confident when other dogs are around. She chews happily on her bones. She has started to show little pieces of who she really is.<br/><br/>But Elissa is still very shy. She still carries the weight of whatever life taught her before rescue.<br/><br/>She is what we would consider a project dog. Think semi-feral, but never aggressive. She is nervous, timid, and unsure of touch at first. She will hide if you approach her too quickly or try to force affection. But with time, patience, and a calm home, she slowly allows you in.<br/><br/>Elissa needs an adult-only home with very low foot traffic. She is not a good fit for children, busy households, apartments, or anyone looking for an easy, outgoing dog. She is not leash trained and is very scared of leash walking, so she must have a very securely fenced yard. She is also not used to being carried or handled much, so her adopter will need to respect her boundaries and move at her pace.<br/><br/>What Elissa needs most is not a perfect person.<br/><br/>She needs a patient one.<br/><br/>Someone who will not take it personally when she hides. Someone who will sit nearby and let her come closer when she is ready. Someone who understands that trust cannot be rushed, and that the dogs who make you wait for their love often give the kind that changes you forever.<br/><br/>Elissa has spent too much of her life waiting.<br/>Waiting in an empty lot.<br/>Waiting in a kennel run.<br/>Waiting to feel safe.<br/>Waiting for someone to see her, not as broken, but as worthy.<br/><br/>Elissa Needs:<br/><br/>An adult-only home with low foot traffic and a calm, predictable environment<br/><br/>A securely fenced backyard leash walking is still overwhelming for her right now<br/><br/>An adopter who understands that she is, in many ways, still learning what it means to be someones dog<br/><br/>Patience. Deep, unhurried, unshakeable patience.<br/><br/>Someone who sees a project dog not as a burden, but as a privilege<br/><br/>If you have the patience, the quiet home, and the heart for a dog like Elissa, she has a whole lifetime of love saved up for you.<br/><br/> <br/>*************************<br/><br/>Ready to apply? Here's what to expect:<br/><br/>Because our dogs cannot return to Mexico if there isn't a good fit, we're extra thorough in matching each dog with the right family ensuring lifelong success for both dog and adopter.<br/><br/>1. [Required] Complete our online application at www.bapbr.org<br/>2. Phone interview with director Angela if we determine there's a good fit<br/>3. We arrange the flight to Oregon (included in fee) and send periodic photo/video updates <br/>4. Airport pickup at PDX, pay adoption fee, receive medical records, welcome your new family member home!<br/><br/>Timeline: 2-4 weeks for CDC/USDA paperwork and flight arrangement once approved.<br/><br/><br/>$350 Adoption Fee includes all of the following:<br/>- Flight to Oregon, USDA import permit, Screwworm Health Certificate<br/>- Spay/neuter, core vaccines (DHLPPi, Rabies, Bordetella). Flea/tick/heartworm treatment & deworming.<br/>- Blood work & health tests (CBC, blood parasite tests, parvo/giardia/coronavirus test). <br/>- Grooming. Microchip. Collar, leash & ID tag.<br/><br/>Payment methods accepted: Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, or cash<br/><br/>The Meximutt Project is 100% volunteer-run by a small team of dedicated animal lovers. We cannot respond to every application due to high volume, but if we think there's a good match, we'll reach out.

All of our dogs are currently in foster care in Guadalajara, Mexico. They are listed in Oregon for adoption purposes because our rescue is based there.

Once an adoption is approved, the dog will fly to Portland, Oregon (PDX). Most dogs arrive within 2-4 weeks after approval, depending on flight availability.

The MexiMutt Project is an initiative of Born Again Pit Bull Rescue. Millions of dogs live on the streets in Mexico, and our rescue works at the source through spay/neuter programs, rescue, medical care, and adoption into loving homes.

Since 2019, we have matched 500+ dogs with loving homes & spayed/neutered 3,500+ dogs.

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING? Please fill out an application at: bapbr.org/apply

We are unable to respond to adoption inquiries submitted through Petfinder.

**************************
NAME: Elissa

AGE: 3 or 4 years old

WEIGHT: 30 lbs

BREED(S): Pit Bull, Poodle, Dalmatian, Supermutt, Cocker Spaniel mix (DNA TEST RESULTS ATTACH

All of our dogs are currently in foster care in Guadalajara, Mexico. They are listed in Oregon for adoption purposes because our rescue is based there.

Once an adoption is approved, the dog will fly to Portland, Oregon (PDX). Most dogs arrive within 2-4 weeks after approval, depending on flight availability.

The MexiMutt Project is an initiative of Born Again Pit Bull Rescue. Millions of dogs live on the streets in Mexico, and our rescue works at the source through spay/neuter programs, rescue, medical care, and adoption into loving homes.

Since 2019, we have matched 500+ dogs with loving homes & spayed/neutered 3,500+ dogs.

INTERESTED IN ADOPTING? Please fill out an application at: bapbr.org/apply

We are unable to respond to adoption inquiries submitted through Petfinder.

**************************
NAME: Elissa

AGE: 3 or 4 years old

WEIGHT: 30 lbs

BREED(S): Pit Bull, Poodle, Dalmatian, Supermutt, Cocker Spaniel mix (DNA TEST RESULTS ATTACHED ABOVE IN PHOTOS).

GOOD WITH KIDS? No, she is a very nervous dog and she would prefer an adult only home with low foot traffic.

HOUSEBROKEN? Not 100% yet. As rescue dogs that lived on the street or tile/outdoor surfaces, they'll need some time to adjust. Most of our dogs adapt within 1-2 weeks of consistent training.

LEASH TRAINED? No - she is very scared of leash walk