Olive Pit Bull Terrier & Labrador Retriever Mix Hanover, PA

NAME: Olive
BREED: Pit Bull/Lab Mix
BIRTHDAY: 2012
WEIGHT: 45lbs
ADOPTION FEE: $200

Where to start with this poor boy...? Sometimes we say that getting dumped in the shelter was the best thing that's ever happened to a pet, and in Olive's case that's the absolute truth. He was living in someone's home being starved to death. Because he was so hungry, he resorted to eating things that were not food. So when he went to the shelter, he arrived with an intestinal blockage. Surgery found broken glass and a piece of wood with a nail in it, among other things. Skin and ear infections, as well as arthritic hips and knees, were nothing compared to the damage done to Olive's insides. It took more than two months and lots of medications for things to start to repair themselves, but Olive is finally gaining weight and showing that he has some energy. When he arrived here we had him neutered and, to top it all off, Olive also had testicular cancer. Luckily it was not a type that spreads, so Olive's life was saved by surgery once again.

Through all of his procedures and treatments, and despite the pain he was in when he came to us, Olive has always been a sweet and gentle soul. He loves meeting new people and is great with dogs and cats. In fact, he can actually be a bit much when he first makes a new dog friend: we've started calling him our puppy because he forgets his manners when new fosters come in (he's also very derpy and, now that he's feeling better, he loves to run around the yard like a youngster.) But after a few days he settles down and is a gentleman again, sharing his bed or the sofa with whoever wants to be up there and forgoing wrestling and romping for cuddling.

A lifetime of abuse and neglect did not break Olive's soul, but it took a toll on his body. We don't know how long he can live comfortably with his arthritis, but medications have given him a second (or third, or fourth?) chance at being happy and healthy. Olive happily takes his Rimadyl in wet food or a Pill Pocket and just needs a little help getting up on the couch. He gives a nice alert when he needs a potty break, rides well in the car, doesn't pull on a leash, doesn't eat or chew things he shouldn't (now that he knows he doesn't have to), and is in general a very easy foster in the big pack. Please consider giving Olive a real home where he will never be hungry, hurting, or sad ever again.