Meet Brownie. Yes, this is the dog who was tied to a fence at a construction site for the Reading School District last month. (Who could dump that face??)To refresh your memory, this poor guy had been tied to a fence on Tulpehocken Street in Reading at the site where a new supply building is being built for the school district. Someone set the old building ablaze last year.
My husband had been called to the area because of his association with me. Some of the district employees were scared at first because the dog was a “Pit Bull”. As I said before, I don’t blame them. Knowing that this breed is a status symbol for many in the city, one does need to be cautious when approaching this breed because of the abuse and cruelty inflicted upon them to make them tougher.
As it turned out, this guy was quite friendly. At the time I had written this, there were two people- a district employee and one of the construction workers-interested in adopting him from the Animal Rescue League which was where he was taken. This poor guy was also thin and quite hungry. District and construction workers fed him until he was removed.
I’ve heard from the couple who has adopted this lucky dog. A couple from Montgomery County. The husband is the construction worker.
The wife had written to me to let me know that Brownie- his new name- is doing well. YAY!
Brownie is a dog whose desire is to be loved and be near this couple. A dog who longs for a pet by both of them. Who can blame him? Being stranded and left alone tied to a fence would leave any animal not wanting to be alone.
And he is loved and taken care of by this couple who didn’t see the breed but instead saw a dog. A dog who broke the heart of the construction worker. After seeing this unimaginble sight that fateful morning, this construction worker couldn’t walk away from him. In his heart, he felt he and his wife “could give him a better life.”
I applaud them for seeing past the breed since they were told by others including a dog trainer that adopting him was not a good idea. Was it because they already have two other dogs? Was it because they felt any Pit Bull must be bad? Whatever their reasons, this couple made their own decision. A decision they don’t regret. A decision that saved a life.
They tell me they are working on obedience training and socializing him with their two other dogs, a Beagle and an American Bulldog. They’ve realized how extremely smart he is and how very fast he learns. Good for you, Brownie! Plus he has gained weight.
I applaud this couple for seeing past prejudices from others and seeing a dog. A dog who was left alone tied to a fence. A dog that someone didn’t care about anymore. A dog that was no longer wanted and treated so harshly by his previous owner. A despicable person!
Brownie was welcomed into his new home on Christmas Eve where he has a roof over his head, food, fun but most importantly he has two people who love him and are willing to give everything they have to make Brownie the best dog possible. Brownie is very fortunate to have had a lucky outcome. Many Pit Bulls from Reading find themselves at the Animal Rescue League not ever having a second chance at a forever home. It isn’t the League’s fault but the fault of the people who once had possession of them but made a decision to not look for their dog or abandon their dog, as in this case. If only there were more people like this couple who save a Pit Bull’s life, so many more lives could be saved.
I will leave you with this statement from the wife who quotes Cesar Millan- “Pit Bull is a breed. Aggression is a state of mind.”
Congrats to Brownie and the couple who saved his life!
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