From “longtime BJ reader” Chris:
I have a friend who needs to find a new home for her slightly troubled Pit – Boxer mix. I know the dog personally and she’s a very sweet if very high-energy dog, with dog and cat aggression issues, unfortunately. Please see below from my good friend Allie… We live in the Washington DC area but also have roots in Pittsburgh, so anyone around there might be able to help.
Hera does much better around men than women. The dog listens to me and Allie’s boyfriend perfectly fine, but has trouble with other females, especially, unfortunately, Allie.
I hope the Balloon Juice community can help – from what I’ve seen, Juicers can get just about anything done pet-wise, so I’m hopeful.
Hera is a young pit bull / boxer mix that I adopted in March of 2012. I am looking to re-home her because while she is intelligent and affectionate it is becoming apparent that I am not able to give her the structure and companionship she needs to excel. I have met with a behaviorist that diagnosed her with a variety of issues and made a number of suggestions for mitigation or improvement of her symptoms and behavior. This behaviorist’s recommendation for a new home was for a retired, empty-nester with no small children, cats, or other dogs around, in a stable, quiet country environment. This person MUST be home during the day, as Hera thrives when she is in contact with her person. This person MUST have experience with high-energy, emotional dogs, and be able to provide her with continued behavioral and obedience training by working with a professional to meet her needs.
Stats:
3 year old female pit bull / boxer mix
Grain allergy – ALL FOOD MUST BE GRAIN FREE
Seasonal allergies – requires occasional steroid spray to manage itchiness
Found at approx. 5 months old.. kept in shelter for the next few months until fostered and then adopted
Fostered at 8 months old, adopted at 9-10 months oldBehavioral traits:
Bad:
Anxiety (likely will require medication)
Fear-based aggression (toward some dogs, all cats due to a strong prey drive, and those who ‘hard stare’ at her)
Excessive energyGood:
Incredibly intelligent
Very affectionate
Fast learner
Great in the car
If you know someone who might be interested, or have a lead to a dedicated rescue group, leave a commentor or contact me (click on my name in the right-hand column, annelaurie (at) verizon.net ) and I’ll put you in touch with Chris & Allie.
ulee
I hope this pupdog finds her forever home. Rope embedded under her skin? I’m not a violent person but somebody needs to have their ass kicked.
gussie
I want! I’m home all day, too.
Sadly, I’m on the wrong coast, and I’ve already got a Jack Russell with issues.
Good luck, though. What a sweet face!
MazeDancer
Heart breaking story. Yay, for Chris’s friend for helping this dog.
But the no-cat situation may require several postings.
May this sweet puppy find a good home.
Pitt Bull rescue groups must be a very hard job.
Elizabelle
Maybe try Bully Paws Patriots, of Fredericksburg, VA. A pit bull rescue group.
I met Bella, a wonderful pit-boxer mix who is a therapy dog, making the rounds at Alexandria Hospital. She’s a Bully Paws rescue.
Good luck to you.
geg6
Oh. So cute!! Wish I could do since I’m in the Pgh, PA area. But with one dog who is severely disabled another young spoiled 2-yr-old, it won’t work. I’m in love, though.
ulee
check out this reunion.huffingtonpost.com/news/climate-change/
ulee
Link isn’t what I wanted. It’s the story of Mr. G the goat and Jellybean the burro. It’s on Huffington post.
rikyrah
that’s a beautiful home. hope that someone will take that beauty in.
mainmata
We do a lot of foreign travel so a dog is currently impractical but by coincidence I am also a DC area person who grew up in Pittsburgh (Squirrel Hill mostly); rest of the time in MA. Seems like a sweet dog.
Sayne
This is Chris. Hopefully we can find a home for Hera. Like I said, she seems to listen fine to me and other men (though my experience is limited to the occasional weekend dog-sitting). She’s super intelligent, you can see the gears moving whenever anything is going on and she’s very affectionate once you’ve got her calmed down… but she’s so high-energy. She needs lots of space to run or someone that is home during the day and can keep her occupied. Fingers crossed you call can help!
Thanks everyone,
Chris
Gretchen
I’m surprised to see this here after what happened to Tunch. She looks cute but I hate to say it, she sounds like a risky dog. How could you be certain she’d never get out and hurt a kid?
PIGL
@Gretchen: She is a risky dog, if by risky you mean “a threat to public safety”. No small children, no other dogs, no cats, can’t be left alone…. I am sorry for this poor creature, who seem to have redeeming qualities, but I don’t see a happy ending here.
satby
Almost all rescues require that a dog adopted from them be returned to them should the need for rehoming occur. I know it can be embarrassing, but contact the rescue she came from, they know her and her issues.
And for PIGL: they put all the same restrictions on greyhound adoptions. And everyone who adopts a greyhound loves them. You just have match the dog to a home that fits, and often it’s easier said than done, but it can be done.
van
I have talked to animal behavorists as well who would never agree to turning a dog like this over to anyone. Just a week ago a rehomed pit bill attacked two young children one day after being in the home. This dog can not be rehabilitated from attacking other animals. It is not possible and this dog will not live in a bubble once it finds a new home. This is entirely too risky. Already this year pit bulls with no prior signs of aggression have mauled dozens of people. The death toll of this breed is now at 18. There are thousands of animals that need good homes that would make sweet family pets. Get one of those dogs. This dog is a ticking timebomb.
Susan
I have also read a lot lately that pit bull rescues and shelters who have rehomed dogs that have later attacked other pets or humans are finding themselves on the wrong end of civil suits. The liability for rehoming a dog with prior aggression is no small matter.