This wags-to-riches success story was a true group effort.
What makes the ASPCA Partnership so unique and inspiring? There’s no trick—collaboration is the name of the game. One of our earliest success stories is that of Little Man, a four-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier whose happy ending came as a result of what can truly be called a group effort.
In early March, the ASPCA invited Donna Reynolds of Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls, a.k.a. BAD RAP (a pit bull advocacy and fostering group based in Oakland, CA), to Tampa, FL, to help the ASPCA target city’s shelter system develop assessment protocol and adoption policies for their adoptable pit bulls and pit mixes. During her whirlwind two-day Tampa trip, which included three separate shelter tours and many meetings, Donna saw dozens of wonderful dogs—but one particularly social pup at the Hillsborough County shelter caught her eye.
“I spotted this little imp pressed to the front of his run—ears back, lip puckered out and tail wagging furiously. In spite of all that, he had an old-world air about him. He was filthy, way too skinny and on his last day before the shelter would have to put him down to make room for incoming dogs. I got that rush of excitement in my belly that comes from meeting somebody very special. I couldn’t leave without him, so I pointed him out to the staff and shouted ‘If he tests well, I want to take him home,’” remembers Donna.
Named “Little Man” right on the spot, the affectionate pit bull not only tested well, but the staff at Hillsborough quickly learned that he was a delightful little showman eager to learn tricks (his current repertoire includes “sit pretty”, “roll over” and “army crawl”). Like many shelter dogs, Little Man had kennel cough, so was not allowed to travel on a plane at the time. The Hillsborough staff was happy to nurse Little Man back to health so he could reunite Donna in California and join the BAD RAP family of adoptable breed ambassadors, which he did on March 20.
While Little Man’s cross-country adventure is a symbol of hope for all involved in his rescue, his circumstances were, sadly, far from unique. It is believed that he was seized from a Tampa drug house. When brought to the Hillsborough County shelter, he exhibited classic signs of neglect, including severe malnourishment and a bad worm problem. At the shelter, his chances of finding a forever home were heartbreakingly slim. In 2006, Hillsborough took in 36,091 animals, of which eight percent were adopted. The euthanasia rate for the year was a staggering 82 percent. However, with the ASPCA helping Tampa to set up and promote accessible spay and neuter resources and adoption programs, these numbers should significantly improve in the coming years.
Now in Oakland, Little Man is being fostered by Donna, who is having a blast getting to know him and prepare him for adoption. “He really is a prize, and the perfect ambassador for the breed,” she says. “He’s a happy boy who mixes nicely other dogs and loves to greet visitors. He’s becoming quite a celebrity around here!” And to bring the happy ending full circle, the ASCPA sponsored the Hillsborough veterinary staff to attend BAD RAP’s Oakland Pit Ed Camp—where they got their chance to reunite with everyone’s favorite Little Man.
*KISS*