by Terese Shaw

Terese Shaw is an FBR Adoptions Coordinator for Fresno Bully Rescue. FBR shares their animal rescue adventures with us every other month.

In 2011, I and another FBR Board member made the drive up to Jamestown, California, and returned with Shadow. Shadow was an owner surrender, dumped at the local animal control in an area that had very little adoption outlets for Pit Bull-type dogs. Fresno Bully Rescue wanted to give him a chance at finding a forever home, so after a little temperament testing, we loaded him up and brought him back to Fresno with us.

Shadow

Shadow was a mellow kind of guy. He enjoyed car rides and was easy going. We hoped that this amazing boy wouldn’t have to wait too long for his forever home to find him. The only challenge Shadow faced was that he was an “all black” Pit Bull. Many black shelter dogs often have a harder time getting adopted. This is a somewhat common issue known as “Black Dog Syndrome” in the animal rescue field. When his adoption application was received, it came all the way from Belmont, California. After talking with Steve, the applicant, who only ever adopted black dogs, it was obvious they would make a great pair. When I first met Steve, I thought to myself, “Shadow is one lucky dog. He’s going to enjoy living his life out with a very special guy!”

Over the following year, I enjoyed many update photos of Steve’s and Shadow’s adventures. Then a call came in December from an obviously upset and shocked Steve, letting me know that Shadow had suddenly passed away. Unbeknownst to anyone, Shadow had a type of hemophilia: a medical condition in which the ability of the blood to clot is severely reduced.

Steve and Zeus

It took about a year for Steve’s heart to heal. When he was finally ready, I got the call asking me to help him find another black Pit Bull in need of a home. He inquired about a dog we had named Zeus. Zeus was a big, muscular boy that was the opposite in energy from Shadow. Zeus was a spitfire, and he’d need an experienced, patient owner. Their first ‘meet and great’ was fantastic, and it just seemed it was meant to be.

Zeus

The day he went home, because of the journey home, Steve brought his rollerblades, so he could take Zeus for a little run. I laughed so hard when Steve described the wild ride Zeus provided.

Zeus and Steve have been happily living out their lives since 2013, and since then Zeus has enjoyed classic movie time with dad and a weekly BBQ just for him.

If you are interested in adoption or learning more about becoming a foster family, or of making a donation, please visit www.fresnobullyrescue.org.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to Fresno Bully Rescue.