Pit Bull Rescue Groups and Adoptable Pit Bull Rescues by Region
Find pit bull rescue groups and adoptable pit bull dogs in need of a home. Shelter dogs aren't broken. They've simply experienced more life. Do not pity a shelter dog; ADOPT one.
Bella is doing FANTASTIC! She has come so far with us and has been allowed to interact freely unmuzzled with my pup Riley, a male pit bull. She is umuzzled about 50% of the time around Riley - an enormous accomplishment in just 5 months. We are now fostering Bella along with another female pit pup and all 3 dogs go on walks together daily. It has been great for Bella's rehabilitation and she continues to amaze me! She has begun to initiate play with her foster brother and sister and even tolerates the puppy jumping all over her while we're getting ready to go for walks. Her reaction to other dogs on the street has been toned down to the point where she simply expresses interest on other dogs. She no longer reacts with aggression or vocally and is learning that not all other dogs are out to get her.
Bella is still anxiously waiting for a home where she can get all the attention and belly rubs she deserves from her forever family. Please don't overlook her due to her breed. I will always be accessible to her new family for any behavior or training questions and I know she cannot wait to find her forever home. She is a bright dog and has so much love to give!
**Foster Update 3/21/2010**
I cannot believe how far Bella has come in the nearly 3 months she has been with us! We love this little lady so much, but Bella has grown incredibly attached to us. While we wish she could stay with us forever we know that she can't, and we are so hoping her forever family will come along soon.
Bella has FAR surpassed all expectations we had for her in regards to her socialization! When she first arrived she was a wreck and wanted to go after every other dog she saw - she would ignore her foster brother Riley, entirely. After about a month of slow supervised exposure a breakthrough happened - Bella and Riley began licking each other through the bars of the crate and the ex pen! She's now graduated from wearing a basket muzzle around her foster brother to a soft muzzle and they are able to interact much more. Bella and Riley are now sleeping next to each other on the couch, giving each other kisses and have started to groom one another.
Bella has also begun obedience training and has learned to sit, lie down, wait, and we are working on heeling on leash. She's a very smart pup and is learning so quickly!
Bella would LOVE to have a fenced in yard she could run and play in, or maybe a jogging partner! For the first time we were able to bring Bella to a large enclosed area where she could run - I'm not sure if she's ever had the opportunity to run off leash in an area that large before! She had a blast running laps and chasing tennis balls.
We bought Bella in a bar - yes, in a bar!
A PAWS volunteer was at the gas station one day when this woman walked up to her and asked for change. She had gorgeous little Bella on a tattered leash and kept complaining about how dirty she was. When our volunteer inquired about the dog she was told this woman's friend went to prison and sold the dog to her. Her landlord didn't allow pets and she was unable to keep the dog but couldn't find anyone who would buy her. Our volunteer gave the woman her number and told her to call if she needed to surrender the dog, desperately hoping she would call and get Bella out of that situation.
A week later the call came, but the woman still would not surrender the dog. She stated that Bella was currently living in an unheated cab stand in frigid New England winter weather! Our volunteer immediately came up with $50 and within 30 minutes met the woman at the bar she was at to purchase Bella from her while a cab driver met them with the dog.
Petite Bella has a new life now! We think she may have been used as a breeding dog previously. In fact, this poor girl may have had puppies as recently as a few weeks prior to coming to PAWS. She's living the good life now in her new (heated!) foster home, sleeping on dog beds and eating good food. She is the sweetest thing and is so eager to please! Bella would do best in a home where she is the only dog, or with someone who's familiar with the breed and their rehabilitation/training. If she were to end up with someone who has experience working with these dogs I am confident that she could one day live with other dogs permanently, provided she is consistently socialized and trained. She is making EXCELLENT progress with her re-socialization in the short time she's been in foster care. Bella hasn't shown any food aggression, has no problem with you picking up her feet or looking at her mouth/ears/etc and LOVES chewing on her brother's nylabone. Doesn't she have the greatest smile you've ever seen?
Adoption Donation: $300
If you have any questions please email this dog's adoption coordinator: paws.jenn@gmail.com
If you have any questions or are interested in adopting, please visit our website and complete an online adoption application. Adoption Form | PAWS New England
The adoption donation covers all pre-adoption vet costs (vaccinations, spaying/neutering (when age appropriate), heartworm testing/treatment when necessary and includes transportation up to New England ($125.00 per dog). Unless otherwise stated, all of our dogs are located outside of Rhode Island boarded either at one of our vet clinics or in foster care. If a dog is listed as "local, he /she is at one of our foster homes in New England.
PAWS of New England is not a shelter but a rescue and thus is not funded by any city or state organization - we rely solely on the donations of our adopters to help defray the costs associated with saving these precious lives.
We are often asked, "Why would you charge "so much" for a rescue pet? Why not just place it in a good home?" The answer is because we need adopters who are willing to support all rescue pets, not just the dog they adopt. A young, healthy dog might cost us $150-400 in (discounted) vet care, and many people will want to adopt it. An older one with health issues can easily cost $500-1500 in veterinary expenses, and it may require months of foster care for rehabilitation; yet we can only ask a minimal adoption fee, and it may be a long time until anyone comes forward to adopt it. Fees from the younger, more adoptable dogs help offset the cost of caring for the others. Most of our dogs have a sad story to tell, and some have suffered through years of neglect or abuse. We hope that you too are willing to give an opportunity for a better life to ALL of our dogs by supporting them through adoption fees. Without these funds, our rescue efforts would not be possible.
ALL KNOWN INFORMATION IS LISTED HERE. We do our best to give accurate information, but most of our dogs are rescues and do not come with a known history.
Bella Needs Her Forever Home!!
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