On Monday March 29, 1999, a boater traveling close to shore along Pittsburgh's three rivers, spotted a disturbing scene along the deserted shore. There, tied to a tree, was the tiny body of a Pitbull puppy, barely alive.
Upon arrival, Animal Control had to climb through a fence and down an embankment - to a spot that was not visible from the road. There they found the pitiful ten month old female pup, covered with open gashes, bite wounds, and a fractured front leg. She was no doubt used for fighting, and intentionally left there, out of sight, to die. Chained just yards away from the river, she had been straining to get a drink, and her collar had dug into her neck deeply, creating a huge open sore.
Emaciated and so dehydrated she couldn't stand, officers picked her up to carry her to safety, her tail wagged a feeble 'thank you,' and she gently licked Officer Ron Smith's face like only this breed can do. Officer Ron and Lora Bauer worked frantically to raise funds for vet care and find a foster home for this second chance dog they named "Blossom." Donations poured in and Blossom received national media attention. This is when I first learned of her.
When nobody in the entire city of Pittsburgh would adopt her, despite all the media attention she received, she was sent to “SpindleTop Pit Bull and AmStaff Rescue” in Texas. There she sat, waiting for her forever home.
One year later, I was perusing petfinder, and lo and behold, there was Blossom. After all she had been through, and after all that media attention, she was still in Texas, still waiting for her forever home. I couldn't believe it. I agreed to adopt her, and paid to have her flown to Oregon in March of 2000.
Blossom’s story made me realize that although people may be willing to donate money toward helping this tortured Pitbull, NOBODY was willing to give this Pitbull what she really needed to survive – a home.
Recently, during the night of Sept 21, she suddenly began having violent seizures. I rushed her to the emergency vet. By the next day, the doctors were fairly certain that the terrible on-going seizures were being caused by a brain tumor.
I had to make the decision to let her go. She was 12.5 years old and I had her for 10.5 years as a major part of my life.
She is the dog who inspired me to found “Luv-a-Bull” because it was as I was researching her story and her own rescue that I learned just how bad the situation is for Pit Bulls everywhere out there in the world, and I decided to start my own Pit Bull Rescue. Blossom was the start of everything.
Rest In Peace, Dear Blossom
