Pit bulls are cuddly little guys – you just have to give them a chance!
Many people don’t see it that way, which is why a plethora of these hardy males and females end up neglected in shelters, completely abandoned by the world and waiting to be euthanized.
Izzie was definitely one of those dogs.
After being brought to the shelter as a stray, this sad pup waited forever to be found by the perfect family, only to continue to be neglected.
And then one day, it finally happened!
From the streets to a forever home
Rachel, a big lover of the California Pitties, had just lost her fourth dog and was looking for a dog to love and cuddle. When she received a text from her friend Julie, the volunteer at Desert Dog Project In Arizona, she couldn’t hide her happiness.
Julie told him about Izzie’s (formerly known as Gredill) situation, and Rachel didn’t think twice.
“Her shelter name was ‘Gredill’ and she had been isolated due to various issues ranging from a sinus infection to itchy skin to a horrible ear infection,” Rachel wrote on Instagram.
She asked Julia to adopt him for her, and the two met halfway. The rest, as they say, is history!
So Izzie had a brand new home and she no longer had to worry about possible euthanasia. The only problem was Izzie probably wasn’t a house dog beforeand she was completely frozen when she first arrived at Rachel’s.
“Gredill is now Isabelle “Izzie” Hathor Vicknair and she is slowly getting used to apartment life and Beverly Hills. I’m pretty sure she wasn’t a house dog in her previous life,” added Rachel.
It took her a few days to get used to the fact that she now had an entire house to herself. But eventually, Izzie did it. She just needed a little help!
Gaining confidence with your favorite toy
Rachel found the perfect way to make Izzie at home and it turned out to be a stuffed animal that looked exactly like her!
Even though she loved all the toys, There was something about that stuffed cow that made Izzie feel relaxed and safe. Izzie, too, looked like a cow-pig because of her beautiful tabby spots and pink ears. And now she had a twin!
In no time, she became much more comfortable and quickly transformed into the princess of the house. Izzie had all the pillows and all the bedsand Rachel made sure every day was an adventure.
She was riding in the convertible, eating delicious puppy cups, and embracing life in Beverly Hills, California in no time!
The only problem was that Izzie had severe separation anxietyEvery time Rachel left the house, it reminded her that she was abandoned, so her new mother worked hard to help her overcome this fear.
She mitigated this problem with peanut butter lick mats, bones, and lots of love. Eventually, Izzie realized that her mom’s outings without her were only temporary, and she became much more confident.
Rachel spends every day reassuring Izzie that she loves her so much just the way she is and that she is finally safe.
“The one thing I always want her to know and I want her to feel, especially when I first got her, is that no matter what type of dog she is, if she’s going to be friendly or if she’s going to be aggressive, if she’s annoying, if she has allergy issues, no matter what I sign up for, I’m going to take care of her.” Rachel said Cuddly friends.
The two have a wonderful time togetherbreaking all stereotypes about Izzie’s breed everywhere they go! Once a neglected shelter dog, she now has a whole new life and the best mom in the world!
