Adopter Name

Calandra Martin

Rescue Dog’s Name

Bella

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

I found Bella, our deaf pit bull, completely by chance. After going to the shelter with the expectation of meeting two different male pit bulls, I was a bit disappointed when there weren’t any. BUT, there was Bella; a petite pocket pit full of life. With her deaf speckled ears, and her giant pittie smile, I fell in love.

Tell Us About the Moment When You Knew that You Two Were Meant for Each Other.

Honestly, I didn’t think that Bella was going to work out in our family when I first met her. We did an introduction with her, and our pit bull/boxer mix, Abigail; they didn’t get along. Bella was amped up from being in a kennel, and was a bit overbearing; Abigail didn’t know what to think of her. Eventually, the two became calm around each other, and stopped fighting. I contemplated whether bringing Bella home was a good idea–but she soon convinced me that I made the right choice. On the car ride home, she sat in my passenger seat, while Abigail sat in the back. Bella was completely at ease, like she knew she was safe and loved now. She bonded right away with my boyfriend, and by the end of her first week home, she and Abigail were couch snuggling buddies.

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

Bella has taught me a lot about overcoming hardship. She doesn’t let being deaf stop her for one second. We often tease that she ”listens” better than Abigail, because she is so well behaved; she knows hand signals and is the friendliest dog. Bella showed me that adopting a shelter pet, a disabled one at that, is one of the most rewarding experiences. We love her like she’s always been in the family, and the bond that she shares with my boyfriend and I is truly remarkable. Bella proves to the world (everyday) that a rescue dog isn’t a broken dog.