Adopter Name

Tara Shackelford

Rescue Dog’s Name

Mattie

Where Did You Find Your Dog?

A guy was holding up a sign at my church that said: “Free dog, going to pound soon.” He had other dogs and couldn’t keep her. She had shown up as a stray with a chihuahua, and some neighbors took the chihuahua but didn’t want her because she’s a pitbull.

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

Immediately when I saw the picture of her, I knew, because I had been in the process of looking for a dog and wanted a pittie. And there she was, a gift from God right outside my church! When I met her she came right to me, and when I called her by the name I had already picked out, she also came to me. Once I told the guy my background story, he said he knew I’d be back to pick her up, and in less than a week I got her (my parents had been visiting from out of state so I needed to wait until they left).

How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?

She has been amazing since day 1, a loving companion that I needed because of the grief I was trying to work through. We went to training, which helped me move my focus to her well-being and it felt so good to be proud of her. Her character brings me so much joy and I love taking her places to show the positive side of pitbulls. I recently found out that she was shot by a pellet gun before I got her and her strength has been an encouragement to me. My life will never be the same and that’s why I say who rescued who?! (See more pictures of Mattie on Instagram – @shack_pack)