Name: Scout - 2 y/o
Family Members: Ellen & Steve, Trooper - 3 y/o Boston Terrier brother
How long has Scout been in the family? 1 year
Professions: IT Manager and Engineering Manager
Location: Alpharetta, GA.
Nicknames: (Ellen and Steve claimed Scout did not have any nicknames, but I did hear Steve call her Sunshine at one point, so she has at least one! :) )
5 words that best describe Scout:
- Gentle
- The best snuggler - the closer, the better as far as she is concerned.
- Copycat - she does exactly what her brother does
- Expressive (those forehead wrinkles!)
- She's come a long way from the skinny, scared of loud noises, likes to be by herself dog we met a year ago.
What makes Scout unique? Scout "sings for her supper". When it's time to eat, she sits outside the pantry , where they eat , and howls - nose in the air, eyes closed, singing a mournful , "Momma, I'm hungry" howly song.
Scout playing tug with her BFF and brother Trooper!
Rescue Story: We don't know much about Scout's background, but we do know that Scout came into the Clayton County shelter pregnant and full of scars, weighing just 44 pounds (with 7 puppies in there!). She birthed 7 puppies in the shelter. All but one died. Angels Among Us got her out of there and to an awesome foster that cared for her and her surviving puppy until they could be separated. We were on our way to a hike with our Boston Terrier rescue, Trooper, and we stopped at PetSmart for an adoption event. Our older dog, Charlie, had passed away 2 months earlier. We weren't sure we were ready to add to our family, but we decided to stop. Scout was sitting quietly with her foster mother, wagging her tail. Trooper approached her, and they were fast friends. The whole family fell in love. She has been a part of our family for almost exactly a year, and despite her past, is the best dog ever, and BFF to Trooper. Scout is happy, sweet and now a healthy 64 pounds.
Scouts Gotcha Day! Her brother is looking pretty happy about getting a new sibling!
What is your favorite pastime as a family? Scout loves an adventure and is happy doing just about anything with her family. She is athletic and enjoys hiking with us. Her latest achievement was hiking to the summit of Mt. Mitchell in Asheville, NC.
What is life like since you rescued Scout? Our family is complete! Scout is our first pit, and we've been shocked at how people react at the way she looks, without ever meeting her. We experience discrimination EVERY TIME we go out in public. People grab their kids/dogs and get out of the way when we are walking in the neighborhood, or on a trail , or anywhere....just because of how she looks. All Scout wants to do is love - she doesn't bark, growl, jump or do anything other then wag her tail and smile. We're working hard to change the perception of her breed and to help others see that pit bulls are family dogs (that actually live in Alpharetta). : ) Scout was afraid of everything when she came to us; loud noises (and not so loud noises), strange people, crowds. Now she is content with people, on hikes, and even with fireworks. She has a full belly, a best friend, lots of toys, a big back yard to run in, and a family. She says "Life is Good"!
Photographers Note: Scout and her family were such a pleasure to meet and photograph. Scout is extremely photogenic and when I was going about the task of selecting which photos to use for the project out of the usually over 100 I take, I burst out laughing because I had about 3 rows of photographs of Scout that were the exact same. She poses like a champ and she will hold it for much longer then most, a photographers dream for sure. I mean look at that big smile.
Now perceptions, I know this is the whole reason I started this project but when I meet these dogs and then hear the stories about how people are afraid of them, it still upsets me. Scout is such a sweet, love bug and all she wanted to do was include me in her activities around the yard. She almost had this earnest expression, as if to say are you my new friend? Whatever this beautiful dogs' past was, it hasn't shaped what she has become; her family has.