Name: Lucky - 3 y/o
How long has Lucky been in the family? Since Nov. 2014
Family Members: Alyse, Gabriel (Gabe) & a shepherd mix named Bailey who is 7 (also a rescue).
Professions: Alyse works for Marriott International and Gabe is a musician.
Location: Decatur, GA.
Nicknames: Luckster, Snoots (he’s an inappropriate sniffer), Donald (he sneezes like Donald Duck), Waggles, Goober, Fat Head
5 of the best words/phrases to describe Lucky?
- Snuggler
- Waggly
- Happy
- Goober
- Lazy (he sleeps a lot)
What makes Lucky unique? He truly loves everyone he meets: strangers, other dogs and especially kids.
Lucky enjoying the park with his sister Bailey.
Rescue Story: It was the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2014, and temps were in the 20’s. Gabe was walking Bailey and took a shorter route than normal because he wasn’t feeling well. It was on a street he never usually walks down that he spotted Lucky in a pile of leaves on the side of the road. Lucky tried to get away but didn’t have strength to stand and just rolled over. Gabe scooped him up and carried him home. He was only 17lbs (3-4 mos. old) and a skeleton, covered with fleas and just pathetic. He got several baths, was wrapped up in a towel and sat with me by the fireplace. We fed him a little food at a time and he was happy to eat. When we took him to our vet they found no microchip of course and said other than some skin issues they just wanted to see him put on 20lbs or so; otherwise he was healthy! We did NOT intend to keep him. Well… Gabe wanted to keep him from day one. I was happy to foster him until we found a good home. In addition to Bailey we also had a 15-year-old shepherd mix named Buddy. I did not want a puppy pestering my senior dog. Buddy was my #1 priority.
We had someone interested in Lucky but they were going to make him an outside dog which I was not ok with. The more time Lucky spent in our house, the more I got attached to him. He is a lover! By December I decided we were keeping him. As Lucky got healthier and had more energy he did pester Buddy a bit, mostly because Bailey was not very nice to him. Buddy obviously wasn’t going to play with him though and over time Lucky figured out that Buddy made an excellent napping partner. He could often be found snuggled up next to Buddy. It was so sweet! Bailey was not nice to him, as much as he obviously wanted to be friends with her. He refused to give up. He was determined to make her his friend and over time he wore her down. Now they are brother and sister, they play all the time and I’ve even caught her being a bit snuggly with him a few times.
Buddy passed away in Feb. 2016. That was hard. Gabe and I adopted him in 2001 when he was 2 and he was our first baby. Lucky and Bailey didn’t seem to have much of a reaction to the loss. If they had mourned him like we were that would have been even more depressing. Having Lucky around really helped us to get through that sad time.
Sweet Lucky just after being found.
What is your favorite pastime as a family? Lucky’s kind of a lazy dog. He enjoys a good walk every day but otherwise he sleeps a lot! So snuggling is a favorite pastime. I’d say Lucky’s favorite pastime after napping is laying in our backyard sunning himself! He loves to meet new people! He also loves to pester Bailey.
What is life like since you rescued Lucky? Lucky brings so much love and laughter into our home. We had no experience with pits before him and we’re absolutely enamored. I’ve never had a dog that made me smile as much as him. He’s pretty spoiled now and I’m not sure he even remembers life on the street!
Photographers Note: I met up with Alyse, Gabe, Lucky & Bailey on a very cold and blustery day in Piedmont Park, especially for Atlanta in Oct. In texting with Alyse before hand, she mentioned they would be the ones with the pit bull in a bee costume. Sure enough I turned the corner and saw Lucky immediately. They thought a bee fit his personality and I have to say it really did. Just as Alyse described Lucky, he was ready to meet every person, child and dog that was in the park that day! Thankfully the dogs were really cooperative because the humans were darn cold. Pretty sure between Lucky's fuzzy bee outfit and Bailey's beautiful coat, the dogs were loving the chilly weather!