Name: Klepto - 11 y/o
How long has Klepto been in the family? Started fostering Klepto
September 27,2016. Officially his "Gotcha" day was December
6,2016.
Family Members: Candace Shae, 13 year old female orange tabby cat named Georgia.
1.5 year old male orange tabby Pit Bull.... Cat I mean cat named Russ. Just don't let him hear you call him the C word.
I foster for Friends to the Forlorn Pit Bull rescue, so at any given time Klepto also has a foster sibling. Right now he is a foster brother to Carmen a mostly white 8m/o female pit-mix (best
guess is with bull terrier) who adores him.
Profession: Nanny
Location: Acworth, GA.
Nicknames: Klep Klep, Kleppy, Mama's Boy, Big Boy
5 of the best words/phrases to describe Klepto:
- Joyful
- Cuddler/Lap dog
- Grateful
- Love bug
- Handsome
What makes Klepto unique? He genuinely is the most devoted companion a person can have. I believe if he was able to he would wait on me hand and foot. He follows me around with looks of adoration and makes sure he can keep his eyes on me whenever we are together.
Big pittie smile!
Rescue Story: To know how it came to be Klepto, it goes back about 10 years to my
first rescue of my Dixie. I got Dixie with my ex-husband right after we moved in together she was skinny and had been at the Gwinnett shelter a month and was scheduled to be euthanized the day I got her. It was love at first site, I rescued her but she saved me. This red and white pit bull looked at the world with love filled eyes. She went with me everywhere and changed people's minds on what this wonderful breed was about with her gentle demeanor and
happy smile. Through a decade of ups and downs Dixie remained my rock, my baby, my chunky monkey. Always there for me, always full of love and sunshine. Last year in March I finally found the courage to leave a marriage marked by years of physical and mental abuse. As always Dixie was ever present at my side. Then life threw us yet another curve ball, within two weeks my chunky went from behaving, looking healthy and normal to losing half her body weight and not even wanting to lick (her favorite thing to do) anyone. A trip to the vet revealed several organ system failure and they also had to drain a pound and a half of fluid off her chest. The prognosis, I may have 3 weeks or I may have 3 months left with her. It was only a week before I had to make the hardest decision of my life and do what was best for my baby who had always taken care of me. So a month to the day of kicking out my husband, I sat in the vets office surrounded by my mother and sister saying goodbye to my best friend. She was 12 but
the decade I had with her was one of the biggest blessings I've ever had.
I've fostered since the age of 16 and because of Dixie I started about 4 years ago fostering with a Pit Bull rescue in Dallas, GA. called Friends to the Forlorn. I didn't know if I'd ever be ready to have a dog in my life that was mine again but for Dixie I had to continue to help this breed I loved so much. I had just had one of my fosters get adopted when I was checking out the groups page. I read a post about an 11 y/o senior male with separation anxiety
whose owner decided after having him since a puppy that she just no longer wanted him and dumped him at the vet. The vet had done their best to place him to no avail and unless someone could foster then he'd end up at the shelter. Being as I do have two cats (one of
which thinks he is also a pit and has been known to run and tackle my other fosters) it can be difficult bringing an older dog into the house as we do not know their reactions to other animals. But I was willing to give it a shot. In walks Ms. Karen with Klepto. He was
interested in Russ (Pit-Cat), as Russ wasted no time running up to greet him but it was obvious all he wanted in life was to be on my lap and loved on. Klepto came to me with a gigantic almost toothless smile and three bottles of anxiety pills. If I walked out of the room he would pee his crate, he was so anxious. After a couple months work and doing away with the crate all together I was able to wean him off all medications. I knew I was head over heals for this boy. My family adored him, my 5 year old niece says he smiles just for her. In public people are instantly drawn to his unique look, huge grin and happy demeanor. I however was still
battling with myself about foster failing with him. 16 years of fostering, I've never had one that was supposed to be mine. With Klepto the biggest thing I was battling with was the idea of him being 11 and having just lost my 12 y/o. I didn't know if I could survive another loss. But I soon realized if it's one year or ten I was his and he was mine. On December 6 (coincidentally the exact day 11 years later that I adopted my Dixie) I signed the paperwork and Klepto was officially home. My family threw him a puppy shower complete with cake and gifts. The cats even got in on the action.
Making it official! Klepto has a new home! Photo Cred: Carey Thomason
What is your favorite pastime as a family? Klepto's favorite past time is actually just snuggling. When I get home he goes to the couch, wraps one paw around my waist in a hug
and puts his head in my lap and grins. He will stay that way indefinitely if I let him.
What is life like since you rescued Klepto? It's hard to imagine life without Klep, he brings sunshine where ever he goes. We still foster and he teaches all the dogs that come through our house by example. He is patient, tolerant and it's hard to believe he is as old as he is. He goes with me everywhere and opens lines of communication about the breed. He is a shining
example that a rescue dog is not a game of Russian roulette on temperament but rather a gift you give yourself.
Photographers Note: I met Shae and Klepto on a cloudy and humid day at Red Top Mountain State Park. What a wonderful setting for our photo shoot and to top it off, Klepto came dressed in his best 4th of July attire. First of all I was amazed this guy is 11 years old; he was happy go lucky and moving around with ease. So much to sniff and see, he was loving our strolls, while we looked for good spots to take photos. After you get over the fact that he doesn't seem his age, you can then appreciate his good looks. Handsome is definitely the right word for this distinguished gentlemen. His coloring and that one light blue eye, along with his perfect face markings, what a looker. Then he gives you that big ole' goofy grin and you just fall in love with him right there. I had two good options for their family photo, one where he has a more serious expression, very dog model like, and the one above that shows off that great smile. I think you can see why I chose this one! There is nothing better then a big pittie smile.