Name/Age: Via - 1 y/o
Family Members: Briana, Benjamin & dog sister Heidi (Boxer/Mastiff Mix)
How long has Via been in the family? April 2018
Profession: Briana is a Realtor/Director of Operations. Ben is a musician and works in sales for a graphics/vinyl supplier.
Location: Kennesaw, GA.
Nicknames: Boo, Booty, Baby Baby, Velvet Hippo, Manatee, Baby Boo Boo Tee, Turkey, Turkey Lurkey, Lurkey or just Lurk.
5 words/phrases that best describe Via?
Light of my life
Sweet as pie
Beautiful
Gentle
Best dog Ever
What makes Via unique? Via is so intelligent and always wants to please Ben and I. She is always so sweet and good! She is very outwardly affectionate. She is very intuitive and intelligent. I think this sums up most Pits, but I think a lot of Pit bull haters don’t realize Pits embody these traits. She is truly the best dog. We are so thankful she is ours! She is also a confident dog, but not overwhelming or an Alpha.
Via with the beautiful eyes!
Rescue Story: Ben was able to finesse a deal with our neighbors that are less than great and involved in a lot of illegal activities, to let us buy Via from them. Here is more of the back story with this transaction: She was given to Josh (Josh was Via’s 2nd owner) so he could breed her. (Steam is billowing out of my ears thinking about that!) More backstory—the person who gave Via to Josh had her tied to a mailbox post even as a baby puppy. Josh viewed her as a “cash cow”. Via had never been to the vet and didn’t have any shots, heartworm preventative meds, or flea meds. And obviously wasn’t going to get any medical help or vet attention during her pregnancies. Which makes me madder than hell—especially when I know the path that most Pits go on. She would have most likely be dropped off at a shelter after a few litters. In shelters the best dogs are a small fish in a big pond which is crushing to me to even think about. I digress. The first time I saw her I fell in love with her! I got home from work and Ben was like I need to show you something at Josh’s house. I thought Ben had literally hit his head at one point during the day to suggest this. Ben works from home so he saw Via when she was first brought to that house. So I begrudgingly walked down to their house. I thought to myself if this is the time that the cops come to bust this house and I am here I am going to get Ben big time! Secondly I thought how fast can I run in these six inch heels and mini dress. I knock on the door—there is a storm door and a solid door. The solid door opens and I see baby Via through the storm door! I screamed with excitement! It startled JD (a roommate of Josh’s) and Ben. It was an immediate connection. JD opened the door and next thing I knew I was laying on their front porch loving on this little slice of heaven. Ben should have known I wouldn’t let that go—especially thinking about her potential life or lack there of. The next day Josh brought her down to our house. Heidi, our Boxer/Mastiff loved her immediately too! I knew that she was meant to be ours! I nagged and wrung my hands over Via constantly. I told Josh you name a price I will go to the atm right now so we can adopt her from you. She was so skinny and not taken care of. He kept telling me, nah you crazy. I would respond, yea I am, but I get what I want! Days go on. I can’t stop thinking of Via. I would look at my spoiled Heidi and think that is what every dog’s life should be! I came home from work on a Friday. I was exhausted. I just want to sit on my front porch have a drink and do baby talk to Heidi, pet her, and throw her ball. Ben then tells me I have a surprise, but I will tell you at dinner. I am like Jesus take this wheel! I HATE surprises. I am so anxious the whole time at dinner that I can’t stop trying to figure out the surprise or what he has up his sleeve! Finally he tells me we are getting Via! Once again I scream! In the middle of a sushi restaurant! I was over the moon! I jumped up from the table told our server to cancel our meal—I will pay for everything but we have got to go—LOL! Josh was having truck issues and they are dirt floor poor even though they are involved with a lot of lucrative illegal activities. Since he was in need of money and they view me as “Wells Fargo” he struck up a deal with Ben. Ben agreed that we would pay Josh $500 in exchange Via. That $500 would fix his truck. Sounded like the best deal in history to me! The second I got my boo (Via) home I gave her a bath! She was so stinky! She just looked at me like thank you! Heidi was thrilled! She was smiling at me constantly and following Via around everywhere she went! Since it was in the evening I had to wait until morning to make her a vet visit. In the mean time I called my parents. My parents were over at my house in a matter of minutes and immediately were smitten with this little gray velvet manatee occupying my house. We went to the vet got her all fixed up and on the proper preventative meds! She was in great health! That was a blessing! Back to Josh. Ben did a “gentleman’s handshake” with Josh that we wouldn’t get Via spayed. When I heard that I was like well she is getting spayed and she is not getting bred—pretty much an over my dead body speech! So she is spayed now and visits the vet for her normal visits. Josh found out about her being spayed. He wasn’t thrilled—but I don’t care! I am focused on her health and her well being not him making money on selling puppies. This sums up me getting my Via! She has completed our family! She is such a great dog! She has brought Heidi out of her shell and has changed so many minds about Pits! Ben, Heidi, and I are over the moon with her! She is perfect!
Via safe and sound in her forever home.
What is your favorite pastime as a family? I love watching Via and Heidi playing in the yard. Via especially runs so fast—Heidi trots! She looks like a race horse! She loves it, and she smiles the whole time! Heidi loves chasing any type of ball—so I throw the tennis ball a lot! Heidi and Via love playing together especially with toys that can be destroyed! It has become a Saturday morning chore for me to purchase a new batch of toys for them. We go through a lot of toys, but it is totally worth it! They truly complete each other and brought Ben and I closer together. They are always together. They sleep together. They eat at the same times and love each other. They are both “sun goddesses”, so they often lay on the deck in the sun usually right beside each other. They look so peaceful! I love that! I also love laying in bed with Via snuggled up against me.
What is life like since you rescued Via? It’s perfect! Via has completed our family! She makes us laugh and smile constantly. It helps that she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen—other than Heidi Pea of course! Heidi is also a happier dog!
Photographers Notes: This is a story that shows, there are all kinds of rescues. I shudder to think of the life that this beautiful girl would have had if Ben hadn’t stepped in and “made a deal” to bring Via into their home. Via is that beautiful Latte color, coffee with a lot of cream! Then she has those amazing light green eyes….just a completely beautiful dog. Then you add in her sweet personality; Briana and Ben hit the jack pot. What I love the most, is she has this grumpy expression, even when she is clearly not grumpy, that is just her expression…it’s adorable! To see her race around with her sister and play, it’s clear her 3rd home is her best & forever home! She is loved, safe and will never become someones “cash cow”. Instead along with her sister, she is the spoiled family pet she deserves to be!