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Name: Walter (3/male) & Lucky (2/female)

Family Members: Joe & Neely

Location: Atlanta, GA (Virginia - Highland Neighborhood)

Nicknames: Wa Wa & Luck Luck

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Walter & Lucky:

Walter:

patient
kind
In tune with human emotions
friendly
docile

Lucky:

Wild Child
smart
loyal
happy
playful

What makes Walter & Lucky unique ?: Walter and Lucky are amazing with people of all types. They love playing with little kids or just hanging out with adults. As long as they are around people they are happy.

Rescue Story: Walter was found by Southern Animal Rescue, on the side of the road with a chain around his neck. Right around that time, my husband and I were thinking about fostering a dog. While I was at work, I was telling a co-worker that we really wanted a pit bull. She said she volunteered for SAR and there was a perfect dog there that really needed a foster. We went to meet him that week and he has been with us ever since.

About a year after getting Walter and after purchasing our first house with a big backyard, we knew it was time to get Walter a friend. I contacted SAR and asked if they had any available pit bulls that needed a home. They said no, but that they could definitely find one. Lucky had been at DeKalb Animal Services for 6 months and was on the Urgent List. (meaning that if she did not find a foster/adopter she would be euthanized) Her name at the shelter was Smiley because of her huge, ever present smile. We (including Walter) fell in love immediately. She hasn't been the easiest of dogs but we're so happy we found her. We definitely wouldn't have it any other way.

Their first day together, soaking up some rays!

What is your favorite pastime as a family?: Going hiking with the dogs. They really love the outdoors, the smells and the freedom. Giving them some off-leash time is a great experience for all of us.

What is life like since you rescued Walter & Lucky (for them and you)? Our life revolves around our dogs (as unhealthy as that sounds). Because of their breed, we like to get out in the community as much as possible. We're always walking them around the many different parks in our area, taking them shopping and to bars with us. We love talking about how our dogs are pit bulls with people in our community.

Since getting the dogs, our life is much more active. We are either walking through the neighborhood or playing with them in the backyard. Not only is our life more active, but our life is more fulfilling. As cheesy as it sounds, they really do give a more fulfilling purpose to life. These dogs have shown us time and time again that our past does not dictate our future. That no matter what society thinks we are - we can still rise above that.

Photographers note: Joe & Neely are great advocates for the breed. They have fostered several pit bulls (in addition to the two permanent residents in their house) and helped them find their forever homes. Just before our photo shoot, they had decided to foster another pit bull named Marianna (Mari), who is part of a cruelty case. She was very scared and skittish when I came to their home. Over the last couple weeks, I have witnessed her blossom into a much more confident and happy dog; thanks to Joe, Neely, Walter and Lucky who have shown her what it feels like to be loved and be part of a family. For more on Mari, please check our Facebook page.

Name: Charlie Brown (1 year 10mths approx.)

Family Members: Colleen, Dan, & Zsu Zsu (English Mastiff Sister - 6)

Location: Atlanta, GA (Virginia - Highland Neighborhood)

Nicknames: Smoosh, Smoosh Face, Smooshy Pants, CB, Charles, Chuck

5 of the best words/phrases that describe Charlie Brown:

exuberant
sneak attack kisser
love bug
goof ball
joyful

What makes Charlie Brown unique? His propensity to sleep on his back, completely splayed out and usually with his front legs straight up in the air. (realizing this is a common position for many pit bulls, but it was sure unique to us) I will spare you the photo evidence of this position! One other interesting trait, this dog will not jump up on the bed. We have tried to get him up there, used treats, everything...he just won't do it. We know he can jump, maybe it's the 8 very comfy dog beds around the house that makes him think the effort is not worth it.

Rescue Story: At the end of April in 2013, we lost our beloved dog Sophie. She was our first dog together as a couple and we were devastated. I (colleen) started volunteering at the Fulton County Animal S ervices a few months later taking photos of dogs to be posted on their website for adoption. Many times over the months, a special dog may have caught my eye and there were repeated discussions at home on when was the right time to try and attempt to fill the void that our girl Sophie had left. Our English Mastiff Zsu Zsu, was pretty depressed as Sophie was her world and her leader. As time went by, Zsu Zsu seemed to be getting use to being the only dog and getting all the attention. Even with that, we always we knew we would rescue another dog.

As I said in the ABOUT section of this website, I knew I wanted a pit bull and good bad or otherwise, FCAS has many pit bulls and pit bull mixes to choose from. However, we knew we couldn't rush it and we needed to pick just the right one. Our girl Zsu Zsu is not what you would call dog friendly right away...she needs some time to warm up, so we knew a calmer energy would be better. Well, one day I was perusing FCAS Facebook page and I saw the most pitiful face staring back at me. This dog was named Butterball and even with the sad/grumpy expression, he was so adorable and had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. So we went down to the shelter to meet him. We learned that he was picked up as a stray with another dog and they guessed he was about a year old, but no other history. The first thing we noticed about him was the size of his head (which was huge) in comparison to the rest of his body, which made him even more endearing. He was pretty sick when we saw him with an upper respiratory infection and he was also terrified of us when we brought him outside into the play yard. (photo below) I had to just sit against the fence a few feet down from him, not facing him and wait for him to decide I was ok. He finally made his way over to me and let me pet him. I knew then that he was going to come home with us and with a little time we could win him over.

So after more discussion at home, we decided we would foster him and just in time, because he had gone on the urgent list for the shelter.(Dec 6th, 2013) As I said he was very sick when we brought him home and we kept him for two weeks separated from Zsu Zsu until he could get rid of the infection. Needless to say, it didn't take long for us to win him over. Pretty much the next day, he was coming in to sit on my lap and wanting to give me kisses (snotty nose and all). On Dec. 31st of 2013 we decided to officially make him a foster failure and an official member of our family. Due to the size of his head, we renamed him Charlie Brown and it fits. I have to be honest, the only thing that would have prevented us from keeping him would be if Zsu Zsu hated him.

Needless to say, Charlie adores his big sister and thinks she hangs the moon. Zsu Zsu on the other hand,treats him like any older sister might treat a younger more energetic brother..tolerates him and will play with him when no one is watching.

Charlie at the shelter the day we met him.

What is your favorite pastime with Charlie Brown? I think it would be our long walks. He so loves his walks and has never met a stranger, wants to say Hello to everyone. He even takes after his mom and loves browsing in the local shops in our neighborhood.

What is life like since we rescued Charlie Brown (for him and us)? He brings so much joy and laughter to our house with his silliness. There is not a day that goes by that we don't laugh as a result of something he did, or a facial expression or something. For him, I think he now knows what it feels like to be warm, fed and loved (not to mention spoiled).

Walter & Lucky - 1/18/15

Charlie Brown - 1/11/15