Amazing story. Just goes to show that “when people judge pit bulls, they’re usually looking at the wrong end of the leash.” 

Hi! I’m Gremlin!! I’m a Pit Bull on a mission to change the world and here’s my story.

I’m a former bait dog that was bought by an undercover police officer in the Washington, D.C. area in 2007 in order to bust the dog fighting ring. Once the ring was busted and everyone was taken into custody, I was placed in a shelter as evidence towards the cruelty case.

I was in a really bad shape. Both of my back legs were broken on purpose and because of the way the bad people had set it, it was difficult for me to walk. It was painful!! I also had my vocal chords ruptured by what the Vet said was the end of a baseball bat. The bad people jammed it down my throat so I could no longer bark. I’m also partially deaf.

I thought I was going to go to court to show the judge what the bad people had done to me. To my surprise, no charges were ever made against the bad people and they were let free with no punishment! What’s worse: Apparently the people at the shelter were going to put me to sleep — I guess I was of no use to them anymore.

Thankfully, Odessa Second Chance Rescue and Rehabilitation stepped up and saved me. I was then taken by this big guy that would become my Dad — my biggest fan, supporter and best pal.

He was my therapist and he quickly started my rehabilitation process. I went through almost two years of Hydro-Therapy and rehabilitation to be able to walk normally without any pain. For the longest time, my Dad and other people were positive I was going to need a wheel chair because I had such a hard time walking. But you see, I’m a fighter! I worked real hard on getting better and lots of people were rooting for me. Now I can walk and do stairs normally.

After seeing my awesome progress, my Dad started training me and I got my CGC certification. Then I became a Registered Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs Inc. My Dad says I’m an ideal Therapy Dog because I just want to sit or lay next to someone and be petted.

I now visit Aristocrat Berea Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for people who are mentally unstable. I visit once a week and spends time with the patients on each floor. They love it when I visit and are always waiting for my arrival in the rec room. Whenever I walk into the room, their faces just light up. I guess I’m just what the doctor ordered!

I’m also going to become a Pet Pal at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, so I will visit with the kids in the hospital and let them read to me or just sit and pet me, which is great therapy. I’m going to Avon East Elementary School and visiting with the Special Education Class, which is a class of all age groups with varying mental disorders.

My story is one that a lot of people are amazed with — people have such a negative outlook on Pit Bulls and to have a dog that came from a fighting situation become a children’s therapy dog says a lot for my breed.

This is Ava, a pit bull used as bait to train fighting dogs. She was recently picked up as a stray by animal services who would have had no choice but to put her down had Noah’s Ark Rescue not stepped up to care for her despite being at capacity. Noah’s Ark is an amazing rescue dedicated to helping extreme cases like this (follow this link to their abused animals page), and they are accepting donations to help with her care. Click the photo to go to her donation page.

I know that some people believe that the most humane thing people can do for dogs who have already been through so much is to euthanize them, and I do understand that sentiment. But I personally believe dogs that have been through hell at the hands of humans are owed a second chance so that they can experience the love and happiness that they so badly deserve. I base my belief on the fact that there are countless examples of severely abused dogs—like Oogy and Patrick—who are now thriving because people cared enough to give them their second chance.

*I do apologize for the graphic photo, which immediately brought tears to my eyes, but people should see the effects of abuse as many states still have very lax penalties for animal abuse offenses.