Dog's Name While at the Shelter
Armani

Date of Adoption
March 26th, 2016

Pet's Story or Bio
Gryffin first captured our hearts in a M.A.M.A.S facebook post featuring dogs who just hadn't had much interest and were hard sells for rehoming. His name was Armani then, a pit mix with a bum back leg and the most soulful, sad brown eyes we'd ever seen. The timing wasn't perfect for our family, we hadn't been planning to adopt again for another few months, but every time we looked at his picture those big brown eyes seemed like they were looking right at us, and we just had to pull the trigger and make him ours. We were ready to bring him home on transport that very weekend when Dondra called with unexpected news: he'd just tested positive for heart worms, would be treated and on strict recovery for weeks. When she asked if we still wanted him it was clear she thought we'd change our minds, but it just made us even more anxious to bring him home. So on Easter weekend Armani made his way to Richmond and right into our hearts. He was dopey and sore from treatment and traveling, but had the silliest smile and the most ridiculously adorable big pibble head and all he wanted was to climb in our laps and cuddle. He met his doggy sister Milly, his aunt and uncle doggies (one of whom is MAMAS alum Sophie), and his whole big human extended family that weekend, and no one could get over how perfect he was. Since that day he has just continued to inspire and amaze us, his bum back leg that they thought might need to be amputated is hardly even noticeable now when he races around the backyard with his sister and he still throws his whole body right on top of you when he wants to cuddle. He is goofy and smart, has learned sit, down, and stay, and knows to get his wiggly butt on the floor before he gets his dinner bowl. He has brought so many smiles and so much joy to our whole family, and we can't possibly imagine our lives without him. He is truly the poster child for second chances and not judging a book by it's cover, bursting through that pitbull stigma with a sloppy kiss and a tail that wags at the speed of light.

P.S. We had such a hard time finding a good picture of him that didn't have his sister pup Milly or one of us in it because he is truly attached at the hip to one of us whenever possible :)