Your Pet's Rescue Story
Clementine’s sunny personality shines through all the storms she’s weathered!
Clementine is a 3-year-old pit bull originally discovered abandoned near the Florida Turnpike by Highway Patrol officers, who reported her running loose for a couple weeks in October 2016. Their efforts to capture her increased as Hurricane Matthew was about to make landfall. Eventually coaxed to safety by a Road Ranger, Clementine was covered in open wounds, underweight, and in need of medical attention, where she also tested positive for Heartworm. A generous foster family nursed her back to health, but could not keep her, and she was taken to the Pet Alliance shelter in Sanford.
As Alumni Adopters from Pet Alliance, my husband and I went to the Sanford Pet Alliance event on April 29, 2017. While we had no specific plans to adopt that day, as we walked down the kennel aisle, we noticed a brown dog with gentle brown eyes wagging ever so gently at us with her paws crossed like a diminutive little lady. Her name was Country. Noticing the white scars that wrapped around her legs, ears, and velvety coat, I read through her paperwork detailing the efforts made to rescue her, and documenting her trip back to health by her caring fosters with photos of her treatments.
During our time spent interacting with her in the meet-and-greet room as well as outside in the play runs, the sweet dog seemed to dance with happiness and wiggle with joy. She greeted every soul she came into contact with, whether they had two legs or four, with the same friendly spirit. Though she had been abandoned and alone, her sad past didn't seem to change her sunny and loving personality. Soon the adoption was official, and she was on her way home with us.
We decided to change her name from Country to Clementine because she is always a bright ray of sunshine in our home! She has bonded with her four-legged brother and Pet Alliance alumni, Beauregard. Beau has never really warmed up to other dogs, but he fell in love with Clementine and they spend their days playing with toys, taking walks to the park, and snuggling together in our crowded, queen-size bed.
Clementine is the perfect ambassador for shelter dogs and pit bulls. At slightly over 30 pounds, her dainty size and soft expression often bring strangers over to meet her. As she cheerfully nuzzles and plays with them, I am proud to tell them that she is a rescued pit bull, like so many currently looking for homes. Her kind and gentle demeanor dispels many of the fears and myths people have about her breed. I share her adoption story to hopefully encourage others to visit their local shelter to find their next family member.
We chose Clementine because we wanted to provide brighter days to a pet in need. However, Clementine has shown us all that despite the darkest storms, the brightest light can still radiate from within. No matter what she has faced in her life so far, she wakes up each morning beaming like the sun, and ready for new adventures.