Tuesday, June 30, 2020
Monday, June 29, 2020
Thursday, June 25, 2020
6.25.20 Volunteer of the Month- Meet Gail
May 2020 Volunteer of the Month-
Meet Gail!
How
did you find out about Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue?
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| Matthew & Briana |
I cannot answer this question without telling a story. When my son
and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Briana Sherrer, moved to Texas in 2012, Briana
saw how overcrowded the animal shelters were there, and the high risk of
euthanasia they faced due to limited rescue options and low adoption rates. She
started to tag (a term used to "claim" a shelter dog as being pulled from the shelter) and rescue these animals, sending them to Minnesota non-profit
rescue organizations, where shelter over-population was not an issue.
 |
| Layla |
In July
2015, Briana sent me a picture of a tiny pittie puppy who had been in a TX
shelter for several weeks. We immediately decided we wanted to foster her
(Layla), but at the time Bri did not have a rescue partner in MN that accepted
pit bulls. Briana contacted her friend Marge Mullen, who was a MPBR volunteer,
who connected Bri with MPBR President, Laura Gray-Haug. Laura agreed to have
little Layla sponsored through the rescue. We received her from Texas a few
days later and fostered her until she was adopted by an MPBR volunteer. I
believe Layla has the distinction of being Texas Rescue Pittie #1 on the list
of many transports between the non-profit Passport for Paws in Texas (Briana
co-founded in 2017) and her new Minnesota partner, Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue.
Why
did you decide to volunteer for MPBR?
We had already fostered dogs (beagle terrier mixes) for other Twin
Cities rescue organizations. When we decided to foster Layla from Texas and
MPBR sponsored her, I got to know Laura. She was so passionate about rescuing
and being an advocate for the breed, that I wanted to do what I could to help.
Oh, yes, and we fell head over heels in love with pit bulls. Matt and Briana
had two (now three) and we were amazed at how loving and gentle they were (in
contrast to the stereotype we had been familiar with).
Do
you have any pets of your own?
Gracie, our beloved Texas pittie we fostered through MPBR in
October 2015. We adopted her shortly thereafter! She is a good companion to our
beagle terrier mix, Freddy, who we fostered and adopted in 2012 from Small Dog
Rescue of Minnesota.
 |
| Gracie & Freddy |
When
you're not surrounded by dogs, what can you be found doing?
I am a die-hard fan of two things: Minnesota Vikings and my four
grandchildren. I used to travel and explore different states and countries, but
now I only travel to Duluth and Dallas! As a family, we love to go boating
together.
Do
you have a favorite memory that happened while you were volunteering?
My favorite memories are
when I get to deliver a dog to its adoptive family. The joy of giving a
previously unwanted animal to a family who have their arms wide open is an
experience I will never forget.
Each month an active volunteer is featured on our website & receives a gift (or gift card) as a thank you. This is just a small way for us to show our appreciation for the dedication our volunteers have for this rescue. We are 100% volunteer based and we couldn’t do this without each and every one of our members ♥️
Interested in volunteering? Check out some info here.
Interested in volunteering? Check out some info here.
If you’re interested in helping us with the donation to our volunteers, click here.
6.24.20 Kaisa Update
•••
Kaisa is practicing how to relax in the crate. You can see that the back is open, so she can get treats as she enters. By now, Kaisa loves hanging out in the crate, and it helps her calm down when she gets anxious.
6.22.20 New to MPBR- Meet Luka
Meet Luka
............................................................................
Luka's my name, and playing's my game! I’m a Bull Terrier/ Pit Bull Terrier Mix.
Nicknames: Baby Batman.
Age: 5ish months old
Activity Level: Moderate. I love to play, play, play with my dog sister, and I'm really good at it. We wrestle, we tug, we zoomie, we share toys and then we do it all again. I don't take many naps anymore, but I will take some snuggle breaks with my humans and with my dog sister. My foster mom says I am really good at playing, and I'm good at sharing toys, no resource guarding here.
Things I know: I'm soooo good at sit. I'm also really good in my crate, and I eat all my meals in there. I am a top tier snuggler, and I love giving kisses.
Things I am learning: My foster mom says I’m working on a lot, mostly because I’m still pretty young and a little exciteable. I’m learning to take treats softly, not jump and to potty outside.
Kids: Unknown. I don't live with any little humans right now.
Dogs: Please oh please I want to live in a house with other dogs.
Cats: Possibly. I live with two cats now, and I'm still pretty interested in them. I don't chase them too much, but I'm still trying to figure out if I can get them to play with me. The cats I live with are super dog savvy, so this might depend on the cat.
Size: 25 pounds
Car rides: Heck yeah! I like to try crawling into laps while people are driving, so I need some structure around learning to chill in the backseat.
Additional Info from foster parent: Luka does really well with some structure in his life, and would definitely need to be crated when his humans aren’t around. He would also benefit from a shutdown when he gets adopted and moves into a new home. For those not familiar with the term “shutdown”, it means that when you’re not available to watch Luka, he would be in a kennel. This will ultimately set him up for success as he won’t be able to get into anything he shouldn’t be and it teaches him that the human is in charge of making decisions, not the other way around. We always recommend a length of two weeks to help acclimate to their new environment.
If you’re interested in meeting Luka, please fill out an adoption application at www.mnpitbull.com so you can meet in person.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
6.18.20 New to MPBR- Meet Brielle
Meet Brielle 💚 She is around 8-9 months old and is a big girl; her paw fits perfectly in foster mom’s hand 😯
She is submissive with other dogs & loves to play. She does well with children but would need to be supervised as she is still a puppy and can be clumsy. Bumping into kids would not be uncommon in her world.
She is also kennel trained & will give a bark when she needs to be let outside.
If you’d like to meet Brielle, please fill out an adoption application at www.mnpitbull.com so we can arrange a private meeting 🐾
6.17.20 A Word from Wilma
Wilma is looking to retire to relaxed home. She’s 7 years old and would love somewhere without other dogs where she can lounge, hang out with her humans and get some belly rubs.
Foster mom says Wilma is really gentle and a sweet lady who will let you know when she wants loves with a nudge of her nose.
If you’re interested in opening your home to Wilma, please fill out an adoption application at www.mnpitbull.com so we can arrange a private Meet & Greet.
6.16.20 New to MPBR- Meet Chula
Hi everyone, I'm Chula AKA Chulita or Choo-Choo!
I am a sweet, social, relaxed senior lady who still has plenty of energy and I just want to be your companion. Nothing makes me happier than hanging out with people and getting love from my humans. I really hope someone will give me a great home - I promise to give you so much love in return!
Chula is 10 years old & does well with both children & other dogs. We are unsure if she has ever met any felines before. If you are interested in meeting Chula, please fill out an adoption application at www.mnpitbull.com or read more about her at the link posted in the comments 🐾
6.15.20 New to MPBR- Meet Tootsie
Meet Tootsie
She is approximately 3 years old and does well with other dogs & children. Tootsie has not met any felines that we know of. She is crate trained & has not had any accidents in her foster home!
Additional Info from foster: Tootsie is so sweet and even though she fears a lot of things (including loud noises and sudden movements) she is getting better every day! She has done great on our walks and will play fetch in her own special way; she won’t bring the ball all the way to you, but she gets close! She is very gentle with our son and loves to play with him in the yard. She will need someone who can work with her on gaining confidence.
If you're interested in meeting Tootsie, please fill out an adoption application at www.mnpitbull.com & her Case Manager will arrange a Meet & Greet.
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
6.11.20 Foster of the Month- Meet Sam!
Why did you start fostering for MPBR?
I had been following MPBR on social media for many
years and always wanted to be involved. Finally, this past January I decided to
be a part of the MPBR community and fill out a volunteer form. It took one
batch of puppies to get me from Volunteer to Foster and now I can’t imagine not continuing
to foster!
 |
| Sunflower |
Who was your first foster?
Sunflower (Sunny) from the 'Nut' litter.
How long have you been volunteering with Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue?
Since
January 2020.
When your friends/family find out you volunteer with MPBR, what do they say or ask?
My
friends and family were so excited for me to be a part of this rescue.
Anybody who knows me knows how obsessed I am with my rescue pit, Pinto! My
family was a little nervous that I would foster fail each one!
 |
| Blitz |
Who is your current foster?
No fosters currently but I am sure
one will end up on my couch very soon! My
last foster was Blitz!
Do you have a favorite memory with one of your fosters?
Sunny will always have a special place in my heart! I
enjoyed every second with her. I could have watched her play all day!
Blitz was pretty nervous at first. I really enjoyed
watching her build trust and become comfortable around me. The first time she
figured out how comfortable the couch was, that was hilarious! You can tell she
was not used to that kind of comfort before!
 |
| Pinto & Sunflower |
Do you have any pets?
Yes! Pinto-he is a VERY good foster brother.
When you're not surrounded by dogs, what can you be found doing?
Although Pinto or other dogs are never far, I enjoy
visiting local brewery’s and patios in the Summer and being outside or
running.
Where is your favorite dog friendly place to take your pups?
I live about a mile from the Mississippi River. I love
to take the dogs for a walk to the river and take a little dip. Usually
following is a trip to DQ for a pup cup!
Do you have a special ritual you do for your foster pups?
After each one of my fosters got adopted, I printed
out a picture and wrote memories about each one along with their characteristics. I am
hoping to have LOTS of pictures one day and be able to look back at all the
awesome pit bulls that I have been fortunate to come across through the
years.
Do you want
to give a special shout out to anyone in the rescue?
Shout out to Ashley Auren for helping with Blitz's meet and
greet! She made the introduction go pretty smooth for Blitz who was known to struggle
meeting fellow dog friends. This helped her get adopted!
..................................................................................................................................................
Each month one of our Foster parents will receive a gift card as a thank you. This is our small way of showing appreciation for the dedication our volunteers have to this rescue. Minnesota Pit Bull Rescue is 100% volunteer based. Each dog we can save is a result of someone willing to open their home for us.
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