To round off Pit Bull Awareness Month, I’d like to tell you about long-term resident, Ramona, the incredibly loveable pocket pittie. It breaks all of our hearts that at nearly three years old, she’s spent more than half her life at Rescue Ranch. Admittedly, she’s not easy to place, but she’ll be an amazing companion for the right match.
Ramona is cute as a button: a 40-pound, black and white, wiggly bundle of compact energy.
We know nothing about her family tree, so “pocket pittie” is just an affectionate descriptor. She might be a bully mix or have some border collie, but who knows? Remember, DNA tests are fun but useless for predicting behavior, especially in mixed breeds.
Why does Ramona keep coming back?
Ramona is a wonderful dog, but complicated.
Our favorite little pocket pittie has been adopted and returned three times since her arrival in February, 2021, when she was just over a year old. We’re worried she might never find her person.
Her main issues are dog reactivity and over-the-top energy. In fact, the Adoption Center’s environment proved too stimulating for her, and she’s now at the Sanctuary. Even there, finding her the right space has been challenging. On the one hand, she doesn’t do well in isolation. On the other, she simply can’t be surrounded by other dogs. Staff finally found a spot where she’s exposed to daily activity but isn’t constantly triggered. Fingers crossed.
She’s also on antianxiety meds. They help, some, but what she really needs is the right home.
What makes this pocket pittie so great?
Ramona loves people. She’s affectionate, intelligent, always ready and eager to participate and to play. Her caregivers love her and are quick to note that she can’t get enough of riding in a vehicle. She just loves being on the road with someone.
I visited her last week. As usual, she was very excited and wouldn’t settle down. So, Executive Director John Golay invited her to join him on the ATV. She took to it like a mermaid to water. After a short ride around the installations, they returned. She remained on John’s lap while we spoke. Soon she looked more like a dog relaxing on the couch with her human, than a rescue on an ATV.
Ramona’s ideal adopter
Rescue Ranch staff do their best , but they can’t give Ramona everything she needs to thrive. She needs her very own person, an experienced handler with a firm but gentle hand and a lot of time for her. Ramona requires mental and physical engagement, with plenty of training, play, and exercise. She should be the only pet in a home where she’s unlikely to run into other dogs unrestrained.
Under the right conditions, she might do very well riding along with someone who drives for a living or spends a lot of time on the road.
Please contact Rescue Ranch if you think you might be able to give Ramona the brilliant life she deserves.
