Will Blossom ever get her lucky break?
UPDATE: If you would like to help support Blossom’s needs, please head to this link for a GoFundMe organized by the rescue that pulled her. It was discovered that Blossom needs extensive dental surgery asap. I am starting to wonder if her family ever took her to the vet!!
Blossom was first discovered in 2013 roaming around a shopping center. She waited a few months at the Brookhaven animal shelter in Long Island, and was adopted, only to be returned shortly after when the resident dog didn’t approve. Blossom’s second stay at the shelter lasted about a year, partly because after the first adoption mishap she was now listed as needing to be the only pet at home.
In 2015, Blossom finally found the home of her dreams. She lived happily with her new family, which included children—from a newborn to a fifteen-year-old—and two cats. Everything was going great until the husband was deployed overseas, and the whole family had to relocate to Germany, a country that as a rule bans the importation of pit bulls. Blossom’s family tried to place her with relatives or friends, and, when all failed, they brought her back to the shelter.
Blossom was quickly adopted again, by a family expecting a baby, and was returned within days when the mother-to-be changed her mind. This was now Blossom’s fourth stay at the shelter. Then finally, she was adopted by a family, and I interviewed them for my Pit Bull Flower Power book back in 2018. They seemed so committed to Blossom, and so in love. “We renamed her Gypsy, her adopter told me, because she has been bounced around to so many homes before ours. She is here to stay now, though. My baby isn’t going anywhere.”
Fast forward to 2020, and Blossom is found roaming the streets and picked up by Animal Control. When called, her adopters comes to pick her up, only to return her the next day, stating they don’t want her anymore. They had gotten 2 more dogs after her, and stated she didn’t get along with them. “She wants to be an only dog”, they return form indicated.
I rushed to the shelter, just days before confinement started. When Blossom arrived in the room for her photoshoot, my heart dropped. She was much older, exhausted, stressed out. She had a huge belly, pee stains, patches of fur missing. The light in her eyes was dimmed.
I crowned Blossom again. This time, I kept her shelter collar on the final portrait, because that’s her story.
Blossom is now in her golden years. She was clearly sick, and it made me mad at her family for letting her go un-checked for so long. Her return form stated that Blossom peed in the house because she didn’t like the other dogs. That’s not how it works. Blossom clearly needed medical attention. The shelter ran a battery of tests, and found that Blossom was on the threshold for early Cushing’s disease (which explained the big belly and light incontinence). She is now on medication, and doing much better.
I was chatting with a friend of mine who offered to foster Grey after seeing my post. But because Grey was already (almost) spoken for, I suggested Blossom instead. My friend Julie agreed.
Blossom and her amazing foster mom Julie.
A few days ago, Julie picked up Blossom from the shelter. Blossom is now available for adoption via Rebound Hounds, a wonderful rescue group.
If you would like to support her care, please consider a donation. They have been severely hit by COVID19, and had to cancel their main fundraiser. They need our support.
In the meantime, Julie is getting to know Blossom. She messaged me from the store, asking me what kind of size bed Blossom would need. “I want her to have her own bed. No more sharing. She shouldn’t have things that smell like other dogs”. My heart is warm again. I know Blossom is in great hands. Now, we just need to find THE home for her. No other pets. Kids are fine.
