I have always wanted to rescue a dog, specifically a pitbull, but I wanted to wait until college was over because for some reason I thought I wouldn’t be able to carve time out of my schedule in college for a living responsibility. However, the summer of 2018 right before I adopted Kona was really difficult. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and life was looking pretty bleak. It wasn’t until a friend pointed out to me that I could, in fact, take care of a dog and reminded me of how happy they make me that I began to actually consider it. So for the next 3 months, I went from site to site and organization to organization looking at young pitbulls that needed rescuing. Honestly, I could have adopted any one of them, but I was hesitant to do so without having met them in person before. Fast forward to the end of October and I discovered P4P’s adoption events. I met Kona in the “wild” section of Guys Farm and Yard. She was 36 lbs of pure energy and the first pitbull I got to meet. I toured around and met all of the dogs but I honestly was struck by her looks and her bubbly personality. After putting my name down with Robin a couple of days later I received a text asking me if I wanted to foster Kona while her current foster mom was away. An opportunity that I just could not pass up. So I said yes. I picked her up in a Hannaford’s parking lot and the minute she stepped into my car and curled up I knew she was my dog.
Now it has been almost a year and I have 45 lbs of pure energy, love, and stubbornness following me around everywhere. The impact of rescuing a dog and bonding with her was everything I expected and more. Among the many benefits that adopting and rescuing her, I just want to highlight a few. She gave me a new reason to live because I made a promise both to her, P4P and her foster mom, that I would do everything in my power to make her life everything she deserves and more. She taught me time management and priorities because I still have an insane schedule, but I’m forced to step back and take care of her because she is and will always be my responsibility. And most importantly she gives me the love that I need when everything is in the gutter and nothing else works. She’s consistent and loving whenever I need her and always ready to play or snuggle. She is the best and healthiest distraction in my life and even if she drains my bank account down to a negative number I have committed to something that I will love forever.
