LILY'S STORY

Our cofounder, Bill, had wanted for a dog for a very long time, and the conditions were finally right--his landlord approved it, he had the space and the time, and he was more than ready to open his heart to a new canine friend.  He didn't want a large dog, but he was definitely not the "lap dog" type, either; something sturdy and playful was what he needed.  He thought a bull terrier would be ideal; however, the closest breeder was some distance away, and the dogs were quite expensive.  Not able to justify spending a small fortune on his breed of choice when there were so many homeless pets out there, Bill decided to find his match at the Harrisburg Area Humane Society instead.

Always eager to visit the shelter, Lori volunteered to help her compadre.  Strolling down the rows of mournful faces, she noticed a short, powerful looking pit bull with imploring eyes.  As she stooped down to say hello, the dog stood up and reached a paw through the bars, touching her hand.  Lori turned and shouted, "Bill, get down here and look at this dog, because if I bring another one home, my mother is going to kill me!"  Bill strolled back to the cage, took a look inside, and--despite a long-running dislike of pit bulls--was smitten.  Small in stature, but built like a tank and playful as a child, the dog was exactly what Bill was searching for.

The shelter staff said that the little brindle-and-white stray had seemed dog-aggressive when they had brought her in.  Knowing that pit bulls can be defensive when placed in confined areas, Lori suggested bringing her own dog, Phantom, into the shelter and letting the prospective adoptee meet him in the more open outdoor get-acquainted area.  In this less-restrictive environment, the little female was relaxed and playful, with no signs of aggression (human OR dog)!  It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship... not just between man and dog, but between dog and dog as well.

The new adoptee, dubbed Lily Munster, soon became Phantom's doggie girlfriend.  Full of mischief, she enjoys stealing his toys and taking off in a mad dash, demanding to be chased.  She plays a similar game with her human family: newspapers, TV remotes, pillows--anything is fair prey for a game of Steal-and-Run!  When it comes to meeting new friends, however, Lily is a gentle love sponge toward young and old alike, especially handicapped children.  Her sweetness is a testament to the resiliency of her nature: although someone had brutally chopped her ears short in an amateur crop job, she shows no ill will toward the human race.  Even Bill's mother, who was very hesitant when he brought Lily home, now babies her like a favorite grandchild.  Lily is a shining example of how an adopted pit bull can make a wonderful pet, and can change the minds and melt the hearts of those who misunderstand the breed.