Gracie

Gracie was the first ever Save-A-Bull rescue dog. She was a breeding dog that no longer had a purpose (at least that's what her first owners said.) And they wanted her gone so I offered to take her on. If it wasn't for Gracie, Save-A-Bull would have never been established, so I owe a lot to that little dog.

With time, Gracie became healthy and ready for a new start in life. Gracie was adopted by the Alm family who, being huge soccer fans, were drawn to her name. The Alms didn't have much Pit Bull experience but impressed me with their willingness to learn about the breed, and to accept Gracie into their home despite common misconceptions.

Her new family says that Gracie is doing great and she thoroughly enjoys her 2-4 walks a day. Gracie is the first dog they've owned that's allowed on the couch. It seems that they had a hard time saying "no" to that beautiful face. The Alms truly enjoy their new family member, and together, they are helping to educate the public on how great bully dogs can be.

Norah

Norah (formally Addison) was found as a stray as a young pup. The shelter that housed her asked us to take her on, or else she was going to be put to sleep. I'm sure glad they called because Norah was a very happy and friendly little girl that deserved a chance.

Norah tested our patience at times with her exuberant puppy ways, but her new family, the Nunez-Cramer's, saw right past that. They are happy to inform us that Norah is growing like a weed. She is also becoming solid with commands like sit, wait, come, stay, and "watch me."

Norah spends her days playing with her two new human brothers, learning new ways from her doggy brother, Salvador, trying to avoid her grumpy old doggy sister, Sammy, and pestering Cino the cat. Her new family loves her and will be sending some new pictures shortly.

Charlie (Then/Now)

Charlie: After being returned to the rescue twice, we are pleased to say that Charlie found a loving and forever home. Charlie was a rambunctious puppy and occasionally tested the patience of everyone he encountered. It is clear now that he just needed someone that was willing to give him time and to understand his puppy ways.

Charlie now shares a home with two other Vizslas that have accepted him as part of the pack. He spends his days exploring the family's multi-acre lot and rough-housing with his new brother and sister. His new family is pleased to report that they are enrolling him in obedience training soon. He is also getting much better with his potty training. Charlie is quickly learning that even when he is left alone, his family will always come back for him, which is something this dog hasn't experienced before, until now.

A special thanks to the Pass family for providing a loving and safe home where Charlie can thrive.

Caine

Caine came to us as an owner surrender. He was a very loved dog but sadly his military family, who had moved here from down south, could not find housing that would allow a Pit Bull.

Caine went to an awesome foster home that worked on his aggressive tendencies toward other dogs. But after two months of being a foster mom, Courtney couldn't bear to part with her little man when an application came our way. Courtney became a "foster failure" and adopted Caine the following week.

Courtney is happy to report that Caine is sharing, quite harmoniously, a home with a 6-year-old human, a German Shepherd puppy, and a young little Chihuahua. His new family has nothing but great things to say about Caine.

Tank was an owner surrender that was given up because he killed a cat in the household. His previous owners didn't understand this breed's high prey drive and chose to leave him loose and unattended in the house when they went off to work. Tank didn't understand that he'd done anything wrong; he was just doing what he was bred to do.

Tank came to us very timid and shy. It took him awhile to bond to his foster dad, but slowly he made progress.

The Lukes family fell head over heals for Tank and despite his shy nature, they saw his true potential. Tank now spends his days cuddling on the bed, taking long walks, and playing on the family's farm. Ironically enough, he chases and plays with the farm cats without incident. It's obvious that Tank is well-loved and will be for the rest of his life.

Beau (Then/Now)

Beau was a young pup found as a stray when he made his way into our rescue. Although only 12 weeks old at the time, he was going to be euthanized because it was thought he was a Pit Bull. We were happy to welcome another Pit Bull into the Save-A-Bull family, but once we met him, we weren't convinced that he was a Pit Bull at all but rather a Shepherd mix. Beau was always an old soul and a very sweet little boy.

Beau was adopted by the Kapfers and has been a valued and loved member of their family ever since. His new family is happy to report that he is growing like a weed and continues to play nicely with his new Schnauzer brother, Max. Beau loves to cuddle and sit on the back of the couch. He has recently started obedience training and is the star of his class.

Bonnie (Then/Now)

Bonnie was rescued from a local shelter after she was found as a stray. Bonnie was a very sad case. She was obviously abused and had a very poor body condition. She'd also had multiple litters of puppies. Through the hard work of her foster home, Bonnie slowly came out of her shell.

Bonnie caught the eye of the Schipper family and they fell madly in love with her through her story. When they finally met Bonnie, they saw right past her shyness and knew she was supposed to be a member of the family. The Schippers are pleased to report that Bonnie is a totally new dog. She has a strong bond with her new brother, Buddy, and you rarely catch them apart. She is also adored by the Schipper children. Bonnie goes to work everyday with her new family and she emits appreciation.

Clyde

Clyde: Poor little Clyde was found as a stray and brought to the local Animal Control Facility. He had a large chain stain around his neck and his little ears were covered in fly bite scars.

Clyde had no idea what to do when we first brought him into a home. The shiny wood floors and stairs seemed to be the biggest challenge. Despite his troubled past, Clyde had no problem showing love and affection to his foster family. Clyde tested their patience a few times, but began to develop into a wonderful little boy.

Luckily for Clyde he was adopted by a loving family. Viola, Slava, and their large Pit mix, Armani, have accepted Clyde into their lives with open arms. With both dogs being slightly strong-headed, the first interaction was touch and go. We're happy to report that with time and patience, Clyde and Armani have grown to love each other. Armani was even caught trying to initiate play with Clyde, which is something he hasn't done for quite a while.

Diablo

Diablo was an owner surrender in a small town in Iowa. It was felt that he was given up due to a proposed breed ban that his family didn't want to deal with. Diablo was the biggest clown and could always put a smile on your face. He was with us for a long time with absolutely no interest, which shocked us because he was such a great boy.

We knew that anyone that met him would fall in love with his big dopey face. And that's exactly what happened when the Franzen family laid eyes on him - instant love.

Mr. Diablo ("Dawbs") loves his new home and sister, Frankie the cat. In fact they are caught cleaning each other's faces every now and again. The Franzens report: "He is the most loving beast, and cracks us up with his big hugs and silly flips in the air. We swear he was bred for Frisbee catching - he jumps up and spins all the time, like he has springs built into his legs. He loves running back and forth along the fence with his friends, Scrappy and Carvin. We are on our 9th year of owning this breed, and both Mason and Diablo have proven to many uneducated individuals what a wonderful breed this is."

Penelope (Then/Now)

Penelope (formerly Gwen) was a young pup that narrowly escaped the wheels of several cars when she was found on the side of the road by a good Samaritan. Poor little Penelope was covered head-to-toe in ticks, full of intestinal worms, and her ribs showed. In spite of that, she was a very sweet happy-go-lucky puppy.

It didn't take us long to get her healthy again, and within 12 hours of being available for adoption, we were contacted by Bridgette & Jim. It was love at first sight when they saw Penelope's picture and she was adopted within the week.

Today Penelope is developing into a beautiful girl. She continues to make friends with all of the neighborhood dogs and enjoys stealing toys away from her older dog sister, Veronica. Penelope is also the queen of the Isles dog park; she struts her stuff and shows off for all the other dogs. She continues to be a goofy puppy that loves life.

Odin

Odin (formally Tom) was surrendered to Save-A-Bull Rescue when his previous owners couldn't find the time for him. Odin was always a happy-go-lucky boy and had the wiggliest of butts.

It didn’t take long for the Pederson/Campbell family to fall head over heels for Odin's sweet little personality. In fact, it was love at first sight.

Odin's new family is happy to report that it's as if he's always been a part of the family, and that he's a superstar in his obedience class. As they recently informed us: "Things with Odin are going great! He graduated from obedience class and we hung his diploma above his crate. He is still so happy! We had him around lots of people at Christmas and he did great - around kids, adults, lots of people and lots of different homes. We have tons of fun chasing each other around the house."

Avery

Avery came to us as a stray. She was so small that everyone assumed she was a young pup, but it turned out she was about a year old and just incredibly stunted in growth.

Avery showed signs of severe neglect from day one. She would circle the perimeter of her foster home's back yard like a lion in captivity. She also displayed many repetitive behaviors like chasing her tail and chomping at the air. Avery came with baggage and she was not an easy dog to care for.

Through lots of hard work on the part of her foster dad, Mac, she slowly made a turn-around. It was at that time that he decided he couldn't let her go, adopting Avery in Jan '09.

Mac recently sent us this update: "Avery is doing well. She still has some issues, but I see improvement every day. She no longer runs circles in the yard, which is a sign that she is forgetting about her neglectful past. We'll be going to obedience classes soon, then into flyball. I ultimately hope to get her trained as an aid in some sort of therapy work. Avery is the girl I feel for, and I fell hard."

Duke (formerly Peter) and the rest of his litter was surrendered to an animal shelter that automatically euthanized "bully breeds." One of the shelter workers refused to euthanize such young pups and convinced her boss to allow a rescue group to take them on. She contacted Save-A-Bull and we couldn't resist those sad little puppy eyes. Duke was only with us for a very short time before he was snatched up by Kim and Greg Tuveson.

Duke's new family is happy to report that despite some challenges, he's matured in to a wonderful companion. They've had an "interesting" time training him, but are impressed with his responsiveness and willingness to please. His favorite thing to do had been munching on his new doggy sister's ears. But now that Duke's adult chompers have come in, Ruby is a much happier dog. Duke's family is very happy with his personality, and his efforts to integrate with the rest of the pack.

Payton was found as a stray and never claimed by her owners. Neighbors suspect that the owners purposely let her loose, along with her black lab sibling, because they no longer cared to have them. Payton was skinny and malnourished when she came to us, but had a heart of gold. She was excited about everything and would let you know it with a low, hound howl.

Gerald and Ramona, not looking for a bloodhound, came across Payton's picture and fell in love with her. When they made the drive up to meet Payton, it was as if they'd raised her from puppyhood. Payton immediately bonded with their current dog, a Great Dane, and the family became complete.

Payton now spends her days cuddling with her new doggy sisters, and spending time with her dad in the shop. Payton is the official shop greeter and gives every new visitor her very best hound howl. She's clowny and full of life and has brought a whole lot of happiness to the McNally family.

Dylan and the rest of his litter was surrendered to an animal shelter that automatically euthanizes "bully breeds." One of the shelter workers refused to euthanize such young pups and convinced her boss to allow a rescue group to take them on. She contacted Save-A-Bull and we couldn't resist those sad little puppy eyes. Dylan immediately caught the eye of Hope and Brian and it was a match made in heaven.

Dylan is now a rambunctious and studly teen. He loves to take long walks and be an ambassador of his breed, which he takes very seriously. Everyone that meets Dylan falls in love with him. His family states that he is very smart and well behaved despite being spoiled rotten.

Hank (Then/Now)

Hank (formerly Henry) and the rest of his litter were surrendered to an animal shelter that automatically euthanized "bully breeds." One of the shelter workers refused to euthanize such young pups and convinced her boss to allow a rescue group to take them on. She contacted Save-A-Bull and we couldn't resist those sad little puppy eyes.

It didn't take long for Cynthia to fall madly in love with the pups, and Hank was the lucky one that became part of Cynthia's life. Hank now resides in beautiful Cancun, Mexico. Cynthia moved down there a few months ago and she and Hank are living the dream. Cynthia writes: "Hank is the best dog I have ever had. He is so well-behaved and a complete joy to be around. He spends his days running along the beach and exploring the woods behind the house. His best friends are three of the local pigs and he follows them around like he is one of the pack. He loves to snuggle under the covers with his teddy bear. We love him as much as a dog could possibly be loved."

Betty (Then/Now)

Betty (formerly Mimi) was rescued from the streets by a generous individual that couldn't bear to see her fall into the wrong hands. We were contacted when it was felt that Betty would have better chances finding a loving home through a rescue group.

And Betty did find an incredibly loving home with Siobhan and Mike, which she shares with her new dog brother, Rocco.

Siobhan writes: "Betty is actually a very tame puppy and she listens very well. I bring both dogs to work with me and when they have to be in the office and keep quiet, she just finds a way to entertain herself with a toy, or [takes] a nap. She and her "brother" love playing with each other. Betty still plays on the rough side, but Rocco lets her know when enough is enough. We are very happy with our girl!"

Huey was found as a stray in Wisconsin and taken to a local shelter. The shelter kept him for the allotted time, but when his owners never came for him, he was slated for euthanasia. One of the shelter workers couldn't let that happen so she took Huey home with her. She had him for over a month, but because she lived in a small town, was having difficulties finding Huey a permanent placement. She contacted Save-A-Bull in the hope of giving Huey a better chance in the "big city." It worked! Within a week of being with us, Huey found his forever home.

Huey now lives like a king with the Fisher family. They fell in love with him the minute they laid eyes on him. He has three new human sisters that he absolutely adores. Huey is loved and cared for, which is something he's always longed for. He spends his days playing with the girls, laying in the sun, and snuggling on the couch. He also takes on the role of co-pilot whenever riding in the car. His family has enrolled him in obedience class and they look forward to using that as a tool to bond to him even closer.

Rocco

Rocco (formerly Chico, then Rico Suave) came to us as a stray. He was very shy and timid in new situations, but he had a very loving sense about him. While in foster care, we could see a different dog emerging.

When Rocco was adopted by Kyle, he still had some fear issues. Kyle is pleased to report that Rocco has blossomed in to a totally new dog. He loves living with his new roommates and has completely come out of his shell. His favorite activities include going on runs with Kyle, and playing at the dog park.

Tink came to us as an owner-surrender. Her family loved her very much but were forced to rehome her.

Tink had a few quirks, but with some time and dedication from her new mother, Danielle, and human brother, Ryan, Tink has developed into an incredible dog. Her new family is happy to report that Tink is becoming a master of her obedience training and becoming a very respectful dog. She is also the biggest cuddle-bug around.

Dan was rescued by a good samaritan when he was being pawned off in a Walmart parking lot to anyone that would take him. His rescuer could not bear to see him fall into the wrong hands so she contacted us to take him on.

Dan was a VERY big puppy weighing over 50 lbs at 4 months old. He was adopted by the Atwood family and became a loved member the minute they laid eyes on him. They are happy to report that he is growing like a weed and is becoming a very handsome young man. Dan enjoys spending his new life romping around the backyard, taking long walks, or just laying around and sleeping on the couch.

Norman (formerly Simon) was part of a litter of American Bulldog/Boxer puppies found as strays in December 2008. Nine months later, Norman's owners wrote us with the following update:

"Norman is doing great! We are sooo in love with him! He brightens our life every day. We've had the typical puppy challenges, but all in all we feel that he's an amazing dog. We've been leaving him loose for short stints and he's been doing very well. No accidents!! He's learned how to sit, shake, lay down, and play fetch. He's very good with other dogs and loves to play with sticks."

Chance (formerly Brutus): Chance's owners report that he's fit right in with their family, and has been a perfect match for his new dog sibling, Cocoa. The two dogs love to play together, and have inspired their owners to look in to fencing their yard to allow Chance and Cocoa more space to romp around. Chance even loves to play with the cats, and sometimes they like to play with him too.

Update 2: "Chance has been a hoot since we got him! His favorite treat are ice cubes. He loves playing in the snow and he's mommy's little boy! He is getting so big. He's taller than Cocoa now but kind of lanky. I think he'll start to fill out now, but he is soooo handsome anyway! We love him!!!!!!!

Darcy came to us as a very skinny stray, picked up during the very cold and bitter month of January. Even though she was malnourished and obviously neglected, Darcy truly loved people. Her foster home named her, got her on a diet of high-quality food, and gradually Darcy's coat turned from dull, dry/scaly, and falling out to a beautiful almost blue/grey and brown. Her foster home cared for her during her spaying surgery and tail docking, which was required due to the damage Darcy had on her tail from happy-tail syndrome. She also gained 20 pounds of pure muscle over the next few months, by playing ball in the backyard, playing with her foster doggie pals, and going on walks.

After several months with few applications for Darcy, her foster home decided they could not let her go, and adopted her. Darcy continues to thrive in her forever home, and is currently enrolled in obedience classes.

Riley is a handsome young man that was found as a stray and picked up by Minneapolis Animal Control. Riley was a bit of an introvert at first, but gradually began to come out of his shell.

He was adopted by Keith and Nicki and quickly became a beloved member of their family. Riley still has a bit of work to do with becoming more social, but he is getting better every day. Keith and Nicki are now excited to bring a foster dog into the family to try and help Riley with his social skills.

Oscar: The family who adopted Oscar (formerly Caesar) reports: "He has been an amazing addition to our family, and his absolute favorite thing to do is play fetch with his trusty tennis ball. He's all smiles, all the time, and we can't take him anywhere without somebody stopping in their tracks to check him out and remind him what a handsome boy he is.

"He gets along great with our 3 cats (especially the orange one who has become his best buddy). Oscar has yet to meet a person that he doesn't absolutely love. He lives for walks with the hope of someday catching a squirrel. To say the least, he is an endless supply of entertainment!"

Kage: The family who adopted Oscar (formerly Petey) reports: "Kage was just into the vet for some puppy shots and he now weighs 25 pounds. Yikes! He is going to be a very big boy.

"He is doing well with his potty training, not very many accidents in the house lately. Yay! Kage now knows the command 'sit' and we are working on 'kisses' and 'no bite!' (He gets a little excited and tends to nibble and nip. Bad dog! Haha!) He is doing awesome.

"He and Beau absolutely LOVE each other. When I come home, Beau runs straight to Kage's kennel as if to say 'let him out! Hurry!' They are great together. They have not gotten in to a squabble yet; I'm pretty surprised. Usually there is a couple of arguments with new brothers but not so far."

Patty's family reports: "Pattycakes is doing great. We love having her in our family. She loves running and playful wrestling and getting lots of cuddles. Nic is home with her for most of the day, almost every day, so she has an extra special bond with him.

"Her obedience in the house is coming along. She'll sit, come, and stay out of the two rooms we don't want her to come in to. We're training her to stay off the couch, and as long as there are books and a table blocking it, she respects the boundary.

"Other than that, all I can say is that we just adore Patty. She brings so much love and joy into our home. She is always ready to cuddle and give kisses, and she does a really funny "Patty dance" where she wiggles her butt when we dance. The other funny thing she does is a "downward Patty" move, mimicking Nic when he does the "downward dog" yoga move. She brightens our days and takes care of us as much as we take care of her. Thank you so much for bringing her into our family."

Puma's family provided the following update: "Puma has fattened up quite a bit!!! :) Yay! HE'S A TOTAL BED HOG!! He insists on being under the covers, and preferably spread out over the majority of the queen bed.

"He and Chase are best buddies. Chase is in high heaven, herding Puma all over the house and dog park. We recently took a trip to see some friends in Fargo/Moorhead and he got along great with their 2 dogs! :)

"Some of Puma's favorite things to do include chewing on his Nylabone, looking out the front window, snuggling, and most recently, playing with old long tube socks knotted together. Hilarious! He throws it straight up in the air and then prances around with it. He prefers that Chase play tug-o-war, but Chase mostly pretends to ignore him.

"Puma is fantastic! We love him so much."

Stella was adopted by the same family that adopted Huey, and has fit right in with her 2 new four-legged brothers and 3 human sisters. She's started obedience training, and has the basic commands down already. When she's not training, she's wrestling or playing keep-away with her doggie buddies in the back yard. After she's tired the other dogs out, she's the first to cuddle on her human's laps.

She loves to give slobbery kisses and soak up any attention she can get. She loves to follow her mom around the house and just wait patiently for her daily walk. Her family reports, "Stella is so much fun to have around and we are lucky to have her."

Esther (formerly Dolce) came from a litter of eight pups that we took in with their mother earlier this year.

Here is what her new family reports: "Esther is doing great!! She is adjusting to her new home very well and absolutely adores her big dog brother, Moses. She starts doggie school on November 5th and goes to doggie daycare every day. The daycare staff love her and Moses so much. She is a blessing to our family."

Liam's adopted family recently sent us the following update:

"Liam is doing well. He's growing like a weed! He's now 32 pounds and gaining fast! He gained 4 pounds in the last week and a half! He's happy and healthy. We go to the dog park to run and play about 5 days a week. He's met several dogs there to wrestle and be jolly with. My daughter, Maya, and Liam love to play tug, chase each other, play hide and seek, and of course, bark at each other!

"Liam is a ham, like you said from the beginning! He's smart too. He sits really well. He's almost fully house-trained. He comes when he's called, mostly. And his left ear has taken a turn upward, giving him the look of a goof! His coat is more of a chestnut brown now, from being almost all black before. He's terrified of the water and hates getting a bath. He's a big baby really, loves to cuddle and be close at night. I take him nearly everywhere I go as he loves being in the car."

Lucy: The family that adopted Lucy (formerly Hannah) recently sent us the following update:

"Lucy has become an integral part of our family and the apple of our eye. Her intelligent, playful, funny, and quirky personality is continuing to blossom more and more every day. In less than a month, she learned to sit, stay, lay down, and more recently, to give high-fives! She loves her walks every day, and when it's raining, she is content to walk on the treadmill. When she's not playing or learning something new, she's cuddling with her family!"

Kota (Formerly Helen) was found as a stray in Northern IA. The shelter that took her in did not adopt out Pit Bulls. The staff at the shelter could not handle euthanizing her so they gave us a call.

Kota was the sweetest girl from day one. She was in foster care for quite some time before finally being adopted by her new dad, Shaun.

Shaun is pleased to report that Kota is doing very well and she is fantastic to have around. He wanted to mention that she is a huge lover and a wonderful addition to his house.

Bud's owner writes: "Dear Save-A-Bull Rescue: We have found our breed of dog! It will be hard for me to ever own anything other than a Pit Bull. Bud is in a great home with us.  He and our two cats are starting to get along, although the cats don't really care for him. I'm sure they will get there. The adoption was well worth it and we helped a shelter animal so it makes me happy too!"