Change of Heart

As I grew up, I was taught to fear Pit Bulls.

My mother was involved in Boxer rescue when I was about 6 years old and I used to tag along with her to the local shelters to pull dogs off death row. I remember the first Pit Bull puppy I ever fell in love with, he was a gorgeous caramel color with bright green eyes and a white belly. My mom was quick to tell me that he was a demon. She told me not to pet one ever again. Every time we went to the shelter I would walk through the kennels and I always had a soft spot for the pitties, maybe because they were forbidden.

I was told over and over again not to touch them and I remember my mom asking me if I was crazy quite a few times. As I got older I started finding strays and I would bring them home. Of course they were Pit Bulls, covered in scars and mangled from God knows what. I hid them in the barn and every time she found one I got the whole lecture on how they were evil killers. She used to say," You know they are dangerous because they have more strength than any other animal."

I was 22 years old, engaged and living on my own. I was in town visiting my mother when I found Pandora. I remember it like it was yesterday. She was sitting in the rain on the side of the road by an open field, surrounded by a not so nice neighborhood. It was foggy outside and I could see my breath in front of my face. Pandora was shivering and was sitting as still as she could, looking through me like she could see my soul. I slowed the car down and pulled to the side of the road. I looked at her and right away I said, “OH no, it is a Pit Bull!” My little sister was in the passenger seat and she said, "So what!?" I explained what my mother had told me and yes, the words came out of my mouth,” they are dangerous...”

My sister said, “She looks hurt, WE CAN NOT leave her.” I looked at the dog, rolled the window down, called to her and sure enough she came straight to the driver’s door and coward while wagging her tail. I gave in, picked her up, and put her in the car. I noticed she had just had puppies, so we attempted to find them. We were not successful. Pandora was covered in cigarette burns, her hair was singed like someone tried to burn her. and she had fighting wounds all over her body, not to mention she was skin and bones.

I cleaned her up and my mom was in shock at how sweet she was after the life she had lived. My mom had asked me what I planned on doing with her and I said well I am going to take her down to the shelter. I almost fell on the floor when she said, “NO, you can't do that!” She told me she would not have a chance in the condition she was in and they would just kill her. My mom had a change of heart.

-- By Sarah Kosinski Cope