Across many shelters in the United States, black Pit Bulls face a harsh reality. Despite being loving and adoptable, they are often ignored simply because of the color of their coat.
The same bias that affects black cats impacts these dogs, leaving countless of them without permanent homes. For many, the outcome is tragic.
Among the dogs facing this struggle was Arlo, a black Pittie in Bakersfield, California. His situation grew more urgent each day as people continued to walk past his kennel without giving him a chance.
A Second Chance For Arlo
Donna Clark, the founder of Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue in Roseburg, Oregon, received a call from one of the organization’s transporters. He explained that Arlo, along with several other dogs, was nearing the end of the shelter’s list. If a rescue did not step up, their time would soon run out.
Clark immediately agreed to help. She committed to taking Arlo and another dog, fully aware of the difficulty ahead.
“For dog breeds, the hardest dog to place is a black pit bull,” Soul 2 Soul Animal Rescue wrote on Facebook.
Arlo quickly revealed his joyful and playful personality. His charisma won the hearts of those caring for him, and before long, he was adopted by a large family. For a brief moment, it appeared his luck had changed and that he had found the home he had been waiting for.
However, just a month later, the rescue received disappointing news. His family decided they could not keep him.
“They returned him because of his energetic zoomies as the wife was afraid he would hurt one of their children,” the S2SAR team wrote in a Facebook post.
Returning to the rescue left Arlo confused and devastated. After experiencing life in a home, he struggled to understand why he was no longer wanted. His mood shifted, and he became withdrawn and sad.
Fortunately, a compassionate foster with experience stepped in, offering Arlo a safe place where he could regain his confidence.
Finding The Right Person
With time, Arlo began to recover emotionally. As he settled into his foster environment, his cheerful and goofy demeanor resurfaced. His caretakers could see that he was once again capable of forming a strong bond with the right person.
Clark knew that Arlo needed a specific type of adopter. He would thrive best with someone who had the time and space to manage his energy. A fenced yard, patience, and kindness were key qualities his ideal family needed to have.
It felt like a tall order, but the rescue team stayed hopeful.
Then, everything changed when a woman arrived to meet him.
From the moment she interacted with Arlo, she sensed something special. She recognized his gentle nature beneath his enthusiastic personality and quickly decided he belonged with her.
“We are so very happy for our beautiful boy and tonight feeling very accomplished that we placed the hardest type of dog there is out there,” his caregivers wrote on Facebook.
Arlo’s new family also included a furry sister who had been adopted from Central Point Dog Rescue. The two dogs bonded easily, enjoying their spacious yard and spending their days playing and exploring together.
Seeing Arlo finally living the life he deserved brought relief and gratitude to Clark and the entire rescue team. After facing rejection, uncertainty, and heartbreak, he is now cherished in a home where he truly belongs.