It’s hard to grasp how someone could look at a dog and assume he’s mean based solely on appearance. Yet for Sully, a five-year-old Pit Bull with a tender spirit, that was his reality.
To those passing by, he was just another “aggressive bully” to avoid. But anyone who spent even five minutes with him would have seen the truth.
Sully was full of love.
Instead, he spent countless days curled up in a cramped kennel, drifting off each night with the quiet hope that someone would finally recognize the kindness in his eyes.
Eventually, that someone arrived, and everything began to change.
A Cramped Kennel And A Body In Pain
Julia Correll, founder of Desert Dog Project, a group that supports shelter dogs with medical needs and finds them foster homes, met Sully while volunteering at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control in Arizona.
The moment she saw him, she felt a mix of affection and sorrow. Sully, then known as Gindo, was confined to a tight kennel and suffering from severe arthritis that made walking painful.
He had been found as a stray with a female dog and their puppies. One by one, the others were adopted, leaving Sully behind.
His body bore the signs of hardship. Though only five years old, he looked much older.
“Gindo has been waiting over 3 months at the shelter… He has severe arthritis and struggles to walk even a few feet. He was found as a stray and is estimated to be about 5 but he appears much older. He is skinny and covered in sores and scabs,” Julia wrote on Facebook.
What confused Julia most was how anyone could see Sully as threatening. To her, he was one of the most affectionate dogs she had ever encountered.
“He is the most gentle, affectionate, loving dog. His favorite thing is sitting in your lap and rolling over for belly rubs. He isn’t fazed by anyone or anything. He is truly such a lover,” she said.
Wanting to give him a glimpse of the life he deserved, Julia began taking Sully on outings. They’d stretch out on a blanket in the park, soaking in the sun and fresh air.
It didn’t take long for a deep connection to form. Sully had found someone who truly saw him.
A Foster Home Becomes Forever
Though Julia originally brought Sully home as a foster, it quickly became clear he wasn’t going anywhere.
“He is seriously the easiest foster dog I have ever had,” Julia shared on Instagram.
It took about six months for Sully to fully settle into home life, but once he did, his personality blossomed.
To make outings easier, Julia got Sully his own stroller so he could accompany her without discomfort. They explored city streets, visited new places, and made new friends, experiences Sully had never known before.
Julia also provided him with custom elbow braces, joint injections, acupuncture, and physical therapy to ease his pain and improve his mobility. For the first time, Sully had someone who understood his needs completely.
Knowing Sully would thrive with a companion, Julia adopted another dog named Effie.
Sully embraced his new role as big brother immediately: gentle, protective, and full of affection for his new sibling.
After everything he had endured, Sully finally had what every dog deserves: a family who loves him and a home where he is safe.
There would be no more lonely nights in a shelter, only new adventures, shared with the people and pup who love him most.