Sitting with a pittie abandoned in the night drop!

At the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in New York, 6-year-old Bear has been waiting the majority of his life for a forever home. The Pit Bull arrived at the shelter in 2019 and has enjoyed only sleepovers and visits. After spending so long cooped up in a shelter, he’s begun to experience some resource guarding and defensiveness with strangers, which has made his search for a home more difficult than ever.

A ‘Rescue Only’ Situation

Because of Bear’s reactivity, he’s found himself listed as ‘rescue only. This means that he can’t be adopted, but an animal rescue can pull him from the shelter. Fortunatley, one rescue has already stepped up–but there’s one thing missing. They need a foster home for him to stay in. This foster needs to be in the state of New York, have experience with resource guarding, and can provide him with the patience he needs.

A Sensitive Sweetheart

Here’s the truth: defensiveness and reactivity don’t reflect the personality of the dog. It’s a fear-driven response, and it can be unlearned when a dog is no longer in a stressful situation. With the right care, training, and environment, Bear will shine as much as any other dog.

This playful guy loves fetch, though he also enjoys car rides and walks. He has good leash manners and has been practicing obedience commands, but he will excel outside of the shelter. He will do best in a home with no cats or young kids, though letting him be the only pet would be even better.

If you live in New York and may be a good fit as Bear’s foster parent, please fill out the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter foster application on their website. Once Bear has a foster in place, he can break out of the shelter for good!