ADOPTION SUCCESS: MONTY’S JOURNEY HOME

Back in September we featured Monty, a sweet young pit bull who was abandoned by his owner in a parking lot next to a busy highway in Fairfax, then rescued by a local teen, Lauren Bradford. Thankfully, the Bradford family took Monty in instead of looking the other way, and contacted Mutts Matter to help. After an owner gives up on a pup like Monty, they face a tough road finding a new home. In shelters, black dogs are typically the last to be adopted, and close to 90 percent of the pit bulls in our shelters will be put down before being adopted.

Not even a year old when he came into the rescue, Monty was very thin and had a lot of scars on his face. We’ll never fully know what he went through in his first year of life, but we do know that he is one of the sweetest and best-natured pups we’ve met, and deserved to have a family who would love and cherish him. After a limited response, we featured Monty again in late November and, this time, Laura Kalcheff saw his story in the Chantilly Patch and felt an immediate connection.

I’m happy to share with you that Monty is now a proud member of the Kalcheff family, which includes Laura and Mike, their teenage son Ethan, and their pit-mix pup, Jasmine. Monty took to Ethan right away, and the first night he staked out a comfy spot on his bed to assess his new environment. He was starved for attention, and like most newly adopted dogs, it took him about a month to settle in. New dogs need time to trust their new family, and learn the routines and rules of their new home. Laura and Mike were committed to Monty’s transition, and even brought in a trainer for a few sessions to teach them how to address some of his puppy issues and integrate him with Jasmine. 

Monty has found love and security in his new home and has bonded with the whole family. He and Jasmine are best buddies, constantly sharing kisses with each other, and you’ll typically find Monty right by Laura’s side. He’s a very social and loving dog who enjoys being in the middle of all the activity in the busy Kalcheff home, whether its Ethan’s friends coming and going, or the grandkids visiting for a family dinner. He greets everyone with an enthusiastic tail wag as his whole body wiggles with joy. 

Laura describes Monty as “a really happy and sweet dog who just loves being with the family. He’s secure now, and you can tell he’s come to the point where he realizes he’s found his forever home.” When he’s not relaxing in his favorite red chair in Laura’s office, you’ll find Monty either snuggled up with Jasmine, scouting out a lookout spot at the living room window, or following someone around the house with a toy in his mouth. His cute, puppy-like curiosity and playfulness is a constant source of entertainment for the family, and he makes Laura laugh when he squeaks like a dolphin when he yawns.  

Laura is now a passionate supporter of the pit bull breed, but it wasn’t always that way. Ten years ago, like many people, she accepted the media’s portrayal of pit bulls as an untrustworthy and dangerous dog. When Mike and Ethan first took her to meet Jasmine, a pit puppy they saw at an adoption event, she was hesitant about the idea of having one in her home. Her opinion quickly changed as Jasmine became part of her family, offering her real life experience with the breed. The Kalcheff’s oldest daughter has also adopted a pit pup, so they’ve now become the family breed. Laura considers all three of the pits in her family to be nothing but sweet, loving dogs who are and great with the kids. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP…

• LEARN more about the breed and share information to combat bias. Did you know the pit bull was once deemed America’s dog? -  Learn more about the breed and its history.

• FOSTER - In rescue we see so many pit and pit-mix pups that need to be rescued, but we have limited foster homes who will take them in. Out of over 150 foster families associated with Mutts Matter, we have less than 10 families who will foster a bully breed. Please consider opening your mind, heart, and home to foster a pit pup – Apply to foster here.

• ADOPT - Consider adopting a pit or pit mix. You’ll need to be committed to their exercise, socialization, and training, especially when they are young, but the reward of having a loving, devoted bully breed in your family is well worth it. They are smart, handsome, loyal, and loving dogs. Click here to see current dogs available for adoption.