Last Week at Del Haven Community Center

July 22, 2014

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Last week, Elisha (Priceless Pets Pittie Crew) , Elvis and myself, went to the Del Haven Community Center to talk about Priceless Pets, the Pittie Crew, animal rescue, how to properly approach a dog, and responsible pet ownership. Del Haven Community Center offers a summer day camp for kids and is also a place to teach developmentally disabled adults. It was an amazing day that I really can’t put into words but I can write about how amazing Elisha and Elvis are.

Elisha

While I have always admired Elisha’s heart, I was unaware of her gift of public speaking. If she was nervous that day, it did not show one bit. She must have spoken to over 100 kids and adults in a 5 hour span that day. The best part about it was that they were all different ages! She knew exactly how to speak to each group. She even spoke to a group of developmentally disabled adults and her presentation was so on point that this group may have been the most interactive. One young lady was even in tears because all she wanted was to take a picture with Elisha.

When someone is truly passionate about what they do, it shows in every aspect of their life. And trust me, keeping the attention of kids is not the easiest thing to do but every time Elisha spoke, it was like they were all in a trance. When you have an 8 year old little girl raise their hand just to tell Elisha they want to be just like her when they grow up, you know you’re getting through! One of the girls even made us friendship bracelets, which was pretty cool.

Elisha IS animal rescue and she’s the perfect example of what the Pittie Crew is all about. It’s a pretty amazing thing when your friends are the people you admire the most. She is a wife, a mother, and an animal rescuer. And I’m very lucky to have the honor of calling her my friend.

Elvis:

Have I mentioned that Elvis was 2 hours away from being euthanized? Did I mention that this is the 5^th school he’s been to this year not only to promote the bully breeds in a positive light but to promote rescue dogs, as well?

Elvis drives me up the wall sometimes at home but when he’s “working”, he’s the perfect dog. He’s not a “pure bred” and he’s labeled as a “pit bull” but yet here he is, doing things that therapy dogs should be doing and he hasn’t even been therapy certified, yet! The dog that was supposed to die and is so feared is sitting and playing with multiple kids for 5 hours and never once showing any sign of stress. I have not yet trained Elvis to be around people in wheelchairs but there he is, sitting nicely and letting a stranger he has never met, pet him and love on him, all while being polite and never jumping or being afraid.

People pay THOUSANDS of dollars to have a dog with the temperament of Elvis yet Elvis is essentially a “mutt” from the pound. A dog from a shelter can do ANYTHING a “pure bred” can do and Elvis is going to help prove that. He’s proving every day that the negative stereotype of “pit bulls” is the furthest thing from the truth. The day Elvis officially becomes a therapy dog will be no surprise to me or anyone that knows him but I can’t wait to have that piece of paper to prove all the naysayers wrong.

Animal rescue will break you down and bring you right back up. It’s the kind of rollercoaster that makes you sick to your stomach but keeps you coming back for more. The moments of happiness are so short lived that if you blink you will miss it but it’s more than worth it. What Elisha is to animal rescue for humans, Elvis is to all the dogs in the shelters. They both represent heart, love, and hope for a better tomorrow in a world that will break even the most callous of hearts. I’ve definitely found my path and I know these 2 won’t let me veer off it no matter how discouraging the road ahead may be.

Thank you for that special day, Elisha and Elvis. I hope one day I can return the favor to the both of you!