New foster: TANK!

May 23, 2011 By in TANK Tags: , , , , , , , , , 39 Comments

Introducing our new foster, TANK!

Have you ever seen such rugged good looks on a dog?

We have only had TANK for 36 hours, but are totally falling for this giant, puppy-like goofball. TANK may have that tough-guy look, but he could hardly be more of a softie! TANK lives for ear scratches, belly rubs, and big hugs. He also loves to give big, slobbery kisses to anybody who shows him a little kindness. He has such a big personality that when we say his name, or think his name, or write his name, we can’t help but use all caps: TANK!

This poor oversized puppy showed up as a stray at a rural animal shelter in South Carolina, where few dogs ever make it out alive. There he sat, patiently, quietly, and worriedly, waiting for somebody to claim him, but nobody ever came. And still. The shelter workers must have seen something really special in this guy’s sweet disposition and devastatingly handsome face, because he wound up being the first pit bull type dog to ever be released from the shelter to a rescue group! TANK is very proud of this great honor, and hopes that he paves the way for many other pit bulls who come from his former turf.

The area he came from is very rural and fairly poor, and we wonder: was TANK loved? Had he lived in a house and had his nails trimmed? Was he bred by bad people for bad purposes, but then failed to live up to their expectations? Has he ever played with a toy before? Slept on a soft bed? Seen the bright lights of a big city?

We wish we knew more about TANK’s history, and are really looking forward to getting to know him. We hope you’ll join us!

39 responses

  2. Yep, he reminds me of the pit here for training. I really need to make sure I get Pictures of Zeus, if only for my record book of trainees… he has made a huge 180 from one of the most out of control pits I have met, to one who is well on his way to being a calm member of the family.
    Anyway, Tank sounds very sweet, if you can get people past the outside from what it sounds like he shouldn’t be hard to place otherwise. But the former can be the hardest for most, and it’s still early. I’m looking forward to learning more about this guy.
    Happy Monday

    oh P.S. the picture changed for the new adoptee on the right side bar, but the bottom caption for it still says Gonzo… just thought you may want to know.
    Anna
    http://www.akginspiration.com

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  4. Welcome TANK!!! I’m so happy you guys dove back in so quickly. He is a beauty but by the cut of his ears I would say his past held little sunshine but his future looks BRIGHT!!

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  5. I work for a veterinarian in a rural county in SC. There are some rescue people in nearby counties who drive transport vehicles for shelter animals being relocated to shelters that have room, just like the situation you described. The most recent transport was to get animals OUT of tornado-stricken areas to a safe place.
    I’ve had my doubts about animals being relocated as far away as NY. How could there be room there? Don’t they have strays there? I’m pleased to be able to follow the OR perhaps he was such a friendly dog that he visited the neighbors who were afraid of him, and perhaps he didn’t have proper containment and he was picked up by animal control and not reclaimed by his owners. If he were part of a pit-bull fighting/breeding ring, he would still be used as bait if he wouldn’t fight.

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    • Sorry, my comment got so long and my fingers fumbled. What I meant to say, midway, was that “I am pleased to be able to follow the story of TANK! About his ear cropping, some people want a bully look and then realize that they cannot keep up with the demands of a dog and relinquish him to the shelter OR…”
      I even proofread my comment before posting but I’m using a touchy laptop that highlighted and deleted a chunk of my comment one nanosecond before I posted.

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    • Ruth, I have my misgivings about rural shelter transport too. TANK is our first dog who came up this way, and I do wonder — is it wrong of us to be working with dogs shipped up in vans from the south, when there are plenty of adoptable dogs already here? I think where we are right now is that a deserving, homeless dog is a deserving, homeless dog, regardless of whether he was shipped or not. This rescue makes it very easy for fosters, which is what we need to stay in the game over the long term, so for now, we’re going with it. In the long run, we may move back toward local animal rescue, which makes a lot more intuitive sense to me. Thanks for your very thoughtful note. Aleksandra

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      • I live in NY and my most recent adoption was from a shelter in Connecticut which transports dogs from the south. Our Lilly was originally from Georgia and was slated to be euthanized. She is a red nose pitbull and although she was totally unsocialized, she has flourished into a little doll and we totally love her!!!

  8. What a handsome boy. I can’t wait to see his smile. I’ll bet it will be spectacular. His eyes, his eyes are so deep. Wow, what a 180. Can’t wait to hear about his adventures.

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  13. aw i hate to see those ears. but he pulls them off with that cute wrinkly face! he looks huge!! i’m looking forward to learning more about him!

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  14. that coloring is amazing! we cant wait to learn about tank with you! Havi was shipped up here from Georgia after being on a kill list three times. The shelter workers loved her so much they begged a Queens, NY rescue to come get her. We worry about the overpopulation of pits in the south, they rarely make it out of there. We’re rooting for ya TANK!

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  20. OMg, what a handsome handsome boy!! I cannot wait to read more about him, how are him and sir Chick getting along, perhaps he could be your wonderdog number two??

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      • i know, poor guy. they are really short. it seems like they bother him (maybe he gets stuff in them?) because he’s always cocking his head to the side as though there were water in one, and half shaking his head.

  23. Yay for Tank! Little does he know, he’s found the best foster home possible. His life will never be the same. Things can only go up from here!

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  26. Welcome TANK!! He has the look of a lumberjack- I can’t believe he’s only 1!! How’s Chick handling a bigger, badder (looking) brother?

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  27. Welcome TANK! You are sooo very beautiful. I just want to give you a great big kiss on your nose. Can you ask your foster mom to do that for me please?
    Anouk, Ziggy and I can’t wait to get to know you and see lots and lots of photos of you.

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  28. OMG! I’m in love! I just love big pitty noses and his is almost as smoochable as my Wilbur’s! How I hate seeing cropped ears on these dogs, you really do have to wonder what happened in his past. But at least we all know his future will be wonderful. You guys are the best.

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  29. Congratulations TANK, you are one lucky (and handsome) dog. Glad you made it out of “the bad place”.

    Thanks to your foster people for sharing their home with what appears to be a very special boy. Can’t wait to hear about your adventures.

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  30. TANK is beautiful. And in my eyes – a rescue is a rescue. How he got there isn’t important (transport from the south or a local shelter). What’s important is that you rescued a needy dog. That’s the bottom line. TANK hit the jackpot with you and your husband. What does Chick think of him? Can’t wait to follow TANK’s story and see more photos. What you’re doing is a wonderful thing!!

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  31. I wonder if he’s a tornado refugee, or if he was loved but simply turned loose when someone lost a job and just couldn’t feed him anymore… some of these stories are way too sad. I don’t want to judge anyone, and thankfully it doesn’t seem that he was ruined by abuse.

    Looking forward to tales of Tank and Chick!

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