Julie Carner was heartbroken when she found out that Smiley the pit bull was dropped off at an overcrowded Brooklyn, New York kill shelter by the family who was supposed to love and care for him – all because the family was going to have a baby.
Unfortunately, Smiley did not take well to the new shelter environment. He became uncomfortable and difficult to handle, though not aggressive.
That’s how this perfectly healthy, adorable pup wound up on the shelter’s kill list.
Carner, who fostered pit bulls before, desperately wanted to save the pup. She posted an appeal on Facebook, begging for anyone to help adopt the dog before it was too late.
She wrote from Smiley’s perspective that he would have loved to have met the baby his family was going to have, adding that he didn’t want to die.
Carner then wrote all about Smiley, talking about his love of squeaky toys and balls, his knowledge of basic commands in Spanish, the fact that he is house-trained and leash-trained, and that he doesn’t have behavioral guarding problems.
She also highlighted the outgoing, playful, and friendly personality that Smiley has.
Pound Hounds Res-Q was trying to pull him out of the kill shelter, but they didn’t have an available foster home for Smiley.
Some distance away, a couple was riding on the subway: Olena Kagui and her husband.
Kagui couldn’t scroll past the sad, begging eyes of Smiley and began to cry when she realized no one had said they could help him.
Her husband saw what she was looking at and told her they couldn’t get a pup at the time. But Kagui pushed and managed to convince him, so they were able to foster him.
After being neutered, Smiley arrived at Kagui and her husband’s home. He was anxious around people at first, but was well-behaved.
They could tell he’d been trained, as he didn’t chew on anything other than his own toys, and he wouldn’t leap onto the bed. But he was also too scared to look at his foster parents.
In a few days, Smiley began to open up. He revealed his affectionate and loving side, and Kagui brought him out on a walk to the park.
He showed calmness and enjoyed meeting other dogs and even other humans!
It wasn’t long before Kagui and her partner were in love with the adorable pit bull.
They decided to adopt him officially, and now Smiley is safe and sound in a home that will never abandon him.
