Please let me tell you a little bit about Presto and share a bit of his story. Presto is “that” rescue dog.  The big one. The one no one wants because he is just such a large dog. And he is clearly a pit bull. 

Because so much more can go wrong with a large dog than with a small dog and especially with a pit bull, right? Or at least that’s what I thought, and readers of this article will think.

I was honestly a little terrified once I realized what I might have gotten myself into. Born in a rescue/kennel environment on October 5, 2014, Presto is an American Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull), Boxer and Akita as per a recent DNA test.

Presto arrived at the Midland Humane Coalition (MHC) in June of 2020. Because of his size and a few other issues, the MHC had some challenges trying to find the right home for him.

After all was said and done, Presto ended up staying in the official care of the MHC Adoption Center at PetSmart in Midland for 229 days.

As luck would have it, he was transferred out in mid-August to a foster home environment to a lady who wanted to foster a large dog. She thought large dogs were more difficult to try and get into a home environment and thought this could be more of a help to Midland Humane Coalition.

She also had a very large doggie door and was used to dealing with large dogs. Or so she thought. 

The story of Presto’s fostering is detailed below by me, Presto’s furr-ever person

Falling in love with Presto didn’t take very long. In fact, it was almost love at first sight, except Presto wouldn’t come to me so that I could actually see him.

Instead, he ran and hid under his bed at the Midland Humane Coalition Adoption Center, curled up in the tightest ball in the furthest corner. At that point, having come from another rescue to have MHC try and find him a home, Presto had spent just under 6 years being a “homeless” rescue dog, he was just under 6 years old.

Learning this was a little terrifying. I didn’t think I had it in me to have a dog who had spent so long not knowing the comforts of a home and not having a “person” to love him.

I fostered Presto in mid-August 2020, thinking I would keep him for a while to help prep him for his journey to his forever home.

From the minute I got him home, Presto was truly the sweetest dog ever. I even kept a journal of all of his comings, goings and doings for the person who would eventually end up with him.

Presto had some issues with eating (wouldn’t), being in the house (wouldn’t) and greeting guests (couldn’t).

​Over the next several months, I worked with MHC on tips to best acclimate Presto and how to let him properly decompress. Each time, the MHC team was so helpful and welcoming with information.

When it became apparent that Presto had severe trust issues with guests in my home, I turned again to MHC and they assisted me with getting Presto the positive reinforcement training that he so desperately needed, to be able to live a calm and happy life.

I wanted to assist Presto on his journey of getting to his “person” at his furrever home, wherever that might have been.

A few more months went by and the positive reinforcement training provided by Teresa Tuttle (Dogs n Action) and Ricky Bedient (That Dog Guy) allowed for a huge event to happen both in my life and in Presto’s. I initially did not see it coming when I went to MHC’s Adoption Center to “just foster a dog“.

On January 23rd of 2021, I happily signed the MHC adoption papers to give Presto a forever home where he would always be loved, properly cared for and comforted.

It turns out, he had already promised the same to me back in August when we started our journey.  ​ After a grand total of 2,302 days as a rescue, shelter, foster, MHC dog — Presto, who is a little over 6 years old, has finally found his perfect forever home!

This perfect pairing would not have happened without the Midland Humane Coalition and PetSmart’s Enhanced Adoption Center.  

As a community reminder, please spay and neuter your pets. And if you can’t commit to having a full-time pet, please consider fostering a pet.

Do you have a rescue story you wish to share? Send us a message here!