Toad is not a pit bull. But sometimes Northwest Arkansas Pit Bull Ambassador founder Cheryl Gibson has to make an exception.
The French bull dog would have been euthanized as a tiny puppy because he has spina bifida. Instead, the veterinarian encouraged the breeder to relinquish him, and Gibson stepped in to rescue him. She soon discovered he's a perfectly happy, ornery and ordinary puppy, running, playing, nipping and crashing into exhausted sleep after a long day outdoors with his friends. What makes him a "special needs" adoption is that Toad will need to wear diapers indoors for the rest of his life.
FAQ
Pet Parade
& Costume Contest
WHEN — Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Dickson Street Liquor, followed by the parade at 10:30 a.m. and the costume contest immediately after the parade
WHERE — Spring Fest on Dickson Street in Fayetteville
COST — Free; donations for Pit Bull Ambassador will be accepted
INFO — Search Pit Bull Ambassador on Facebook; a waiver is available at isavepitbulls.com
FYI
Spring Fest
Schedule
7-10 a.m. — Pancake breakfast at WAC parking lot
8 a.m. — 5K Fun Run at corner of Campbell & Dickson
10 a.m.-2 p.m. — Kids Zone in WAC parking lot
10:30 a.m. — Dog Parade
11 a.m.-6 p.m. — Music
1 p.m. — Bed races
7 p.m. — Pub crawl starting at Kingfish
— Source: fayettevillespringf…
It's lessons like that that made Gibson want to start rescuing dogs. Specifically, she wanted to promote and defend the pit bull terrier breed, which had gotten so much negative publicity because of its use as fighting dogs. She found and adopted Ophie, a classic pit bull with the big square head and cropped ears -- "that scary persona," Gibson says -- started a Facebook page, and Northwest Arkansas Pit Bull Ambassador was soon a working rescue. The problem, Gibson says, is she has no facility, just foster homes. And most of them are only willing to take in puppies, because they have their own dogs, too.
"With a facility, we could help rescue more dogs from local shelters and take in more surrendered dogs and help them find their forever homes," she says. "That helps the community -- and the dogs -- more. But we can't help if we don't have anyplace for them to go.
"We have to say 'no' so many times -- and I don't want to ever say no!"
So Gibson is reaching out for the organization at Saturday's Spring Fest in Fayetteville, hosting the dog parade and costume contest, along with a Pit Bull Ambassador kissing booth where Toad and several other puppies will be the guests of honor. Of course, she hopes to raise some money through donations. But more than that, she hopes to continue to raise awareness that all dogs -- dogs that need braces, have cleft palates or spina bifida and those just simply challenged because of breed discrimination -- deserve loving homes.
Oh, and she also needs foster families. But don't count on being the next home for Toad. At just 3 months old, he's already got Gibson wrapped around his little paw.
NAN What's Up on 04/15/2016