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Pocket Pit
written by Kim Smith on October 19th, 2009 | 
40 comments 
Legitimate breeders do not dump their liabilities in the shelter. So infer what you will about the couple who dumped little Miss Pocket at the shelter, but kept the rest of their litter at home, advertising them on Craigslist even as they dumped Pocket to be killed.
Pocket is a 6 month old blue nose pit bull who weighs in at a mere 6.5 lbs. Her siblings, by comparison are each around 30 pounds. They were bred for the popular color of their coats and so that their “owners” could make a profit. Housed in a cement dog run, none even seem to know how to relieve themselves on grass or even dirt. Once Pocket’s breeder/owners realized that she might have a medical condition that they didn’t want to have to diagnose or treat, she was dumped at the Humane Society. Her “owners”, however, waited until out in their concrete kennel, the rest of the puppies had beaten up on Pocket so badly that she was not much more than sores and scars when they discarded her. I’m sure that the “owners” were well aware that a shelter would likely have to euthanize her for the same medical reasons they didn’t want to have to deal with. A responsible breeder would not have made their problem our problem.
Despite potential congenital defects, Pocket’s tiny body houses a huge spirit and not a person passes by that doesn’t get greeted with a little prance and a wriggly happy tail. She literally danced into the hearts of the staff members at the North County Humane Society. Once they met her, they could not bear to see her life extinguished before her time, even if that time was not to be that long. They quickly contacted one of the PETCO Foundation’s charitable partners, Pit Bull Rescue San Diego (PBRSD), to help them save Pocket’s life. While PBRSD has also seen the down side of the economy in reduced adoptions and increased pleas to take in more dogs, who could resist that goofy bug-eyed little face? Looking askance at a diminishing bank book, they stepped in to take Pocket and immediately began having tests run to determine what might be causing her diminutive size.
Within the first week of her tenure with PBRSD, Pocket was subjected to over 7 hours of blood tests, x rays and poking and prodding. Tests for shunt and pituitary dwarfism and thyroid and kidney disorders all came back negative. Other than a bladder infection, some anemia and a low protein count, nothing has been able to point at the cause of her tiny stature. She was brought current on all her vaccinations so that no new medical issues could be introduced. While all seems to look good at this point, PBRSD has committed to keeping her in foster care until adulthood (6 months from now), with monthly blood tests in order to track her growth and ensure that all is developing normally. No reputable rescue should risk putting a dog into a forever home without being certain that that pup is healthy and has a reasonable chance for a good quality of life with their new pet parents.
The folks at the PETCO Corporate and PETCO Foundation offices are certainly not complaining that this feisty little anomaly will be sticking around for a few more months. And staying in foster care is all fine with little Pocket as she now has a job (including sporting her own PETCO name badge). She is at the center of a new term called “Pocket Breaks” at the PETCO offices. On particularly stressful work days, she just has to wag her teeny little tail at someone and the stress has no where to go but away. People are eager to hear when Pocket’s foster mom (me) is going into a meeting so that they can Pocket-sit. Her photo is on everyone’s phones and has been sent to wives and girlfriends and pet lovers nationwide. She’s been dressed up and cuddled and introduced to everyone’s pets. She is busy being a little ambassador, showing people the ultra friendly, super cuddly, pittie personality bundled into a non-intimidating package.
While Pocket’s condition is fairly unusual, you need to know that it is not at all unusual for rescues across the nation to take on the expense and challenge of a dog with unknown medical issues that has been dumped in the shelters. Rescues struggle to provide each adoptable pet with a chance at a good quality of life and revel in the joy when they discover a little diamond such as Pocket.
The PETCO Foundation rejoices in this bond between pets and people and is excited to be able to provide monetary, material and educational resources to help our Charitable Partners to continue to rehabilitate what might even be your next forever pet. We could not reach out in this way to our 6,200 charitable partners if it were not for your steadfast generosity. Will you help us help them? Your donations really do save lives.
This makes me sick but the people who live off the misery of animals have NO conscious about these wonderful animals just being murdered–I am surprised they even left this sweet baby at a shelter. May this sweet pup find a forever home with people who will love her as she will love them.
Great writeup Kim! Excellent job by you, Petco, and PBRSD! Pocket Piti
I’m starting to wonder if there is such a thing as a legitimate Pit Bull breeder. I get very angry when I think about people profiting from the creation of more puppies…. many of whom would become homeless and abandoned like Pocket… when there are so many out there already sitting in shelters. It seems very irresponsible and disrespectful. I know I’ll raise a lot of hackles with this line of thinking, but I often wish the department of agriculture would institute a 3 year breeding break on dogs across the board. You cannot really “make a living” breeding dogs if you are doing it properly. It’s a hobby for people who want to perpetuate the quality of their favorite breeds, not make a buck. So the argument that instituting a breeding break would take away sources of income is bogus. If people really care about the quality of life for dogs, we should all pull together to get our animal population under control and put puppy mills and irresponsible backyard breeders completely out of business.
I am in LOVE with this pup!! She is adorable and so fortunate to be away from that breeder. It’s so disgusting what people do to dogs.
Oh my goodness! It’s a shame to see people treat an animal that way! However, I think it’s great that Petco and other rescues do what they do for these animals! I wish I lived in CA…I would LOVE to adopt Pocket! She would have such a loving and caring home! I’m on the East Coast but if I had the means to make it to CA…Pocket would DEFINITELY have a furever home with me!
Great article and great little doggie. I imagine that now everyone will want to adopt her!
I sure do! Cutie.
OMG…Where and how could I adopt this sweet little angel? I would LOVE to give her a good home!! I’m betting though, she’s already been inquired about many, many times? What a precious baby! I swear, people have no souls. These so called “breeders” don’t look at these puppies as living, breathing beings that are individuals…Just a commodity to make a dollar or two. Really fantastic when shelters are bursting at the seams with babies in need of good homes. PLEASE let me know if there’s any chance at all I could adopt her!
Also…I’m not terribly far away, just in SLC!
keep us updated with photos as she grows up! i would love to see how big she gets!! she is so cute, she looks just like our 90lb pitbull – only like a shrunken sweater!
i am sure she is packed with just as much love though!!
I love my “Pocket Breaks”!
Another great write up, Kim! I think the best line in your piece is: “She is busy being a little ambassador, showing people the ultra friendly, super cuddly, pittie personality bundled into a non-intimidating package.” I wish more people would realize that her personality, and NOT the snarling vicious monster, IS the epitomy of a pit bull. Hopefully someday peope will look at pit bulls with absolute awe and wonder, like I do, that an animal with such strength and power, will melt in your hands like a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss at the slightest bit of love and attention from their people. Thank you Pocket for your sharing your breed’s “goodness” with others. We love you baby girl!
My daughters have pit bulls and are sweet and loving family pets. They are all given a bad rap because of people like this. You can’t get an apt or even go to the dog park without people expecting these adorable puppies to attack or kill them. Wish there was a law to protect these poor little creatures.
pocket’s story is remarkable… she was definitely meant for something more than what her “owners” had intended. Bless you for taking care of her. she’s amazingly special as are all animals!
“why breed or buy while homeless die….?” way to go petco for stepping up to the plate and helping this sweet little soul who deserves so much better…
What an adorable pup! She deserves all the chances she can get to make it in this World! I feel sorry for those losers who deserted her; they missed out on a lifetime of love this special pup has to give!
She is a sweetie. This is why I shop at Petco and donate with every transaction!!
I love pit bulls, they are strong, beautiful and great with people. I know that breed like many large breeds need extra exercise and attention as they are people dogs. She would be the perfect size for me!!!I live in Illinois so I know I would be way down on the list but she would be so spoiled and loved here she wouldn’t ever even think about her terrible owners!! I make homemade dog treats and spoil my dogs but they know who the pack leader is!!!! he he
She is just precious! This story raises a red flag, has anyone taken time to investigate if these people are running a dog fighting ring? It is so sad to think that people use these poor animals as disposable objects!
What a marvelous Petco representative for her tenacious spirit! Wonderful story!
thanks for sharing it!
Please keep us updated on Pocket’s status! She is so very precious. thank you so much to all those who have helped in her rescue. I love her!
no there is no such thing as a true purebred pitbull breeder… as they make up a large group of staffy mixes….
There is no doubt that Pocket will have a forever home waiting for her by the time her “waiting period” is up. Whoever makes the decision who her adoptive parents will be is going to have a really tough decision, as there will be so many who want her.
But my bet is that someone at Petco will adopt her. How could you meet a baby that sweet and not want her?
I have heard that THIRTY PERCENT of dogs in pounds and shelters are Pitbulls!
I own two pitbulls and you are so right about how good natured they are. My sons and I go out of our way to show people what loving dogs they are and I’m sure we have changed many minds concerning their pre-conceived notions of what a pit bull really is. Our oldest was adopted from a shelter and I’ll admit I was a little concerned about it, not knowing her back-ground. But like little “Pocket” she managed to slip into our hearts and family like she always belonged and I have never regreted saving her. Pocket deserves a family who will love her, no matter what her size and she’s lucky to be rid of those so called “breeders”
After wiping away the tears of both sadness and joy, what a sweetie. I have had many rescues in my life and have loved each and every one in a more special way. Thank you Lord for the animal lovers in this cold cruel world!
OMG. This will def have to be print and added to my desk!!! I’m so VERY happy to hear that petco stepped up. I’m sure no matter what she will have a life full of love!
What a gorgeous little pup! (It’s about HALF the size of my CAT) Of course, my cat, MooMoo, usually only jumps at BIG dogs, probably just to preempt any possible attacks on himself, so I think he’d actually get along with “Pocket”, since she’s so small. I doubt they’ll ever meet, but it’s nice to see that she’s being taken care of, after being dropped on your doorstep like that. Keep up the GOOD WORK!!
We love her here at the NSC!! And YES she is on my cell phone and I have sent her pictures to all my friends!!
OMG!!! Pocket is tooo cute! I have a Pitt Bull that will lick you to death & just wants to play,play play!! I’m so sick of the the Pitt stereo type.. Yes i’m sure if i fed My Pitt gunPowder & abused him (Michael Vick are you listening?) he would be ill tempered,, would’nt you be??
GO POCKET!!
OMG I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS PUP SHE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!! I AM CURRENTLY THE OWNER OF THREE WONDERFUL PITBULLS WHICH I HAVE TAKEN FROM OWNERS WHO COULDN’T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL I SURE WOULDN’TR MIND ADDING HER TO MY FAMILY!! SHE WOULD FIT IN WONDERFULLY!!!!
I am surprised to find no mention of the possibility that this dog represents a mutation. Wouldn’t it be a valuable thing to have a new line of mini-pitbulls? Is it too late to find out? In other words, has she already been neutered?
I’m so happy the Pocket was rescued. She is beautiful. Personally, I would get a pit if they all came in that size.
What a shame but lucky break Pocket got over what the other pups will/could endure that the breeders sells or fights!! I have 2 pits already, one is red & her brother is white & blue but BIG & yeah think how cool would it be to have a mini pit! Not that I don’t like mine big but how much easier transport & control would be on a pint size pits! I too agree with the negative news on pits..it seems they target them out in the news..do they EVER write stories of the other dogs that bite?? NOPE..never do you see or hear of the MULTITUDE of other dogs that bite especially the small breeds which are notorious biters!! She is quite adorable & what a beautiful color. She’s the lucky one of that litter! I hope she goes to a wonderful family & yep I’d take her on if needed but with the responses already I’m SURE she’ll be adopted with no problem! Well off to the park for our run with mine….
We rescued a pit bull puppy. She ran in front of our truck and we thought we thought we had run ove her. I got out to check and she ran like crazy to me and jumped in my arms. I set her in the seat of the truck and my husbnd got a face wash.
We knew where she came from so not wanting to take dog and not let the owners know how we felt about how they take care of their animals. After saying my peace I told him we were taking this skeleton of this puppy…..
We took her to our vet. It took about to get in pretty good shape. From day she minded so we named her little angel. Loves everyone and stays by our side in public.
I agree something shoule be done about the breeders and what they are breed for. This is our 2nd pit. They have a bad rap due to breeders not the dog.
This story should be featured on tv. Call Ellen or Oprah – or best yet, call Rachael Ray she is a pit lover. You will receive many donations this way for sure. And maybe, just maybe, a twinge of guilt may fall into the hearts of the irresponsible breeders – all of them.
I love this little dog. I have a pitbull (Zeus) that I rescued from a pitbull fighting farm. They were going to kill him because he wasn’t mean enough. These dogs really are sweethearts and get such a horrible reputation. If you need a forever home for Pocket, please let me know. I know everyone wants her, but Zeus would love a little sister.
I second what most everyone above has said. I would adopt her in an instant. We have a chi and a cur at home. Personality would fit well with our cur, size with the chi
We’re in northern cali but would drive down for her for sure. Before we got our Cur (only just figured out his breed – was rescued at 6 mo in terrible shape as well) we had a pit/border collie mix. Best dog we’ve ever owned. I’d take another full-sized pitty if we had the space.
Pocket’s DNA results came in this weekend:
Primary breed was unidentified (which we expected because Pit Bull isn’t on the list of breeds that Canine Heritage ids.)
Secondary breed is Staffordshire Terrier (one of the breeds that was used to make up an American Pit Bull Terrier)
Trace DNA was found of a Boston Terrier (not enough to explain the size anomaly)
She is currently 6-7 months old and weighs in at 14 lbs at last weigh in. She will go up for adoption in January from the Pit Bull Rescue San Diego web site – http://www.pbrsd.com.
In the mean time, Pit Bull Rescue San Diego has a number of wonderful regular sized puppies that are ready for adoption now. Check ‘em out!
I just saw this story… she is so cute!! I have 2 pits… they are so loving and caring. they are big babies.
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Wonderful story. She’s a little cutie! I’m glad she’s in good hands now. Pit Bull breeders make me sick!