It's been just over a year since we adopted Nahla and it has been quite an adventure with our happy girl -- one that my husband and I wouldn't trade for anything. Upon adoption, we learned that Nahla had been thrown from a moving vehicle shortly after giving birth to puppies. A good Samaritan found her and nursed her back to health but was unable to keep her as she had many of her own dogs to care for. After bouncing back from injuries related to her car toss -- alopecia and mange, just to name a few -- we knew our Nahla was a trooper. And, if those health problems weren't enough, Nahla also tested positive for heartworm.

Pit bulls have it tough these days. They're mistreated by some, feared by many. It's my personal opinion that mixed pits may even have it worse...not purebed to be prized by some aficionados but still, the obvious muscular body, large triangle shaped head solicits fear and makes adoption difficult. So, when I saw Pit bull/Beagle mix Dazey's picture on Homewardtrails.org, those scared sweet eyes, spoke to me. She was in a rural shelter without much time left.

We had owned a Pit bull for 12 years. We had known how affectionate, loving, and kind they can be. I had first-hand experience watching as a two year old climbed on top of my pit bull multiple times, reaching into that mouth-- those large muscular jaws, and sharp teeth-- to take her prized toy and each time, my beautiful Maggie just let that toy go and licked the child's face.