Nobody Wanted To Adopt This Bonded Pair Of Pitbulls, Instead They Only Wanted The Male
Sometimes, when dogs are abandoned or rescued in pairs, they find themselves "bonded." According to Dr. Gary Chapman, marriage counselor, "Bonded pairs of animals often have a deep emotional connection that can be similar to human relationships." While they are often siblings, non-siblings can bond as well. Although every animal can develop bonds, there are times when these bonds are so close that one or both animals decline when not with the other.
The bad news is that bonded dogs are best kept together, and that's sometimes very difficult for rescue organizations to manage. Not many people are looking to adopt two dogs at once; that can be a tall order!
That's exactly the situation that ACCT Philly was facing with a pair of bonded pitbulls. It seemed that nobody wanted the pair, and people were primarily interested in the male dog.
Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia wanted to find a single home for this bonded pair of pitbulls, but interest from the public rested mostly in the male dog.
Kathryn Birster and her husband had recently lost their beloved dog of nine years, leaving them devastated, when she noticed ACCT Philly's post about the pitbulls.
After what felt like an eternity deliberating the conundrum, on March 14, 2014, the Birsters went to see the pair of pibble dogs for the first time.
With joy, everyone bonded immediately!
“After spending some time with them, we knew we couldn’t leave them behind, and we (tearfully) completed the adoption process, bringing them home that night.”
Gus and Nina
Adopted and dubbed Gus and Nina, the pair of pitties settled into their new home and life with the Birsters!
Kathryn realized it was truly for the best that Gus and Nina got to stay together. She said:
“I know now that Gus would have been a complete wreck without Nina. She’s his comfort and his grounding.”
“If he’d been adopted or fostered without her, he would have always, always been searching for her. Nina’s a bit more independent, but she would have lost her play companion.”
Today, Kathryn runs Gus and Nina's Instagram page, where it's clear the dogs are living their best, happiest, most loved life possible.
Their naps, shenanigans, and backyard adventures are shared with thousands of delighted followers, but the most important thing is that this family all found each other!
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