Hi, I’m Hippo (because DUH, I look like one!)

In the winter of 2013, my owners left me at the vet’s office because I had a pyrometra uterus infection. The doctors pulled 8-lbs of infection out of me. When the doctors called my owners to tell them they had to spay me to fix the problem, my owners said they didn't want me back. They even changed their phone number!

Luckily Alli (now my mom!), the founder of Biggies Bullies, was there with one of her foster dogs. The nice vet tech asked Allison to come back and see me and explained to her that I was dumped there. As soon Allison saw me, she knew she couldn’t leave me! The next day she came back for me!

When I first saw Allison, I army-crawled out of my cage and slowly wiggled over to her lap. I sat right down and pushed my whole face against hers. She said I smelled like dirty socks but she did not care, she knew I just wanted to be be hugged.  She put me in the car and we went right to her house, where I met Aaron, who is now my dad! As soon as I saw him I jumped in his lap. He is the best dad in the world and I knew deep down he was going to be mine forever!

About a month went by, Alli and Aaron helped me learn to be brave. I started walking more and learning to like my leash. I had three new dog brothers to hang out with. Alli took me to work with her everyday at a locally-owned pet store called Petagogy. I became quite the sales dog, lots of people would visit me. Some people came in just see me even if they didn’t have a dog. In fact, people are truly disappointed on the days I don’t come to work!

In April 2013, Alli and Aaron decided that they just couldn’t let me go and on April 12th, my moms birthday, dad told her  I could stay forever! I was pretty excited when they told me because I really didn’t want to leave them or my new brothers.

Everything was going really well but then I had a pretty bad ear infection in May and we went back to the vet. While the vet was checking me out, she found a stage 5 heart murmur. They sent me to PVSEC where they did lots of tests and found out that I had Pulmonic Stenosis.

In August 2013 I had surgery; they went down my jugular vein and put a balloon in my valve to expand to make my heart work easier. Sadly because I’m older, there was so much scar tissue around the valve that the surgery was not as successful as it was supposed to be. I am still dealing with a lot off issues, but my medicine helps and really you could never guess anything was wrong with me!

So you read all of that and you may be sad, but guess what? Im not sad, not ever, not even for one second! I’m always the happiest wiggly girl around.

People still come to Petagogy to see me daily. Biggies Bullies even made a t-shirt with my face on it and now I get to be the face of Hungry Hippo's Pet Food Pantry!

I help teach people to remember to appreciate everyday like I do, no matter what their struggles are. I can always make anyone smile.

I’ve been working hard at changing everyone’s thoughts on my breed, some Petagogy customers even tell me I’m the reason they like Pit Bulls now! You can find me breaking stereotypes, fostering bully rescues, stealing your favorite blankets, working at Petagogy, educating the world about my breed, and farting on your pillows.

I may be getting slower in my days but I’m only getting happier. Some of the vets say love keeps me alive and well, and I know that’s why I’m still here! I love my life. I’m a happy girl now and I hope I can teach the whole world about how special dogs like me are.

Love,
Hippo!