Her Happiness Cannot Be Cropped: St. Mary’s County Pit Bull Buttas Needs A Home

CALIFORNIA, Md. — Buttas does not see the feature that strangers may notice first.

She does not know that her ears were cut short before she came into the care of St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption and Resource Center. She does not understand the assumptions some people make when they see a pit bull, particularly one with cropped ears.

Buttas knows belly rubs. She knows the excitement of seeing familiar volunteers. She knows how to run toward the people she loves with her entire body wiggling and joy written across her face.

Most importantly, Buttas is beginning to learn what it feels like to relax inside a home.

Shelter Life Was Overwhelming

At approximately 1 year old, Buttas is still a young dog with a playful personality and an eagerness to connect with people. However, the sights, sounds and constant activity of the shelter left her feeling anxious.

Staff members at the St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resource Center believed she might be more comfortable in a foster home, where she could decompress and show more of her personality outside the shelter environment.

In mid-July, a foster parent named Kim welcomed Buttas into her home. The change has allowed the young dog to become happier, more relaxed and increasingly comfortable with everyday family life.

In an interview with The BayNet, Kim described Buttas as “calm and relaxed when she’s at home.”

That peaceful side of Buttas may have been difficult for potential adopters to see while she was struggling with the stress of shelter life. In foster care, however, she has been given the stability and reassurance needed to settle in.

Learning To Be Part Of A Family

Kim’s household includes two children, ages 4 and 8, as well as a 5-month-old puppy.

Buttas has adjusted well to living with the family, according to Kim. She has shown that she can respond to the size and energy of the smaller puppy rather than overwhelming it during play.

“Buttas adjusted her play strength to match their other dog,” Kim said.

It is a small but meaningful detail — one that demonstrates how the energetic young dog can adapt her behavior and learn how to interact within a household.

Her experience in foster care also provides shelter staff with valuable information about how she behaves away from the kennel environment. While every introduction between a dog and a new family should be handled carefully, Buttas’ progress offers an encouraging glimpse of the companion she could become.

Her Happiness Speaks Louder

When Buttas returned to visit the shelter Sunday, her excitement was unmistakable.

She recognized the volunteers who cared for her during her time there and greeted them with enthusiasm. She soaked up their attention, rolled over for belly rubs and appeared eager to reconnect with the people she had grown to trust.

The moment revealed the dog beyond the physical appearance that might cause some potential adopters to pass her by.

The circumstances surrounding the cropping of Buttas’ ears are not known. Whatever happened before she entered the shelter’s care, it has not diminished her capacity for happiness, affection or trust.

She does not carry herself as a dog defined by what was done to her. She moves through the world as a young, joyful dog who wants to play, receive affection and belong to someone.

Looking Beyond The Stigma

Pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs can face additional barriers to adoption because of stereotypes surrounding their breed and appearance. For Buttas, her cropped ears may make those assumptions even more immediate.

Her foster experience tells a more personal story.

At home, she has been calm and relaxed. She has lived alongside young children and learned to play gently with a smaller puppy. At the shelter, she joyfully greeted the volunteers she remembered and eagerly accepted every belly rub offered to her.

Those experiences cannot predict how any dog will behave in every situation, but they help show who Buttas has become when she feels secure.

She is young, playful, affectionate and still learning. What she needs now is a committed adopter willing to continue the patience and stability that have helped her thrive in foster care.

A Foster Home Is Only The Beginning

Foster care has given Buttas relief from the anxiety she experienced at the shelter. It has also given her an opportunity to practice living as part of a family.

But a foster home is a bridge, not her final destination.

The staff, volunteers and foster family who have watched Buttas grow want to find a permanent home where she can continue feeling safe, relaxed and loved. They want prospective adopters to see past her ears, past the stereotypes and into the joyful face of a young dog ready to begin the rest of her life.

Buttas does not know she looks different.

She only knows how good it feels when someone rubs her belly, invites her to play or welcomes her into their arms. Somewhere, there may be a family ready to make sure she never has to wonder where she belongs again.

Those interested in adopting Buttas should contact the St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption & Resource Center to learn more about her, arrange an introduction and speak with staff about whether she may be a good match for their household.

Interested In Fostering?

The St. Mary’s County Animal Adoption and Resource Center offers foster opportunities for neonatal and adult animals. Foster homes can give animals like Buttas a quieter place to decompress, build confidence and show their personalities while awaiting adoption.

Animal Adoption & Resource Center
22975 FDR Blvd.
California, Md. 20619

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