"Good morning, Elly."
Her tail immediately began to wag. I opened her crate and she barreled out, sliding in between my feet. Our Saturday morning routine was becoming something we both looked forward to.
I spent the next hour drinking coffee and perusing Reddit, while she gently pressed her head against my laptop, hoping I would ditch the computer and only pay attention to her. As I brushed my hand over her hairless back, I could feel the pain she once endured but had since forgotten.
We both had come such a long way in just a few short months.
Elly's past is sad, but not uncommon. She was a senior pit bull mix at Fulton County Animal Services, a county shelter in Atlanta, Georgia.
The man who initially turned her in to animal control said she was tied on a chain for most of her life, which would explain the prominent sores on her hind legs, although he would not identify the owner.
Her first week at the shelter was rough; she refused to be approached by people or dogs. But the staff refused to give up on her. They endearingly named her "Elly" because she resembled an elephant with her gentle demeanor and grey skin.
When I met her she was shy, severely heartworm positive and leery of my intentions. I signed the foster paperwork that day.
Over the course of many heartworm treatments, vet visits, dog introductions and multiple apologies to my husband for bringing another dog home, Elly and I formed an undeniable bond.
We ran errands together, her head poking out the window just enough to feel the air. We sat at coffee shops and drank beer on patios. We walked around the neighborhood, stopping briefly to let kids pet her.
She was a great ice breaker and an even better conversation starter. Where did you get her? Why does she look like that? Where can I get a dog that calm?
She allowed me to start the difficult conversations with a smile, while creating an environment that fostered both understanding and education.
This is my foster dog, Elly, from Fulton County Animal Services. She's an 8-year old pit bull mix who's looking for her forever home.
I was proud to tell her story.
She fit in perfectly with our fast-paced lifestyle, providing a calming balance. Nothing was ever going to happen quickly with our 8-year old pit bull. And as our life began to slow down, it unexpectedly got better.
I would like to say the benefits were mutual, but anyone that has ever fostered a pit bull knows that's not true. The lessons they teach us are far greater than anything we could ever teach them.
Elly was learning to trust people again, while we were learning to be patient. Elly was learning how to coexist within a family home, while we were learning about resilience. Elly was learning what it meant to be loved, while we were learning how to love unconditionally.
One day Elly will leave us and teach another family all of these lessons. But as I sit here in front of my laptop, while Elly is snoring next to me, I am so grateful. Grateful for Fulton County Animal Services, grateful for all of the pit bull advocates, but most of all, I am grateful for Saturdays with Elly.
Elly is available for adoption through Fulton County Animal Services.
For the second year, The Huffington Post is holding a week-long, community-driven effort to bust the myths and raise awareness about pit bulls, a maligned "breed" that often bears the brunt of dated, discriminatory legislation that can make it near impossible for these dogs to find a forever home. You can follow along with HuffPost Pit Bull Week here, or on social media where we'll be using the hashtag #PitBullWeek.
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