I LOVE EVERYONE!: ROCCO THE THERAPY PIT BULL

From a shelter survivor to a certified therapy dog! Rocco is a volunteer with Pets on Wheels, and he loves the PAWS to Read program and hanging with the kids!

The American Dog reports
Photos courtesy of Valerie Wilson

In October of 2009, Valerie Wilson saw an urgent crossposting on Facebook for a litter of 7 terrified Pit Bull puppies on the euthanasia list. The shelter in Virginia would not allow the puppies to be placed up for adoption because they discriminated against the breed; however, they did let a rescue called All 4 the Animals pull the whole litter of pups from death row to safety.

Valerie tracked down this rescue and inquired about adopting one of the puppies named Rocco, who was terrified of people. Because Rocco was a special case and Valerie was a vet tech who had experience with shy dogs, the rescue waived their policy of prohibiting out-of-state applicants and allowed Valerie to adopt Rocco! She immediately made a game plan to socialize Rocco and enrolled him in puppy classes. After months of socializing and classes, Rocco turned around for the better and even became certified as a therapy dog.

Rocco is now 2 years old and volunteers with Pets on Wheels of Central Maryland (www.petsonwheels.org). He has visited nursing homes, a college, a military base, and several libraries. Valerie says, “Rocco's main ‘job’ is the PAWS to Read program in Baltimore, where he has been volunteering for a year. Rocco goes to the library and helps the kids to read, because the dogs do not judge them if they stutter or mispronounce a word. Rocco has had kids of all reading-skill levels. The program is designed for kids 6–11. Each child picks a book then gets 15 minutes alone with Rocco to read him the story. Some kids even make a point of showing him the pictures! Rocco has had children that were afraid of dogs read to him and the parents commented that, because he is such a mellow dog, it made the child comfortable to approach him. When they learn that the first dog their fearful child is comfortable with is a Pit Bull, they are quite surprised!”

Rocco also loves to spend time with his family and play with his older sister, Sadie, who is an elderbull and almost 12 years old. Valerie had adopted her when Sadie was hit by a car and then abandoned at the animal hospital (where Valerie works). “Rocco and Sadie love to wrestle and do zoomies in the yard together,” Valerie says. Also, after every session at the library, Rocco gets to play with his two friends, Willow and Moose (both Yellow Labs), who also volunteer in the PAWS to Read program.

“Rocco is my best friend! He is such a sweet boy who has the most soulful eyes that just seem to draw everyone in that meets him. He is proof that hard work and dedication pay off! No one would have ever imagined that the poor little frightened puppy would grow up and come out of his shell to help others and love doing it. Rocco is so happy with his life, and he couldn’t possibly be loved any more,” Valerie says.

Become a fan of Rocco:
www.facebook.com/Rocco-The-Therapy-Pit-Bull

Become a friend of Valerie
www.facebook.com/PitBullMamahelpsthePitBulls