We have no problem admitting that sometimes we just aren’t quite sure what to do about a bully under our care. That was very true in the case of girl named Riley. Riley had been in her foster home for quite a long time. We were in a position where we felt we didn’t quite have enough information about her to know what kind of home would be best for her. We knew she was cared for and safe and sound in her foster home but were just unsure what to do about getting more pertinent information. We didn’t want to move her to a different foster home because we feel that it isn’t good on the bullies when they are shuffled around. We talked to other people in the area about going to visit her and spend time with her to see what we could learn. Then, in October, while at Silverwood, the national Bull Terrier show, our placement coordinator, Pamela Rys and Tricia Murphy, who know Riley’s foster mom, started to talk about the situation. Pam mentioned a local gentleman named Garth Twyeffort (https://www.facebook.com/gtwyeffort), who we know as well, as a potential home for Riley. Garth is a bull terrier guy through and through and had sadly lost his boy Lightning McQueen to lymphoma in July. He has a more chill American Staffordshire Terrier named Odin and a female Bull Terrier named Harper along with 3 cats. We had an idea that Riley was good with other dogs and possibly cats but we weren’t really sure how she would do because she just didn’t have much real world exposure. Since Garth lived so close though and is very experienced with the breed, after some real thought and consideration, we decided to do a trial. Riley went to Garth’s house on November 11th, 2023. Since going there, we have watched her gradually become a member of the pack. With each update, we have had smiles from ear to ear and happy tears seeing Riley come out of her shell and play and love and even be a little mischievous. Our hearts are full knowing she found her place and is living the life she deserves. We aren’t sure how things would have played out without that conversation with Pam and Tricia that day in October and are so very grateful to both ladies for their input and thoughts. We are beyond happy to report that Riley’s adoption papers will be signed by one of our coordinators in the near future, making her an official member of the Twyeffort family.
