Penelope is one festive pit bull.
She has a Christmas stocking with her name on it, a Santa dress with matching sequined antlers, and she loves to have her nails painted pink.
Most importantly, she is devoted to her new family, which includes three little boys and an adopted pit bull brother.
Just a few months ago, she was found motionless near an arroyo in a south-side neighborhood.
Someone reported her to the Pima Animal Care Center after noticing she had not moved for more than a day, said Karen Hollish, PACCβs development director.
The PACC officer who picked her up assumed she had been hit by a car, and called ahead for the shelter veterinarians to prepare for surgery, Hollish said.
However, when Jennifer Wilcox, PACCβs head veterinarian, examined her, it was discovered that the young dog had pyometra, an infection of the uterus commonly suffered by pets who are not spayed.
Penelopeβs infection had been neglected for so long that her uterus had perforated, and she could not move from the pain, Hollish said.
The shelterβs medical team immediately removed her uterus and flushed the infection from her abdomen, said Hollish, adding that it was obvious she had been used for breeding.
As the dog started to recover, PACCβs medical team turned to one of the shelterβs volunteers and asked if her family could foster the dog until she was fully recovered.
The family had already successfully fostered a dog who was recently adopted.
After several days, however, Penelope returned to PACC for an additional surgery to clear the infection.
By the time she returned to her foster home to complete her recovery, it was clear she was home for good, Hollish said. Penelope was devoted to her new family, and bonded with their other rescued dog.
The family continues to volunteer at PACC, walking adoptable dogs and helping to socialize animals.
They also plan to include Penelope and her new canine brother in their family photos.
