KANAB, Utah — When Trinity flashes her mile-wide smile, an adorably droopy lower lip is the only indication that her past was not always as bright as her beaming blue eyes.
Several months ago, the pit-bull-terrier mix wandered into a California fire cleanup site with a torn and swollen face. Scars and infected wounds covered her 2-year-old body, signaling what veterinarians and rescuers alike would later attribute to the likelihood of forced dog fighting.
The workers at the burn site took Trinity to the local animal control department, where she eventually found a home at Best Friends Animal Society. She had finally found compassionate care, but her journey to recovery was far from over.
Veterinarians treated her wounds, but caregivers knew that Trinity’s submissive disposition likely spurred from a history as a “bait dog,” during which she would have been used to train stronger, more aggressive fight dogs.
In her first days at BFAS’ Dogtown, trainers found that Trinity didn’t exhibit much of the mental trauma most dogs rescued from similar situations would carry.
“Trinity needed a little help settling into Dogtown those first few days,” Dogtown manager Chris Vergallito said. “On Mondays, I select a dog to join us at the manager’s office. When I walked in with Trinity, she was hesitant at first. It didn't take long, though, for her to come out of her shell and work us all for treats. I knew right then and there, this dog was the epitome of extraordinary.”
With the help of BFAS’ caregivers, Trinity quickly became the outgoing and affectionate pup she was meant to be. When she met Leslie Zion, an accountant at BFAS, it was love at first sight.
“When I walked into her area she was shy and scared,” Zion said. “She ran over to Chris, the manager of Dogtown, and hid behind her legs. I sat down on the floor and she immediately came over to me, cautiously stepped on my knee and gently stole a kiss on my cheek. It was at the moment I felt that our souls were connected.”
After a tumultuous start to life, Trinity is ready to settle down with her forever family. Alongside Zion and her new adoptive puppy-sibling Chance, Trinity is proving that a little love and compassion can go a long way in the life of a sweet pooch.
