Dogs are incredibly powerful beings. So powerful, they are often capable of changing our hearts, minds, and entire outlook on life. Such was the case when David Gray met Valentina, an abandoned Pit Bull pup desperate for a loving family to call her very own. Here’s how one little Pittie not only charmed her way into David’s home and heart, but also inspired him to become a passionate advocate for a dog he once feared.

“In January of 2012, my wife and daughter picked up a stray they found running loose under the freeway in Houston. When they brought the dog home, I immediately freaked – they had brought home a 9-month-old Pit Bull! The only things I knew about Pit Bulls were from the horror stories I’d read and seen on the news. I’d never known anyone who’d had one as a pet, and was 100 percent sure I did not want this dog as our pet! Well, it took less than 24 hours before I was head over heels in love with my Valentina (named for the heart-shaped marking on her booty).

The next year, my wife and I became shocked and angered by the way our sweet Valentina was being perceived by anyone who saw her. People would grab their kids, cross the street, or flat-out give us ugly looks. We made up our minds to advocate for such a misunderstood breed, so in 2013 we began volunteering all of our free time at a local Pit Bull rescue.

We could have never imagined how much one dog would change our entire lives! In the four years since our Valentina rescued us, we have added five more rescued pitties to our family – Rose, Raisin, Hope, Bettie, and Mia, and have been involved in helping 50 rescued Pits find their fur-ever homes. We even started our own Pit Bull rescue here in Houston, Good Lif3 Bully Rescue. Our mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome the homeless Pits because we believe “All dogs deserve a good life!”

Yes, they do, David! Thank you for sharing your lovely story, and for being a champion for such a wonderful, yet unfortunately, still very misunderstood dog. You are an inspiration to Bully parents, rescuers, and advocates everywhere!