Iris came at Philly Bully Team foster-centered rescue after her owner gave her up from a backyard breeder in Brooklyn.
This unique girl was entirely shut down and frightened that even the straightforward act of opening a treat bag would cause her to flinch and cower.
Iris’s history remained unknown, but her conduct suggested either profound physical mistreatment or a total lack of human contact, leaving her stripped of love and tenderness.
However, in the arms of her rescuer, she discovered security. Advancing slowly each day, despite being tough, she set forth on a path to recovery.
The Anxious Pit Bull Girl
Upon her initial arrival at her foster household, Iris was still extremely shut down, and each passing day proved to be a test.
“You could sense that she did not comprehend why we were close to her, why we were in her vicinity, and she would recoil, looking so dismal,” Lauryn, Iris’s foster mother, shared with The Dodo.
Iris declined to enter the house, opting to remain in a specific location in their backyard. Despite their persistent calling and pleading for her to come inside, she simply perched in the far corner behind a planter.
“Sometimes her head would pop up, and it looked as if she was sprouting from the planter,” Lauryn chuckled slightly.
Iris’s foster family displayed remarkable patience. They understood that with ample time to adapt and process, she would eventually reveal herself and thrive.
For the entire first month, they kept the door to their backyard open for her. “She would come in, peek her head indoors, then retreat, repeating that about 15 times,” Lauryn recounted.
Bringing her inside the house was certainly a lengthy and gradual effort, but eventually, she managed to do so.
Iris needed to learn that it’s completely acceptable to be around humans, to receive affection and warmth, and to feel secure while lying down in her new safe space.
She was so traumatized that every interaction was a developmental experience for her.
“I don’t think she truly grasped human interaction. I would take the time to hug her and pet her frequently. She would gaze at me as if to say, ‘I’m not sure what you’re doing, but I enjoy it’,” Lauryn remarked.
Experiencing Play For The First Time
Around a month into her stay with the foster family, Iris’s caretakers made the decision to slowly introduce her to their dog, Max.
In the first weeks of this introduction, Max tended to join Iris, sitting behind a tree in their backyard. They would merely sit together with some space between them, doing nothing at all.
Over time, they started to interact more. As their engagement increased, Iris’s progress quickened, signifying a wonderful breakthrough in her rehabilitation.
Witnessing her play for the very first time was an incredibly joyful occasion for everyone.
“She was prancing around our yard, bouncing about like a little elephant. I was sitting there like, ‘Oh my God, who is this dog?’,” Lauryn expressed.
Simultaneously, one of Lauryn’s close friends reached out, showing interest in learning more about Iris.
Iris In Her Forever Home
Jacki and Matt, friends of Lauryn, from Philadelphia, officially adopted Iris. They were an ideal match for her, as they owned a wonderful dog named Clio who would assist Iris in coming out of her shell.
“On her first night, she leaped onto the bed instantly. It didn’t even cross her mind,” Matt shared with The Dodo.
Her new sister, Clio, undoubtedly guided Iris in learning how to be a proper dog. Wherever Clio went, Iris wanted to follow. They became inseparable.
And, Iris – she engaged in even more play every single day.
“She is the sweetest dog, not a single vicious bone in her being. She adores Clio. We feel incredibly fortunate to have her. We cherish her,” stated Iris’s new family.