Eli

When I'm with my human family I am an overgrown lap dog. I like to be near my people and snuggle up to give kisses.

I love to play with my toys, but since I don't see very well I'm not that great at "catch" or "fetch." Regardless, a tennis ball is still fun to chew on and toys are still entertaining to play with.

I'm a special needs dog because I have premature cataracts that are causing me to lose my sight. I can see lights and darks, as well as movement, but my hearing is sharp as a tack. Before you start feeling sorry for me, I want you to know that it doesn't slow me down one bit and I'm a happy, goofy boy! There are definitely things that my new family will need to help me with, but aside from that I'm a healthy, lovable guy.

My favorite game with my canine friends is to wrestle and roll around together. I'm still growing out of some rude puppy behavior and like to play pretty rought sometimes, so I'm best matched with easygoing, playful dogs my own size who will also let me know when they've had enough.

I haven't met kids yet, but due to my bounciness I'm probably best matched with kids ten and up for now, until I learn my manners a little more. It's not that I'd hurt them on purpose, I'm just a big clumsy goofball at times.

Other types of animals I've met include cats and when I interact with them I'm not all that interested in them -- I'd much rather eat their food than interact with them! Again, since my eyesight isn't great, I couldn't chase them even if I wanted to (which I don't seem to want to anyway).

Trust me, I'm working on the potty thing.

People tell me that Im more adoptable if I know things. Here are the commands that I've already learned - I've mastered "sit," and sort of know "down," thanks to the nice people at the shelter where I came from. I'm also super duper treat-motivated, so positive reinforcement training will be so much fun for me and my new family.

My foster family knows me pretty well and they think the perfect family for me would be one that is seriously dedicated to my ongoig training and helping me be all I can be. Right now I'm working on staying calm in exciting situations. Because I'm going blind, I am very tactile-oriented and listen very closely to everything going on around me, so it's important that I harness my energy in the right direction and have a patient owner who will be a good leader to help me succeed at this. Older, dogsmart kids would be great to live with, and I would love a friendly dog my size to play with. I would also do best in an active family who takes me lots of places and exercises me regularly. I love going on walks, and move carefully down the sidewalk with my paws out ahead of my nose so I don't run into anything. It's helpful for whoever walks me to make sure I don't miss anything like a fence or tree, too. I'm best suited for life indoors with my family so I'm a! lways in contact with them. Life outside is a sad one for any dog, but especially since I'm blind I just need extra special attention.

Click here to fill out an adoption application.

Note about puppies: Many people want to adopt pit bull puppies because they feel that, by adopting them younger, there is less chance that they will be aggressive as they get older. While human aggression is not a predisposed standard trait of this breed, a very real likelihood of maturing into canine aggression does exist. Good socialization will certainly help with the aggression that any unsocialized breed might have as they get older. This aggression can be bourne from the fear of the unknown and socialization early and often is the best solution to this. Unfortunately, there is also a component of some pit bulls that is a genetic canine aggression (aggression towards other dogs). This cannot be socialized out and generally does not manifest itself until they reach maturity, which can be anywhere from 6 months to 2 years of age. If you are adopting a puppy to include into a multi-dog family, be aware that, through no fault of his own, this puppy can mature into a dog that might be unpredictable with the other dogs in your family and out in the world. This is not a certainty by any means but something that a responsible pit bull owner should know and be aware of.

Please note that Pit Bull Rescue San Diego does not adopt on a first come first served basis. Generally we have formed an opinion about the sort of home that we want for each of the dogs in our program. This opinion is formed from knowing each dog and observing their interactions in various situations and through periodic evaluations. Our goal is to place our charges in the home that is the best possible for that particular dog. Our only goal is happiness and forever homes for our dogs. A forever home is most likely to happen when we do the best we can to find lifestyles and personalities that match.

We are aware that this is a human process and that you may or may not agree with our decisions. Please understand that we take very seriously the lives placed in our hands for this brief time and our decisions are only made out of protectiveness for the breed and the specific dogs we are placing and not out of any judgment of you or your life.