In December 2022, Mara, an American Pit Bull Terrier, was just hours away from being put down at a high-kill shelter in Georgia. After spending over a month there without any interest from potential adopters, she was on the verge of losing her life—until the rescue group Braveheart Bulliez stepped in to save her.
Pit Bulls often face unfair stereotypes, but Mara's rescuers saw beyond those. “When we saw her photos, we knew we had to help,” said Krystle Carrara, the founder of Braveheart Bulliez. “Her eyes were so soulful and trusting.”
However, Mara's journey to safety was far from easy. While Braveheart Bulliez managed to secure a foster home and bring in a paid trainer for in-home sessions, the foster family suddenly backed out without any explanation. To make matters worse, two people who had initially agreed to sponsor her rescue also withdrew, leaving her stranded.
In January 2023, Braveheart Bulliez arranged for Mara to attend a respected boarding and training program. She excelled quickly, becoming a “phenomenal” leash walker and learning to remain calm around other dogs. She was even muzzle trained for doggy playtime.
“Mara impressed everyone with her intelligence and eagerness to learn,” Carrara said.
Despite the progress, Mara still couldn’t find a foster or adoptive family. After reaching out to rescues across the country, her efforts proved unsuccessful. As a result, Mara was left in boarding for almost 10 months, which took a toll on her physically and emotionally.
Eventually, the rescue group found an almost-perfect foster family for her. A couple expressed interest in fostering a special needs dog, and Mara seemed to be a perfect fit. However, there was a catch—this family was planning to move overseas in six months, limiting their ability to adopt her long-term. Since January 2024, they've been caring for Mara, but now they must leave, and it's time for her to find her permanent home.
If Mara doesn’t find a family soon, she risks being sent back to boarding, a place where she had once shut down after over a year of isolation. Her rescuers are determined not to let that happen.
“Mara is a beautiful girl, fully trained, and she thrives on human attention. She enjoys car rides, long walks, and especially pup cups! But she must be the only dog in the household. Though she's fully muzzle trained, she only requires it around other dogs during doggy daycare,” the rescue team shares. “Mara has been let down by humans repeatedly, but we’ve never given up on her, and she knows that. We will do everything in our power to find her the perfect home.”
Let's help Mara find the loving family she deserves!