Ripley Van Wrinkle (formerly known as Sawyer) came to us, along with his wonderful Mom (Scarlett) and sisters (Savannah and Sutton), from a kill shelter in Alabama. Scarlett and her 2 week old puppies were slated to be euthanized if they weren’t adopted or pulled by another rescue. Shelters are extremely overcrowded in the south of the United States, primarily due to the extremely low rates of spay/neuter and irresponsible pet ownership. We were happy to be able to save this little family and give them the happily-ever-after they deserved!

Ripley Van Wrinkle stole his forever mom’s heart while being fostered by one of our foster families, and she quickly decided he would be the lucky boy who would get to join her family. Sadly, dogs who look like “pit bull” mixes are commonly prejudged by uninformed people and overlooked by many adoptive families. Luckily, Ripley’s mom Deborah knew the best way to pick a new family member is based on personality…and she was rewarded with the most loving and happy boy! Read this beautiful message from Deborah below:

“Here in this house…

I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs ‘out there’.

I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed.

I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I’ll eat.

I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat.

I will feel the sun’s warmth, and the rain’s coolness,

and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose.

My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.

Here in this house…

There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level.

I will be talked to and, even if I don’t understand,

I can enjoy the warmth of the words.

I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among the many.

My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!!!

Here in this house…

I will never be a substitute for anything I am not.

I will never be used to improve peoples’ images of themselves.

I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone’s idea of who I should be.

I will never suffer for someone’s anger, impatience, or stupidity.

I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all.

If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame. (Ha)

Here in this house…

I can trust arms that hold and hands that touch me…

knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me.

If I am ill, I will be doctored.

If I am scared, I will be calmed.

If I am sad, I will be cheered.

No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of MUCH value.

I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough.

My life is a responsibility, a commitment, and not an afterthought or regret.

I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.

Here in this house…

I will belong.

I will be home.

Forever. I am home. I belong. This is MY family.

Love,

Ripley Van Wrinkle”

We are so grateful Ripley’s mom choose to adopt him, and love watching him live like the king he is!