Help Us Save Artoo

Hello Wonderful People,

For those of you have been following Artoo's story, you know that we have been searching high and low for a *true* No-Kill rescue/sanctuary that will take in our former dog, the most loving special needs pitbull, before he faces euthanasia in a shelter. If you are not familiar with Artoo's story, we have provided it below. We are happy to announce that we are one giant step closer to achieving our goal, but we really need your help to make it happen:

It is with great hope in our hearts that we report that we have found a sanctuary ranch in Colorado* where the rescuer is willing to provide immediate housing and rehabiliation for Artoo-- now, and for the remainder of Artoo's days on this earth. Our pup has been delivered there for the time being, but, as with almost any true No-Kill sanctuary out there, a substantial donation is required to secure Artoo's permanent residency. Taking on any dog in places like these require building a large enclosure in which he can run, play, and dwell, feeding him twice a day, providing medical care, and giving him applicable training (which, in Artoo's case, means rehabilitation) for life--potentially another 10-12 years. Given the fact that Artoo is a pitbull with an on-record bite under his belt, the chances of him ever getting adopted, even if/when he is fully rehabilitated, are sadly very slim, considering the massive prejudice against the breed. This means he will likely have to be cared for physically, emotionally, and financially at the sanctuary for the rest of his life. 

Given the immediacy of Artoo's situation, we are trying to raise $5,000 to secure Artoo's permanent place at this sanctuary as soon as humanly possible. The average cost of owning a large dog over the course of his lifetime is about $20,000-- barring unforeseen medical issues--, so we feel that $5,000 is an incredibly generous quote for the costs associated with caring for Artoo for the rest of his life. Many of you wonderful people have asked how you can help in our fight to save Artoo, but up until now, besides sharing his story on social media and researching rescues (which you have been ANGELS about doing), it has been difficult for us to find concrete ways to ask for your help. Now we have found a concrete way. We know that if enough people give whatever they feel they can, no matter how little, by way of our collective donations, as a group we will be able to give Artoo the life we have all wanted for him for so long.  

For those of you who are unfamiliar with our story, and the events that have lead to Artoo's desperate situation, below is the letter we sent out to applicable no-kill rescues and sanctuaries outling our story, and our need for help. Thank you for reading, and please consider contributing to the fund for this incredible dog who has touched the hearts of so many. He deserves this chance at life. He deserves the life he can be provided at this sanctuary.
Thank you so, so much for your kindness.

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Dear Friend at _______ No-Kill Rescue/Sanctuary,


My name is Nicole Pacent, and I'm writing from Los Angeles. This is honestly a very difficult email for me to write because my heart is breaking right now over the situation our rehomed dog, Artoo, is currently in, but I am going to try to be as succinct and articulate as possible. My partner, Gustav, and I rehomed Artoo with a family in Colorado in May, but due to a series of unfortunate events, his adoptive parents, despite their good intentions, are no longer able to keep him, and are saying that they may have to resort to dropping him at a shelter in the next week. Artoo is a pitbull who struggles with behavioral issues, so we are sure that if he were given to a shelter, he would be put down. 

I know space at your rescue is extremely limited-- that you get a high volume of requests to take dogs in, and that perhaps you don’t take owner surrenders, so I just humbly ask that you please hear our story, and really consider taking this dog we love so deeply. We are very willing to make a donation to the sanctuary and/or volunteer if you'd be willing to take him. You are our last hope. Thank in advance for reading our story:

Last October, Gustav and I adopted a 1.5 year-old blue nose pitbull (now 2.5 years old) whom we named R2-D2 (or 'Artoo' for short) from an LA City Shelter that was going to euthanize him. We immediately connected with Artoo (and him with us) because he was both energetic and able to be very chill when needed, he loved cuddles more than anything, and he was super smart and good with other dogs. However, Artoo started displaying lunging behavior while on leash, which resulted in our walking him with a muzzle, and seeking out two different trainers who could work to correct his behavior. What we believe happened to him to create this one major behavioral flaw-- his protective high lunging at certain strangers-- is that he was taught to do this at a very young age by some ill-intentioned person who wanted him as either a fighting dog, or a guard dog. The kind of lunge he displays is not natural to dogs, it's learned, and several aggression specialists told us that he is categorically NOT a genetically aggressive dog-- that this behavior was learned, and therefore, with a lot of work and vigilance, could be unlearned. Our landlord had initially agreed to let me have Artoo as my Emotional Support Animal following the sudden and tragic death of my sister last year, but despite our deep love for him and our efforts to train him, our landlord witnessed his lunging behavior, and she ordered us to rehome him-- just when it seemed that his training had begun to start working. We were devastated, but we decided we would do our best to find him another loving home with people who could help curb his aggression.

After a long and careful search, we found a couple out in Colorado who also had a blue nose pit and were willing to give Artoo a great home. We drove him out there ourselves, and everything was going great during his first day/night at his new home, but the next day he bit the new family's neighbor in the arm, which resulted in the neighbor having to get stitches. Ultimately, the state of Colorado allowed Artoo the one strike, and ordered aggression/socialization training for him, but the neighbor told Artoo's new parents that he would sue them if they didn't rehome Artoo. They also live in a townhouse/condo community, so the housing board for the community has told them the dog needs to go, as well. They have had several friends and perspective adopters come by to see Artoo, but each of them has fallen through, or witnessed Artoo's lunging and decided not to take him. Artoo behaves incredibly well at home with his parents, and gets along wonderfully with their other dog, but it is his public behavior that has lead to his being unadoptable. As a result, Artoo's new family have said that their resources and time have run out, and they are planning to relinquish him at a shelter in the next week if all else fails (where, given his behavior, he would certainly be put down). 

In all honesty, given Artoo's track record, Gustav and I really feel that, for his safety, and the safety of those around him, the best and really only appropriate place for him to be at this point is at your rescue. As of right now, he is unadoptable except perhaps by an actual aggression trainer, and without the rehabilitation you could provide him at your sanctuary, he will remain unadoptable, and almost certainly be put down. I must emphasize what a wonderful soul Artoo really is-- if I did not witness this time and time again, I would not be fighting so hard to save him. He has a huge heart and has touched the hearts of the owners he's been with; he is young and playful and full of energy and so much love. He is truly special. He does not deserve to be put down, he deserves to be in a safe place with people who know how to handle and rehabilitate him. Please consider taking him in and giving him the life that he deserves. We love him so much. We're asking with every bit of hope and faith our hearts can muster. 

Thank You So Much, 

Nicole & Gustav


*For the protection of Artoo and his rescuer, we have decided that we will not release the name of the sanctuary until after Artoo's donation has been secured. After this campaign is complete, we will release links to the rescue and many happy pictures of Artoo on the ranch so that you can witness the fruits of your generosity first-hand, do not fret. :) Just so you know why we're approaching the situation this way, this our reasoning:
Sadly, there are many people (many rescuers, suprisingly), who do not support saving dogs with a bite history, and instead actively fight for them to be put down. As we now know by having lived with Artoo and witnessing first-hand what a great dog he is, we are firmly of the belief that dogs like him deserve a second chance. One of the reasons we love the ranch that has offered to take Artoo is that it's one of the ONLY places out there that accepts large, misunderstood dogs with behavioral issues and works with them/provides them safe harbor for life instead of euthanizing them. We do not want our rescuer to come under fire from anyone who might come across this campaign and attack him/her for a) wanting to keep these dogs alive, and b) asking humbly for a donation to do so. Our rescuer has gladly agreed to sign a contract ensuring Artoo will be given great care for the remainder of his natural life, and any and all donations will be transferred to the sanctuary only after this paperwork has been completed. We hope you understand and will trust that, given how much we love Artoo, we have done our homework and only ask for these funds because we know they will provide Artoo with the happy, safe life he deserves. Thank you so much for your support.