Roxy: My First Rescue, My Forever Girl

Some dogs come into your life and change everything. For me, that is Roxy.

We adopted Roxy in 2012 when she was four months old from a pound in Downey, California. I was 11 years old, and I had no idea that this little rescue puppy would grow into my best friend and the reason I fell in love with rescue dogs.

A Family Ready for a New Chapter

When I was little, our family had two dogs named Billie and Cornut. They were mostly my parents’ dogs and passed away when I was still young, so I do not remember much about them. Years later, my parents decided it was time to bring another dog into our home, one that my brother and I could grow up with.

Originally, my parents had their eyes on another dog at the Downey pound. My mom still remembers that day so clearly. She was walking down the aisles of kennels, hearing barks and seeing wagging tails, when she noticed a little black puppy jumping around and making noises, full of energy and excitement.

That puppy was Roxy.

“She was just so cute and vocal,” my mom always says. “But we were looking at a different dog.”

As fate would have it, the other dog was adopted before my parents made their decision. So my parents chose Roxy.

Love at First Sight

My dad picked her up from the pound while my mom came to get my brother and me from school. When we got home, my parents told us that there was a surprise waiting for us in the backyard.

When I walked outside, I saw a tiny ball of black fur racing around the yard, full of energy. She was so small and fast that it took a second to realize what was happening. Then she ran right up to me with her tail wagging.

She had a little toy carrot that she loved, and after running around until she was tired, she climbed into my lap and fell asleep. I remember sitting on the couch outside, holding her, and feeling her tiny heartbeat.

My parents let me choose her name since I was the oldest. I looked at her, this spunky little puppy, and said, “Her name is Roxy.”

Scars and Strength

The pound did not tell us much about her past, only that she had been abandoned. My parents noticed that she had several scars on her belly, which broke our hearts. We could only assume that she had been hurt or mistreated before being left behind, maybe even a bait dog.

It was so hard to think that someone could harm a puppy so young. But Roxy never let her past define her. From the moment we met her, she was brave, loving, and full of life.

Even after everything she had been through, she greeted the world with her joy and personality, and that is what makes her so special.

My Best Friend

Roxy has always been more than a pet to me. She is my best friend, my girl, my constant companion. She just gets me. I grew up with her, and I have always felt so connected to her in a way that is hard to explain.

She is the kind of dog who can read me so well, who knows when I am sad, and who always finds her way next to me when I need comfort. I cannot imagine my life without her.

The Heart Behind The Pitbull Diaries

Looking back, Roxy was the start of it all. She is the reason I fell in love with rescue dogs and why I am so passionate about changing how people see pitbulls.

Roxy is more than just my dog. She is my reminder that love heals, that trust can be rebuilt, and that every dog deserves a chance to feel safe.

Her story is one of many that I hope to share through The Pitbull Diaries, real rescue stories that show the strength, sweetness, and resilience of these amazing dogs.