NJ Pit Bull With ‘Half A Face’ Takes Next Step To Forever Home

NEWARK, NJ — A horribly injured mother pit bull found with “half a face” in Newark has taken the next step on her way to a forever home, according to local animal control officers.

Last week, the Associated Humane Societies (AHS) shared the story of Paris, a stray dog brought to its Newark shelter by a municipal animal control officer on Aug. 5 (see photos below). Aside from her gruesome facial injury, Paris was also lactating, a sign that she’d recently had puppies.

She was taken to the medical department of AHS Newark, where her wounds were examined and tended to. In the process, the poor pooch likely experienced love and human kindness for the first time in her life, rescuers said.

• See related article: Despite Awful Injury, Pit Bull With 'Half A Face' Still Smiling

On Wednesday, AHS Assistant Executive Director Robert Russotti told Patch that Paris’ journey towards a forever home is going well, and that she’s been transferred to the shelter’s Forked River Branch.

Hopefully, Paris will be able to find a caring family that can offer her a home as a companion animal… the life that she should have had, Russotti said. Interested adopters can contact the AHS Forked River shelter at (609) 693-1900 or learn more about the facility here.

Russotti shared some additional information about Paris:

• Was found near 303 Hobson Street in Newark
• Approximately a year to 1.5 years old
• “She obviously had nursed puppies and suffered a serious facial injury likely by another dog either because it was used as bait, in a fight or related to forced breeding”

AHS staff previously said that losing her puppies only adds to the grief that Paris has suffered in her young life.

“Of course, missing half of her mouth could be caused by a cleft lip or another congenital deformity but judging by the old scars, punctures, and wounds on her face and body, it's much more likely that Paris was attacked by another dog, either accidentally or intentionally,” the AHS stated.

However, despite everything she has been through, Paris is a "happy, friendly girl" that welcomes attention from staff and volunteers. "She had an excellent evaluation already and soon, Paris will be ready to start over in a new home where she will be loved for who she is, and not judged by what she looks like," the shelter stated.

• See related article: A Positive Pit Bull Story Out Of Newark (Is The Breed Getting A Bad Rap?)
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Photos: Associated Humane Societies (used with permission)