on a positive note
The Most Love-A-Bull Breed
PAWsitive Thoughts from Petey & Bub
By Lexi Leddy – Rye, NH – Owner of Lexi Leddy Real Estate
“What, are you crazy?” This was the statement my husband made when I showed him a picture of Coco, a pit bull mix I had experienced love at first site with on Petfinder.com. After meeting her for an hour and a cuddle session on the couch, he was hooked; and we never looked back.
Petey: “Bark kindly to others.”
Bub: “Happiness is a mood. PAWsitivity is a mindset.”
I didn’t realize at the time what a bad reputation pit bulls had. Coco had been found roaming the streets of Harlem and was taken to a kill shelter. The day she was supposed to be put down, a wonderful family from Maine swooped in and fostered her for 8 months until we came along and adopted her. Coco is now 15 and has won the hearts of everyone she meets and has been a true advocate for the breed and has changed several minds which felt negatively towards pitties. A few years later, I found myself at Mary’s Dogs about to adopt a puppy when I walked by a room with a 2-year-old eye-patched brindle pit bull mix, which again, was love at first sight. Petey was found down in Mississippi wandering the streets and was emaciated. The now near 60-pound pit bull was a meek 25 pounds. A local rescue took him in and brought him back to health after a few months. He was then transported up to New Hampshire where fate struck. Petey the pit bull – or as I like to call him “Peteball the Meatball,” won the hearts of everyone he met. His comforting nature, personality and sense of humor, despite his rough beginning in life, was incredibly endearing. A year later, I adopted another pit mix – Bub - this time a puppy – that was abandoned on the side of the road with no water and no food in a crate.
Pat Guimond, a client and fellow pit bull lover, with his pittie, Iggy
I think it’s safe to say, most people know what it’s like to be judged. I am no exception. Despite the terrible starts these dogs have had and the judgment that is cast on this breed, having the joy and unconditional love they have brought into my life has made me an advocate for not only rescuing dogs, but rescuing pit bulls. To say, watching people’s faces (and subsequently opinions) change before my eyes (over and over and over again) about their preconceived notions of pit bulls after spending time with mine has been heartwarming is an incredible understatement. (www.MarysDogs.org)
Pat with his dog Iggy
A big thanks to Lexi Leddy for writing this wonderful article!
Lexi, a New Hampshire native, is passionate about her real estate career and has enjoyed educating her clients for over 7 years. She recently started her own brokerage firm, Lexi Leddy Real Estate. Lexi prides herself on her high level of client service utilizing her listening and communication skills and keen attention to detail. She has an innate ability to build trusting relationships while always practicing integrity, honesty and transparency. When not spending time with her clients, Lexi enjoys spending time with her two pittie rescues, Petey & Bub, and writing in her blog, "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" She is also heavily involved in the community, an active member of Portsmouth Rotary, SMART Women's networking group, and is a Co-Founder of Catapult Seacoast, the Seacoast's Young Professionals Networking Group. Second to giving Petey and Bub the life of their dreams, she is most proud of having started her Moving Communities Campaign in 2017 where a portion of her commission for each home sold is donated to a local charity. To date, because of her clients' trusting in her with their real estate needs, over $60,000 has been donated back to their communities. Lexi’s energy and positivity are truly contagious…so writing this article on PAWsitivty is simply a natural for her! Phone: 603-828-2601 Email: lexi@LexiLeddyRealEstate.com www.LexiLeddyRealEstate.com
14 seacoastbarkmagazine.com
