For about a week we’ve had a photo of a pit bull at the front register of the store I work at. His final day at the shelter was marked as today – Friday the 17th – and we were attempting to get someone to pull him from the county shelter and at least foster him so he wouldn’t have to be euthanized. He’d passed every temperament test with flying colors, but like many pit bulls was getting overlooked and his time was coming up fast.

My coworker, K, called once a few days ago – he was still in the shelter, someone had been interested but not called back, so that date was still looming.

When I opened the store this morning, I was very aware of the date. I couldn’t help but look at his photo, and he looked right back with that classic pit bull smile. Well, crap.

I’m very much my mother’s daughter, and apparently that in combination with my youth makes me want to save everything in the world. I could just call. Maybe he was adopted, and if he wasn’t I could drive out to Martinez and pull him. I could keep him for a few days until we could get a rescue to take him, or K could. I have like 16 bucks to my name, but we could make it work, just to get him off death row.

Lo and behold, as I’m debating the intelligence of doing this, one of our very frequent store customers walks in.

With Seamus.

I can honestly say that was one of the happiest moments ever. It might seem silly, but after looking at his face in the photo for so long, one becomes just a little invested.

She pulled him herself and is fostering him, and looking for a home independently of a rescue. Seamus himself couldn’t have been more of a gentleman – he butted my leg with his big blocky pit head, then promptly found a spot and did this:

We proceeded to try on collar after collar, he let us put all of them on. He didn’t complain when we touched his feet, as so many dogs do, and didn’t react beyond mild curiosity when a young golden started barking rather enthusiastically.

Seamus is the perfect pit bull ambassador. His ears were cropped by his owner (who is apparently in jail over unrelated charges), his head is massive, and he has that bully walk. And then he comes right up and puts his head on you and you know you’re in love.