Pearls of wisdom from Pearl the dog

Jess Siegfried and her husband weren't looking to bring home another dog. They were heartbroken over the loss of their dog Bull only two months earlier and thought it was too soon to add another pup to their Arizona household.

“My heart was shattered. I was so lost,” says Jess, a graphic designer who founded the brand PittieChicks.

But then an opportunity came from One Love AZ, a rescue group and Best Friends Network Partner in Arizona that the couple had long been involved with.

One Love was looking for a short-term foster home for Pearl, a dog in the first graduating class from the organization’s new prison program. Pearl had survived a tough history, having been found wandering alone in the Arizona desert. Physically healing and emotionally resilient, she had shown her sassy, joyful, snuggly, adaptable personality through her time in the program, and she was graduating just before the Fourth of July.

“She’s been through it all,” says Lindsey Blazevich, One Love AZ’s founder and executive director. “And her spirit is so strong still.”

A foster home for the holiday weekend would provide this good girl with comfort and security while all those terrifying fireworks were exploding overhead.

“We agreed,” Jess says — and it changed all their lives forever.

One Love AZ’s signature program is the Shelter Dog Project, which focuses on providing enrichment like toys and treats to alleviate boredom and stress, medical care, and other support to pit bull terrier-type dogs in municipal shelters. The Shelter Dog Project is designed to change dogs’ lives while they are in shelters, so they can have their best chance at being adopted.

Meanwhile, the group’s Paws for Redemption program places dogs from shelters with teams of people who are incarcerated. During the three-month program, they’re responsible for the dogs’ care and training. The goal? “Changing lives on both ends of the leash," says Lindsey.

Prison program, foster home help a pit bull terrier put his fears aside and thrive

For Pearl, the goal was for her “to become the best version of herself to increase her chances of adoption,” Lindsey says. That included learning to walk nicely on a leash and basic cues like sit and down. “She was a quick study, and her team was very successful with this training.”

Thanks to One Love’s social media posts, Jess already knew about Pearl and had seen her progress through the Paws for Redemption program. What Jess saw of Pearl's fortitude and happiness was deeply inspiring. And though appearance wasn’t a deciding factor, the gray-and-white girl was just her and her husband’s type.

Anyway, all Pearl needed was a foster home, a temporary place to stay. It was really just a few days.

It’s possible Pearl had never lived in a home before. "Things like ceiling fans and TVs freaked her out when she came to us. Everything was so new to her,” Jess says.

But on her very first morning in the house, Pearl approached Jess’ husband while he drank his coffee. “She came over and sat on his feet and tipped her head back to look at him,” Jess says. “He had this smile. I knew at that moment she was home.”

Jess and her husband adopted Pearl, who has adjusted beautifully to her new life. She makes magical nose music under the desk while Jess works from home. She’s never hesitant to speak her mind, issuing loud “woo woo”s whenever she has an opinion to share.

Prison program, trainers put adoption in the stars for a spirited dog

Pearl oinks and zooms and is a “super friendly and outgoing” dog who loves her people and loves her home. And even though she got through that Fourth of July like the champ she is, she still really does hate fireworks, Jess says.

She’s even gone back to visit her team of trainers in the prison a few times, returning home with heartfelt letters that bring tears to Jess’ eyes.

“Pearl gives them a reason to believe in second chances, including their own,” Lindsey says.

It’s been about a year since Pearl first joined Jess and her husband — a beautiful year, with the gray-and-white dog who now goes through the world wearing a fancy lavender pearl collar as pretty as she is.

Pearl’s whole life changed when a rescue group took her in. Then she got to join the very first group of dogs in a special new program to help her become her best self. And then a couple said yes to fostering for one little weekend and couldn’t say goodbye.

“She needed us,” Jess says. “As it turns out, we needed her just as much.”

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.