Penny is a 9-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier in Voorhees Township, NJ, who needs $5,000 for surgery to repair a torn ligament.

Penny was neglected and abused and confiscated by Animal Control when she ended up in a shelter where she was so terrified and shaking in the corner that people just passed her by for the months that she was there. I came across her video on Petfinder and despite all the other videos I had seeing, seeing her video I just knew she was my dog!
I called the shelter and told them I wanted to pick up my dog and they told me I must be mistaken that she was not a stray or a found dog but one that was confiscated during a drug bust when she was found tied to a fence of the home the police had made it. When I explain what I meant about coming to get my dog, that I just knew in my heart she belong with me, they kept telling me not to get my hopes up because everyone that has tried to see her has had no success because she cowards down in the corner and hides. My response to them was, "that's because she's waiting for me to come get her"
Upon going to the shelter they kept telling me not to get my hopes up that she would get near me let alone engage with me. I sat on the floor and waited for them to bring her out and to everyone's surprise, she sat down next to me and put her head on my lap. A gently stroked her head and said to her "You got me" the shelter volunteers were in disbelief that she did not pull and drag them back to the kennel. My response to them was, "See I told you she was my dog! "
When I brought Penny home she immediately ran upstairs and into my son's bedroom, and up on his bed. This was so heartwarming to see because my son has disabilities and he wanted a dog so badly but of course no one ever really knows what the relationship between a dog and a child will be until the dog actually comes into the home. The fact that she instinctively went

Penny also of course became a companion to me while I underwent a lot of medical issues and surgeries. Penny would not leave my side and one time when I was in the hospital I actually had to leave against medical advice because the person I had going into my home to walk her said she would not come out from under the table and had not eaten. I was concerned my absence , although unavoidable, would have a detrimental effect on her and so I came home from the hospital 2 days sooner than I should have.
When I got home she would not leave my side, in fact the first time I got on this sofa she literally laid on top of me crying in relief that I was home.

Penny first came home with us, she was afraid of everything and everyone. When I would take her for a walk she would try to go into the trash cans because she didn't know anything other then doing what she had to do to survive. When anybody would approach she would cower down to the ground or hide behind my legs shaking. I spent every moment possible socializing her not only with people but with other dogs in the neighborhood and showing her that she was safe and no longer had to live out of trash to survive.
Penny was very easy to train not only with the basic commands of Sit, Stay, Heal, up, down, leave, penny has never chewed anything and you could leave a filet mignon on the coffee table in front of her and she will not even attempt to take it. As I would hear people make comments about certain behaviors their dogs possessed, I realize how lucky I was to have Penny. I honestly didn't know if it was my skill of training her or if she was just so happy to be in a safe and healthy home, that she was just happy to do anything she was told.

The more people in the neighborhood who would interact with my dog, the more I realize how special she truly was. There are quite a few homes in my development that are house with special needs adults, adults that have neurological deficits are out right brain injuries. Penny somehow instinctively knew she could approach these people even though other dogs we're afraid of them. She would willingly go up to special needs adults and sit down as they would stroke her head. the happier these people seemed, the happier Penny also seemed.

I realize not only with Penny meant to be my dog, but she was meant to be shared with others. Penny earned her Canine Good Citizen Award through the AKC and not long after went to the process of becoming a certified therapy dog. Penny has brought joy to countless people including the sick and the elderly, two children and adults with special needs, and even other animals who had special needs whether it be physical or emotionally based.
Penny was clearly had a broken Spirit when she was in the shelter but quickly revealed herself as a gem in every way possible.

This because of Penny that I started fostering other dogs so that they too would have the same chance of becoming better versions of themselves and having the same opportunity for a good life.
Penny has been the reason behind and an integralpart of the rehabilitation and socialization of other dogs. And even though I was rescuing cats before I had gotten Penny, Penny has also been invaluable in that process as well- allowing cats to eat with her, lay next to her, and tolerating kittens to climb all over her, chase her tail and even nibble at her ears. I have hundreds of pictures of Penny with other animals. (But not the sick, elderly or those with disabilities due to respect for their privacy)

Penny's amazingly sweet demeanor can never truly be expressed in words only by watching her interact with people and other animals including wildlife in my development .... even the squirrels and ducks have no problem with Penny. Penny's sweet nature is so evident that the ducks will sit right down next to Penny and squirrels run over her feet because they know she is completely safe.

Penny has a nice collection of outerwear including sweaters and jackets, and boots that yes she will wear four walks out in the snow, to keep her from getting frostbite and to also protect her paws from the burning salt.
Every Halloween I dressed Penny up, which she doesn't mind at all.

y year Penny up for Halloween, which she doesn't mind at all, and she greets all the kids that come up for candy. The the kids - and adults too - look forward to seeing Penny dressed up. Sometimes I wonder if the kids even care about the candy or if it's more about coming to see Penny.

Penny has touched the hearts of all those who have come in contact with her, whether it's a person or another animal.
Penny truly is an ambassador to her breed!