What makes a dog appear “mean” is hard to understand. But every time people saw Sully, a 5-month-old Pitbull, they assumed he was aggressive and unfriendly, choosing to stay far away from him.
What they didn’t realize is that just 10 minutes with Sully would have shown them the truth. He wasn’t mean at all. In fact, he was the complete opposite.
Still, Sully spent months in the shelter, waiting in his tiny kennel day after day. Every night, he went to sleep hoping that someone would finally notice how truly sweet he was.
Then, one day, everything changed. Someone special came along, and her decision would transform Sully’s life forever.
A Struggle to Find a Home
Julia Correll, who worked with Desert Dog Project, a rescue organization for dogs needing medical care and foster homes, spotted Sully and was immediately drawn to him.
Volunteering at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control in Arizona, Julia saw Sully—once named Gindo—and felt her heart break. His sorrowful look, combined with his severe arthritis that made walking painful, deeply affected her.
Sully had been picked up as a stray along with his puppies and a female dog. Sadly, while the others found loving homes, Sully was left behind.
Due to his tough conditions in the shelter, Sully appeared far older than his actual age.
“Gindo has been waiting over 3 months at the shelter… He has severe arthritis and struggles to walk even a few feet. He was found as a stray and is estimated to be about 5, but he looks much older. He is skinny and covered in sores and scabs,” Julia wrote in a Facebook post.
Despite his appearance, Julia couldn’t understand why people found Sully so intimidating. In her eyes, he was one of the kindest, most affectionate dogs she had ever met, yet no one was willing to give him a chance.
“He is the gentlest, most loving dog. His favorite thing is sitting in your lap and rolling over for belly rubs. He isn’t bothered by anyone or anything. He’s truly a sweetheart,” she shared.
Determined to give Sully the chance he deserved, Julia began taking him out of the shelter daily. They would visit the park, spread out a blanket, and simply enjoy the beauty of the day together.
It wasn’t long before they developed a close bond, and with that bond came the realization that Sully had found his rescuer—and her name was Julia.
The Easiest Dog She’s Ever Fostered
Though their journey began as a foster trial, it didn’t take long for Sully to convince Julia to keep him for good.
Sully turned out to be the easiest foster dog Julia had ever cared for, despite taking six months to fully adjust to his new life in a home.
“He is seriously the easiest foster dog I have ever had,” Julia wrote on Instagram.
Julia ensured that Sully was comfortable and happy, even getting him a stroller so he could accompany her on outings without worrying about his arthritis.
Together, they went on walks around the city, explored new places, met new friends, and enjoyed all the little things Sully had long missed.
Sully had always been a dog that craved human connection—he just needed someone to notice. Julia saw that right away.
To help his arthritis, Julia got Sully custom braces for his elbows, in addition to joint injections, acupuncture, and physical therapy to keep him comfortable.
Julia did everything possible to ensure Sully lived as much like a regular dog as possible—and she succeeded.
The Best Gift Sully Could Receive
Not only did Julia shower Sully with love and care, but she also gave him the greatest gift of all: a dog sibling.
When she adopted another dog named Effie, Sully was overjoyed. He immediately took on the role of protector, acting like a doting dad and treating Effie with gentleness and affection.
After all the hardships in his past, Sully finally had the family he had always deserved. This time, it was a family that would never leave him. Together, they would share countless adventures and happy memories in their Arizona home.
