robert hoekman, jr
saving tyler
When the black pit bull mix with the white-streaked chest first came to our back gate, he was cut up, emaciated, and paralyzed by anxiety. He shut down in the face of every unfamiliar noise, every sudden movement. Under our care, he overcame many of his demons and found a way to be happy.
After nine months with us, his new owner finally appeared, and she was perfect for him. He trusted her, and she knew just how to handle him. After a few introductions and a bittersweet goodbye, Tyler had a new home. It was Independence Day. It was the last time I saw him alive.
Saving Tyler is the story of one rescued dog wrapped in an argument for how to rescue them all. Specifically, it’s a proposal to replace laws which result in dead dogs and expensive breed bans with ones that create more responsible owners and earn money rather than burn it. It’s also the emotional story of an emaciated, injured, and petrified pit bull that shows what it means to be a bad owner, a good one, a member of a flawed society, and a creature capable of change.