By Jarissa Aquinde, Positively Woof Rescue and Adoption Story EditorHi! I’m Bonkerz!!! No, not an adjective..that’s my name!
I am an English Bull Terrier / Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross (so say the ‘experts’). I am two and a half years old and have led a somewhat colorful life thus far.
I was taken as a puppy by a homeless man and spent the first year of my life on the streets of Leicester City Centre. We were begging, sleeping in sleeping bags, and I was fed junk food and rubbish. I was even accomplice to a knife point robbery (I’m not aggressive, it was my owner that did the crime) when I was just a pup. My homeless owner was arrested and put in jail on a number of occasions and I found myself at College Garth Kennels in Hathern.
Even though the amazing staff took fantastic care of me, I hated the kennels. The noise, the smell and lack of cuddles meant I was very skinny when my adopted parents came to see me. I was the only dog not barking and just sat against the wire cage waiting for a stroke, looking very, very sorry for myself. It was love at first sight. 
There was talk of my homeless owner coming to get me, so it was a nervous fortnight waiting for a decision, but it was decided that I needed a warm place to live. So, my parents came to get me and took me to my forever home. I was given lots of love, house trained (I’d never really been in houses so didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere I liked). I was allowed to run off lead and given all sorts of treats and privileges, including sleeping in the big bed with my good humans!
There was talk of my homeless owner coming to get me, so it was a nervous fortnight waiting for a decision, but it was decided that I needed a warm place to live. So, my parents came to get me and took me to my forever home. I was given lots of love, house trained (I’d never really been in houses so didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere I liked). I was allowed to run off lead and given all sorts of treats and privileges, including sleeping in the big bed with my good humans!Although I was happier, I didn’t know how to be a dog. I didn’t get excited about much and didn’t know how to handle other dogs. So, my humans took me on a couple of dates with Babs. It was love at first sight again, so we adopted her and she now lives with our pack. She is an Akita / Staffy cross and was rescued from an elderly lady who couldn’t handle her size (she got her as a puppy thinking she was a small Staffy).
Now, we live in pack bliss and hope other people will do the same!!!
Follow Babs and me on Instagram! @divdogbonkerz
