CLEVELAND — October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month -- a cause we wholeheartedly support on Team Ready Pet GO! What better way to support this effort, than introducing you to a very special pup.
Her story starts in the Cleveland studio of photographer Greg Murray. He shoots all subjects but is best known for his pictures of animals. His published works, Peanut Butter Dogs, Peanut Butter Puppies and Pit Bull Heroes have sold around the globe.
Murray has made a career snapping memorable shots of all things furry, fuzzy and feathery, but he carves out time in his busy schedule, for animals closest to his heart: the underdogs.
"I photograph adoptables that are having trouble maybe finding a good home for this dog," Murray told us.
He has an innate ability to bring out that special quality in each animal. But one rescue he photographed last year, left a lasting "pawprint" on his soul.
Nugget.
"She was just terrified. She didn't want to be here. We cut the shoot short. Didn't want to stress her out. We got one photo," Murray said.
"I felt bad for her. She was just so closed up and scared."
But that one photo was enough. It caught the attention of couple Mary Sullivan and Gary Redmond.
"One day I opened my Facebook page to a photo that photographer Greg Murray shared, and it was all over from there," Sullivan said.
Redmond added, "(Nugget) looked up at me and I'm like, 'can we have this dog?'"
At City Dogs, Nugget velcroed herself to the couple, and wouldn't let go. A meet and greet with the couple's original dog went well, sealing the deal.
Nugget finally had her humans and a home, but the baggage of an unknown past came along too.
"She was having just anxiety attacks or nightmares for like the first two days. It was really sad to watch," Sullivan said.
"She's about 7-years-old, so we don't know much of (what she went through). All she wanted was love and a family," she added, tearing up at the thought of what Nugget endured in her past life.
Eventually the dog settled into a routine and bonded with her fur-sibling. She even graduated to couch potato status. But it was a chance visit to a park, with a pond, that brought out Nugget's alter ego: the "flying bowling ball."
But it was a chance walk by water, that brought out Nugget's alter ego.
"And that's when we discovered her strange love of water," Sullivan said.
Who knew that the once scared shutdown Pit Bull was in fact - a dock diving diva born to make a splash.
"She barreled right down the ramp, right into the water like nothing," Sullivan said.
"This is her home away from home," Redmond said, referring to Duke's K9 Dash and Splash in Windham - eastern Portage County.
It is at the facility that Nugget found her calling, racking up trophies and ribbons as she jumps a little further each time. A deal with the dog has put a dent in Sullivan's wallet.
"I slightly regret now that when she started to really make some good progress (dock diving) I said, 'if you get a personal best this competition, I will get you a steak.' And almost every competition she earns herself a sirloin steak."
The rewards are great for Greg Murray too, knowing his photo changed Nugget's life. He has since taken more pictures of the now happy, outgoing pup.
"To see Nugget again is like the greatest thing ever," Murray said.
The transformation is evident - so much so - it is Nugget's smiling face you see on Murray's latest work: Gotcha Day!: Adoption Tales of Remarkable Rescue Dogs.
"When I started working on my newest book, I knew Nugget had to be in it. And when she came in here, so different, I was very excited," he said.
Murray hopes the new book inspires more people to adopt. Mary Sullivan and Gary Redmond do too.
"We've had her less than 2 years, but it feels like she's been a part of our family her whole life. We feel like she's always been there," said Sullivan.
Gotcha Day!: Adoption Tales of Remarkable Rescue Dogs is in book stores as of September 27th. You can get it where ever you buy books.
There are some familiar faces in there too - Stephanie Haney and her pup Oscar Wilde, Doug Trattner is featured - and wrote the foreword. 3News Assignment Manager Lisa Lowry and her dog Lola are featured too.
Editor's note: Mary Sullivan and Greg Murray both wanted to thank the staff and volunteers at City Dog, for their care and attention to Nugget. Her positive outcome is due in part to the tireless and loving work of caretakers at the facility. You can learn more about City Dogs HERE. Also, check out the shelter's volunteer arm "Friends of City Dogs" HERE.