From Fear To Faith: How One Pittie Learned To Trust Again
When Faith, an 18-month-old pittie mix, gave birth to an unexpected litter of puppies, her life changed in the worst way. Instead of comfort and care, her owners banished her to the backyard. Confined in a dirty crate, Faith knew only fear, loneliness, and neglect — until a concerned neighbor spoke up.
Through a network of rescues, Faith found her way to Happy Paws Rescue, where the team immediately saw that this terrified young mother needed someone patient, gentle, and experienced. That someone was Kaitlyn Marcinkowski.
“When they asked if I could help, my answer was simple,” Marcinkowski told The Dodo. “‘Can I get her tonight?’”
Learning What Love Feels Like
Faith was so afraid of the world that Marcinkowski didn’t even make her walk into the house. Instead, she scooped Faith up and carried her inside.
“At first, carrying her was just to help — she was too scared to walk, and we weren’t going to force her,” Marcinkowski said.
For days, Faith refused to leave her crate. She trembled at every sound, avoided eye contact, and wouldn’t even use the bathroom for two days. Her tail stayed tucked tightly, as though she was apologizing for something she never did wrong.
“It broke my heart to see such a sweet girl so scared,” Marcinkowski recalled.
So she and her family came up with a plan: patience, space, and positive reinforcement.
Small Steps, Big Courage
Slowly, Faith began to trust. After just four days, she surprised her foster mom by hopping onto the bed — her version of asking to be carried and comforted.
“She loves striking her little ‘pick-me-up’ pose,” Marcinkowski said with a smile.
Soon, Faith discovered joy outdoors too. What was once a punishment became play. Now, she runs straight to the grass, flips onto her back, and demands belly rubs — a far cry from the trembling dog who once hid away.
Waiting For Forever
Today, Faith is blossoming into the dog she was always meant to be: silly, affectionate, and brave. While she continues to wait for her forever family, her foster mom jokes that any adopter should be ready to “lift and carry 50 pounds of princess beefcake.”
After everything she’s endured, Faith deserves nothing less than a family who will love her for life — and never let her down again.