SEBASTIAN — Kaliente is a 2-year-old pit bull who has has spent more than 420 days at the H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue shelter, and the staff will tell you the reason isn’t anything she’s done.
Several people have come close to taking her home since then. Each time, the deal fell apart over landlord rules, HOA restrictions or home insurance policies that treat pit bulls differently than other dogs. Not because of her behavior.
Shelter workers describe her as sweet, affectionate and full of life — the kind of dog who wants to be right next to you on the couch after a walk or a game of fetch. She’s housetrained and crate trained. She gets along with other dogs and does well with kids over 5, given her energy level. With a slow introduction, she’s expected to be fine with cats too.
Her name fits her personality. She’s got that young-dog spark and loves being active, but she also settles in for belly rubs and snuggles. The shelter says there’s nothing wrong with her. She’s healthy, she’s friendly, and she’s ready.
What’s kept her from leaving is the label. People hear “pit bull” and stop reading. The staff has watched it happen enough times that they’re speaking up about it now.
“It’s heartbreaking to see such a great, healthy young dog spend her youth in a shelter just because of her breed,” their description reads. “Don’t let her grow up in a kennel. Let her grow up in a home.”
Her adoption fee has been fully sponsored, so there’s no cost to the person who takes her. All that’s left is finding someone willing to meet her instead of the stereotype.
Kaliente is still available at H.A.L.O. No-Kill Rescue, 710 Jackson St. in Sebastian. Applications are online at halorescuefl.org/dog/kaliente/.
She’s been waiting long enough.
