This Pit Bull Was Too Scared to Leave the Shelter… Now This Pit Bull Can’t Stop Smiling
When rescuers first found Cody, a timid pit bull in Southern California, he was too frightened to even step into a car. It took two full days just to catch him — and when they finally did, the traumatized dog chewed through three leashes, shaking and refusing to enter his crate.
“He was scared of everything,” recalls animal advocate Rocky Kanaka, who documented Cody’s transformation. “You could see it in his eyes—he didn’t believe he was safe.”
For someone like John, an experienced rescuer with iPittytheBull Foundation, Cody presented one of the biggest challenges he’d ever faced. “We were out there for two and a half hours just trying to get him into the car,” John said. “He was looking at me like, ‘You couldn’t get me into a car, and now I’m supposed to trust you with my life?’”
Earning Trust, One Step at a Time
John quickly realized that Cody didn’t need to be “fixed” — he needed to feel safe. “I took the pressure off fixing him,” he explained. “Instead, I told him, ‘Let’s just hang out. Let’s walk outside. It’s 50 feet to the door — I don’t care if it takes four hours.’”
Those patient walks became the turning point. Day by day, Cody learned that not every human meant harm. The once-frozen dog began exploring the world, wagging his tail for the first time.
“Taking that pressure off made all the difference,” John said. “It was about showing him that outside wasn’t scary, that he could choose to trust.”
Finding His Forever Family
As Cody’s confidence grew, something amazing happened — other people could finally approach him. “I started seeing him interact with people without me,” John said. “That’s when I knew he was ready for adoption.”
After dozens of applications, one family stood out. Tony and his wife brought their kids to meet Cody and instantly felt a connection. “Just seeing his eyes drew me in,” Tony recalled. “He was so calm. The kids loved him right away.”
Following an overnight trial, Cody made his choice clear. “John called me at 7 a.m. and said, ‘He came to say hi to me, but then went right back to your daughter. He’s yours,’” Tony said. “I looked at my wife and said, ‘Go, go, go!’”
A Happy Ending Built on Patience and Love
Cody’s journey wasn’t easy. His new family knows that his fears and anxieties might never completely disappear — but they’re celebrating every small victory. “Just seeing him do normal dog things makes us emotional,” Tony said. “When his tail wags, we’re on cloud nine.”
From a dog too afraid to walk through a doorway to a beloved family member who finally feels safe, Cody’s story is a testament to patience, compassion, and second chances.
As Rocky Kanaka summed it up: “It only takes one family to change a dog’s life.”
