Most of us consider our pets as part of our family.
Can you imagine losing your pet or having to give it up? That’s what happened to Lewis Jimenez. Lewis adopted a pitbull from the Austin Animal Center in Austin, Texas, in 2013. He named the puppy Titus and was instantly attached to him. A few years later though, Lewis had to return Titus.
It wasn’t what he wanted, and it was a heartbreaking ordeal for both Titus and his owner.
Lewis didn’t return Titus to the rescue because he wanted to or even because things weren’t working out between the two of them. He had left his dog at home with his daughter and grandson one day, and when he returned, everything was flipped upside down.
The grandson was walking the dog when they came across a neighbor in the stairwell. Titus nipped at the neighbor, who reported it. Lewis was forced to give up his dog as it was no longer allowed to be in the apartment. He claims that Titus is friendly and has never been aggressive toward people. He believes that the dog was protecting his grandson.
The same neighbor had complained about Titus before, simply because he felt he was a dangerous breed of dog.
Lewis was afraid if he didn’t take Titus to the Austin Animal Center, he would be removed and sent elsewhere. Since the center is a no-kill shelter, he knew Titus wouldn’t be euthanized, but there was no guarantee he wouldn’t be adopted by someone else.
Lewis wanted to get Titus back, but he was fighting the clock. He had to find a new place to live, and that place had to allow dogs.
Lewis had adopted Titus as a companion, and he even calls the dog his other half.
He had spent 20 years in prison, and once he got out, he promised to do good. He knew that pit bulls have a bad reputation and adopted Titus to try to help clear that stereotype. He still maintains that Titus is not a dangerous or aggressive dog.
Things weren’t easy for the two, and they leaned on each other for support.
They had to live in Lewis’ car for almost a year. During that time, he felt that Titus was the only good thing in his life and all that kept him going. He said that they took care of each other. He wanted to protect Titus for the rest of his life. When he had to return Titus to the shelter, he felt like he wasn’t doing that.
Lewis and his family visited Titus at the shelter as often as possible, but the separation was difficult for all of them.
“The volunteers would make notes like, ‘Titus is not himself,’” Lewis said. “It just made me even more determined to do what I had to do to get him out.”
After a few months of searching, Lewis and his girlfriend finally found a place to live.
The home needed some remodeling, but that’s something Lewis does well. The home was also open to Titus.
As soon as Lewis got the home, he went to pick up Titus. The reunion was heartwarming, and the shelter workers were just as happy to see Titus go back home as Lewis was to get him.
Titus seems to be happy in his new home, and Lewis says he seems to be in shock that Lewis came back to get him.
Titus may have thought he was left at the shelter for good, but now he has his owner back and the two can continue to live their lives together. Lewis says that the shelter took great care of Titus and he is grateful for their help.
He says that Titus is a member of his family, and he plans on keeping him safe and taking care of him for many years. The two are inseparable, and Lewis feels good that he was able to keep his promise to Titus and bring him back home.
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