When Mary Kay Chirco’s daughter turned 16, she made a birthday present request that came as a shock to her parents.
Pictured is the present, Emma, now 6, a pitbull.
“Our daughter, Gabby, wanted a dog instead of a car for her 16th birthday,” Chirco said. “That’s what she wanted for her 16th birthday. I was surprised. We ended up getting her a car two years later.”
Gabby is now 22.
Emma, adopted by the family as a puppy, remains a valued part of the family, Chirco said.
“We went to a rescue event at PetSmart and even though my husband said he would ‘never have a pittie,’ she won our hearts,” she said. “As it turned out, we also got a chocolate lab, Josie, that our daughter had her heart set on, as well.
“It was the best decision we could have made. Emma defies all prejudices that go with having a pittie.”
Emma has a great personality, she said.
“She is extremely loving, a cuddler and is so filled with excitement to greet us,” Chirco said. “Also, she is quite a pro at ‘squeakectomies.’”
PET SPOT invites readers to tell a story about their pets or nonprofit animal adoption agencies to write about an adoptable pet and submit it, plus an attached photo, to news@myleaderpaper.com. Please include a phone number and city of residence for submissions from individuals and contact information for organizations.
