The Truth About Tessa

At one point during this year's Art B Que, Avondale's signature street party, there was a small crowd gathered around a particular dog crate in the adoption tent manned by LifeLine Animal Project.

"Oooooh, look at that face!" one woman squealed.

"Omigod, she is so cute," another person commented.

A young child of about 5 years scooted around the group to see what everyone was looking at and came face to face with Tessa the pit bull terrier. He hesitated for a second as their eyes met, then stuck his hand in the crate and stroked one of her large ears. He then yelled for his parents, "I want this one!"

His mom and dad gently reminded him of the two dogs they had at home and lured him away with a promise of a treat from King of Pops. As they walked away the man commented, "Good looking dog, though."

Tessa, a sturdy and sweet 3-year-old is a good looking dog. Her coat glows. She's never met a tennis ball she didn't like. In fact, she can happily fit three tennis balls in her mouth at one time.

She also has one crossed-eye, a feature some might consider a flaw, but when you see her you realize that it actually adds to her character and charm. She's alert, loves people and calmly observes the world around her.

When Tessa looks at you, you feel looked at.

However, she wasn't always chasing tennis balls and her coat didn't always glow with good health.

Tessa came to LifeLine as a cruelty case, so emaciated she could barely stand. All she was able to eat for weeks was baby food, which the staff fed to her by hand.

While no one was sure she would survive, she did. More than that, under the watchful care of LifeLine's Dog House staff, she thrived. Tessa soon became a favorite of the volunteer dog walkers who come weekly to help exercise and socialize the rescued dogs.

"Tessa is amazing and so smart," says Jes Hand, a long-time volunteer, "She has such a beautiful coat and face. And those eyes melt your heart.  She is a dream on the leash and really attentive when she walks."

"She's a special girl," adds Donna Troka, who regularly helps at LifeLine and has fostered dogs from the Dog House.

To Tessa's total delight, Hand and Troka try to always bring her a tennis ball or two to play with when they walk her.

Tessa weighs about 60 pounds, is spayed, current on her vaccinations and is leash and crate trained.

To learn more about her or inquire about owning this special survivor, please contact adoptions@lifelineanimal.org