Stamford rescue dog in the running for America’s Favorite Pet
Once abandoned on the streets of New Jersey, Bean, an English bulldog mix, found a second chance at life after being adopted by Melissa Giorgi in Stamford. Now, Bean is competing for the title of America’s Favorite Pet.
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You could say Bean the English bulldog mix has quite the tale. In June, a New Jersey animal shelter found him dumped on the street barely able to walk.
“He was skin and bones. At that point, we really had no idea what was going on with him. You know, we were kind of bracing ourselves,” said Melissa Giorgi, a volunteer with Project Precious Rescue in Stamford, which took the dog in.
Bean immediately went to MedVet in Norwalk, then needed a foster home when he was released. Georgi was dealing with her own pet loss at the time.
“I wasn't really looking to commit to a dog at that time, so I had fostered in the past for other rescue groups, and I thought that might be a gentle way to ease into things,” Giorgi told News 12.
That sentiment didn’t last long.
“Nope, nope, nope,” said Giorgi, laughing.
Though Giorgi didn't expect to become Bean's forever family, there was no letting him go. The dog “wiggled his way into her heart.”
“He's hilarious. He's like really quirky. He has a lot of quirks. He likes to grumble a lot and make noises, you know, when he's not getting his way,” said Giorgi with a smile.
Now, Bean has a shot at winning America's Favorite Pet, an online national competition and fundraiser that celebrates the special bond between pet parent and furry family member.
“I saw it online, and I thought, ‘Oh maybe that would be a fun thing to do,’” Giorgi explained.
Bean has been in the top two of his group since voting began, according to Giorgi. The winner gets a $10,000 prize and a photoshoot to grace the cover of Modern Dog magazine.
“I kind of feel like he's made for that, though. He's got such a personality for that. He's just so great with everyone,” Giorgi stated.
Whatever the outcome, Bean already has a happy ending.
Voting for this round ends at midnight on Jan. 16. To support Bean, click here.
Giorgi said if Bean wins, she'll donate at least half the money to Project Precious Rescue.
