A Stray Pit Bull

Leroy is always smiling. Photo from Julie Austin Photography.
In 2009, the Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation (AARF) picked up a stray pit bull in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.
He was a beautiful dog with a huge smile, a particularly large head, and tawny fur. He loved humans, but he also had a strong, aggressive prey drive which reduced his options for adoption considerably.
If you’ve ever met AARF founder Heather Enajibi, you would know she doesn’t give up on any dog she rescues.
Determined to find an appropriate place for him, Heather heard about a place in Forks that took in dogs facing euthanization due to severe behavior problems.
Leroy Goes to the Olympic Animal Sanctuary
If you googled the Olympic Animal Sanctuary (OAS) at that time, you would have found several articles touting praising its founder Steve Markwell for his work with these dogs that he claimed most people “would rather see dead.”
OAS appeared to be the ideal place for Leroy. AARF sent him there a few weeks after they picked him up.

Leroy was ecstatic after a judge ordered the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” to return him to Heather Enajibi and AARF. Photo from Karen Ducey.
Unfortunately, OAS was not a sanctuary. As the public learned in 2013, the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” was nothing more than a jail for dogs.
Markwell kept the dogs in crates or small areas virtually 24/7. He rarely changed the straw in their enclosures so it was soaked with urine and smeared with feces. They were only fed periodically. It was a hellhole.
Issues Raise Concern About OAS
Markwell initially sent AARF a few reports and pictures about Leroy but eventually he stopped.
Heather realized something was wrong in 2012 when she went to OAS with a friend to deliver donated food for Leroy. Markwell wouldn’t let them inside the warehouse, and when he brought out Leroy, Heather said he didn’t seem “right.” He completely ignored them – when AARF had him he LOVED people. The only thing that interested him was a rock he had with him.

I met Leroy at one of his meet and greet events. Photo from AARF.
Heather’s concern grew in 2013 when she saw dozens of pictures a former volunteer took of the horrendous condition inside the pink warehouse where Markwell stored the dogs. And when she saw a news story doubt OAS called “Sanctuary of Sorrow” by former KOMO-TV reporter Jeff Burnside, she knew she had to get Leroy out.
Court Battle for Leroy
In November Heather asked Markwell to return Leroy. He refused. However, thanks to the support of a generous donor Heather hired a lawyer to sue for custody of Leroy.
A few weeks later a judge ruled that “Markwell violated a 2009 contract that established Markwell as the dog’s foster caregiver by not giving the dog back when AARF asked.”
After an incredibly happy reunion with Leroy, Heather found a place that would board him and help him get healthy. Leroy was extremely malnourished. And his excessive rock chewing he wore his teeth down to nubs, his only activity for 3 years.

Leroy attracted fans wherever he went. Photo from AARF.
Once Leroy had settled in, AARF went to work to find a home for Leroy. Not long after getting Leroy back, they asked former University of Washington Professor Jim Ha, a Certified Animal Behaviorist, to examine Leroy and determine if he could be adopted after his ordeal at the “Sanctuary.”
Meeting Leroy
I met Leroy for the first time when Dr. Ha checked him out. Leroy made it clear from the outset that he LOVED people. He spent most of the time either rolling around in the lap of the person taking care of him or being cradled like a baby in their arms. Later a few of us went with Leroy to a large, fenced open field where he could run and play to his heart’s content.
Dr. Ha said that while AARF should watch for signs of PTSD in Leroy, he saw no indication of aggression towards humans. My unscientific opinion was that Leroy was a big, lovable goof.

Linebacker Kevin Pierre-Lewis was one of two Seattle Seahawks who encouraged people to adopt Leroy. Former kicker Steven Houschka did as well. Image from Pet Connection Magazine.
Finding a home for Leroy was a challenge because he is a big, muscular pit bull with a high prey drive and needed large yard with a high fence where he could exercise.
Heather knew these issues would be hard to overcome, but that didn’t stop her and AARF volunteers from working their butts off to find him a home.
Two Seahawks Promote Leroy
Pet Connection Magazine helped by convincing two Seattle Seahawks to advocate for him as well.

Leroy’s new mom greets him as he arrives at his new home. Photo from Radford Creative.
Last fall, Pet Connection worked with former Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka and his wife Lindsey to promote Leroy in Pet Connection Magazine, on Q13 Fox, and on New Day Northwest.
Leroy gets a Home!
Despite their Herculean efforts, AARF couldn’t find a home for Leroy until a couple of weeks ago when a woman named Lise read about his journey. She had been thinking about getting a dog, and when a friend tagged her in a post about Leroy from the Pawsitive Alliance.
After that, everything fell into place perfectly, and Leroy moved in with Lise permanently last Sunday!
You can see all the people and groups that helped him find a home and follow his exploits with his new mom on Leroy’s Facebook page.
The amount of time and effort Heather and AARF’s volunteers spent to find Leroy a home was astonishing. AARF also spent about $9000 a year just to board Leroy for more than three years. That’s a huge chunk of money for a small dog rescue group like AARF.
To recognize AARF’s fantastic work on behalf of Leroy and celebrate his adoption, please click here and make a tax deductible contribution to this amazing organization that never gives up on finding permanent homes for the dogs they rescue.
And Leroy, I have only two words that you’ve waited eight years to hear: Welcome Home!
Leroy at His New Home

Leroy thanks AARF founder Heather Enajibi for working hard to find him a home. Photo from Radford Creative.

Leroy is over the moon about his new mom. Photo from Radford Creative.

Leroy has a great new backyard all to himself… Photo from Radford Creative.

…and he REALLY likes it. Photo from Radford Creative.

“Hi Everyone!!! It’s Lise 🙂 Leroy is busy recuperating from a VERY busy day!
Before I say much else, I really wanted to thank ALL the people involved in his care, prior to us meeting. You have restored my faith in Humanity! Your level of giving, whether it be toys, time, money or a WHOLE lot of love, your unwavering caring for him, in the face of his specific needs, and your unstoppable pushing to get him adopted is absolutely jaw-dropping. You stuck by him through thick and thin, and as a result, I am honored to be the recipient of all your hard work. Rest assured, NONE of your actions will ever be forgotten by me. You are the people that make this planet livable. I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring, and can only hope I can live up to your example.Thank you all, so very, very much.
To Leroy’s followers here on Facebook, I will be sharing our exploits as we cruise into our new relationship! I’m sure he’ll have a whole bunch to talk about!! He has a new yard! New toys! Adog-cave that is way cool, and all kinds of things to do! He is a happy, wiped out little boy today!!
May you all have a wonderful evening! I leave you with Leroy’s current mood.” Photo from Leroy’s mom.
Wonderful story. Thank you, Robert
Thank you!
Thank you Heather, AARF, Maggie, Jeff…the whole troop that rallied for Leroy. Bravo!! ♡♡♡
This brought tears to my eyes, Leroy deserves all the happiness in the world! <3
This is wonderful to care for a pet who have no home and family but you the one who give him the real happy ending . The lord blessed the family who care to give him a everlasting home and loved. I have water in my eyes with a happy heart to see this dog to have a real second chance home with the family Thank you and Blessed you all!
Leroy’s pictures always seem to show him smiling, but the smile he has on his face in the photo of him rolling in the grass of his new yard brought tears of joy to my eyes. Thank you all for the love, dedication and work you went through to help this sweet soul find his forever, loving home.