It was 2014 when Sophie Gamand first took Blossom’s portrait. Back then, Sophie expected to meet a defeated shelter dog. However, Blossom greeted her with a huge smile.
Sophie honors the plight of homeless pit bulls through her project called Pit Bull Flower Power portraits. When Blossom’s turn came, she wore an exuberant flower crown. Sophie wanted a moody and serious theme for the series, but Blossom had other plans.
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Blossom posed with a huge smile on her face. According to Sophie, Blossom’s enthusiasm and cheerfulness prove that pit bulls are loving and resilient. However, Sophie did not anticipate that the pup’s story would show how society treats her breed.
Six years later, Sophie and Blossom met again. At that time, Blossom has already been returned to the shelter four different times. Sophie saw how the once happy pit bull changed because of so many disappointments that she had been through.
Initially, Blossom was rescued while she was roaming around a shopping center in Long Island. She arrived at the shelter in 2013 and was immediately adopted. However, Blossom’s family returned her to the facility because their resident dog did not like her.
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Blossom was once again adopted in 2015. She lived happily with a family that had two children. However, they had to relocate to Germany, which forced them to surrender Blossom to the shelter. The pup was adopted and returned two more times until she became a senior dog.
By then, Blossom’s eyes had already lost their spark, which shocked Sophie. Blossom is no longer the happy and excited dog that she met back in 2014. Sophie noted that although Blossom is a bit broken, she remains a very loving, friendly, and playful dog.
Recently, the vet diagnosed Blossom with early Cushing’s disease. This affects her pituitary or adrenal glands but can be easily treated through medication. Sophie worries that Blossom’s spirit is already wearing down. She hopes that after sharing Blossom’s photos, she will find a loyal family that can provide a place where the senior dog can safely lay her head.
Credit: Sophie Gamand
