Simon found his family after an NYPD rescue, medical care and behavior rehabilitation at the ASPCA Animal Hospital. The three-year-old pit bull was wary of strangers and barked from his enclosure, but a face-to-face meeting showed Joseph E. and his girlfriend a very different side: Simon licked them, wagged his tail and rolled over for attention. Joseph adopted him through the ASPCA Adoption Center, and Simon gradually became more confident and closely attached to him at home.
The ASPCA published this account on November 2, 2016. It is the story of one dog’s recovery and adoption, not evidence about every pit bull or every shelter experience.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Simon’s story began with a rescue
In summer 2015, the New York City Police Department brought Simon to the ASPCA Animal Hospital after rescuing him from cruelty. The ASPCA describes him as a three-year-old dog who was initially apprehensive around strangers. That detail matters: Simon was not presented as an immediately outgoing shelter dog waiting for an effortless adoption. He needed treatment, time and a structured rehabilitation process before he was ready to meet a prospective family.
The account does not provide a complete medical history or describe the specific injuries or conditions involved in the cruelty. It does establish that his recovery took place with the hospital and behavior teams, and that rehabilitation was part of his path to adoption.
#1 Best Overall
What the behavior team learned
As staff worked with Simon, they discovered abilities that were easy to miss when he was frightened. He knew tricks, was housetrained and could walk beside a behaviorist. Those observations gave the team practical information about his skills and daily behavior rather than reducing him to the circumstances of his rescue.
Knowing tricks and being housetrained did not erase his fear of unfamiliar people. Instead, the two facts existed together: Simon had learned useful behaviors and routines, while still needing patient handling around strangers. The ASPCA’s account presents rehabilitation as a gradual process, not a single breakthrough.
How Joseph noticed Simon at the adoption center
Joseph E., of Elmont, New York, had previously obtained pit bulls as puppies from breeders. While looking on the ASPCA website for another dog, he saw Simon’s photograph. He and his girlfriend then visited the ASPCA Adoption Center to meet him.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The first view was not an obvious invitation. Simon barked from behind his enclosure, and the couple hesitated. A kennel-front reaction can be an incomplete picture of a dog’s behavior, but it is still information that visitors must take seriously. Rather than deciding from that moment alone, Joseph asked to meet Simon face to face.
The in-person meeting changed the decision
During that meeting, Simon approached the couple differently. The story says he licked them, wagged his tail and rolled over to be petted. Those actions gave Joseph and his girlfriend an opportunity to observe Simon outside the immediate pressure of the enclosure and to interact with him directly.
Joseph’s decision was not based on ignoring the barking. It followed a second observation in a different setting. The contrast between the enclosure and the meeting became an important part of Simon’s adoption story: a fearful or overstimulated display at a kennel door did not fully describe how he responded once he had space and direct contact.
Joseph adopted Simon through the ASPCA
After meeting him, Joseph adopted Simon through the ASPCA Adoption Center. The adoption account does not list a purchase price, a breed certification, a training package or a special product. It focuses on the relationship that developed after Simon left the center.
Joseph’s earlier experience with breeder puppies is background about his life with dogs. The ASPCA story does not compare breeder purchases and shelter adoptions using outcome data, and it does not claim that one route is universally better. Simon’s adoption should therefore be understood on its own terms: one person met one rescued dog, gathered more information in person and chose to bring him home.
How Simon adjusted after adoption
At home, Simon attached himself to Joseph and became more confident over time. The account does not give a day-by-day training schedule or a measured timeline for that change. It describes a continuing adjustment in which Simon’s confidence grew as he lived with his new guardian.
A close bond with Joseph
Joseph described Simon as the most loving dog he had had and as his best friend. Those are Joseph’s personal descriptions of their relationship, not a standardized behavior assessment. They show how the adoption felt to him after Simon had time to settle in and trust his new surroundings.
Joseph also hoped to return to the Adoption Center to find a companion for Simon. That plan indicates that he was thinking about Simon’s future social life and the possibility of expanding the household, although the account does not say whether a second adoption took place.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What the shelter meeting can teach adopters
Simon’s experience offers a practical reminder to evaluate a shelter dog in more than one moment while respecting the dog’s boundaries. A bark behind an enclosure can reflect stress, arousal or uncertainty in that setting; it should not be treated as a complete personality profile. At the same time, a friendly greeting during a meeting is not a guarantee that every behavior will be identical at home.
A careful first meeting
- Observe before entering. Note how the dog responds to people, movement and the enclosure without tapping on the door or demanding attention.
- Ask staff for context. The people caring for the dog can explain what they have observed during walks, handling, feeding and quiet periods. In Simon’s case, the behavior team knew he was housetrained, knew tricks and could walk beside a behaviorist.
- Request an appropriate face-to-face interaction. A staff-directed meeting can reveal behavior that is not visible through kennel bars, as Joseph discovered with Simon.
- Let the dog set the pace. Licking, tail wagging or rolling over were Simon’s responses during his meeting; another dog may need more distance or several visits. Do not force contact to reproduce Simon’s greeting.
- Discuss the transition home. Ask what routines, equipment, medications or follow-up support are recommended. Simon’s story makes clear that rehabilitation and confidence-building can continue after the adoption.
- Plan for gradual adjustment. A dog who has experienced cruelty may need predictable routines and patient handling while learning a new household. The account describes Simon’s confidence increasing over time rather than changing instantly on adoption day.
These steps are general adoption practices, not a claim that every dog will behave like Simon. A shelter team’s observations and a prospective adopter’s own meeting both matter when deciding whether a particular match is appropriate.
Why Simon’s story should not be generalized to all pit bulls
The ASPCA account identifies Simon as a pit bull and follows his individual history. It does not establish how pit bulls generally behave, how common any temperament is, or what outcomes all shelter adoptions produce. Simon’s experience cannot prove that a breed label predicts a particular dog’s response to strangers, nor can it settle broader debates about breed-specific policy.
His story also cannot serve as a controlled comparison between adoption and buying from a breeder. Joseph’s previous breeder puppies are a biographical detail, not a study with matched groups, measured outcomes or long-term follow-up. Readers should keep that evidence limit in view while still recognizing what the account does document: Simon received care after cruelty, responded differently in a personal meeting than he had behind his enclosure, and formed a strong bond with his adopter.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Simon’s timeline
| Stage | What the ASPCA account says |
|---|---|
| Rescue | In summer 2015, the NYPD rescued Simon and brought him to the ASPCA Animal Hospital after cruelty. |
| Initial condition | He was described as a three-year-old dog who was apprehensive around strangers. |
| Rehabilitation | The behavior team learned that he knew tricks, was housetrained and could walk beside a behaviorist. |
| First shelter impression | Simon barked from behind his enclosure when Joseph and his girlfriend visited. |
| Face-to-face meeting | He licked them, wagged his tail and rolled over to be petted. |
| Adoption | Joseph adopted Simon through the ASPCA Adoption Center. |
| Life at home | Simon attached himself to Joseph and grew more confident over time. |
| Joseph’s description | He called Simon the most loving dog he had had and his best friend. |
The quotation Joseph wanted people to hear
“I’m trying to get people to see this sweet, loving pit bull and realize that it is all about the way they are raised, how they are treated and if they are cared for and loved.”
Best Value
New Puppy Gift – Dog Memory Book & Keepsake Photo Album | Gift for New Puppy Owners, Dog Lovers & Pet Parents | Puppy Scrapbook & Dog Mom Memory Journal
- A Beautiful Puppy Keepsake Book - Your Story tells the unique story of your dog's life. Capture every minute and moment in this beautiful dog keepsake diary. Designed by dog owners and lovers, we've pawwed our heart and soul into making Your Story the ultimate companion to document the life of your dog.
- Room For Photos & Paw Prints - Your Story captures every moment of your dogs life. 65 photos slots to capture everything from their first bath and walk, up to their 5th birthday. Never miss a moment and capture all of those beautiful bonding moments.
- From Puppyhood - The book is a total of 96 pages long and starts from the moment you get your new puppy and covers every milestone. Document their weight, the fun and unique things they do, as well as each birthday and memorable moment. Dog mom gifts have never looked so beautiful.
- A Lasting Legacy - Your Story also acts as a Dog Keepsake Memorial. Capturing moments up until their passing, the effect they have had on your life, as well as how they left an impact on others. There really isnt a better gift for a dog owner than Your Story. Create a timeless dog scrapbook keepsake that your family will cherish for a lifetime.
- KEY INFO: 96 Pages - Storage Pocket - Fits 4x6 photos, Beautiful Quotes, Unique Illustrations. Sections include: Welcoming You, Welcome Home, Naming You, Puppyhood, First Photos, Paw Prints, Weight Chart, Training You, Your Favorites, Year 1-5, Your Adventures, Your Achievements, Your Senior Years, Remembering You . Dimensions: 7 1/2" x 9 1/4"
The ASPCA attributes that statement to Joseph E. of Elmont, New York. It expresses his view of Simon and the experience they shared. It should be read as a personal observation about his adopted dog, not as a scientifically tested explanation of temperament for every pit bull.
What happened after Simon found his family?
The documented ending is the beginning of Simon’s life with Joseph: he became more confident, attached himself to his new guardian and was regarded by Joseph as a beloved companion. Joseph considered returning to the Adoption Center to look for a friend for him. The account does not report a later adoption, additional behavioral testing or a broader outcome study.
That limited, personal ending is also what makes the story useful. Simon was not judged solely by his history or by his first bark at the kennel door. His adopters took the time to meet him, and the relationship developed through continued care after the paperwork was complete.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteQuick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Leave a Reply