Our 2026 Paw Prints Beer
Label Contest Winners

Tell us why your pet supports the ARLNH: 

Some souls are meant to find each other, tracing a path through the dark until they step into the light together. For his first four years, Raymond knew only the worst of humanity, abused, fought for profit, and passed from home to home by a world lacking the patience to see past his breed. But behind the scars of a misunderstood Pitbull was a gentle spirit waiting for a safe place to land.

That safe place was my son. The moment they met, it wasn’t just an adoption; it was a profound reconnection of two souls. My son gave Raymond a sanctuary, and in return, Raymond taught him how to trust in unconditional love again. He made my son feel seen, needed, and fiercely protected.
Once anchored in safety, Raymond’s true colors bloomed. He defied every unfair stereotype, becoming the neighborhood ambassador. On their walks, he and my son brought people together, building deep, meaningful relationships with everyone they met. All Raymond ever needed was to feel safe to show the world how much love he had to offer.

When cancer aggressively stole him away at age nine on May 2, 2026, he stayed strong until the very end. True to his protective nature, he masked his pain, sparing his human who saved him from bearing his burden. Though five years was far too short, the depth of their bond wasn't measured in time, but in transformation. Raymond left this physical realm knowing the warmth of a true forever home, wrapped in the absolute certainty that he was a good, beautiful, and deeply loved boy. His legacy lives on in the hearts he healed, an eternal reminder of what happens when we finally take a chance on love.

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Tell us what makes your pet better than all the rest:

What makes Raymond the ultimate champion of any "better than the rest" contest isn’t a flawless pedigree or a groomed-to-perfection coat; it was his extraordinary triumph of spirit. Most contestants enter a ring showcasing standard obedience, but Raymond showcased the rarest kind of resilience. After enduring four years of horrific abuse, dogfighting, and constant rejection, he had every reason to be guarded. Yet, the moment he was shown safety, he chose radical grace.

Raymond defeated the heaviest odds and shattered the unfair stereotypes surrounding Pitbull's by becoming a beacon of pure empathy. He didn’t just learn to trust again, he became the soul of our neighborhood, turning daily walks into masterclasses on community and connection. His capacity to forgive humanity and fiercely protect his person, even masking his own terminal pain to shield his human's, proves a depth of character that standard training simply cannot produce.

Raymond redefined what it means to be a champion. He was a survivor, a healer, and a gentle ambassador who proved that love, when given a fighting chance, wins against all odds. That is what truly makes this sweet boy the absolute best, even in the afterlife.

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