You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

But what if you never even get the opportunity to make a first impression? What if despite your charm, intelligence, devotion, good looks and determination, you never even got a chance? What if you were labeled, judged and condemned the second you were talked about or walked into a room?

If you were an American Pit Bull Terrier -- or any of the breed or breed mixes often labeled "pit bull" -- that would be your infinite reality.

But the truth is that the overwhelming majority of these dogs are wonderful companions. I can attest to this because I have met them over and over again and because I own one.

Boone has been an integral part of my family for almost two years, although I can still remember my husband's initial response when I told him about the new puppy I was bringing home to foster. Based on his reaction, I didn't tell him until I was in the driveway several hours later that Boone had a mother who was also coming to our house for a few days.

I tried to explain to Jason that Boone and Payton were wonderful dogs but of a breed that had an unfair and unjust reputation. I talked until I could no more about the biased statistics, frequent media prejudice, and flawed public perception until after a while, I felt like Mrs. Donovan, Charlie Brown's teacher who spoke often but was never understood.

So I stopped advocating and sat back and watched as Boone demonstrated himself for what I knew him to be before we ever left the shelter, and in time he endeared himself to the entire family. One day, he stopped going to adoption events and eventually I asked the Webmaster to remove him from the list of available adoptables on the Web site.

Now, I can't imagine a life without him. He is there when I need him - and often when I don't. We laugh at him daily and love him always and Jason has grown to be one of the biggest supporters of the breed that I've ever met. But we need more. We need more people willing to give a chance to an unexpected occasion and relationship that they never imagined possible and usually not even because of their own prior experience.

Most people have never met a dog like Boone but they have preconceived ideas about what he must be like based on the burden of the undeserved reputation he is forced to carry. And many are often taken aback when it is confirmed to them that Boone is indeed n American Pit Bull Terrier. It is sometimes an amusing encounter but an opportunity we take advantage of in order to dispel the myths.

Boone is just one dog with a happy ending. The large majority of the homeless like him do not get a second chance. But at the Companion Animal Resource and Adoption Center, we do not discriminate against age or breed or health. We evaluate each animal entering our program as an individual being.

Today, we highlight and honor Roxy.

Roxy was a stray to animal control last year and has spent the last several months charming and challenging her foster family. Terriers of all types are enchanting, intelligent and lively, and Roxy is no different. She is very social with humans, dogs and cats and is often engaging one of them in play. But if no one is available, she is very good at playing independently and can often be found carrying more than one toy in her mouth. Roxy is housebroken, knows several basic and advanced commands, and walks well on leash. She is spayed and current on vaccinations.

Please visit Roxy and all of our dogs for adoption on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. at the Petsmart located at 74th & Edgerton in Greenfield. Please visit www.companionanimal.org for a full listing of available animals as well as information about our programs and adoption center located in Southridge Mall.