Meet Meatball (affectionately known as Meaty), a pit bull mix who is now living his best life with his loving family in California. Meaty has also become a famous Instagram star, boasting nearly 160k followers. But his journey wasn’t always filled with joy. Before finding his forever home and internet stardom, Meaty spent his days in a shelter in Central Valley, waiting for his second chance at life.
A Kind-Hearted Rescuer
Thankfully, that chance came when a compassionate woman named Lisa Reilly discovered him and gave him a new lease on life.
Lisa first spotted Meaty in a photo posted on Facebook by Fresno Bully Rescue, a no-kill shelter in California.
“Well, he looks like a bowling ball,” Reilly said. “It’s hard to really capture just how short he is in person, but he’s so low to the ground and wide like a Mack Truck. And he would just barrel into you like a bowling ball of dog fat when we first got him. So, he became known as ‘The Meatball,’ Meaty for short.”
A Heartfelt Connection
Meaty quickly melted Lisa’s heart, reminding her of her late dog, Kitty, who had passed away due to a serious illness. Touched by this connection, Lisa decided to bring Meaty home, offering him the love and care he so desperately needed.
“Fresno Bully Rescue did an amazing job nursing Meaty from the first time I saw him until I was able to bring him home,” Reilly told The Dodo.
A Constant Smile
Since the day he was rescued from the shelter, Meaty hasn’t stopped smiling. He quickly bonded with Lisa’s other rescued pit bulls, Punky and Ricardo Tubbs, as well as dachshunds Bitty and Dappe.
“One advantage to having a chubby dog is that he’s highly treat-motivated,” Reilly explains. “He’s also very toy-motivated and loves to play. So he’s always willing to ‘work’ for any toy or treat, which makes taking pictures of him so easy.”
As you can see from the photos below, Meaty’s happiness is undeniable, and the wide grin on his face is entirely natural!
A Mother’s Boy
“He’s really a mama’s boy and just wants to be next to me all the time,” Reilly shared. “It’s great though, as you really can’t have a bad day when he’s around. I dare anyone not to smile when they’re near him.”
If you’ve fallen in love with Meaty and his friends, you can follow their adventures and daily life on Instagram for more heartwarming updates.
