Nova got a fresh start thanks to Gabriella Dominguez.
Dominguez, who works as the public information officer for Miami-Dade County Animal Services, met Nova three years ago.
“She arrived pregnant to the shelter,” Dominguez said.
Nova, who is now five, had been with another foster family before she came to Dominguez, where she’s been ever since. Her puppies were adopted first.
“She was very calm,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez figured Nova was older due to her subdued personality, but after having testing done, she found out that Nova was closer to two years old.
Nova is a mix of American Staffordshire Terrier and Golden Retriever, among other breeds. Dominguez, who is around the animals in the shelter daily, said she was surprised how calm Nova was compared to other Staffordshire Terriers.
When Nova first moved in with Dominguez, she was very fearful; she feared Dominguez’s Jeep and even the elevator in the building they used to live in.
Nova now enjoys car rides to her favorite places in town like K9 Cove or the pumpkin patch at Miami Lakes United Methodist Church.
Despite doing better with those things, she is still scared of some things.
“She’s scared of squeaky toys, but she is getting more confident,” Dominguez said.
Despite these fears, Nova is gentle and sweet with smaller dogs like her Yorkshire Terrier sister, Hershey, and others who meet her while around in Miami Lakes.
“She’s a little shy when meeting someone new, but give her a few minutes and she’ll be leaning in for pets,” Dominguez said.
Dominguez describes Nova as goofy and a big dog who thinks she’s a lap dog and takes up the whole couch.
Despite her large size, Nova is a gentle soul who has been kind to the fosters Dominguez has had in the past.
“She is very sweet and gentle,” Dominguez said.
While Nova may appear intimidating, Dominguez has found that Nova has changed the minds of people who meet her thanks her goofy and sweet personality.
“Nova reminds me every day that the best dogs are often the ones people overlook,” Dominguez said.
Nova lives with Dominguez, her boyfriend Branden Bravo, and her doggy sister Hershey in the town center.
Photos provided by Gabriella Dominguez