Melissa Stevens, a veterinary technician, said it was "love at first sight" when she meet the black pit bull.
NEWARK -- One of the dogs found covered in tar, abandoned on a bubbling rooftop during the recent heatwave has found a new home.
Melissa Stevens and her dog Lexi. Melissa Stevens, a veterinary technician from Saddle Brook, said it was "love at first sight" when she met the black pit bull.
"My coworkers warned me that Ginger was a little cage aggressive and fearful," Stevens said. "I opened her cage and was greeted with hugs and kisses."
This week, Stevens adopted the rescue dog, who she described as "very petite and gentle," despite the recent incident and renamed her Lexi.
The adopted pit bull and a Yorkshire terrier named Simon were hospitalized last month. The Newark's Associated Humane Societies found the pair with tar-matted hair, and exhausted from constantly moving on a bubbling roof to avoid burning their paws.
"When I heard what happened to Ginger - now Lexi - and Simon, I was heart broken and immediately took to them," Stevens said.
Stevens told NJ Advance Media that she has fostered a number of animals over the years, but she's never been able to adopt them.
"Everything just fell into place," she said. "Now Lexi is adjusting to her new life perfectly and everyone just loves her."
The Newark's Associated Humane Societies found a pair of dogs with tar-matted hair, and exhausted from constantly moving on a bubbling roof to avoid burning their paws. (Associated Humane Popcorn Park Shelter) Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.