Animal rescuers will do their best to save as many stray, abandoned, and injured animals as possible. However, sometimes there are cases so hopeless that putting the poor animal out of its misery seems to be the most humane option.
In Atlanta, Georgia, however, one animal rescuer has given up a life of luxury and to start saving dogs. In fact, the New York native is so determined not to turn his back on any dog in need that he has become known for taking cases so hopeless that no other rescuers will help…
A Beloved Family Member
While growing up in Queens, New York, Jason Flatt formed a lifelong love of dogs while being raised along with a pit bull named Calvin. “Calvin was regarded as a family member,” 45-year-old Flatt told Atlanta Magazine about the beloved family dog. According to Flatt, Calvin ended up passing away at 18 years old. Flatt, who always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, was just 12 years old at the time and the loss was Georgia for him to deal with. “Losing him was hard. That was the first big loss of my life,” Flatt explained.
Working On Wall Street
Despite his aspirations to work with animals as an adult, Flatt ended up on Wall Street chasing success and a lavish lifestyle. At first, he worked as a commodities broker and later worked as a managing director at an equity research publication on Wall Street.
A Selfish Life
Flatt thrived in the intense environment, and he had no plans of giving any of it up. “I was leading a very selfish life, very involved with myself and my career,” Flatt said. However, when Flatt was 32 years old, he got a phone call that changed the course of his life forever.
The Phone Call
“On July 22, 2005, I got a phone call that rocked my world,” Flatt said. “My older brother, Evan, who was a federal agent, killed himself. Nothing mattered to me during that time. I plunged into a really bad depression. I was dying on the inside. I died that day along with him.”
A Life-Saving Gift
Flatt needed to get away from his life and since his job allowed him to work remotely, he decided to move to Georgia. After arriving in Georgia, Flatt bought a home on a 14-acre plot of land to get some space during a difficult time. At one point, someone gave Flatt a five-week-old pit bull puppy.
Love At First Sight
Flatt quickly fell in love with the puppy he named Angelo. More importantly, Angelo gave Flatt a reason to live and helped pull him out of his depression. “This little dog literally saved my life by giving me a purpose,” Flatt said. “He was just what I needed. This little dog literally saved my life by giving me a purpose.”
A New Purpose
“He was easy to train, would do anything you commanded. He was so attuned to what I needed. He liked other dogs, was gentle with children and cats. I would take him running with me. He was my savior. I couldn’t find peace until I had him. That little dog made me get up in the morning,” Flatt explained.
A Heartbreaking Discovery
Soon after, Flatt decided to adopt another dog so Angelo could have a friend to play with. While at the pound, however, Flatt was horrified when he realized that almost every single dog was a pit bull. “At any given time, at least 80 percent, and possibly as high as 90 percent, of our dogs are pit bull types,” Audrey Shoemaker, director of client services for Fulton County Animal Services, told Atlanta Magazine. “Because pit bulls make up so much of the population here, they’re the dog most often euthanized.”
An Inaccurate Stereotype
Part of the reason that pit bulls are so common at animal shelters is that they are stereotypically considered to be dangerous dogs. They have also been over bred by irresponsible breeders, so many eventually end up in shelters after being neglected or abused. That day, Flatt realized how big the problem was and agreed to foster several dogs. He then worked hard to place them in loving homes.
Friends To The Forlorn
After placing those first pit bulls, Flatt went back to the shelter and got several pit bulls to foster and rehome. “Word got out that I was saving one dog at a time,” Flatt explained. “Pretty soon, I had placed 100 dogs in homes.” In 2009, Flatt decided to leave the business world behind and founded Friends to the Forlorn. The Georgia-based rescue specializes in rescuing pit bulls but will save any dog breed.
Walking Away From Wall Street
“I made good money. I’ll never be that rich again, but I don’t care. What’s important to me now is that I live a decent life, saving dogs,” Flatt said. Flatt turned his eight-bedroom home into the organization’s base and named it the ‘Pit Bull Palace’. “The dogs own the house. They just let me live here.”
A Dog Oasis
Flatt has painstakingly converted his home into a dream dog rehabilitation facility. Inside, the home is peaceful and clean for the rescues. Outside, Flatt sectioned his 14-acre lot into eight separate yards that are secured by eight-foot-high fences. To ensure no rescues escape, Flatt also had a layer of concrete poured two feet under the surface of the grass. Flatt has also installed security cameras that monitor the entire property.
