Pet Spotlight: Meet Princessa, the Gentle Goofball Who Found Her Forever Home
From the streets of Memphis to the heart of Blackstone, Princessa’s story is one of resilience, love, and second chances.
Princessa—a sweet American Pitbull Terrier—was rescued in Tennessee after being found as a stray alongside her 10 puppies. She made her way up to Massachusetts with the help of PAWS New England, a nonprofit rescue that places dogs in foster homes across the region. When no foster homes were available, she was boarded in Connecticut. That’s where her future family stepped in.
“I volunteer with PAWS,” says her human, Tiffany Croteau. “My previous foster had just been adopted, and the rescue asked if I’d foster Princessa. Boarding gets expensive, and she needed to be in a home. I picked her up on March 18, 2024.”
Her name? That came with her—kind of. “Her paperwork said Princess A, since there were two dogs named Princess. She was already a couple of years old, so we kept it. It fits her.”
And it didn’t take long for Princessa to wiggle her way into their hearts. After a year of fostering, the Croteau family made it official in March 2025. “We couldn’t imagine her going to anyone else. She just fit.”
Princessa at Home
Princessa is a joyful bundle of love and energy. She loves belly rubs, playing tug, booping her people with toys when it’s time to play, and snoozing on the back deck. She’s not a morning pup, preferring to sleep in until her humans coax her outside for a quick yard check (critters beware).
During the day, she keeps Tiffany company in the home office, switching between naps and squirrel patrol. She has toy baskets in both the office and living room and treats all her toys with care. Favorites include rope toys, squeaky toys, balls, and peanut butter or duck jerky treats.
Come afternoon, she waits by the door for her human brother to get home from school. “They play, cuddle on her giant dog bed, or hang out on the bean bag in his room watching TV.”
Evenings mean long walks along the Blackstone-Millville bike path—sometimes all the way to Roosevelt Park and back—where Princessa is a familiar face. “She loves meeting kids and adults. She soaks up the attention.”
A Foster Sister with a Big Heart
Princessa has helped foster several pups herself, especially small puppies she tries to share her toys with. Larger dogs take a bit more patience—her family follows a slow introduction process that ends in zoomies and tug-of-war once she’s comfortable. “Sometimes we have to separate them just so they can rest—they don’t want to stop playing!”
Tiffany adds, “She’s a gentle, loving goofball who wants to be loved. Even though she grew up on the streets and is a bully breed, she’s the sweetest dog. I hope people understand that these dogs can be amazing companions.”
Her Theme Song?
🎶 “Good to Be Alive” by Andy Grammer. A perfect match for this happy-go-lucky pup.
🐶 Thinking about fostering, adopting, or volunteering?
Princessa’s journey wouldn’t be possible without the incredible work of PAWS New England. They’re always looking for foster homes, volunteers, transport help, and event support. Learn more or get involved at pawsnewengland.com.
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