Perseverance is paying off for Coleen Flight, the founder of an Evergreen dog rescue for “bully” breeds in Northwest Montana.

Flight started Paws of Perseverance almost seven years ago, and her unique approach to working with even the most aggressive animals has led to lots of success stories for the pets that go through her organization.

“There’s a reason people call me,” said Flight, who brings a specialized background to her work. She got her start with Flathead County Animal Control, and she believes her experience in training animals and studying dog psychology sets up animals for success after they go through her care.

Most dog rescues don’t have her knowledge of training and socializing rescued pets, Flight said, especially when it comes to aggressive breeds.

Paws of Perseverance focuses on helping dogs known as “bully breeds,” a catch-all classification for breeds such as pit bulls, bulldogs and Rottweilers.

Flight is committed to dispelling the stigma around these types of dogs and giving them the training they need to find loving homes.

“I know what it feels like to not be wanted, to be judged, to be misunderstood,” Flight said.

With this perspective, Flight feels a special kinship for the dogs that come to Paws of Perseverance, even though many people think of them as “the worst of the worst.”

Flight certainly doesn’t see them that way.

Her rescue career started with Jada, a 10-year-old pit bull who has become one of Flight’s personal pets. Before Flight got her, Jada had gone through three shelters in Southern California. She was used by a breeder there for years, but she was ultimately discarded after she had served her breeding purpose. She was unruly, clearly traumatized, and in waiting at a kill shelter when Flight took her in.

Flight said it took a combination of talent and patience to get through to Jada, but once she did, she felt confident she could take on even the most severe cases.

These days, Jada ambles around Flight’s yard with 2-year-old Opal, another rescue-turned-house pet, and eagerly snuggles up with Flight and her assistant, Elmer Zarn.

FLIGHT SAID she makes sure the pets that go through Paws of Perseverance are “110% solid” when they leave her kennel. She said some 300 dogs come through the organization every year, and they have about a 98% success rate for pets staying in the homes where they are placed, not needing to return to the rescue.

But the need seems to be growing. Normally, Flight said winter is the slow season at Paws of Perseverance, and they spend the colder months gearing up for puppy season in the spring. But lately, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have kept the rescue busy all year long.

At the same time, the rescue’s resources have been severely depleted by the crippled economy. Flight said the nonprofit depends on donations from Giving Tuesday as the biggest revenue generator of the year. This year, she said they brought in about half their usual amount.

Of course, the dogs don’t know there’s a pandemic, and Flight still needs to buy about $1,000 worth in food every month, on top of veterinary bills and other expenses.

“Every monetary donation, it always goes to something,” Flight said.

Fortunately, one adopter has pledged a sizable donation to help the nonprofit secure a commercial space, so the rescue can move out of Flight’s backyard. She said they’re still looking for the right location for the expansion.

There are a lot of smaller ways locals can help out, too. Flight invited anyone interested to come to Paws of Perseverance and volunteer taking care of the dogs. “We can always use more local hands,” she said.

She also encouraged anyone interested in the cause to educate themselves and others about bully breeds and the plight they often face from their negative reputation.

“From Day One, my job was to turn the stigma around, and that’s never changed,” Flight said as she watched her two rescue pets dart playfully around the yard.

Paws of Perseverance Bully Breed Rescue can be contacted through their Facebook page, or by calling 406-381-8166.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.