Riddick is a rescue pit bull who has had a rough life. When he was just a puppy, Riddick was thrown from a moving car and was found on the side of the road by Rescue Dogs Rock NYC. After months of healing, Riddick was put up for adoption, and it didn’t take long for him to find a forever home.

When Bryan Junior and his wife came upon a photo of Riddick on Facebook, they fell in love with him immediately and did not hesitate to make him a member of their family.

One year after adopting Riddick, Bryan and his wife welcomed a baby boy named Dawson. Riddick and Dawson bonded right away, and the dog watched over the baby constantly. Riddick was always very attentive to Dawson and made sure to never bark loud enough to scare him. The Junior family also another pit bull named Cambria, who also loved Dawson very much.

“Riddick is the most well-tempered, chill dog you could ask for,” Bryan said. “He’s just gentle, loving and tolerant of anything. Everyone loves Riddick. He’s just the pup you always wish for.”

Riddick and Cambria earned the nickname the “paw patrol” because of the way they would run to Dawson as soon as he started crying. Whenever he would wake up in the morning, Bryan would tell the pit bulls “Baby Dawson is awake,” and they would run right to him.

Riddick and Cambria also enjoy listening to bedtime stories with Dawson.

“They sit with us every night to this day when we read him a bedtime story, Cambria usually on my lap and Riddick on the floor,” Bryan said. “Dawson kisses them both good night and we put him to bed.”

As Dawson has gotten older, he’s only gotten closer to the pit bulls, who have become like his dog siblings.

When Dawson recently came down with the flu, his parents were worried about him, as he had never been really sick before. It quickly became clear to them that when Dawson was feeling at his worst, he just wanted Riddick.

“He crawled up onto the ottoman with Riddick and was just holding him,” Bryan said. “You could tell Riddick knew he wasn’t feeling well and laid with him. [Dawson] tossed and turned a bit and about 30 minutes later passed out cold for over an hour. Riddick never moved.”

Dawson has thankfully since made a full recovery, and he is closer with Riddick than ever!

Dawson and Riddick are both very lucky to have a best buddy in one another for life. There’s nothing like the healing power of a good friendship!