When she was followed home by a stray pit bull, friends warned actress Linda Blair not to pay him any mind. In fact, they told her not to let the stray inside, no matter what. Pit bulls, more than any other type of dog, are discriminated against for being mean and vicious. This stereotype generally comes from the illegal and barbaric dog fighting of which pit bulls are regularly made the victims of. So when Linda decided to ignore her friends warnings and this stereotype, her life, and the dog’s life, would change forever.

It is so touching that Linda saw in this dog not as a monster, but as an animal asking for help. She realized as she made her way into her house that the pit bull was not being aggressive at all or trying to attack her, and she knew what needed to be done.

That was when she brought the dog some food and water and started the relationship that would ultimately change her life.

This is such a telling story. It shows that you truly cannot judge a book by its cover (whether it’s a person or a dog!) and that sometimes, letting these surprising things into your life can have a much deeper affect on you down the line than you ever could have imagined.