Our Story
Meet Gibbson (Bubbins' real-life doggy double), and Jason and Michelina (Gibbson's parents).
In 2016, Gibbson was roaming the streets of New Jersey, and Jason (our author) was working long hours as a Financial Crimes Investigator for Ernst & Young. By a twist of fate, they found each other, and their lives changed forever.
On May 4th 2019, Jason Kraus published Belly Rubbins For Bubbins: The Story of a Rescue Dog. The book follows the journey of Bubbins the Rescue Dog and shares an important message of love, forgiveness and perseverance with kids and adults alike. Bubbins’ story resonated with audiences, and the book went on to hit #2 on the Barnes and Noble Top 100 Bestsellers List, and was featured on The Dodo, The Today Show, and many others.
In 2016, Jason was working as a Financial Crimes Investigator, and Gibbson, the real-life inspiration for Bubbins, was wandering the streets of Newark, New Jersey and growing progressively weaker in the absence of shelter and necessary medical care. When Gibbson was taken in by Green Miles Rescue, it was with the intention of finding a hospice foster placement for the sick senior pit bull, who was suffering from thyroid cancer, but they weren’t optimistic–few homes seek out senior dogs, and even fewer are willing to adopt a pit bull. Fortunately, Michelina (Jason’s wife) saw Gibbson on Facebook and knew she had to do something. Although Jason was worried about adopting Gibbson based on what he had heard about pit bulls, Michelina assured him that the mainstream narrative was inaccurate. A few days later, Gibbson was home.
It didn’t take long for Jason to fall completely in love with Gibbson, and for Michelina’s assertion to be proved true beyond both their wildest dreams. Gibbson, who had obviously been through tremendous pain and suffering through no fault of his own, sparked something inside Jason. Despite his history, Gibbson loved deeply and unconditionally and gave Jason his complete trust without question, and with every day they spent together, Jason found himself asking, “How could anyone have done this to him?”
It was his love for Gibbson and his outrage over how the sweet pit bull had been treated that spurned Jason to action. His master’s degree in Counter-Terrorism and Homeland Security had taught him that the only long-term solution to terrorism was education, and he applied these same principles wholeheartedly to his new passion: ending animal abuse and neglect. With his love for Gibbson at the center of his thoughts, the 6’4” former-rugby player dismissed the doubts of his friends and family… and he wrote a children’s book with.
Belly Rubbins for Bubbins, which found widespread success with its resonant message of overcoming hardship, forgiveness, and unconditional love, was only the beginning. Realizing there was more to be done, Jason left his full-time job, and Jason and Michelina began running Humane Education workshops in New York and New Jersey schools, with the goal of spreading Bubbins’ message, teaching children and adults about rescue dogs, animal shelters and the importance of being kind to dogs. To-date, Jason and Michelina have visited over 40 schools and educated over 6,000 children in person.
Gibbson passed away on March, 3rd 2020, but not before leaving a lasting mark on the hearts of the Kraus's, and all those who continue to connect to the story of Bubbins. The Kraus's believe the pet rescue world needs a central message and mascot to rally around, and what better mascot than Bubbins! In the words of our furry, four-legged hero: "We can spay, neuter, shelter, foster and adopt, but until we educate it won't stop!"
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51% of profits go to charity
Shop the collection51% of profits from all Bubbins store purchases go to charities that share our goals of education, adoption, and a loving home for every rescue dog. In the words of Bubbins, "We can spay, neuter, shelter, foster and adopt, but until we educate it won't stop!"
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Jersey Pits Rescue
Check out Jersey Pits RescueJersey Pits Rescue is a foster based animal rescue group located in New Jersey. They provide medical care, financial aid, and education aimed to teach the community the value of spaying and neutering, and the proper way to care for their pets.
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Kennel to Couch
Check out Kennel to CouchKennel to Couch is a 501(c)3 dedicated to pit bull adoption advocacy. They team with shelters and community partners to sponsor pit bulls in need of adoption, and provide K2C sponsorship benefits at no cost to the adoptive families of their sponsored dogs.
