Meet Mr. Pugsley, a lovable shelter dog with a heart as big as his goofy personality. Despite his endearing qualities, Mr. Pugsley has found himself waiting patiently for a forever home at
Stray Rescue of St. Louis (SRSL) for over seven months.
His story began in January when a local resident discovered him sitting at the end of their driveway. Concerned for his well-being, the kind-hearted individual reached out to SRSL, and without hesitation, the shelter welcomed Mr. Pugsley into their care.
From the moment Mr. Pugsley walked through the doors of
SRSL, he became a beloved friend of the staff here. His energetic spirit and affectionate nature won the hearts of everyone who met him. Donna Lochmann, SRSL’s chief lifesaving officer, affectionately described him as a "big goofball."
Nevertheless, despite his charm and the joy he brought to
SRSL, potential adopters seemed slow to recognize his worth. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, while other shelter dogs found their forever families. But Mr. Pugsley remained behind, still waiting for someone to take a chance on him.
Then, everything finally changed when
SRSL introduced a new weekend foster program called Rovernights. This program allowed dog lovers to bring a shelter dog home for a short stay over the weekend. With Rovernights, dog lovers who might not be ready to foster full-time or adopt can still spend time with a shelter pup. Besides, it provided dogs with a temporary break from shelter life and a chance to experience the comfort of a home environment.
Mr. Pugsley was among the lucky dogs chosen for a Rovernight adventure, and it turned out to be a totally strange experience for him. While some dogs might have spent their Rovernights playing nonstop with their new friends, Mr. Pugsley had a different plan. As soon as he hopped onto his foster family's bed, he curled up and peacefully fell into sleep.
And his reaction while sleeping in a human bed for the first time is actually melting everybody’s hearts.
His foster family shared their delightful experience on Facebook, saying, "Mr. Pugsley and I snuggled for about 12 hours straight last night. What a lover."
Mr. Pugsley's weekend in a real home allowed him to soak up the silence and comfort of a cozy bed, an experience he hadn't enjoyed for far too long. After a few days, he returned to the shelter, still on the hunt for a loving family to call his own.
While Mr. Pugsley's journey to find his forever family continues, he will always be the sunshine at SRSL. His happy-go-lucky attitude and that ever-present "big pittie smile" light up the shelter halls, bringing joy to all who meet him. And everyone at SRSL is hoping that his forever family will come along soon, recognizing the incredible love and companionship he has to offer.
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