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When Kayla Filoon, a student who volunteers as a dog walker at an animal shelter in Philadelphia, saw Russ the pit bull for the first time, she knew there was a special connection between them. “He came in as a stray, and he was really beat up,” Filoon told The Dodo. “He was missing fur on his tail and ears. He was also terribly skinny.” The 20-year-old woman added: “He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me… And I thought… I need to take him now.”
Filoon knew she needed to act fast, as recently the shelter had to put 15 dogs to sleep. “Any dog had a chance of being put down, especially the ones who were sicker, and Russ was definitely one of them,” said the woman.
So, the next day, she went straight to the shelter and sorted out the adoption papers. “One night I’m sitting there on the chair, doing my homework, and he’s trying to find ways to cuddle with me,” Filoon said. Her friend snapped a photo, put it on social media – and it went viral. “He’s such a love bug, honestly.”
Filoon hopes the photo will inspire others to adopt shelter dogs.
More info: Facebook (h/t: thedodo)
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When Kayla Filoon, a volunteer dog walker at a shelter, saw Russ the pit bull for the first time…
She knew they will be together. “He came in as a stray, and he was really beat up”
“He was missing fur on his tail and ears. He was also terribly skinny”
“He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me… And I thought… I need to take him now”
Filoon knew she needed to act fast, as recently the shelter had to put 15 dogs to sleep
“Any dog had a chance of being put down… and Russ was definitely one of them”
The moment Filoon took Russ home, she knew “he’s the perfect dog”…
And, apparently, the pooch won’t stop hugging and snuggling!
“One night I’m sitting there on the chair, doing my homework, and he’s trying to find ways to…”
“…Cuddle with me”. Her friend snapped a photo, put it on social media – and it went viral
“He’s such a love bug, honestly.” Filoon hopes the photo will inspire others to adopt
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What do you think ?
Katinka Min 8 years ago
So many scars on the poor pooch. :'( Thank God, he found a loving home, so many others are not so lucky. Pitbulls and Staffs are among the unluckiest dogs in the world, I think. Where I live, they keep getting stolen - even from their homes - because psychopaths are STILL using them for dogfights or as symbols for their manliness (which they clearly don't posses on their own). It's just not fair. But then live is not fair. I really need to go cuddle my dog, now.
Gail Robinson 8 years ago
So so true, and pit Bulls are sooo loving...my daughter has one....he is the sweetest most loving boy and looks a lot like this one 😍😍😍😍
Load More Replies...
Jenni Ester 8 years ago
At first she was very careful and assumed that any minute we would abandon her like her previous owners. Now she is such a cuddler. :3
John L Kelly 8 years ago
He's such a cuddler as well. Dogs are nothing more than four legged children, who would be able to express themselves so much more, if they only had hands, and could talk.
Load More Replies...
Maureen Zappellini 8 years ago
My pitty mix that I rescued sick and abandoned by the freeway is the biggest snuggle bug too! She is my love dog
Randi Jorgensen 8 years ago
Thank you for inspiring me to adopt again, and a pit for sure! These photos are priceless:)
Karin Raab 8 years ago
I think this is great they meant to be together and you can see it for yourself this is truly special just love how the dog snuggled up on the couch there's no other words to describe this but god was watching over you to pick this dog, and thank you for sharing
Marion Allen 8 years ago
So agree with comments here. We've got a pit that was abandoned as pup with mum + siblings in an empty flat - no food or water. When eventually found 2 of the pups were dead!! Our boy is beautiful- wonderful nature - great round kids + so loving!!! We wouldn't be without him + my nephew is going to get another. Your Russ looks do much like him. So glad he has found you💖⚘
Diana Lazăr 8 years ago
you got me in tears, thank you for this wonderful article! Bless them all, poor souls, this is all they need..
Jenni Ester 8 years ago
Eventually, she was sold to us after much negotiation. She is the sweetest thing and I don't know why anyone wouldn't want her.
Bobbie Meyers 3 years ago
Congrats on your new boy! I recently got a Pittie pup. EASIEST puppy ever! He was a gift. I was wanting a blue female, got a chocolate male, couldn't be happier. He needed me and we needed him.
June Gregory 8 years ago
The shelter where he came from puts great dogs down daily! They are always full. If a dog has an ear infection he goes to the top of the list! It's sickening.
Cath Hosking 8 years ago
Rescue dogs rule we have one and it's the only way to go they love love and give it back so awesomely
Catherine Kutsuris 8 years ago
So sweet, I've had dogs my whole life......and have ALWAYS adopted from shelters and private homes where they were going to bring to a shelter. Two of the best dogs ever was a female lab and chow mix that we had until she died in our house fire.......so hard. Then my adult daughter had a friend at work that needed to get "rid" of puppies, she was still living at home at the time, I'm a sucker for a puppy.....she since has married (32yrs) and lives with her hubby about 20 miles from her Dad and I. Omg, best dog ever! We missed having her dogs do much that we rescued a puppy mix. He is a love bug. We also took in their Husky cuz they just had a new baby girl, and we were just skittish about her being around our 2 mo old granddaughter.
Brenda Peoples 8 years ago
This is such a sweet story. He will be her best friend for life and will do anything for her. He knows he is Loved now...Good for you for saving his life...
LaShonda Hunt 8 years ago
I own a beautiful American red nose, he is nothing but a cuddle bug, every chance he gets he is in my lap. I hate to see them abused and stereotyped. My puppy isn't a killer
Joyce Gibb 8 years ago
I'm 94, and pit bulls have been our "Family Dog" since before I was born. And since they began be the dog of choice for fighting, we've worked hard to end that vicious practice—my daughter is one of the HSUS volunteers who works at dogfight busts to evaluate which dogs can be salvaged and which cannot. Pit bulls are not vicious, just extremely eager to please, so if their owner teaches them to fight, they'll fight. It's a people problem, not a dog problem. If not taught otherwise, they're natural cuddlers, just like Russ. For many years I slept with two of them, and we all three were SO happy.
Aurora Dawnbringer 8 years ago
Beautiful story, beautiful person, beautiful dog. Thank you for sharing.
Melody Lanzatella 8 years ago
I am IN LOVE! He has that classic Staffy face! Those adorable squinty eyes!
Victoria P-Taib 8 years ago
😔 melt my heart, what a loving dog, he just want to be loved..tears in my eyes.. sad to think of those been put to sleep, 😢
Judita Striaukaitė 8 years ago
Cuddle-yea. But dogs ayes Are still very sad. He's trying to find solation. That means the last owners treated him too much. Dog is not like some of humans, they newer treat
Flo Kaulitz 8 years ago
Wow..thanks God he found the 'home' the real one....thanks for sharing😊😊
criminalgirl 8 years ago
He is soooo sweet, you are an angel for giving him a second chance at life, he will love you, unconditionally, for ever now. You are blessed.
Michelle Hale 8 years ago
I'm so happy when I hear I'm not the only one who saves animals...they need us and I wish there was a way to save them all...bless you for taking him in...they say dogs choose their humans
Notchimine Mette 8 years ago
That's the thing about rescues. They always seem more loving. As if they are thankful for being saved.
MadamButterfly 8 years ago
My heart breaks for them,I wish I were a millionaire,I would take them all and let them live on a huge farm with all they want. :,(
Load More Replies...
Allison Jennifer 8 years ago
And to think we have an absolutely ridiculous law where I am that says pitbulls are banned. 😓
Sasha Bharti 8 years ago
Such a sweet story really made me cry dogs are so much smarter then we let our selves realise they are socapable of feeling so many emotions
Jenni Ester 8 years ago
I recently just got a pitbull, she is about 4 months old. When we got her she was being passed from one owner to another.
Merisol II 8 years ago
There are only such dogs as pit bulls when they're "hugging" and cuddling....but no such breed exists when they're killing children and animals. Sigh.....
Katinka Min 8 years ago
So many scars on the poor pooch. :'( Thank God, he found a loving home, so many others are not so lucky. Pitbulls and Staffs are among the unluckiest dogs in the world, I think. Where I live, they keep getting stolen - even from their homes - because psychopaths are STILL using them for dogfights or as symbols for their manliness (which they clearly don't posses on their own). It's just not fair. But then live is not fair. I really need to go cuddle my dog, now.
Gail Robinson 8 years ago
So so true, and pit Bulls are sooo loving...my daughter has one....he is the sweetest most loving boy and looks a lot like this one 😍😍😍😍
Load More Replies... Jenni Ester 8 years ago
At first she was very careful and assumed that any minute we would abandon her like her previous owners. Now she is such a cuddler. :3
John L Kelly 8 years ago
He's such a cuddler as well. Dogs are nothing more than four legged children, who would be able to express themselves so much more, if they only had hands, and could talk.
Load More Replies... Maureen Zappellini 8 years ago
My pitty mix that I rescued sick and abandoned by the freeway is the biggest snuggle bug too! She is my love dog
Randi Jorgensen 8 years ago
Thank you for inspiring me to adopt again, and a pit for sure! These photos are priceless:)
Karin Raab 8 years ago
I think this is great they meant to be together and you can see it for yourself this is truly special just love how the dog snuggled up on the couch there's no other words to describe this but god was watching over you to pick this dog, and thank you for sharing
Marion Allen 8 years ago
So agree with comments here. We've got a pit that was abandoned as pup with mum + siblings in an empty flat - no food or water. When eventually found 2 of the pups were dead!! Our boy is beautiful- wonderful nature - great round kids + so loving!!! We wouldn't be without him + my nephew is going to get another. Your Russ looks do much like him. So glad he has found you💖⚘
Diana Lazăr 8 years ago
you got me in tears, thank you for this wonderful article! Bless them all, poor souls, this is all they need..
Jenni Ester 8 years ago
Eventually, she was sold to us after much negotiation. She is the sweetest thing and I don't know why anyone wouldn't want her.
Bobbie Meyers 3 years ago
Congrats on your new boy! I recently got a Pittie pup. EASIEST puppy ever! He was a gift. I was wanting a blue female, got a chocolate male, couldn't be happier. He needed me and we needed him.
June Gregory 8 years ago
The shelter where he came from puts great dogs down daily! They are always full. If a dog has an ear infection he goes to the top of the list! It's sickening.
Cath Hosking 8 years ago
Rescue dogs rule we have one and it's the only way to go they love love and give it back so awesomely
Catherine Kutsuris 8 years ago
So sweet, I've had dogs my whole life......and have ALWAYS adopted from shelters and private homes where they were going to bring to a shelter. Two of the best dogs ever was a female lab and chow mix that we had until she died in our house fire.......so hard. Then my adult daughter had a friend at work that needed to get "rid" of puppies, she was still living at home at the time, I'm a sucker for a puppy.....she since has married (32yrs) and lives with her hubby about 20 miles from her Dad and I. Omg, best dog ever! We missed having her dogs do much that we rescued a puppy mix. He is a love bug. We also took in their Husky cuz they just had a new baby girl, and we were just skittish about her being around our 2 mo old granddaughter.
Brenda Peoples 8 years ago
This is such a sweet story. He will be her best friend for life and will do anything for her. He knows he is Loved now...Good for you for saving his life...
LaShonda Hunt 8 years ago
I own a beautiful American red nose, he is nothing but a cuddle bug, every chance he gets he is in my lap. I hate to see them abused and stereotyped. My puppy isn't a killer
Joyce Gibb 8 years ago
I'm 94, and pit bulls have been our "Family Dog" since before I was born. And since they began be the dog of choice for fighting, we've worked hard to end that vicious practice—my daughter is one of the HSUS volunteers who works at dogfight busts to evaluate which dogs can be salvaged and which cannot. Pit bulls are not vicious, just extremely eager to please, so if their owner teaches them to fight, they'll fight. It's a people problem, not a dog problem. If not taught otherwise, they're natural cuddlers, just like Russ. For many years I slept with two of them, and we all three were SO happy.
Aurora Dawnbringer 8 years ago
Beautiful story, beautiful person, beautiful dog. Thank you for sharing.
Melody Lanzatella 8 years ago
I am IN LOVE! He has that classic Staffy face! Those adorable squinty eyes!
Victoria P-Taib 8 years ago
😔 melt my heart, what a loving dog, he just want to be loved..tears in my eyes.. sad to think of those been put to sleep, 😢
Judita Striaukaitė 8 years ago
Cuddle-yea. But dogs ayes Are still very sad. He's trying to find solation. That means the last owners treated him too much. Dog is not like some of humans, they newer treat
Flo Kaulitz 8 years ago
Wow..thanks God he found the 'home' the real one....thanks for sharing😊😊
criminalgirl 8 years ago
He is soooo sweet, you are an angel for giving him a second chance at life, he will love you, unconditionally, for ever now. You are blessed.
Michelle Hale 8 years ago
I'm so happy when I hear I'm not the only one who saves animals...they need us and I wish there was a way to save them all...bless you for taking him in...they say dogs choose their humans
Notchimine Mette 8 years ago
That's the thing about rescues. They always seem more loving. As if they are thankful for being saved.
MadamButterfly 8 years ago
My heart breaks for them,I wish I were a millionaire,I would take them all and let them live on a huge farm with all they want. :,(
Load More Replies... Allison Jennifer 8 years ago
And to think we have an absolutely ridiculous law where I am that says pitbulls are banned. 😓
Sasha Bharti 8 years ago
Such a sweet story really made me cry dogs are so much smarter then we let our selves realise they are socapable of feeling so many emotions
Jenni Ester 8 years ago
I recently just got a pitbull, she is about 4 months old. When we got her she was being passed from one owner to another.
Merisol II 8 years ago
There are only such dogs as pit bulls when they're "hugging" and cuddling....but no such breed exists when they're killing children and animals. Sigh.....
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