Pit Bull From Shelter Is Grateful To Be Taken To New Home —Keeps Hugging His New Mom

Oct 21, 2020 by apost team

Dogs placed in shelters usually don't get loved the way they should be. Russ was a shelter dog that was left in the shelter in a terrible state, but thankfully for him, Kayla Filoon fell in love with him as soon as she saw him in 2017. Sweet Russ was so grateful to be adopted that his loving side expressed his gratitude for him through prolonged hugs and cuddles. 

A dog named Russ was adopted by a woman named Kayla Filoon. Kayla is 20 years old. She’s a student and a volunteer who spends time walking dogs at a shelter called ACCT Philly, which stands for Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia. Kayla Filoon met Russ at ACCT Philly and loved him instantly.

Russ looked quite neglected when she first saw him: his fur was falling out, he was extremely skinny, and he just seemed defeated. 

apost.com

When Kayle first saw him, she was surprised by his calm demeanor. "He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me," Kayla told The Dodo. "And I thought, he is adorable! I need to take him now."

Kayle then came back later to check on Russ but he had still not moved much. "He was sitting in the same position that he was before, just being quiet while the other dogs were barking and causing commotion," she said.

When she took him for a walk later, she knew within the first 5 minutes that Russ was the dog she was meant to take home. "He was really cuddly with me, even when we went into the yard," said Kayla. "He seemed like such a sweet dog, and he didn't bark at any of the other dogs."

It didn't take long for Kayla to realize that she was going to adopt Russ. She was also worried about Russ being euthanized due to overcrowding in the shelter. Within the next two days, Russ was adopted and headed to his new forever home. 

It took a while for Russ to acclimate to his new surroundings, but a consistent flow of love and attention to his needs, along with plenty of relaxation, helped to restore him and heal his ailments. As he started getting better, he also began to cuddle with Kayle as often as possible. 

"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. "There was a whole other sofa open, and we had his bed on the floor, but he didn't want to lie anywhere else. So he ends up positioning himself, and I look down, and I think, "Oh my gosh, look at him.'" Kayla's friend took a photo of the duo. 

The picture made rounds and was posted to Facebook by Kayla's aunt, and very quickly gained traction around the world. After all, the photo is truly adorable, and shows the deep bond one can earn with dogs as pets. 

Today Russ is content and feeling well, and continues to make a positive impact in Kayla's life. Kayla’s wish is that this story touches the hearts of others and encourages them to give a shelter animal a home.

We would like to see other dogs wind up as happy as Russ. Help us make it happen by passing this story around. And be sure to let us know if you would ever consider adopting a pet from a shelter.