Dog Born at Shelter Has Never Known a Real Home. When Will This Whippet’s Wait End?
For most puppies, the first few months of life are spent snuggling with mom and littermates before joining their new forever families. But for Keystone, a 10-month-old whippet mix, his entire puppyhood has been spent residing at Hopeful Tails Animal Rescue in Joliet.
“It’s really an uncommon and sad situation,” explains Tracey, the adoption coordinator at Hopeful Tails. “Keystone was actually born right here at our rescue when his mom, a whippet mix named Xena, came to us pregnant.”
A Surprise Litter
Xena’s owners had made the difficult decision to surrender her after learning she was expecting a litter. With young children at home, they knew the demands of caring for a mom and newborn puppies would be too great. Hopeful Tails agreed to take in the expectant Xena.
“We were prepared for Xena to have a litter, but certainly not the ten puppies she ended up delivering!” Tracey said. Tragically, one pup was stillborn, leaving nine bundles of joy alongside their petite 30-pound mom.
Still Waiting After 10 Months
The nine surviving puppies, including Keystone, were given camper-themed names and spent several weeks bonding side-by-side before being weaned and separated into kennel runs at the rescue. After getting Xena spayed and up-to-date on vetting, the rescue was able to re-home her with her original owners.
Now at 10 months old and 50 pounds, Keystone has defied expectations by still awaiting his turn to go to a permanent home, along with his littermate Jayco. Two other siblings were placed in foster homes, where they have thrived.
A Gentle Soul
“Keystone can seem a bit shy and nervous at first, which is understandable given he’s spent literally his whole life at the rescue,” Tracey said. “But he warms up beautifully, walks great on a leash, and has done wonderfully with other dogs and kids he’s met.”
The resilient pup keeps his spirits up despite living in a kennel. “He knows the routine here like a champ and is always eager to go out for walks or attend events,” Tracey added. “He just wants a real home so badly.”
Patience Required
While Hopeful Tails has received some initial inquiries about Keystone, no adoption has materialized yet. As dog adoptions remain low nationwide, the rescue continues its mission to find perfect matches, no matter how long it takes.
“Keystone has been such a good boy while waiting,” Tracey said. “He’s just an amazing, special pup who deserves an equally amazing family.”
Anyone interested in meeting Keystone is encouraged to get pre-approved to adopt through Hopeful Tails’ website before scheduling to meet this lifelong shelter resident. With some patience and gentle reassurances, he may just be the ideal pup to make your home complete.
Read This Next
