No dog should spend their life in an animal shelter, but that’s the sad reality for millions of dogs every year. Shelters and humane societies are full of some of the sweetest, silliest, and most resilient dogs anyone could meet, and they come in all shapes and sizes.
Tragically, shelter dogs can be any age, too. A Texas shelter volunteer and foster mom named Bri knows this better than most, but she was still shocked and heartbroken to see a tiny puppy named Andrew arriving at BARC Animal Shelter in Houston. At only 8 weeks old, this pint-sized pup should be with his mom and siblings, but he’s cuddling stuffed animals instead.
It’s heart-wrenching to see such a tiny puppy living alone, with only plushies to keep him company. An animal shelter is no place for a baby like him, but it was unfortunately the quickest way to find him the help he deserves.
“This made me cry,” commented @lkpetrak. “Poor little baby all alone in this big, cruel world. He’s so small, please, someone take him.”
Related: One-of-a-Kind ‘Unicorn Puppy’ Rescued From Dallas Shelter Alongside Mom Has To Be Seen To Be Believed
Thankfully, he won’t be alone for long. Bri, a local dog foster parent, and a dog rescue are teaming up to send this puppy to Colorado, where he’ll grow up in the great outdoors while waiting for his perfect home. Nothing can replace the love and safety of his mom and siblings, but at least he’ll be out of the busy Houston shelter—and it’s all thanks to Bri!
“I just wanna take a moment to thank you for all that you do,” a fellow shelter volunteer wrote. “It’s hard to walk out of the shelter still positive, still hoping after all we see. It takes a special kind of person to keep going back for the sake of them, so thank you.”
Adopting a Puppy
Instead of researching breeders, pet parents who are interested in adopting a puppy should visit an animal shelter. Rescues and humane societies have lots of pups just like Andrew who need forever homes, and by adopting a rescue puppy, they’ll help make room for an additional animal to get help.
However, it’s important to remember that adopting a shelter puppy is a decades-long commitment that can be just as challenging as it is cute. Raising any dog requires flexibility, consistency, and plenty of patience! Still, someone out there is ready for the commitment and the honor of calling Andrew their dog, and it’s only a matter of time until they appear.
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Feb 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.