Overcrowding in shelters is a huge problem and due to budget issues, sick dogs often don’t get the chance they need to get adopted before being put to sleep. So, when this volunteer dog walker saw Russ the pit bull for the first time, she knew she had to act fast to save his life.
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Kayla Filoon is a 20-year-old student who also volunteers as a dog walker at the ACCT Animal Shelter in Philadelphia. One day when she was volunteering at the shelter, she saw a new pit bull that was in rough shape.
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Despite his condition, Kayla and the dog had an instant connection and she knew she had to save him. The shelter had euthanized 15 dogs the day before and she knew that the very skinny pit bull with missing fur could very well be next.
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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.”
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The very next day Filoon returned to the shelter to complete the adoption paperwork that would make Russ hers. She then took him home and began to love him back to health. One day her friend was over and saw the pit bull hugging Filoon and began taking pictures of the thankful pup gratefully loving on his new owner.
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“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.”
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Filoon shared the images on social media to raise awareness for shelter dogs. We’re so glad she did because Russ could not be any sweeter and the pictures couldn’t be any cuter. Russ is lucky that Filoon was there to save him and certainly is showing her just how much he loves her and appreciates her saving his life.
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Please share this adorable rescue story with your family and friends.