I hope that once you’ve read the story, you’ll develop a fondness for these companions of ours.
A man walked into Rocket Dog Rescue, a shelter in San Francisco, looking for a furry friend to take home. He quickly connected with a 3-year-old Pitbull named Merrill, but when it came time to adopt her, they faced a hurdle – Merrill didn’t want to leave her best friend behind at the shelter. The volunteers at Rocket Dog Rescue tirelessly work to save dogs from overpopulated shelters, and their mission is to prevent them from being euthanized. They often rescue dogs that struggle to find adoptive homes, like an ailing Pitbull and his Chihuahua companion named Taco, who were taken in together in 2014. Although their former owner was unknown, it was evident that these two had formed an unbreakable bond. Separating them caused them distress, and it was heartwarming to see how much comfort Merrill brought to her larger friend during their time at the rescue.
The shelter staff observed the unbreakable bond between Merrill and Taco as they surrendered them. Merrill needed an operation to survive a urinary tract infection, and Taco couldn’t stop pacing while she was under the knife. Volunteers tried to separate them to let Merrill recover quickly, but it was unsuccessful. They both felt inconsolable without each other’s company. The shelter staff gave up trying to separate them and allowed them to stay together until their last days in the shelter.
The volunteers were amazed by the unbreakable bond between Taco and Meryl, who stayed together in the recovery room. Although they were touched by their loyalty, they were concerned that it might be hard to find them a home since bonded dogs are not as easy to adopt. The shelter decided to list them separately on their website to increase their chances of finding a loving family. Regrettably, Taco, being an older dog, received less attention from potential adopters compared to younger ones. On the other hand, Merrill’s story was different, and one day, a compassionate man came to the shelter searching for a pup to take home.
As soon as the man finished his paperwork at the shelter, he was immediately drawn to Merrill. He knew she had to come home with him. But when they took Merrill out of the cage, Taco started howling loudly, leaving the new pet parent puzzled. The volunteers explained that Merrill and Taco were inseparable friends who didn’t want to be separated from each other. Understanding their connection, the man was determined to keep them together. Although he could only adopt one dog, he found a solution that would benefit both of them. The shelter changed its strategy, and decided that keeping the two pals together was best for them. They updated their website listing with this new development, and an amazing volunteer named Jody offered to foster them until they found a permanent home.
The shelter’s website caught the attention of a San Jose family who fell in love with Taco and Merrill. They made the journey to meet the dogs in person and knew right away that they wanted to bring them home. Despite Taco’s age-related health issues including asthma and dental problems, the family was excited for their new beginning together. However, their happiness was short-lived as a routine visit to the vet revealed that Taco’s symptoms were more serious than initially thought. He had an enlarged heart with fluid in his lungs that could lead to cardiac arrest if left untreated. The family acted quickly and put him on medication while waiting for a specialist appointment.
The family tried their best to save Taco Merrill by preparing their most delicious tacos. They didn’t give up on him despite his old age and showered him with love and care, just like he would have done for his best friend. With time, Taco’s health improved significantly, but his respiratory issues persisted. To ensure a good quality of life, he needed to take anti-seizure medications and steroids regularly. Despite these challenges, Taco remained happy and playful around Merrill, who was energetic and enthusiastic about growing up. Although Taco couldn’t participate in some activities due to his size, Merrill made sure to include him in every adventure by carrying him around. They both cherished each other’s company and enjoyed rolling around on the grass and running free. This heartwarming story deserves to be shared! ❤️
