10/21/2026
Another sad story that ends with a happy outcome... too sweet!
Yesterday we were contacted about Rocky, a 13 year old dachshund whose mom had just passed away leaving him with nowhere to go. We are beyond full, so we looked to our followers for a miracle. Someone to open their heart and their home to give Rocky a safe place to live out the rest of his days, however many he has left.
Rocky received over 100 messages, dozens of applications, and 411 people shared his story. He had 80,000 views. Within minutes, our messages, email, and phones were flooded, and we began reviewing his options as quickly as we could. Our staff worked to help Rocky until almost 3am.
We knew the best thing for him was not to come into the chaos of rescue or be moved from foster to foster. Our goal was to pick him up and transport him straight into an approved home.
Now, rescue never quite goes according to plan, right? We picked Rocky up today, and quickly realized he needed to see a vet asap. Rocky had severe dental inflammation and infection, and needed an exam before going anywhere. He’s on the road to recovery, and tonight we are happy to say that Rocky has a forever home ❤️🏡. He is settling in with his new mom, his new brother Bingo, and his new sister Bella.
While at the vet, we also learned Rocky is completely deaf. Don’t tell him, but he will go by Benny from now on. 🤫
When we say the Crossed Paws community SHOWED UP for Rocky (Benny), you all reached potential adopters in California, Texas, and all along the east coast. While he wasn’t technically a Crossed Paws dog, all of you read his story and felt the same way we did. He needed our help, no matter the details.
Tonight, his new mom sent us an update. She said:
“He’s snuggled up under the blanket. It’s like he’s lived here his entire life.”
After losing his person, a car ride he wasn’t particularly happy about, and a trip to the vet… he settled right in.
That’s the ending we wanted for him.
To everyone who reached out or applied, please understand that we saw SO many applications from people we would love to have adopt one of our dogs. The home we chose wasn’t a reflection of the homes we didn’t. When we saw an application from someone in the same town as both our vet and one of our staff members, we knew it was meant to be. We were able to minimize the transition and how long he was in the car (not his favorite place to be) after everything he has been through, and he’s close enough we can continue to help him if needed.
But now we need you to stay with us for the part of this story that isn’t finished.
Rocky, now Benny has his forever home.
We have 94 dogs who still need theirs.
We keep thinking about those applications. All the incredible people willing to make room in their lives for a dog in need.
Could there be room for another little face? Another name? A dog whose story hasn’t reached you yet?
Rocky absolutely matters, but so many of our dogs are in just as much need. We have dogs who have been through significant trauma. Dogs who aren’t thriving in a rescue environment. Puppies who have grown up in rescue and never known a forever home, or even a couch to cuddle on.
We aren’t asking you to take a dog who isn’t right for you. We’re asking you to let us try to match you with a great dog whose story just didn’t reach the entire country like Rocky’s.
If even a handful of those who asked about Rocky could be matched with one of our dogs, that’s a handful of dogs on the street right now that we could save.
This week alone, we’ve had to say “we simply can’t help” to requests involving more than 20 dogs. Someone is in the hospital for an extended stay and has five dogs needing placement. Someone passed away, leaving three dogs with nowhere to go. Those are only two of the calls we received yesterday.
Some of those calls kept us awake last night. Knowing these dogs need help, and that we couldn’t make any more room if we tried, isn’t easy to swallow.
We sometimes help dogs whose owners have died or can no longer keep them. But roughly 90% of the dogs we help are in immediate danger. They’re in the woods. They’re being thrown from cars. They’re running through traffic.
And once we get them out, they need somewhere to go.
Right now, our fosters are completely full, and our staff are trying to create makeshift rooms in their homes.
We don’t show you all of that very often. But you deserve to know what we mean when we say we are full.
If you offered Rocky, now Benny, a home, please consider extending that offer to another one of our dogs.
And for everyone reading who can’t bring another dog home, we have one very specific ask.
Consider supporting the adoption center we are working so hard for. A place where the public can walk in and meet our dogs. A location for volunteers, adopters, and the community to build their relationship with us.
We always say no donation is too small, yet we wonder if some of you find yourselves thinking, “There’s no way my donation will make a difference.”
If our 62,000 followers each donated $1, that would pay our rent at the adoption center for an entire year.
Please consider making a donation, no matter the size. Believe us, it matters.
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/crossedpawsdonations/
“It’s like he’s lived here his entire life.”
We have 94 dogs we would give anything to hear those words about next. ❤️🐾
