Some dogs arrive at a shelter after experiencing life in a home. Others come from difficult circumstances and are looking for a second chance. Cupid’s story is different.
Cupid was born at the shelter.
Nearly nine months ago, a pregnant dog was brought to the shelter. The very next morning, shelter volunteer Sherlyn Castillo walked in to find that the shelter’s population had grown from one dog to nine. Eight puppies had been born overnight. Today, every one of Cupid’s siblings has found a home.
Everyone except Cupid.
Now approaching a year old, Cupid has spent his entire life behind shelter walls. Yet according to the volunteers who know him best, you would never know it from his attitude.
“He loves to be loved on,” said Kassidy Wesson. “The name really fits him. He just eats up attention.”
While Cupid has plenty of puppy energy and enjoys running and playing, both Wesson and Castillo describe him as one of the sweetest dogs at the shelter. Castillo says he has a special “off switch” that many people might not notice at first.
“He’s really hyper and loves to run and wiggle around,” Castillo said. “But once you pet his soft spot, usually his ears, it’s like a little calming button. He just settles down and becomes so trainable.”
Castillo spent months watching Cupid grow up and remembers the strong bond he shared with one of his brothers.
“There were two puppies left for a while, Cupid and his brother Elfie,” she said. “Every time I took them out, they wouldn’t go anywhere without each other. If one stayed behind, the other would refuse to walk. It was really special watching them grow up together.”
Eventually, Elfie found a home. Cupid remained.
For a dog who has never experienced life outside the shelter, volunteers say finding the right family will require patience and understanding. Wesson explains that Cupid has known nothing but kennel life, constant activity, and the sounds of a busy shelter.
“It’s going to take someone with love, compassion, and patience,” Wesson said. “He’s spent his whole life in a kennel. He doesn’t know anything different.”
Despite that reality, neither volunteer believes Cupid’s future is defined by his past.
Growing up in a shelter means Cupid has never had a person of his own. No daily walks with a family. No favorite chair. No backyard to call his own. Yet Castillo believes the moment he finds that connection, everything could change.
“Dogs are companions,” she said. “They need someone to follow and someone to love. Cupid has grown up without that, but I think once he finds his person, he’ll become the most loyal companion anyone could ask for.”
When asked what Cupid would say to the community if he could speak for himself, Wesson didn’t hesitate.
“He would say he’s a really great dog and he just wants a place to call home.”
Cupid may not realize he has spent his entire life in a shelter. He still greets each day with excitement, tail wags, and hope. Perhaps that’s what makes his story so special. Through nearly a year of waiting, he hasn’t given up on finding the family he’s been searching for all along.
Cupid’s adoption fee is $55 and includes his neuter, vaccinations, and an adoption package. If you’ve been thinking about adding a four-legged friend to your family, Cupid is still waiting for his chance to shoot an arrow straight through someone’s heart.
