Ready When You Are
Four dogs. Different shapes. Different energy. One of them might be yours.
Dear Friend,
There is no single type of dog who finds their next family through us.
Some will carry a toy to the door before you have even hung up your coat. Some are 95 pounds with opinions and a bottomless enthusiasm for whatever you are doing next. Some are the kind of dog who makes a house feel settled just by being in it. Some will curl up beside you at the end of a long day and make you wonder how you ever did evenings without them.
What they share is this: the right person for each of them exists. And that person might be reading this right now.
This week, four very different dogs. One of them could be a wonderful fit for your life.
Apollo
He Has His Own Opinion About Sirens.
5-year-old Siberian Husky | Mesa, AZ
Apollo carries his squeaky toy through the house with the pride of someone who has accomplished something important. He will drop it at your feet and look at you like he is absolutely certain you want to throw it. He also does a high-five. He learned “gentle” and means it. He will chase you through the yard with the enthusiasm of a toddler who cannot believe his luck.
At 95 pounds in a striking black and white coat, he is hard to miss. He loves long walks, energetic runs, car rides, and water. Like a lot of Huskies, he has opinions about sirens and will howl along with them, creating his own contribution to the neighborhood soundtrack. He is good with other dogs, cats, and children, and he settles easily when left alone for short stretches.
He is looking for the right person. Someone whose schedule has room for a dog with his energy and enthusiasm, and who finds his commentary on passing emergency vehicles charming rather than inconvenient.
Tula Baloola
She Has a Lot to Tell You About Her Day.
4-year-old Boxer/American Pitbull Terrier Mix | Canton, NC
Before you even open the door, you can hear Tula. Full-body tail wag, happy wiggles, and that unmistakable “arrrooooo” that means she has been waiting for you and needs you to know it right now.
She is 50 pounds of high energy and genuine affection. She fetches. She snuggles. She knows sit, down, leave it, and focus, and comes when she is called, which matters a lot for a dog who wants to be in the middle of everything you are doing. After a day of walks and play and training, she curls up beside you and softly snores while the evening winds down.
She needs an active home without cats or small animals. A fenced yard. Someone whose schedule has room for real daily exercise, not just a quick trip around the block. She can become reactive at barriers when other dogs pass, which means her best home is one where she can focus entirely on her people rather than managing the world going by outside.
If your weekends look like trails and your evenings look like someone should be curled against your side, Tula has a lot to tell you about her day.
Sarang
Quiet Walks. Slow Mornings. A Dog Who Just Needs a Home.
4-year-old Jindo/Labrador Retriever Mix | Fort Worth, TX
Sarang’s ideal day does not ask much of you. A walk through the neighborhood at a comfortable pace. A meal. Some time near whoever is home. He is calm when left alone, good with other dogs, friendly with people of all ages. He settles into a routine without friction and stays there.
At 65 pounds with a snow-white coat and an easy smile, he is the kind of dog who makes your house feel like someone is always glad you came back. He knows sit, touch, shake, down, and wait. He is patient and attentive and does not require constant activity to feel content.
He is a dog who will settle into your life without friction, make himself comfortable without fuss, and be genuinely glad you came back every single time. The right home for Sarang does not require much. Just someone who is steady, present, and happy to share their evenings with a gentle companion who asks very little and gives a great deal.
Stitch
Exactly the Dog He Looks Like.
4-year-old American Pitbull Terrier Mix | Humble, TX
Stitch has a rich reddish-brown coat, a soulful gaze, and the gentle confidence of a dog who grew up alongside a young child and learned how to be careful with little hands. He accepts hand-fed treats calmly. He greets other dogs with an easygoing social spirit. He takes new people in stride.
He knows sit, wait, come, and down. He entertains himself when left alone without making it anyone’s problem. He would welcome continued training, not because he has anything to work through, but because he finds it rewarding and he likes to show you what a good boy he is.
He can be your first dog. He needs daily outdoor time, space to stretch his legs, and a home with a steady rhythm. That is the whole list. The rest he already has figured out.
In the News
Brazil just passed a pet custody law.
As of April 2, separated couples in Brazil can now share custody of their pets. If they cannot agree on an arrangement, a judge decides, taking into account each person’s living situation, schedule, and ability to care for the animal. The law only applies if the pet spent most of its life with the couple. It is a small legal shift that says something larger: more and more, the world is recognizing that pets are family, not property.
Chewy is getting into veterinary care.
On April 8, Chewy announced it is acquiring Modern Animal, a veterinary platform with 29 clinics and round-the-clock virtual care. The deal will expand Chewy’s vet footprint from 18 to 47 locations nationwide. For pet parents who have struggled to get an appointment, or who live somewhere without many options, that kind of access matters. It is worth watching.
A Note from Our Sponsor
This issue is supported by KONG. Fifty years ago, a German Shepherd named Fritz fell in love with a rubber axle stop, and KONG has been making toys for dogs like him ever since. They believe every pet belongs in a family, and they are putting their support behind this issue. Their sponsorship supports Rehome Together, a Joyful Pets program that helps cover support costs for families who could not otherwise afford them, whether that means helping them keep their pet or helping them place their pet safely with a new loving family.
One pet that program could help: meet Theodore. He is a 4-year-old American Pitbull Terrier in Highland, CA, whose family raised him with love and consistency. He carries his Kong toys around like treasured prizes. He follows his favorite person from room to room, greets strangers with a relaxed tail wag, and settles into whatever your evening looks like. He needs a fenced yard, a home without cats, and someone who can give 65 pounds of loyalty the room it needs.
Deals Worth Fetching
Chewy is handing out a $30 eGift Card when you spend $100. Code HAVEFUN at checkout, which honestly feels appropriate. Load up on flea prevention or litter, the stuff that never goes bad, and that $30 comes right back to you for next month. Shop Chewy →
Petco has 10 to 20% off if you pick it up yourself. No code, just switch your cart to in-store pickup. If you have ever paid to ship a 40-pound bag of dog food, you already know why this matters. Shop Petco →
PetSmart is taking 40% off your first Autoship order. PetSmart is taking 40% off your first Autoship order. On a $100 bag of kibble, that is meaningful savings for only a few clicks. Shop PetSmart →
Find their people
Four dogs. Four different kinds of homes. Apollo needs energy and time. Tula needs trails and commitment. Sarang needs calm and consistency. Stitch needs outdoor time and a steady daily rhythm.
The right person for each of them exists. If you know someone who might be compatible with one of these dogs, send this their way. And if this newsletter found you through a friend, subscribe so you never miss a week.
For every pet still waiting,
Lauren & the Joyful Pets team
P.S. National Pet ID Week runs from April 17 to 23. If your pet is microchipped, take five minutes this week to make sure the registration is still current. It is the smallest thing you can do that matters most.