Still Here, Still Hoping
They haven’t given up. Neither have we.
Dear Friend,
Every pet in this newsletter has something in common: patience. Not because they chose it, but because the right family hasn’t found them yet.
These are pets who’ve been steady, loyal, and ready for months. They haven’t changed. They’re still the same funny, sweet, one-of-a-kind companions they’ve always been. They just need someone to see them.
Muffy | 6.5 years old | Sykesville, MD
Muffy lost her devoted pet parent, and the family she left behind wants only one thing: for her to find someone who understands her heart. At 50 pounds with a plush golden coat and the dignified composure of a dog twice her age, she doesn’t give her loyalty away easily. She earns yours first. But once she trusts you, she’s all in, offering high-fives on cue, spinning with quiet pride, greeting you with a warmth that feels like coming home.
Her ideal day involves a slow morning in the yard, a peaceful forest hike with her nose lifted to the breeze, and an afternoon trick session before settling into her favorite spot on the floor, close enough to keep an eye on you. She’s independent, beautifully behaved indoors, and comfortable being left alone for short periods.
Muffy needs a calm, experienced home with one or two adults who understand she moves at her own pace. Young children, chaos, and surprise visitors are not her thing. She’s selective with other dogs but has bonded with a few, so a laid-back canine sibling could work with slow introductions. Cat-free home only. She needs structure, not chaos. Softness, not force. And a person who sees the beauty in earning her trust one quiet moment at a time.
Tonks | 6.5 years old | Will come to you anywhere
Tonks has a name that suits her. Bold, a little unexpected, impossible to forget once you’ve heard it. She is the same way in person. She is 55 pounds of wiggly, affectionate enthusiasm, a dog whose personal motto might as well be “I wanna be where my people are.” From her happy morning greeting to the moment she curls up beside you on the couch at night, she is all in.
She knows sit, down, stay, touch, kennel, and “park it” (her cue to settle in for bedtime), and she responds beautifully to calm, structured guidance. Her ideal day includes a good romp outside, a Kong puzzle to work through, and then the best part: melting into your lap for some well-earned cuddles.
Tonks needs to be the only pet in the home, and she does best in a quieter environment without too much coming and going. She is not for everyone. She is for someone specific: the person who has been waiting for a dog who will love them like they are the whole world. That person exists. We think it might be you.
Wheezy | 4 years old | Centreville, VA
Here is what you need to know about Wheezy: when she is happy, she wheezes. Not in a concerning way. In a small, oinking, piglet-of-contentment way that is genuinely impossible not to smile at. It is her signature. It is who she is. She is a striking girl, snowy white with golden patches and icy blue eyes, and she is one of the more emotionally intelligent dogs we have worked with.
With new people, she typically needs about ten to fifteen minutes to feel comfortable. A little patience and some wet food go a long way. Once she decides you are okay, she is all in, following you from room to room, leaning into you, doing her best wheeze to let you know she is content.
Wheezy needs to be the only pet and does best in a calm, experienced home without young children. She is not a project. She is a loyal, affectionate, delightfully quirky companion who just needs the right person to be her whole world.
Marmalade | 11 years old | Harvard, MA
Marmalade has a catnip-stuffed squirrel. When she bats it across the hardwood floor and it tumbles down the stairs, she goes after it and brings it back. Every time. At eleven years old. If you were expecting a cat who has settled into pure dignified repose, she has other plans. She is an orange-and-white tabby with a plush coat, a purr described as “pigeon-like” (soft, rolling, continuous), and a very clear map of where she likes to be scratched: top of the head, chin, lower back.
She grooms herself impeccably and curls up at the foot of the bed at night like she has always belonged there, because as far as she is concerned, she has. Marmalade is on a kidney-supportive diet following some recent lab results, and her vet recommends keeping an eye on things with a specialist going forward. She remains bright, active, and fully herself.
She is looking for a calm, cat-only home without dogs or young children. Eleven years is not old for a cat with this much going on. It is just where her story currently is.
Pet News Roundup
Prince George’s County, MD, repeals breed-specific ban. After decades on the books, Prince George’s County recently struck down an ordinance that prohibited certain dog breeds outright. The repeal reflects a growing body of research showing that breed alone is a poor predictor of behavior, and that dogs are far better evaluated as individuals. For the many devoted Pitties and AmStaffs in our community, this is a meaningful step in the right direction.
Massive federal crackdown on dog welfare violators. In a historic, coordinated effort launched this past month, the USDA, the Department of Justice, and other federal agencies deployed a specialized task force to target chronic violators of dog welfare. They are actively investigating unlicensed breeders, cracking down on individuals illegally importing dogs for resale without required permits, and revoking licenses for breeders who fail to provide humane care.
The Healthy Dog Importation Act gains traction. Animal welfare advocates are celebrating the recent inclusion of the Healthy Dog Importation Act in the newly introduced federal Farm Bill. If passed, this measure will mandate that any dog entering the United States must have verifiable proof of vaccination, parasite treatment, and negative test results for zoonotic diseases. It is a major step aimed at dismantling the puppy mill pipeline and protecting the health of domestic pets.
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Help a Pet Who Cannot Wait
Every pet in this newsletter came to us because a family was in crisis. Rehome Together exists so that a family’s financial situation never determines whether a pet finds a safe, loving home. When you sponsor a placement, you fund the behavioral assessment, matching, and post-placement support that make it stick. Every dollar goes to a specific pet, and you will know exactly who you helped.
Every pet in this newsletter has been patient. The right person is out there. We hope it is someone reading this right now.
Until next week,
Lauren and the Joyful Pets team
P.S. Know someone with room in their heart and their home? Forward this their way.