Dog owner had ‘dying wish’ that his pups stay together. They wait for a new home
A dog owner had a “dying wish” that his pups stay together — and now, they wait for a new home.
“Please keep them together. Don’t let them lose each other,” the owner said, according to a North Carolina animal shelter’s Facebook post.
To honor the man’s wish, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue is requiring that dog best friends Dutch and Pepper be adopted into the same home. They landed at the shelter after their owner made the touching plea.
“I think he, more than anybody, knew how much they relied on each other,” Brooke Fornea, a spokesperson for the Asheville shelter, told McClatchy News in a May 1 phone interview. “And he knew it was going to be really hard on them to lose him. They’re really loved and social dogs, so you can tell that they spent a lot of time around people that were really kind to them.”
Dutch and Pepper, who had previously lived at another facility, arrived at the shelter in February. They were adopted at one point, but that home didn’t work out, Fornea said.
Now, the “little duo” is waiting for a second chance. The roughly 15-pound mixed-breed dogs are described as “sweethearts who have shared the ups and downs of life,” according to Fornea and the social media post.
“They may be golden-aged, but — these two have plenty of pep in their step,” the shelter wrote. “They’re playful, affectionate, and always up for a snuggle.”
Dutch, 11, is a male dog who enjoys cuddling, and 9-year-old Pepper is a “spunky and fun” female dog. They’re often seen walking together or lounging side by side, according to Fornea.
“They definitely find a lot of comfort in each other’s presence,” Fornea said. “And if they do need to be separated for maybe a medical appointment or something like that, they’re constantly looking for the other one.”
As of May 1, the bonded dogs still were in need of a home. Details about the shelter’s adoption process can be found at bwar.org.
“If somebody has been considering adding an animal into their home, I think that they’re going to be really lucky to add these two,” Fornea said.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 2:50 PM with the headline "Dog owner had ‘dying wish’ that his pups stay together. They wait for a new home."
