Copyright Newsweek
A North Carolina animal shelter issued a plea on social media for a 5-year-old dog who is losing hope of finding a forever family after he was originally found tied to a tree. The dog, Pepperoni Pizza Slice, has been living at the Watauga Humane Society in Boone, North Carolina, for over 168 days. But, before that, he was found tied to a tree in a "quiet patch of woods," the humane society's October 30 Facebook post stated. The pup was left with no food, no water and no note. The animal shelter does not know if he was there for hours or potentially days. Since May 13, staff members at the Watauga Humane Society have been working with Pepperoni and learning about his personality, in the hopes of finding the perfect family for him. Still, it has not come easily. Pepperoni has shown he can be fearful and reactive to strangers. It will take time for him to trust and feel safe, but when he does open up, Pepperoni is loyal, playful and attentive. He knows commands and walks well on the leash, while also making progress with muzzle training. "He's doing OK," a representative from Watauga Humane Society told Newsweek via Facebook. "He's honestly a really good boy; he just needs an experienced dog owner who has no other pets, which is what makes him so hard to adopt out." Watagua Human Society wants Pepperoni to go to a child- and pet-free home, where he will have no chaos, noise or sudden moves. Dogs like Pepperoni often have a hard time getting adopted because of the specific restrictions that shelters place on them, such as no other pets in the household or families with older children. This is to ensure animals thrive in their new environment, to avoid any returns and reduce further stress, which, according to an article from Rover, makes adopting a longer process. Animal rescues are becoming more thorough in the screening process. The representative said there has been "absolutely no interest" in Pepperoni other than the regular Facebook comments. The Facebook post read: "It won’t happen overnight. He’ll need multiple visits, patience, and understanding. But if you’re someone who sees the beauty in the messy middle, if you know that trust earned is the strongest kind, Pepperoni might just be your once-in-a-lifetime." Viewer Reactions The Facebook post reached 243 likes, 128 shares and 11 comments as of Wednesday, with people sharing their hopes that Pepperoni's forever home will come soon. "He deserves so much TLC!" wrote one viewer, while another added: "He is beautiful." A third user said: "We have worked with/fostered similar. They DO become SWEEEEET FAMILY members if/when they are given the chance with a human who understands & has the compassion for the trauma experienced." Someone else suggested he goes home with the handler he trusts, but the society shared that has been tried already. The handler has cats, and Pepperoni did not get along with them, which is why they know he needs to go into a pet-free home. Those interested in adopting Pepperoni, or another available pet, can visit the Watauga Humane Society website for more information.
