Volunteering at a dog shelter and not falling in love with a pup? Nearly impossible.
If you’ve ever spent even a day caring for these furry companions, you know exactly what I mean!
At a North Carolina shelter, Katherine Ellis was about to experience her first life-changing moment.
When she signed up as a volunteer, she never could have imagined that it would lead to the most heartwarming decision of her life.
And then, it happened.
It Was Just Meant To Be
Source: @itskatellis
Kate and her partner, Jake, headed to the Humane Society of Charlotte, North Carolina, with a noble goal—to volunteer and foster.
But on her very first day, something completely unexpected happened.
As she walked through the shelter, surrounded by countless hopeful eyes yearning for love, one special pup captured her heart entirely.
It was little Santiago—the oldest pup at the shelter and, sadly, the most overlooked one as well.
“We had absolutely no intention of getting a dog, but on my first day volunteering at @humanecharlotte, we walked in, and Jake said, ‘I am not leaving without this dog,’” Kate shared in an Instagram post.
Within minutes, the couple made the heartfelt decision to give this sweet pup a forever home—and he embraced it with pure joy!
In their video, Kate and Jake capture the moment Santiago, now Rookie, finally stepped out of his kennel, his excitement undeniable as he roamed freely in the open for the first time.
Rookie And The Family Rocking Through Life
Source: @itskatellis
In just a few days, Jake, Kate, and Rookie became inseparable.
It was as if the pup had always been part of their family—embracing his new life with pure joy. He quickly proved to be the friendliest little companion, cherishing every moment.
“He is the friendliest, most loving, and fastest-learning pup I have ever met—and I’ve never made a better purchase for $175. Welcome to the family, Rookie,” Kate wrote.
Source: @itskatellis
On their very first ride home, the couple made sure to stock up on all the essentials— a cozy bed, plenty of food, and everything their newest family member would need to feel right at home.
They wanted to give Rookie everything he had been missing, and the look on his face when he finally stepped into a warm, loving home was absolutely priceless.
Kate couldn’t be more grateful for the day she decided to volunteer—because without it, she never would have met Rookie.
Though she had never planned on having a dog, when she did imagine one, it was always a tiny, blonde, non-shedding pup. But fate had other plans—and it turned out to be a thousand times better!
Source: @itskatellis
With each new day, Rookie and his family embraced new adventures together. They strolled through the city, made delicious puppuccino stops along the way, and, whenever necessary, gave Rookie the (sometimes unwelcome) baths he occasionally needed!
The family recently moved to Chicago, marking the start of an exciting new chapter—and Rookie couldn’t be happier!
Now, he spends his days right by his mom and dad’s side, far from the kennel and those long, restless nights. Isn’t that every dog’s dream?