When Paw Squad 559 first met Darby, they were puzzled. The 2-year-old pup weighed just 5 pounds — the kind of tiny dog that usually gets adopted in an instant. Yet, month after month, Darby remained unwanted.
It wasn’t until his medical exam that the rescue team learned why.
“The X-rays showed that where a normal dog’s kneecaps move, his were fused,” Helga Weiss, president of Paw Squad 559 and Darby’s foster mom, told The Dodo.
Darby’s fused kneecaps make him look a little different, and sadly, that’s been enough for people to pass him by.
“He’s had literally no interest whatsoever,” Weiss said.
At adoption events, the rejection is especially heartbreaking. Instead of giving Darby a chance, some visitors point at him and ask, “What’s wrong with that dog?” Others will even push him aside just to pet the dogs next to him.
Weiss knows the real Darby — a playful, affectionate little soul who loves running zoomies at full speed and playing with his dog friends. But after so many dismissals, Darby is beginning to lose faith in people.
“He does the zoomies a million miles per hour,” Weiss said. “He loves all the other dogs.”
But because no one seems interested in getting to know him, he’s starting to give up on people. Darby just doesn’t understand why no one seems to like him, so he retreats from everyone.
“You can tell that at the adoption events he’s started to not approach people as much anymore,” Weiss said.
The truth is, Darby doesn’t need much special care. He simply needs a home without stairs or a pool — and someone willing to see him for who he really is.
His favorite things are surprisingly simple: playing with his beloved stuffed octopus and snuggling into Weiss’ purse.
“He literally will do little spins and ask to be in the purse,” Weiss said.
Darby is ready to give his whole heart to someone who will finally love him back. He may be tiny, but the joy and loyalty he brings will fill a home completely.
If you think Darby might be your new best friend, you can fill out an adoption application here. To support Paw Squad 559 and dogs like Darby, donations can be made here.
