Dogs
Viral Photo Of Shelter Dogs Hugging Helps Dogs Get Adopted
These two dogs bonded while they were in the shelter. They turned to each other for comfort in their darkest times.
Rachel Shapiro
07.12.18

Everyone has heard the old saying ‘a picture says a thousand words.’ This famous saying proved true in 2015 when a photo of two hugging puppies went viral and saved both of their lives.

Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook
Source:
Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook

Rescue group Animals Among Us first saw the photo of the two dogs, 14-month-old Keira and 11-month-old Kala, in July 2015.

The photo was posted by the shelter they were at, Etowah County Humane Society. After seeing the photo, Animals Among Us learned that the two young dogs were scheduled to be euthanized. Animals Among Us wanted to help these scared best friends, and so they posted the photo on their page. They also wrote a heartbreaking plea for help from Kala’s point-of-view.

“I’m Kala. This is Keira. We’re so scared in here. The people working in the shelters see how scared we are but just told each other that today is our deadline,” Animals Among Us wrote. “Keira is black and not a “real boxer,” just a mix…. Keira knows what will happen. You can see it in her eyes. She’s putting on a brave face for sure but I can feel her heart beating fast while I’m clinging to her. If no one saves us, someone will take her away from me.”

Angels Among Us via Facebook
Source:
Angels Among Us via Facebook

The photo and description worked. Just two hours after Animals Among Us first posted the photo, someone went to the shelter and said he would foster Kala and Keira!

THEY ARE SAFE!!! There are no words to tell you how happy we are that these two best friends are safe and together! …

Posted by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue onMonday, July 20, 2015

The fosterer saved Kala and Keira from being put down, but the pups still didn’t have their forever home. After everything the dogs had been through, Animals Among Us wanted to find the perfect home for the dogs.

Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook
Source:
Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook

Unfortunately, while Animals Among Us was looking for adopters, both dogs got parvovirus.

Thankfully, the two best friends recovered quickly, and soon, Animals Among Us was able to continue looking for a forever home for the pups.

Petfinder
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Petfinder

In October 2015, Animals Among Us found the perfect adopters: a pair of human best friends and roommates!

Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook
Source:
Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook

The two friends, Wendy Newman and Pam Cody, fell in love with Kala and Keira when they first saw their photos in summer 2015. But at that point, the women couldn’t take the dogs in because they had two dogs of their own. Sadly, Newman and Cody’s dogs died within a few days of each other. The two women were devastated.

When Newman and Cody saw that Kala and Keira were still looking for a forever home, they realized they had a chance to open their homes and hearts to two more dogs in need.

“We lost our whole family in one week,” Cody told People. “We were grieving our other dogs — it’s a major loss — but it’s kind of like Kala and Keira found us.”

Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook
Source:
Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook

Three years later, the family of four are as happy as can be.

Newman and Cody started a Facebook page where they share Kala and Keira’s adventures. The dogs still love each other more than anything, and they love their moms too!

Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook
Source:
Kala & Keira Hugging Dogs via Facebook

Kala and Keira have always had each other, through thick and thin. We’re so glad these two found the perfect forever home!

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