06/07/2026
The moment Mugsy woke up that morning, he knew something was wrong.
Just days before, his kennel at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society was full of life. His mom was there, warm and patient, always watching over him and his siblings. The puppies would tumble over each other, their tiny tails wagging so fast it looked like they might take flight. Staff members would stop by just to watch them, charmed by the little pug-mix family that had arrived over the summer.
But one by one, they all left. Two of his siblings found homes first. Then his mom. And within two weeks, Mugsy was the only one left. Alone for the first time in his life.
The shy black pup curled up in the corner of his kennel, too anxious to approach anyone who stopped by. Volunteers noticed the change immediately. This wasn’t the happy, curious puppy they remembered. This was a dog who had lost his pack.
Julie Saraceno, a longtime volunteer, couldn’t shake the image of him sitting there with worried eyes. She’d kneel by his gate and speak softly, offering treats he wouldn’t take. He wanted to trust — he just didn’t remember how.
“He’s not broken,” Julie said. “He’s just scared.”
Mugsy is neutered, vaccinated, and perfectly healthy. He has soft blankets and toys in his kennel. But what he really needs isn’t something the shelter can give him. He needs someone patient enough to look past the fear and see the loving dog underneath.
His video went online, showing him in his little cone after surgery, and people are rooting for him. But he’s still waiting, head on his paws, listening for footsteps that might finally be for him.
Somewhere out there, someone is going to walk through those doors and take a chance on a pup who’s never stopped believing in love.
