Story #6 of 60: When Duke Found His Place
As told by Jennifer Rasmussen, Adopter & Volunteer
We fostered two little puppies we nicknamed Duke and Daisy, and spent the first few weeks of summer caring for them. They played all day and curled up together at night, inseparable and clearly best friends.
When Daisy was adopted, Duke was heartbroken. He cried at night and searched the house for her, struggling to understand where his constant companion had gone.
Our older dog, Cooper, noticed first. Cooper was hesitant and kept his distance, but Duke never pushed. He would quietly sit nearby, nap close but not too close, and slowly make space for connection. Over time, Duke earned Cooper’s trust, until one day he climbed into Cooper’s bed and curled up beside him. From that moment on, Duke wasn’t alone anymore.
Watching Duke find comfort helped all of us. Caring for him through his heartbreak reminded us how deeply animals feel and how much they give back when they’re allowed to heal at their own pace. Duke brought patience, tenderness, and joy into our home when we didn’t even realize it was what we were looking for.
A week after Daisy was adopted, we realized Duke was already home. What began as a temporary foster became a permanent place in our family.
Ready to start your own rescue story?
Meet adoptable animals at Anderson Humane by visiting ahconnects.org/adopt, or help make the next 60 stories possible by donating in honor of our 60th Anniversary.
