Bruno and Ollie, two German shepherds, had both been on long, challenging paths as shelter dogs before a loving family finally adopted them. Bruno spent 280 days at the Benton-Franklin Humane Society (BFHS) in Washington state, while Ollie’s stay stretched on for 537 days.
These two dogs, both with unique stories of hardship, found solace in each other during their time at the shelter. Bruno’s journey began when he was first adopted as a puppy from the shelter, only to be returned later when his owner could no longer care for him due to illness. Ollie’s situation was equally heartbreaking; he was abandoned outside the shelter, tied to the front door alongside another dog. While the other dog was quickly adopted, Ollie was left behind and spent over a year and a half waiting for his chance at a forever home.
Despite their rough beginnings, the two dogs were placed in the same playgroup at BFHS. It didn’t take long for the shelter staff to notice something special between them. Their bond was undeniable—they played together with a joy that was hard to miss.
“They’ve been friends for a while, and they’ve always enjoyed each other’s company,” said Julie Saraceno, a dedicated volunteer dog walker at the shelter.
Bruno and Ollie spent many months in neighboring kennels, watching as families chose other dogs while they remained behind. But they had each other, and that connection grew stronger as they waited for their turn to be loved.
Then, one day, everything changed. Tana Whelan and her husband, Paul, walked into BFHS intending to adopt just one dog. But as they met the dogs and learned about their stories, they couldn’t help but be drawn to both Bruno and Ollie. Curious to see how the two would interact, they asked the shelter staff if they could observe the dogs playing together.
As soon as Bruno and Ollie were reunited, their bond was clear. The Whelans watched them with growing admiration and knew they couldn’t separate the pair. In a moment of pure, heartfelt decision, they decided to adopt both dogs.
“I was like, ‘Great, we’ll take both,'” Whelan recalled, still amazed by the unexpected twist. “[The shelter workers] were stunned. One of them said, ‘I have chills. This is incredible.'”
The shelter staff, who had grown so fond of Bruno and Ollie, couldn’t have been happier. One staff member even came in on her day off just to say goodbye. The emotion in the room was palpable — not only because these two dogs were finally leaving the shelter but because they were doing it together.
“It felt like this was meant to be,” Whelan said, reflecting on the moment. “They both deserve to go home.”
In honor of her previous dogs, Whelan decided to rename Bruno and Ollie as Poncho and Pretzel.
lthough they had only been in their new home for a few days, it was clear that they were thriving.
“I think having each other has made the transition easier,” Whelan shared. “They already had a bond, and that familiarity has been a comfort to them.”
Whelan hopes that Poncho and Pretzel’s story will inspire others to consider adopting dogs who have been in shelters for a long time.
“There are so many wonderful dogs waiting in shelters, just like Poncho and Pretzel,” she said. “They’re good dogs, and they deserve a chance to be loved.”