On a bitterly cold day in East St. Louis, a lost pup named Adobe wandered through the icy streets, feeling scared and alone.
He was searching for warmth, something to eat, and maybe—if he was lucky—a bit of kindness.
His paws turned red from the snow-covered ground, and his little body shivered in the freezing air.
As his strength faded, Adobe knew he couldn’t survive on his own much longer. So, he made a brave choice—he approached a random house, hoping someone inside would help.
A Desperate Plea For Kindness
Adobe walked around the house, whimpering for attention. He was desperate for someone to hear him.
Inside, two teenage girls heard his cries and immediately felt heartbroken for the little dog.
They opened their garage to him, wrapped him in blankets, and gave him some toys to comfort him. He curled up, finally warm, and started to relax.
Adobe seemed to know he had chosen the right door. He stopped crying—and hope returned to his eyes.
The girls’ mother reached out to Gateway Pet Guardians, a local shelter, and told them about the shivering pup that had appeared at their home.
Jill, the shelter’s director of operations, came to pick him up.
She noticed right away that Adobe was clean and wearing a nice harness—signs that he’d once had a family.
Still, it was clear he’d spent time alone. When she placed him in her van, he couldn’t stop shaking.
“When I got him into the van, he was shivering really, really hard. His face, extremities, like his feet were really, really red, probably approaching something like frostbite,” Jill told GeoBeats Animals.
Despite years of experience, Jill said she had never seen a pup that cold.
Adobe was brought to the shelter and checked by a vet. He was slightly underweight, but otherwise healthy.
A Heart Full Of Love
The next day, Adobe was brought into the shelter’s office—and immediately won everyone over.
He wagged his tail, jumped with joy, and soaked up every bit of love the staff gave him.
He nestled into people’s arms, happy to be safe. Adobe’s gentle and loving nature was obvious to everyone.
The team believed he had once had a family. He was too affectionate, too used to humans to have always been alone.
Sadly, when they scanned him, he didn’t have a microchip.
Determined to help him find his way home, the shelter posted flyers and shared his story on lost pet websites—but no one came forward.
So for now, Adobe’s past is a mystery. But his future? It’s looking bright.
“What we do know is that he’s an absolute love bug with the biggest, most charming head and an irresistibly handsome face that melts your heart,” the shelter shared on Facebook.
With no owner found, the rescue began searching for a foster—and eventually a forever home.
Adobe continues to enjoy every cuddle and every kind word. But what he really wants now is a family to call his own, and a warm place to finally call home.