Rescue Dog Living Best Life After Adoption Wins Pet of the Week

This week, we have seen a Kentucky dog’s reaction to her first winter and a “spicy” foster kitten discovering the joy of hugs.

We have also loved seeing reader’s pet videos and pictures. If you want your pet to be in next week’s Pet of the Week, follow the instructions at the end of this story to get involved.

Winner

This week’s Pet of the Week is Calusa, a dog who has been on a journey from heartbreak to happiness.

Once a stray on the streets of Florida, Calusa was found with her four puppies and taken to a shelter.

“We found her infested with a bad case of heartworm at the local shelter, desperate for a home to take care of her and heal her,” owner Morgan Gosnell told Newsweek. Gosnell shared a video capturing this somber chapter, with Calusa in a kennel, looking dejected and hopeless.

But everything changed when Gosnell decided to make Calusa part of her family. “We took her home, and she was so happy and could snuggle all day and night,” Gosnell said. It took four months of rest and treatment to cure her heartworm, but Calusa’s resilience shone through.

Today, she is thriving, and loves nothing more than spending time outdoors. In a new video, Gosnell shared the moment Calusa was recently trying her best to chase after a drone in the air.

“She loves to kayak and go boating, and has been a natural since day one! Like she was born to be an adventure pup,” said Gosnell.

Whether running on beaches, camping in the wilderness, or chasing drones, Calusa embraces life with boundless joy. But her favorite thing? “At the end of the day, she’s a snuggler and kisser and hates being separated from her family,” Gosnell said.

Finalists

Our first finalist this week is Starla, a rescue cat that was given a second chance at life.

“She was a rescue that we found from the Denver Dumb Friends League when she was around 1 year old,” owner Nicole Siebert told Newsweek. “We decided to adopt a grown cat because we knew kittens would be more in demand.”

Now 8 years old, Starla is thriving in her new home, often traveling with her family and generally living her best life.

Siebert hopes that sharing her story will encourage others to think about adopting an older pet.

Next up this week is another cat who made the journey from the streets to a loving home. Ranger is now living his best life with owner Diane Woodward, who told Newsweek: “He’s all love all the time.”

After living on the streets for nearly a year, Ranger himself at a humane shelter, waiting for a second chance. That’s when life took an unexpected turn. “He was sent to me via divine intervention when my 4-year-old cat went missing last April,” Woodward said.

Adopted just three months ago, Ranger has brought plenty of affection and comfort to his new home. From wandering the streets to becoming an adored member of the family, it is clear from his picture that Ranger couldn’t be happier.

Last but not least this week is the furry companions of pet sitter Renee Mendiola. The cat-and-dog duo are often seen playing and cuddling together. “Khloe, a Staffordshire bull terrier, I believe, is attached to my hip,” Mendiola told Newsweek.

“Then there’s Amelia [the cat], with such a special personality,” she said.