'They're best friends': Bonded Racine doggy duo needs fur-ever home by Sunday, risk separation
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- They say a dog is "man's" best friend, but what, or rather, who, is a dog's best friend?
To answer that question, look no further than Woof Gang Rescue in Racine.
Inside of the operation, you can easily find Darleigh, a 2-year-old and 50 lb. pittie mix, happily chasing tennis balls and orange rope toys.
Not far behind her, is Yukon, a 5-year-old and 140 lb. Great Dane, who, despite his large stature, is Darleigh's little shadow.
The two met in foster care -- Darleigh, rescued by the operation and Yukon, coming from commercial breeding -- and have been inseparable since.
Darleigh and Yukon
“He slowly started to fall in love with her, which is very odd because Yukon is not a fan of other dogs," said Jodie Hoffmann-Ruffalo, the rescue's executive director. “We’ve seen quite a few bonded pairs, but this is something completely different.”
Darleigh is a social butterfly, whereas Yukon is described more as a "Nervous Nellie."
“The floors were new, being out in grass was new for him and so everything was so scary, and I think when he met Darleigh and seen that Darleigh had the time of her life and everything was great, he wanted to be a part of that with her," Hoffmann-Ruffalo said. "He just follows her around and you can see that anytime he’s separated, he goes back into recluse, very skittish, very shy, and he panics without her.”
It's the tail of two best buds. But, like most stories, it still needs a happy ending.
If Yukon and Darleigh don't find a home -- together -- by Sunday, March 30, they'll be forced into different foster homes, as their current one is now unable to continue caring for the two due to a family emergency.
"It is literally heartbreaking, the minute you try to take her away from him, you can just see it," Hoffmann-Ruffalo said. “He’s just lost without her, he shuts down. You can’t get him to walk without her, you can’t get him to eat without her, that’s his best friend.”
Their ideal home would be without other pets and have a fenced yard. If there are kids in the home, they would ideally be at least 12, although both dogs love people.
Yukon does not do well in a kennel or boarding-type setting without Darleigh, which is why rescue officials are now pleading for help from the community.
“He’s hurting himself on the kennel, he’s trying to get out, he’s just so anxious without her," Hoffmann-Ruffalo said. “I think most of America knows what it feels like to be in love and to be ripped apart. I think that’s the hardest.”
According to Woof Gang Rescue, their adoption fee together is reduced to only one. To apply, click here.