Bouncing from shelter to shelter and foster home to foster home for over half his life, Vardis, a three year old rescue, knew what it meant to be alone. That was, until recently when he met someone he had known since the beginning.
Not much was known about him when he arrived at One Tail at a Time (OTAT), a Chicago based shelter, in 2021. Previously, he was at the Chicago Animal Care and Control Shelter, but it was unknown how he got there.
He was fighting a bad case of Pneumonia, but after medical treatment by the team, the pup was able to make a full recovery and capture the hearts of all those that met him.
After he was better, Vardis moved into his first foster home with Lynsey. He learned what a loving home was, while she learned about his quirks and personality. Additionally, she did a DNA test on him to learn about his breed. Previously assumed to be a black lab, he was actually 50% Golden Retriever and 45% American Bully.
He was then moved to his second foster mom, Jessica Jones. “I like to refer to him as an extrovert who loves to meet neighbors and say hi to his friends,” Jones said. “Once he meets someone new, that person is a friend for life! When he sees them again, he’ll insist on saying hello and getting a few scratches or a belly rub.”
Then, one day, Lynsey got a message from someone who had given their dog the same DNA test. Via the relative finder feature, it was discovered that their pup, Brunch, was an exact DNA match with Vardis. Both were found at the same Chicago shelter and were around the same age. Vardis had found his long lost sister!
A playdate was immediately set up! “I was a little nervous leading up to the meeting because Brunch's family had indicated that Brunch can be a little selective when meeting new dogs, and Vardis also has had mixed experiences with meeting other dogs,” Jones said. “Vardis usually comes on a little strong, which is not always preferred by other dogs.”
However, as soon as the two locked eyes, there were no more worries. “It was so fun to watch Vardis and Brunch reunite,” Jones said. “They were both very comfortable with each other from the start!“
They soon got the zoomies and raced around the yard! “The two have very similar play styles,” Jones said. “Both like to bump their playmate with their butt to kind of herd them to where they want to be!” Before departing, they shared their favorite snack, a cheese stick.
Vardis is still on the search for the perfect family, because he fits best as an only child. “Vardis loves other dogs, but is probably best suited as a single dog with lots of dog friends to visit,” Jones said. “A loving home with people to cuddle and play with is what Vardis is looking for.”
“He’s the sweetest, cuddliest 70-pound lap dog you can find,” Jones said. “He really is the best boy!” Hopefully, he will find his forever home soon!
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