Foster Puppy's Inseparable Bond With Dog Delights Internet: 'So Grateful'

With three dogs and a cat already, Brooke Bastyr wasn't planning on adding another pet to the family, but after seeing how much her latest foster pup bonded with her rescue dog, she knew there was no chance of separating them.

Having adopted two dogs in the past, Mattis and Kash, from Let Love Live Rescue and Sanctuary, Bastyr loved seeing how much it changed their lives and seeing them thrive in a loving home. If she could adopt every dog, she probably would, but instead she offers her help by fostering dogs until they find a home.

But in February 2023, that changed when she took in Doug, the pit bull and hound mix. It was only due to be temporary, but Bastyr told Newsweek that after she saw Doug and Kash together, she knew she "could not separate them."

Within hours of being brought into the home, Doug was following Kash everywhere and they became inseparable. As the days went by, Bastyr watched as their bond grew stronger and she dreaded the day she'd have to say goodbye to Doug, so she made sure that would never happen. In March 2023, she officially adopted him, and now he and Kash are "the best foster sibling welcome committee" whenever Bastyr brings home new fosters.

"Their bond was immediate. Doug would follow Kash around and sit wherever he was," Bastyr said. "At first I just thought it was cute, but as the days went on, I realized that Doug really needed Kash, and when I thought about Doug going to another family, it just broke my heart."

Kash and Doug together
Doug pictured laying on top of Kash, after he was initially fostered in February 2023. Within a month of being fostered, Doug became a permanent member of the family as they couldn't possibly separate the... @obsessivedogmomma / TikTok

As she's been a foster mom to many dogs in the past, she's had some join her family for just a matter of days, while others stayed for several months before leaving. So, Bastyr explained that she will "always accept that it could be longer term," however she never expected Doug to become a permanent member of the family.

"Within a month of us having Doug, he got an application and someone wanted to meet him. In that moment, we knew we had to adopt him," she continued.

Bastyr is "so grateful" that Doug came along and changed Kash's life, and in March she posted a video on TikTok (@obsessivedogmomma) explaining his "foster fail." The clip has melted many hearts, and it's already been viewed over 885,100 times and received more than 80,200 likes at the time of writing.

The video shows the adorable duo constantly cuddling and even lying on top of each other at times, showing just how tight their bond was from the start. Bastyr has been amazed by the reaction to her post, and she's loved raising the profile of fostering and adoption.

She said: "It's so cool that others can easily see the pure love that Kash and Doug have for each other. I want to highlight that fostering is a beautiful thing and it can be very hard, but it saves lives.

"A lot of people have commented on the video saying this is why they couldn't foster, and while yes, saying goodbye to every foster is hard, Kash and Doug's bond isn't something that happens every time."

The viral TikTok video has already gained more than 1,500 comments from adoring social media users, who can't get enough of Doug and Kash's loving bond. One comment reads: "That's a foster win! Thank you for not separating them and fostering!"

Another person responded: "glad you kept him. You made the right choice. It would have been devastating to separate them."

While another TikToker wrote: "Kash needed him just as much as he needed Kash. Thank you for fostering and recognizing their bond."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Alyce Collins is a Newsweek Life and Trends reporter based in Birmingham, U.K. with a focus on trending topics that ... Read more

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