Size
(when grown) Small 25 lbs (11 kg) or less
Details
Good with kids,
Good with dogs,
Good with cats,
Spayed or Neutered,
Shots are up-to-date,
Story
* Interested in adopting? Please read the dog’s full biography to see whether they may be a good fit for your home, then submit an application at www.dpsrescue.org. All DPS Rescue dogs are spayed/neutered, up to date on age-appropriate vaccinations, dewormed, flea/tick treated, and microchipped prior to adoption.Adoption Fee: $800 Caterpillar’s story starts the way no dog’s story ever should. Someone left him in the middle of a field. Alone. No homes nearby. No people. No safety. Just an 8-10 month old puppy abandoned in the middle of nowhere, somehow expected to survive on his own. And then came the foxtails. Hundreds of them. They were embedded all over his tiny body. In his skin. In his ears. In his eyes. More than 20 were buried in the roof of his mouth and even in his tongue. He has endured THREE surgeries to remove them all. THREE. Imagine how much pain this little guy must have been in while still somehow wagging his tail and looking at humans with hope. And somehow… despite every reason in the world not to trust people… Caterpillar still loves them. That’s the part that gets you. After painful procedures, uncomfortable vet visits, and having foxtails literally scraped from behind his eyeballs, this sweet little dog still gave the vet kisses. Because Caterpillar is not angry at the world.He is just grateful someone finally loved him enough to help. Now officially foxtail-free, Caterpillar is finally getting to experience what being a puppy is supposed to feel like. Soft beds.Sunbeams.Walks through the park.Toys.Snuggles on the couch.People who tell him he is safe. And oh, does this little guy LOVE to be close to his people. Caterpillar is the definition of a velcro dog. Wherever you are, he would also like to be there. Working on your laptop? Great. He will be curled up beside you like your emotional support intern. Watching TV? Perfect. He has already claimed a lap. Sleeping at night? Don’t worry — he’s peacefully snoozing nearby in his cozy little bed like an angel who finally knows he doesn’t have to sleep with one eye open anymore. The sweetest thing about Caterpillar is watching him discover joy. At first, he was timid even with toys. He would pick one up, notice someone watching him, and immediately drop it like he got caught committing a crime. But little by little, his confidence has grown. Now he plays fetch, wrestles with tug toys, zooms around the house, and occasionally steals a shoe just because apparently surviving unimaginable hardship still does not exempt him from typical puppy nonsense. And honestly? Good. He deserves to be silly.He deserves to be carefree.He deserves to act like a puppy instead of a survivor. Caterpillar is wonderfully gentle and easygoing. He gets along beautifully with other dogs and has been incredibly respectful with the foster’s cat. During a stressful car ride, he even sat beside the cat’s carrier as if trying to comfort her. Which honestly feels very on-brand for him. He has the kindest little soul. He is playful without being wild, affectionate without being demanding, and has mastered the art of matching your energy. Want to go for a walk? Amazing. He’s ready. Need to work all day? Perfect. He will happily nap nearby in a sunbeam like a tiny retired grandpa. And because the universe finally decided this boy had suffered enough, his adorable non-shedding coat is already growing back beautifully after being shaved down for treatment. Sometimes he accidentally wriggles both front paws out of his sweater and walks around wearing it like a tiny dress with his tail wagging behind him, completely unbothered and ridiculously cute. Caterpillar has every reason to be fearful.Every reason to shut down.Every reason not to trust again. But instead, he wakes up every day choosing love. And whoever adopts him is not just getting a dog.They are getting one of the gentlest, most resilient little souls we have ever met. Some dogs leave paw prints on your floor. Caterpillar leaves them on your heart.May 13, 2026, 1:53 am
