Peppo’s story is one of both hope and heartbreak.

Back in 2014, when he was just 2 years old, he left the cold bars of the Cluj-Napoca public shelter behind. Adopted into what we thought would be a forever home, we believed Peppo’s story had reached its happy ending. For nine long years, he lived in what we can only call a “home.” Maybe he was loved, maybe he lived on a chain — we’ll never know.

But when age caught up with him — or perhaps when his owner passed away — Peppo’s world fell apart. In October 2023, at 10 years old, he was abandoned and sent back to the shelter. No goodbye, no explanation. Just a confused senior dog staring at the same bars he once left behind.

For months, Peppo waited. A decade older, grayer, slower — and overlooked. Who wants an old dog when there are puppies around? But his eyes still sparkled with hope. His tail still wagged at every kind word. He hadn’t given up.

In July 2024, we couldn’t bear to see him like that anymore. We brought him out of the noise, the cold, and the loneliness. Since then, Peppo has been in our care — where he has proven, time and again, that he is more than just “an old dog.” He is sweet, gentle, and full of life, the definition of a chill grandpa with a sense of humor. He naps like a champion, enjoys long sniffy walks with the concentration of a wine sommelier, and makes friends with children (our 5-year-old neighbor adores him). 

Fostering Peppo wasn’t always easy. Because he preferred to be the only animal, we had to separate him from our other dogs and cats, which meant more work, more patience, and more compromises. But we never gave up on him — because every day he showed us that he was worth it. His gentle soul, his gratitude, and his goofy grandpa ways reminded us why fostering matters so much.

Despite his age, Peppo is still spry enough to trot happily down the street, jump on the couch, and cover you in sloppy kisses. He’s healthy, house-trained, quiet indoors, and able to stay home alone without a fuss. His only flaw? Selective hearing. But hey — at nearly 12, who can blame him?

Peppo has been through loss, confusion, and abandonment. Yet his spirit hasn’t dimmed. What he needed is someone to see past the gray muzzle and hear the story his eyes tell:

✨ “I still have love to give. Please don’t let me wait forever again.”

And finally, on 05.09.2025, Peppo’s wait was over. A kind lady in Germany opened her heart and her home to him. 

Today, Peppo is living the soft, gentle life he always deserved — warm beds, long walks, and endless love.

💛 Peppo was in our care for more than a year. Every single day was worth it, because it led him home.