Dear Friend,
Some pets are content to do their own thing. They sun themselves while you work, glance up when you come home, and otherwise live their independent little lives. These five are not those pets.
The pets in this issue want you home. They want the sound of your keyboard, the soft murmur of the TV in the next room, the quiet reassurance of someone nearby. They are at their very best with company, and they go a little dim without it.
A big-hearted Boxer who is convinced he is a lap dog.
9-year-old Boxer mix | San Mateo, CA
Jax is 70 pounds of tan, sloppy-kissed devotion who has decided he is a lap dog and would like you to agree. His signature move is the “jumping jax,” a full-body wiggle of delight at the mere mention of a walk, and his second favorite thing is curling up at your feet for hours. He adores children, plays beautifully with dogs of every size at the local park, and brings joy to every room he enters.
What Jax does not love is being alone for long. He is at his best when someone is around most of the day, with a fenced yard for backyard adventures and a steady human nearby. A sensitive-stomach diet keeps him feeling his best. For a person who wants a big-hearted, big-feeling Boxer to share the days with, Jax is ready.
An enthusiastic adventure partner who reminds you daily that love is loud, silly, and deeply loyal. 2-year-old American Pitbull Terrier | Albuquerque, NM
Maximus is 70 pounds of tan-and-white, goofy-hearted devotion. He is an all-star with squeaky toys, an enthusiastic runner, and the kind of dog who treats every new plaything like a joyful puzzle to solve. He is happiest with his legs moving and his heart connected to yours, whether that is a long walk, a backyard fetch session, or a cozy stretch of couch time after.
Maximus does experience separation anxiety and is at his best with people close by, though he willingly settles into his crate when asked. He thrives on structure, routine, and lots of human connection, and he has had sweet interactions with elementary-aged children. He is selective with other dogs and does best as the only pet, with an experienced guardian who can offer steady enrichment, patient guidance, and plenty of affection. In return, he hands you his whole oversized heart.
A vibrant young shepherd whose loyalty leans right into you.
Almost-2-year-old German Shepherd mix | Long Beach, CA
Gigi is 50 pounds of striking red and black with an elegant shepherd trot and a tail that wags like a metronome. She thrives on routine: a 6:30 a.m. breakfast, a morning walk where she sniffs every flower, and an enthusiastic round of ball that she greets each day as if for the first time. She is sharp and food-motivated, already knows sit, wait, and leave it, and has the kind of bright eyes that say she will happily learn just about anything for a treat and your attention.
Gigi bonds closely with her person, and that loyalty shows in shadow-style devotion: leaning her body into yours for cuddles, watching over you with gentle eyes. She is still building confidence with new people and dogs, and she is working on feeling secure when left alone, so she would shine with an active family that is home most of the day and ready to offer her the structure, patience, and steady company she needs.
A sensitive senior who blooms with companionship and a good Churu treat.
11-year-old Domestic Shorthair | San Diego, CA
Mimi is a gentle tortoiseshell senior whose presence is a quiet glow of comfort. She takes a little time to feel safe, and once she trusts you, her affectionate side shines in the sweetest ways: calm evenings, cozy routines, and the simple joy of being petted while the day winds down. She is a devoted fan of Churu treats, happy to show her playful side for a tasty reward, and she loves lounging in sunny spots and batting her stuffed mice around in soft little bursts of play.
Mimi does best with a patient person who is around during the day, because steady companionship is what helps her feel her best, and when she gets lonely she tends to over-groom. She would rather not be picked up, sharing her affection on her own gentle terms instead. In a calm, stable home where she can build trust at her own pace, she becomes a soothing, loyal presence that makes the whole space feel calmer.
A charming 10-year-old Havanese, 9 pounds of pure devotion in a white-and-brown coat. Scottsdale, AZ.
Cookie has spent a lifetime perfecting the art of companionship. She still has plenty of pep, hops happily on and off the furniture, and greets her people with warmth and enthusiasm. She is not much of a barker, but she is an excellent communicator who always lets you know exactly what she is thinking, often with a long, steady gaze that says you are the center of her universe.
She thrives in a busy, connected family that includes her in the day, errands, friend visits, and quiet afternoons on the couch. Cookie does have significant separation anxiety and does best with a new family who can keep her close most of the day, with doggy daycare or a trusted sitter for the hours they cannot. Her current family is willing to bring her anywhere in the U.S., so do not let distance stop you from reaching out.
If you would like to meet Cookie and her current family, respond to this email and we will make the introduction.
A weekly note from Barbie, our canine behaviorist.
The fastest way to settle a sensitive, devoted dog is a routine they can set their watch by. Same mealtimes. Same walk windows. Same wind-down. Pets who know what to expect spend less of their day worried about what comes next.
Build the day around a few steady anchors: a morning walk, regular meals, a midday sniff-and-stretch break, and a calm evening wind-down. Keep your comings and goings low-key, so neither one becomes the main event, and reward calm behavior with calm attention rather than big greetings. Predictability is the quiet medicine for an anxious heart.
A new FDA-approved option for dogs with separation anxiety.
The FDA approved Tessie (tasipimidine oral solution) on May 6, 2026, the first drug cleared to treat both noise aversion and separation anxiety in dogs. Given about an hour before a stressful event or before a dog is left alone, it works by calming the fight-or-flight response that drives anxious behavior. Common side effects include lethargy, mild sedation, and occasional stomach upset. Tessie is not a fix on its own, since separation anxiety still responds best to behavior work and a steady routine, but it is the first medication approved specifically for this pair of conditions, and it is worth a conversation with your veterinarian if your dog has been struggling.
A nationwide raw dog food recall worth checking your freezer for.
Raaw Energy has expanded its recall after Listeria monocytogenes turned up in several samples of its frozen dog food. The recall covers more than 60 varieties manufactured between July 17 and December 23, 2025, plus one batch of “Beef and Turkey Medley” dated March 31, 2026. The company halted all production on May 21, and the recalled products were distributed through Raaw Energy’s website and pickup locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Listeria can sicken pets and the people handling the food, so dispose of any matching products and disinfect bowls, prep surfaces, and anything else that touched them.
$30 Off Rover Services – For pets who thrive with company, a steady sitter who keeps the routine going while you are out can make all the difference.
$50 Off a Dutch Membership – Unlimited virtual vet care from home, plus prescriptions shipped to your door. Especially handy for a pet with ongoing needs.
Free $30 Chewy eGift Card – Spend $60 on your first order and receive a $30 eGift card for essentials, treats, and toys. New customers only.
Every pet in this issue thrives with steady company, and getting each one to the right home takes real resources: vet care, transport, behaviorist guidance, and the patient work of finding the right match. Not every family can carry that cost alone. When they cannot, Rehome Together steps in.
It is what keeps money from being the reason a loving family ends up at a shelter instead of here. Your support goes directly to a pet’s journey from one home to the next.
If you know someone whose home and schedule have room for one of these pets, send this their way. And if this newsletter found you through a friend, subscribe so you never miss a week.
For the homes where someone is always nearby,
Lauren & the Joyful Pets team
P.S. The pets who need company are not asking for too much. They are asking for the very thing the right person already wants to give. If you can offer your presence, one of them is hoping you are reading.
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