Hi, I’m Hippo. Yeah, like the animal. I’m short, chunky, wiggly, and built like a little tank — but with a heart of pure mush. People say I’m a pocket bully, but really, I’m just a professional lap-warmer with a soft soul.

My past wasn’t kind. I was used and discarded after being bred again and again. I lived in filth, probably never felt a soft bed or a gentle touch. When I wasn’t useful anymore, they threw me away like trash. I came into rescue thin, itchy, struggling to breathe, and barely able to see — all from neglect and bad breeding.

But even when I was hurting, I never stopped being sweet.

Since coming to the rescue, I’ve been given the love and medical care I never got before. I’m gaining weight. My eyes will be getting surgery soon to fix a condition called entropion that made my eyelids roll inward and rub against my eyes. I’ll also be neutered soon, and I’m already vaccinated and microchipped. I’m healing — and I’m hopeful.

I’ve been doing well with the other dogs I’ve met. I haven’t been around cats too much, so the rescue says I’d need a slow introduction there. And kids? I haven’t met any yet, so older dog-savvy kids might be best if there are any around. Mostly, I just want to be close to you. I’ll happily curl up on your lap or follow you from room to room — I love humans so much, it doesn’t matter who you are.

I’m not perfect — but I’ve never stopped trying to be good.

If you’ve been looking for a little gray hippo to love forever, maybe I’m the one. The rescue is accepting applications now, and I’m just waiting for someone to say, “You’re home.”

Love,
Hippo 🐾