Shelter Dog With ‘Different Toofies’ Finally Finds A Home After 8 Years
Funny Bones spent years waiting for someone to see past the things that made him different.
At Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG), an animal rescue in Cape Town, South Africa, his crooked smile, goofy personality, and playful spirit made him a favorite with volunteers. But while people adored him, finding him the right home proved heartbreakingly difficult.
Funny Bones had endured more than most dogs ever should. When he was young, he was stabbed, and the attack ultimately brought him to DARG. Growing up in a shelter wasn’t easy. The constant kennel environment left him anxious and frustrated, and over time he developed coping habits like digging, becoming obsessed with sticks and tennis balls, and reacting to other dogs.
Yet beneath it all was a dog who simply wanted to love and be loved. He still played like a puppy, even as a senior. He loved cuddles, children, walks, and splashing in the river. His adorable little “toofies” gave him a smile unlike any other, but they were simply the way he had been born.
Finding the right family, however, was a challenge. Funny Bones had arthritis, so he needed a single-story home with a spacious yard. He also had a strong prey drive, which meant he couldn’t live with cats. Ironically, many of the people who fell in love with him over the years already had feline companions, so time after time, the perfect match slipped away.
So Funny Bones waited. Year after year. For eight years, he watched other dogs leave while he remained behind, hoping that one day someone would choose him.
In January 2024, DARG shared his adoption plea once again, asking for someone willing to look beyond his quirks and give a senior dog a chance. His story quickly spread around the world, attracting interest from families as far away as Canada and Australia. But DARG’s behaviorists believed the kindest option was to keep him close to home, where the transition would be less stressful.
Then, after all those years of waiting, everything changed.
A local couple who had recently lost their beloved 15-year-old dog reached out. They weren’t discouraged by Funny Bones’ digging, his anxiety, or the patience he would need. Instead of rushing the process, they spent weeks visiting him, taking him on sleepovers, and allowing him to discover—at his own pace—that this home was different.
It wasn’t another temporary stop. It was forever. After about two months, everyone knew Funny Bones had finally found where he belonged.
Today, he sleeps beside his new mom, follows his family from room to room, wakes them each morning with his famous crooked smile and wagging tail, and has happily appointed himself boss of the house.
His new family hopes his story encourages others to adopt senior shelter dogs and those with special needs. They know firsthand that these animals aren’t “damaged”—they simply need someone willing to understand them.
Funny Bones was never a problem to solve. He was simply a dog waiting for the right people to find him.