When volunteer dog walker Kayla Filoon – an animal shelter in Philadelphia – saw Russ the pit bull for the first time, she knew they had a special connection.“He came in as a stray, and he was really beat up,” said Filoon. “He was missing fur on his tail and ears. He was also terribly skinny.”The 20-year-old student added: “He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me… And I thought… I need to take him now.”

The shelter had recently had to put down 15 dogs, so she knew she had to act fast!“Any dog had a chance of being put down, especially the ones who were sicker, and Russ was definitely one of them,” said the Filoon.So, the next day, she got up and went straight to the shelter to sort out the adoption papers.

“One night I’m sitting there on the chair, doing my homework, and he’s trying to find ways to cuddle with me,” Filoon said.

Her friend snapped a photo, put it on social media – and it went viral. “He’s such a love bug, honestly.”

Filoon hopes the photo will inspire others to adopt shelter dogs.

Filoon knew they will be together from the start. “He came in as a stray, and he was really beat up”

“He was missing fur on his tail and ears. He was also terribly skinny”

“He was just sitting there calmly, staring at me… And I thought… I need to take him now”

Filoon knew she had to act fast, as the shelter had recently had to put 15 dogs to sleep.

“Any dog had a chance of being put down… and Russ was definitely one of them”

The moment Filoon took Russ home, she knew “he’s the perfect dog”…

And, apparently, the pooch won’t stop hugging and snuggling!

“One night I’m sitting there on the chair, doing my homework, and he’s trying to find ways to…”

“…Cuddle with me”. Her friend snapped a photo, put it on social media – and it went viral

“He’s such a love bug, honestly.” Filoon hopes the photo will inspire others to adopt