I wish no puppy ever had to experience being torn from a loving mother and left stranded in a barren place.
Sadly, countless people discard vulnerable puppies without a trace of compassion.
Cactus was only a tiny baby when he and his siblings were abandoned in the Mojave Desert in California.
Separated from their mother, the little ones huddled together for comfort. Shaking with cold and starving, their frail bodies soon became sick.
Pups Without Borders, a rescue devoted to helping pregnant dogs and nursing litters, stepped in and brought them to safety. From that moment, the battle for survival began.
Struggling To Survive
Cactus and his littermates were rushed to the hospital and placed under immediate medical care.
Despite the veterinarians’ efforts, some puppies did not make it and passed away.
The staff admired Cactus’ determination. The little fighter held on until he overcame the illness.
Once fully recovered, he was released from the hospital and transferred back to the rescue.
Cactus quickly captured the hearts of the team with his affectionate nature. He was endlessly gentle and loved to cuddle. He radiated pure love.
Months later, Mike Brown visited the rescue while collaborating with Pups Without Borders on a marketing event.
Although he had never considered adopting a dog, the moment he met Cactus, an immediate bond formed.
The puppy curled up against him, instantly softening Brown’s heart.
Encouraged by the staff, Brown agreed to foster Cactus for two weeks.
A week later, he returned to collect the pup. Cactus greeted him with uncontainable joy, wagging, leaping, and covering his hands with kisses.
As soon as Brown stroked him, the pup flopped onto his back, begging for belly rubs and gazing up with adoring eyes.
Brown brought him home, determined to make those weeks unforgettable.
The Perfect Foster Home
When Brown and Cactus arrived at the house, the little puppy refused to step out of the car. He trembled with fear and stayed frozen in place.
Brown gently lifted him and carried him inside. As soon as they entered, Cactus bolted beneath the bed. Everything was unfamiliar, and he needed time to adjust.
His foster dad patiently spoke kind words and used treats to coax him out.
After a couple of hours, the pup gathered courage to approach his new dad.
“… He just like ran up to me and put his paws on my leg and I picked him up and put him on my lap,” Brown told The Dodo.
The puppy covered his foster dad’s face with kisses. He finally felt safe and loved.
That first night, Cactus climbed into bed with Brown and fell into a deep sleep. Watching him rest peacefully, Brown knew they had built a special bond.
From then on, the pup followed him everywhere. They became inseparable.
Brown took him to the beach and to the dog park to meet other dogs, and he also helped him face his fear of trucks.
The Love His Heart Wished For
The more time Brown and Cactus spent together, the stronger their connection became.
The puppy enjoyed living with his foster dad. For the first time in his short life, Cactus felt completely cherished.
Two weeks after the puppy moved into his foster home, someone applied for his adoption.
At that moment, Brown realized he could not part with him. He understood that Cactus belonged by his side.
Brown adores Cactus and he feels that his bond with him is much deeper than he could ever have imagined.
“I envisioned myself having a bond like that, I guess it is different than I envisioned because it does become a bit deeper than just having a close relationship where it’s almost like you feel like they’re your family or someone that you know, like your own child,” Brown added.
He officially adopted Cactus, promising a future filled with love and shared adventures.
Today, Cactus enjoys a joyful life in Santa Monica, California, occasionally appearing on his dad’s Instagram account where glimpses of his happiness are shared.
He spends his days cuddling with his dad and giving him endless kisses, his constant way of expressing how much he adores him.