In the fall of 2020, Don Pepe was discovered abandoned in a box outside the Mistley Animal Rescue Center. He was not at all accustomed to being indoors or receiving affection, which led his rescuers to believe he was a product of a puppy farm. Though he warmed up immediately, his new shelter companions had hoped that he would find a home right away. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
“He was at the shelter for about five months before I adopted him,” Khaya Castagnoli, Don Pepe’s mom said. “People had been passing him up because of his tongue.”
Due to his advanced age and lack of teeth, Don Pepe cannot maintain his long tongue in his mouth. However, as soon as Castagnoli saw Don Pepe and his wild tongue, she knew she wanted to adopt him. It gives him a distinctive look that some people do not like.
Don Pepe now resides in London with his mother, and his tongue is just as erratic as ever. The small, elderly dog has little control over it because it frequently finds itself in amusing positions or is even blown around on windy days.
“Sometimes I swear it seems like he waves with his tongue, but whether this is voluntary or involuntary, I’m not sure,” Castagnoli said. “He does give licks still, so he does have some control over it.”
Don Pepe’s tongue rarely hinders him from leading a fulfilling life, and even when it does, he manages to get around it.
“Sometimes he struggles with eating his [favorite] snack — peas — because they roll around too much,” Castagnoli said. “But otherwise, he manages his food just fine. His tongue is out pretty much all the time. I only ever see it go in when he barks (which is very rare)! I think it’s an effort for him to hold it in as he only has two teeth left.”
Even if Don Pepe’s tongue did not impress adopters, it now only makes people happy. Castagnoli is ecstatic that people adore Don Pepe as much as she does since people cannot help but grin and giggle when they see him and his silly tongue.
“He definitely cheers people up — you can’t look at him and not smile,” Castagnoli said. “A lot of children ask if they can touch his tongue, they’re enchanted by it. Some don’t [recognize] him as a dog but think he’s some creature they’ve never heard of. They ask why his tongue is always out — it’s a good opportunity to talk about animal rescue.”
Castagnoli adores Don Pepe for who he is, tongue and all, and is so happy to have found him.
SOURCE: THE DODO
