Rescued Puppy And Injured Kitten Become Best Friends In Foster Care. Now, They Need A Forever Home (2024)

CHICAGO — One Tail at a Time is looking for a forever home for its first interspecies bonded pair: Scooter, a shy, large-breed puppy, and Socker Bopper, a tiny but fearless kitten.

Scooter and Socker Bopper formed a deep and inseparable bond while in foster care, according to a press release from the animal rescue.

After being rescued in May from a hoarding situation in Arkansas, Scooter gradually came out of his shell while living with a staff member, forming strong connections with other pets in the house. That’s when Scooter met his purr-fect match in Socker Bopper the kitten.

Found on the side of the road, Socker Bopper faced significant health challenges, including an infected eye and a severe head tilt that caused him to wobble when he walked. Despite these obstacles, he quickly captured Scooter’s heart, and they became fast friends.

“Scootie, who had already shown he was great with my resident cats, was especially gentle and careful when he met Socker Bopper,” said Carrie Rubinas, foster coordinator at One Tail at a Time. “Bopper loves to be held or snuggled constantly, and since Scootie often stays close by while I work from home, Bopper quickly decided the best place to spend the day was cuddled up with Scootie.”

Socker Bopper’s biggest challenge early on was getting him healthy and stable, Rubinas told Block Club. Now it’s more about keeping up with his boundless energy.

That compelled the dog-cat mom to adjust her home so Bopper could explore safely without getting stuck in tight spots, as he can’t jump and needs help if he gets trapped.

“He’s as fearless as Scootie was nervous,” Rubinas said.

Scooter stayed by his buddy’s side after Socker Bopper had surgery to remove his infected eye, further proving the strength of their bond and showing the rescue they would thrive if they are adopted jointly.

Keeping Scooter and Bopper separated during Bopper’s recovery was challenging because Scooter constantly wanted to be in Bopper’s playpen, but Bopper needed the full 10 days to heal without Scooter grooming him, Rubinas said.

“Scootie wasn’t properly socialized in the first few months of his life, so the biggest challenge with him was just building his confidence and teaching him that the world isn’t so scary,” Rubinas said. “We’ve done a lot of slow exposure to city living and have made so much progress, but I think he’s been most helped by our resident pets. He’s a very ‘monkey see, monkey do’ sort of dog and will mimic what he sees our dogs doing.”

Watching Scooter welcome Socker Bopper as tenderly as he did was a special moment for Rubinas, she said.

Scooter and Socker Bopper get along extremely well with other animals, including dogs and cats, said Kim Thomas, marketing manager at One Tail at a Time.

That said, Scooter, being naturally shy, would benefit from having a more confident dog companion to help guide him, Thomas said.

The pair would also likely do best in a quiet environment, as Scooter remains timid outside the home, but Thomas said continued positive reinforcement training will help him become more comfortable in new settings.

While Scooter loves being close to his people, he’s also skilled at keeping himself entertained, often playing with his toys and working on treat puzzles, Thomas said.

Interested adopters can fill out an application here.

Adopters must be at least 18 with a valid ID. One Tail at a Time asks humans to check their lease or HOA for restrictions on pets, ensure any residents fur babies are fully vaccinated and be prepared to bring current pets in to meet adoptees. Find out more about the adoption process here.

One Tail at a Time’s adoption center is open Wednesday-Sunday at 2144 N. Wood St. in Bucktown.

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