Pit Bull With Rare Gene Mutation Finds Forever Home After 6 Tries

Theodore looks like two different dogs stitched together, and his rare genetic mutation is what kept him from finding a home for far too long.

From the front, Theo is all pit bull with his blocky head and typical bully breed features. But from behind, his long, flowing coat makes him look like a golden retriever or teddy bear. The unusual combination comes from a rare genetic mutation called FGF5 that gives him feather soft, wind flowing fur instead of the short coat pit bulls normally sport.

Before Joanna Meadows adopted him, Theodore was rehomed six times. His first owner couldn't care for him and passed him to a friend, who then surrendered him to a shelter. From there, Theo bounced between homes and shelters, never finding someone who would stick with him through his quirks.

Those quirks included some pretty unusual behavior. Early videos show Theo had a habit of perching on top of kitchen cabinets, which may have frustrated previous owners. But when Meadows met him, she saw past the odd habits and unusual appearance.

"As long as he's with me, he is content. He's happy," Meadows told GeoBeats. She explains that the FGF5 mutation is incredibly rare in pit bulls and only happens when both parents carry the gene.

When Theo first arrived at his new home, anxiety from all the rehoming showed clearly in his behavior. He didn't trust that this placement would be permanent. But once he realized Meadows wasn't taking him back, he settled into being the loving companion he was meant to be.

Sunny's Take

Now Meadows takes Theo everywhere, and he provides emotional support when she needs it most. His fur really is as soft as it looks, almost feathery in places according to his proud mom. She gets emotional talking about how much he has transformed since finding his forever home.

The internet fell for Theo too. Commenters couldn't believe he was returned six times, calling him a sweet teddy bear and a mini Chewbacca. Others thanked Meadows for proving Theo wrong about not being worthy of permanent love.

Theodore's story reminds us that the right match is worth waiting for, no matter how many tries it takes.