This dog was found on the streets of the town of Claremore in the United States. The poor guy suffered from skin disease and sunburns so bad that every touch was painful to him. Kind people picked him up and took him to a shelter.

The shelter determined that the dog, named Kong, was about four years old and a Border Collie. The boy was later taken to Border Collie Rescue & Rehab for further treatment.

“I looked through his profile and just immediately fell in love with his single picture and the description they put on the page,” Hartsell told The Dodo. “His foster mom described his temperament and personality and I described my life to her a bit and she said we sounded perfect for each other.”
At the rescue center, Kong’s health was restored. He gained weight, his fur grew back, and his skin recovered. After treatment, the pooch was ready to find a new family. Then a guy named Curtis Hartsell happened to notice him on the website.
Seeing the pooch, the guy immediately noticed him and decided that is the pet he was looking for. After a couple of interviews, Curtis was confirmed and Kong went to his new home. His owner also gave him a new nickname, Zib, after the astronaut dog.

“I asked for daily updates through the adoption process and felt as if he were mine from the very beginning and these people were just helping us get reunited,” Hartsell added.

“The original was just a lost dog running around base that they sent to space for successful flight,” Hartsell explained. “I felt this was fitting for my ZIB because he was just a lost dog until someone picked him up and helped nurture him back to health. Now he and I are off to the stars together!”
Already at the first meeting of these two, it was clear – it was love. When the boy came up to Zib and started petting him, he reached out and hugged him. They have been inseparable ever since, and they love each other very much.

Zib is truly happy because he has a loving owner by his side and he is extremely grateful for his new life. Curtis is happy that Zib has come into his life and made it more beautiful.

“I cannot even begin to describe how much happier and fulfilled I feel,” Hartsell said. “Knowing that this poor puppy was once neglected and all he wanted was to be loved — and that I get to give him that love every day now, it’s incredible.”