Angelo – The Boy Who Still Believes in Tomorrow

Photography supplied by MuttMix and TEARS Animal Rescue

A MuttMix Shadow Project Story

Some dogs arrive in this world with an unbreakable kind of softness – a gentleness that somehow survives everything life throws at them. Angelo is one of those rare souls.

 He’s known the worst of what the world can offer, and still… he chooses to smile. Every day.
He’s waited over 1,000 days for a family of his own.

Every sunrise, he still gets up, stretches, shakes out his beautiful patchwork coat, and greets the morning with hope.

Born around January 2019 and rescued by TEARS in January 2021, Angelo is now about six years old – long past due the warm bed, steady voice, and forever companionship he deserves. 

The Angelo You Don’t See at First Glance

 TEARS says it best: he’s a gentle, fun-loving, bouncy boy who lights up the moment you offer playtime. Play is his love language, the quickest cure for his “sad eyes days”. 

He’s smart, energetic, and the perfect fit for a very active family. Hiking? Absolutely. Exploring? He’ll lead the way. Devotion? He has it in endless supply.  

He can be nervous with new dogs (stranger danger is real, okay?), so he’ll thrive best as the one-and-only dog in a home.

If you want a deep bond – a loyal right-hand man – Angelo is your dog.

Angelo’s MuttMix DNA Results

The Shadow Project tested Angelo to help him tell his own story:

• 32% Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• 28% Boston Terrier

• 20% American Staffordshire Terrier

• 20% Boxer

A beautiful blend of courage, intelligence, loyalty… and just the right amount of goofball.

What the TEARS Team Says About Him

Few dogs have a fan club this loyal.

“I’ve walked him since the day he arrived. He’s my very special boy. I always saw Staffie in him – the terrier mixes make so much sense!”

“Boxer? Never would’ve guessed… but now that I think of it, he does have some playful Boxer energy.”

“He loved his first kennel mate, Zoey – they chased each other and played nonstop. When she got adopted, he was so lost. His heart is big.”

“He’s a cuddle bunny when he trusts you. I sat with him after a walk and he gave me so many kisses.”

“Angelo can be strong-willed – if he wants to swim, he wants to swim! But once he’s had his water time, he’ll follow you anywhere.”

“He has a high prey drive. In his first home he chased baboons. His new family must understand this and give him the right outlets – tug games help a lot.”

“He loves having his head and neck massaged while you drive. And tummy rubs. And rumpies rubs. And more tummy rubs.”

“I see the Boston Terrier look in him – just bigger, well-muscled, well-mannered, and very intelligent.”

This is Angelo: a complex, clever, affectionate, joyful, goofy, sensitive, determined, beautifully imperfect dog – shaped by his past, but not defined by it.

Why Angelo Is Part of the Shadow Project

The Shadow Project exists for long-term shelter dogs like Angelo – dogs who need visibility, who need their stories told, and whose DNA results help potential adopters truly see them.

Angelo’s breeds explain so much about him:

His bravery, his playfulness, his stubborn streak, his sensitivity, his devotion, his prey drive, and his need for a confident, loving human to guide him. He isn’t “just another shelter dog”. He’s a masterpiece of terrier charm, Staffie loyalty, and Boxer-style zest for life.

And after 1,000 days of waiting… he’s more than ready for his forever home.

Could Angelo Be Your Soul Dog?

If you’re looking for a dog who’ll adventure beside you, cuddle beside you, and stay by your side for life – come meet Angelo at TEARS today.

He’s waited long enough. Maybe he’s been waiting for you!

For more information, contact TEARS Animal Rescue on 021 785 4482 or visit www.tears.org.za.