Some dogs grow up, but they never grow out of cuddles—especially not Annabelle.
From the very first moment this sweet pit bull puppy was held in her dad’s arms, she decided exactly where she belonged: right on his shoulder.
Annabelle was just three weeks old when she joined her forever family. Her mama had been surrendered to a shelter just a week before giving birth.
Thankfully, kind-hearted rescuers stepped in, and instead of delivering her puppies at the shelter, the mama dog gave birth to 12 healthy little ones in the comfort of a loving foster home.
Among those tiny pups was Annabelle—a bright-eyed girl with a gentle heart. Her family hadn’t planned on adopting any of the litter. But as soon as they held Annabelle in their arms, they knew she was staying. And so was her equally adorable brother, Norman.
“She’s just the most beautiful girl, with piercing blue eyes,” her dad shared in an interview. But it wasn’t just her looks that sealed the deal—it was the way she snuggled, the way she leaned into love from the very start.
From day one, Annabelle would climb up and gently rest her head on her dad’s shoulder—like it was the only place in the world she felt truly safe. And now that she’s a full-grown pittie? She still does it, even though she’s far too big for laps and shoulders. But try telling her that!
Her bond with her dad is unshakable. “It’s like a connection you can’t explain,” he said. Whether it’s a long day or a quiet morning, Annabelle always finds her way to his side, eager for one of her signature shoulder naps.
Of course, she shares her heart with someone else too—her brother Norman. From birth, the two were inseparable. Annabelle would climb over her 10 siblings just to snuggle next to him.
And when they’re apart, the separation anxiety kicks in hard. Once, when Annabelle had to leave for a vet visit, Norman sat by the window the entire time, waiting for her return. He didn’t budge until she came home.
It’s stories like these that remind us how deep dogs love—not just their humans, but each other. They form families just like we do, and when you give a rescue dog a home, they give you their whole heart in return.
Annabelle may be all grown up now, but she’ll always be daddy’s girl. And she’ll never stop reminding him—one shoulder nap at a time.