Don Pepe was found abandoned in a box near the Mistley Animal Rescue Centre in 2020. His rescuers suspected that he had come from a puppy farm. He warmed up quickly, and his new friends at the shelter thought that he would find a home right away. But, there was something wrong he didn’t know.

Khaya Castagnoli, Don Pepe’s mom says that people have been passing him up because of his tongue.
Don Pepe is a senior pup and only has two teeth left, so it is pretty much impossible for him to keep his very long tongue in his mouth. It gives him a unique look, but some people don’t like it. But as soon as Castagnoli saw his wild tongue she knew she had to adopt him.

Now Don Pepe lives with his mom in London and his tongue is still the same. It is clear that the tiny senior dog has very little control over it, causing it to end up in funny positions. And he is so lovely in the pictures.
“Sometimes I swear it seems like he waves with his tongue, but whether this is voluntary or involuntary, I’m not sure,” Castagnoli said. “He does give licks still, so he does have some control over it”

When his tongue comes to trouble him he knows how to handle it. Sometimes he struggles with eating his favorite snack, peas, they roll around too much. But otherwise, he manages his food just fine. His mom says that the tongue rarely goes in when he barks. But it may be harder for him to keep it in, as he has only two teeth left.

Adopters may not like him, but he cheers people up. People love him just the way he looks. “He definitely cheers people up-you can’t look at him and not smile,” Castagnoli said. She is glad that she found Don Pepe, and she loves him for exactly who he is, his tongue and all.