Elvis has left the building — or rather the Anti-Cruelty Society.
The 3-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier mix was the only dog left at the Chicago animal shelter after a “Fall in Love” adoption event Nov. 11 where the shelter waived adoption fees, leading to 39 cats and 22 other dogs being adopted.
Drew Wilhelm and Loren Agron, the couple who adopted Elvis, found out about the lonely pup after seeing his story on social media, according to the two, who spoke to the Sun-Times as Elvis sat between them.
The couple, who live in Uptown, said they had talked about getting a dog but that it had “never been the right time.” However, when they saw Elvis, “it was perfect” — given Agron used to work as a server with the nickname “Elvis Parsley” at Ed Debevic’s diner, where he’s now a manager.
“He’s a misfit, and Drew and I consider ourselves the king of misfits,” Agron said, describing the pup as a “dopey, happy boy.”
The two have been rearranging their schedules to make sure Elvis is frequently showered with love and taken on walks, including on the lakefront. They say he already loves cuddling and napping. The couple also said they eventually may have to share the dog-care duties with friends and family who have been “begging” to take care of him.
Wilhelm also said that adopting Elvis was a moment of growing up for the two of them.
“The opportunity of being able to bring him into our lives gave us more a sense of responsibility,” Wilhelm said. “We have a life we’re taking care of, and his is most important right now.”
Rachel Klousnitzer, a representative with the Anti-Cruelty Society, said that although the organization was glad to see Elvis find a home, the group sees slower adoption rates in the winter months and hopes Elvis’ happy ending will change that.
Elvis’ new family agreed, saying they hope his story inspires others to take in animals and support shelters.
“We can’t stress enough that we see dogs like Elvis waiting for their forever homes every day, and we hope that his story brings more adopters through our doors,” Klousnitzer said. “We want to keep the Elvis momentum going and encourage the community to open their homes to animals in need.”
