A charming stray puppy has become an internet darling thanks to her prominent “handlebar mustache” skin pigmentation, which closely resembles the iconic facial hair of the late Spanish artist, Salvador Dali. Five-week-old “Salvador Dolly,” along with her brown shepherd mother and ten siblings, were found on the streets of Dallas, Texas, by Hearts & Bones Rescue volunteers on July 10, 2019. The non-profit's director of marketing, Allison Seelig, told Good Morning America, “We were definitely in disbelief — how does a puppy end up looking like this?”
The canine family was taken in by the Dallas Animal Services and Adoption Centre. However, with as many as 100 homeless animals arriving at the centre's doors daily, and the risk of the puppies getting sick in the shelter environment, Seeling knew she had to relocate them.
Fortunately, on July 26, 2019, with the help of a $5,000 grant, the non-profit was able to move the canine family to a loving foster home where they could get the attention and medical care they needed. “The puppies are still nursing, which can be a lot for Mom to handle, but her foster home makes sure to give her breaks to have some downtime,” Seelig said. “She's also getting lots of food to make sure she keeps her calorie intake up!”
At the end of August or early September, once the puppies are stronger and have weaned off, Hearts & Bones Rescue will start seeking permanent homes for all of them. However, instead of offering them to the residents of Dallas, the non-profit plans on moving the family to its New York City chapter. Many thought it was because Dolly's namesake, Salvador Dali, wintered at the city's St. Regis Hotel for over 40 years.However, Seelig says the decision was made because, “there are far fewer dogs looking for homes in NYC, and so many people looking to adopt in such a populous city.