This Adorable Pit Bull Refused To Leave The Animal Shelter Without Her Tiny Best Pal
Dogs are known for their fierce loyalty, often forming strong, lasting bonds with their human companions. But that devotion can also extend deeply to other animals. This was exactly the case when a spirited pit bull and a fragile chihuahua arrived together at a local shelter.
Right from the moment they entered, it was obvious these two were inseparable. The pit bull stayed close, guarding the chihuahua and providing comfort in the strange new surroundings. So when a potential adopter showed interest in the pit bull alone, her surprising response caught the staff off guard—she wouldn't leave without her tiny companion.
Abandoned With No One But Each Other
When Merrill, a female pit bull mix, and Taco, a male chihuahua, arrived at Rocket Dog Rescue in October 2014, staff immediately noticed something special. Despite their clear differences in size and breed, the two shared a deep, unbreakable bond. The reason for their abandonment remained a mystery, but their connection was undeniable.
Based in San Francisco, the rescue team prioritized keeping them together, knowing that separating them could cause significant emotional harm. However, finding a home willing to adopt both dogs—such an unlikely pair—proved far more difficult than anyone expected.
The Unlikely Pair Were Two Peas In A Pod
The team at Rocket Dog Rescue didn't have many details about Merrill and Taco’s history, but one thing was certain: they were inseparable.
Even brief moments apart would send them into tears. Sharing a photo that captured their close bond, the shelter said, "We just couldn’t bear the thought of them being separated or spending months waiting at the shelter to find a home TOGETHER."
The Shocking Discovery Of Merrill's Past
Before Merrill's surgery, an unexpected event shifted the path of her recovery—and ultimately her future. Though facing serious health challenges, her spirit stayed resilient, and her bond with Taco only strengthened. Shelter staff observed closely as Taco remained by her side, providing comfort and companionship through every tough moment.
This unshakable connection would soon become a crucial part of their journey toward healing and finding a forever home together.
When Merrill Had Surgery, Taco Reacted Strangely
The rescue team soon recognized that separating Merrill and Taco was causing them emotional distress that could threaten Merrill's recovery. With compassion, they decided to keep the two dogs together throughout the healing process.
By letting Taco stay close to Merrill, the shelter offered more than just physical care—they provided vital emotional support, demonstrating the incredible strength of the bond between animals in overcoming even the toughest obstacles.
They Let Taco Visit Merrill In Recovery
Absolutely—Taco's presence during Merrill’s surgery was a moving testament to how powerful companionship can be in healing. Their connection went far beyond friendship; it became a lifeline that carried both dogs through a difficult ordeal.
This touching moment reminded everyone at the shelter that sometimes, the greatest medicine is simply being there for someone you care about. It’s clear why the rescue team insisted they stay together—some bonds truly can’t be broken.
Their Bond Was A Cause For Concern
Merrill and Taco's strong bond was concerning for those who worked at the rescue. In their experience, they knew that people usually aren't in a position to adopt two dogs at the same time.
They had posted Merrill and Taco's pictures separately, which generated some interest. Still, they knew that it was going to be tough if someone only wanted one dog and not the other. The true test came when someone took an interest in Merrill.
A Man Came To Adopt Merrill
Merrill was still relatively young and as a beautiful pit bull mix and so many people showed interest in adopting her. The same couldn't be said for Taco, who was already quite old in comparison.
Eventually, the shelter found some potential new owners for Merrill. One man, in particular, fell in love with Merrill the moment he laid eyes on her. When he came to meet Merrill, he didn't know what he was getting himself into.
The Dogs Did Something That Left Everyone Speechless
When the man arrived at Rocket Dog Rescue, he immediately signed the paperwork necessary to adopt Merrill. He couldn't wait to take her home. When they arrived to the cage she shared with Taco, however, something very strange happened.
Once the rescue workers took Merrill out of the cage, she and Taco immediately began crying for each other. The dogs' desperate wailing left everyone in the room dumbfounded. The man who wanted Merrill was confused.
They Soon Realized What Was Going On
Merrill's unwavering loyalty to Taco was very apparent that day. Once it was clear that Merrill wasn't going anywhere without Taco, the rescue staff had to explain the dogs' situation to Merrill's potential new owner.
Thankfully, he completely understood. Sympathetic to their situation, he didn't want to be the cause for such a traumatizing separation. The real question now was if this man would be willing to take both Merrill and Taco home.
Merrill's Adoption Was Canceled, But They Were Stuck
Though the man felt for Merrill and Taco's situation, he was in no position to take in two dogs at once, so he ended up leaving with a different dog. While the rescue employees were happy to see that one of their dogs have found a forever home, they were still in distress over who would accept Merrill and Taco together.
Finally, they thought of a brilliant way to show that Merrill and Taco were a package deal.
The Photo That Changed Everything
Though they'd already listed Merrill and Taco on their site separately, Rocket Dog Rescue decided to take a different approach to get the dogs adopted together. They created a joint post that explained Merrill and Taco's undeniable bond.
To make things even more adorable, they posted a picture of Taco's tiny head poking out from Merrill's lap! "This dynamic duo has lost their family, their home, and now we can't let them lost each other!" they wrote.
People Were Obsessed With Merrill And Taco
The new joint post went viral on the Internet, thanks to the adorable photo of Merrill and Taco. Soon, the post spread all over social media with many people expressing their interest in the pair.
Merrill and Taco had momentary Internet fame, but was it enough to get them adopted together? While many people commented that they would like to adopt the dogs, it was hard to actually find someone who would seriously follow through.
Their Fame Still Didn't Bring People Out
With 14,000 likes, 1,000 comments, and over 26,000 shares, it seemed that the Rocket Dog Rescue was finally getting Merrill and Taco the recognition they deserved.
They knew that they had made the right decision in keeping Merrill and Taco together, instead of forcing them apart just to adopt them out. But of all the people who reacted to the post, was there really someone out there who'd be willing to take Merrill and Taco together?
Merrill And Taco Waited Patiently
Despite Merrill and Taco's newfound Internet celebrity, they still hadn't found someone to actually adopt them into a forever home. Rocket Dog Rescue kept posting updates on the duo to let people know that they were still up for adoption.
Everyone admired the strong bond that Merrill and Taco shared, especially considering their unconventional pairing. After all, Merrill was a huge, young dog, while Taco was small and old, yet they loved each other as equals.
Finally, Their Prayers Were Answered
While Merrill and Taco waited for a new family, a volunteer named Jodi decided to foster them. Finally, a family from San Jose expressed genuine interest in adopting Merrill and Taco. The family may have come across the post on accident, but for the dogs it was a complete miracle.
The family drove to Jodi's house to meet Merrill and Taco, falling even more in love upon laying eyes on them. But Merrill and Taco's journey didn't end there.
The Bad News About Taco
Taco was already in his old age by the time he and Merrill had been adopted. It was only when they moved into their new home that Taco's health issues began arising.
Taco was afflicted with both a dental disease and asthma, which caused him to have only four teeth and an adorable floppy tongue that always sticks out. It was clear that Taco and Merrill's previous owners didn't care for them as they should've.
A Much Needed Trip To The Vet
After a few months, Taco's new family finally took him to the veterinarian to get a full assessment of his ailments. Taco was actually suffering from heart failure.
His heart was enlarged and there was fluid surrounding his lungs, which made it harder to breathe when combined with his asthma. It was then that the family feared the worst for Taco, who they hoped would stay with them for at least a year.
Taco Needed To See A Specialist
Taco's fate was not looking great, especially with his failing heart. The veterinarians made Taco's heart problems a top priority, explaining that something needed to be done before it was too late.
While they waited for a specialist who could help him, Taco was put on special medication. The family waited anxiously for Taco to be seen, but tried to remain positive for the sake of Taco and Merrill. After all, dogs can sense when something is wrong.
Taco Was Given A Fighting Chance
Taco's chances of survival were pretty low considering his old age, but still, his new family didn't give up on him. They had all the faith in the world that he would make it through, showering him with more love and attention than he ever received in his life.
But what really helped Taco through these trying times was having Merrill by his side. After all, they've been on this journey together since the beginning.
They Maintained Their Internet Fame
Merrill and Taco were still pretty Internet famous by the time they were adopted, but their new family still wanted their privacy. Even though the family wanted to remain anonymous, they understood people's admiration for the dog duo.
They created the "Merrill & Taco" page to update all the dogs' fans on their new lives in their new home. People were pleased to see that Merrill and Taco's bond was still as strong as ever.
Taco Began To Heal
Thankfully, Taco's treatment was working and he started feeling better. His heart began to stabilize and he was able to start living the normal life of a dog.
Taco's treatment included anti-seizure medication and steroids because of the fluid around his lungs. While his heart was on its way to healing, he would also be subjected to medication for the rest of his life. Still, Taco was given a miraculous second chance to live his life with Merrill and his new family.
Merrill And Taco Were Free To Live Their Lives
Their health issues aside, Merrill and Taco began living their best lives. It took about a month for them to find a forever home, but that month felt like ages, especially since the dogs wouldn't be separated.
For Taco's part, he is able to keep up with his best pal Merrill despite his size and his age. Both Merrill and Taco are incredibly loved by their new forever family, who made a Facebook page for the dogs.
Taco Lived Vicariously Through Merrill
Even though Merrill and Taco could finally spend the rest of their lives together with humans who genuinely loved them, they still cried when they were separated! This only showed how strong their bond actually was.
Though Taco couldn't always run around with Merrill, he loved being held and watching with his humans while Merrill roamed free in her new home. Their new lives were unlike anything they've experienced before. But it wouldn't last forever.
Taco Became The New Family Baby
Taco's new family helped him discover a new favorite pastime. For one, he loved being carried around like a baby! Whenever he's not playing with Merrill, he will snuggle up with his new humans, who sometimes swaddle him up in their own t-shirts!
Surprisingly, Merrill is still sensitive to her pal Taco. Despite the fact that she's a stronger dog breed, she never displays dominance over Taco. She often lets him climb all over her!
Merrill Loves A Good Snooze With Her Humans
When they're not cuddling with each other, Merrill and Taco love snuggling with their new humans. Another favorite pastime for the dogs is sleeping, often with one of their humans by their side. It's clear that their new humans love them during all hours of the day.
Merrill and Taco's new owners often catch one of their kids and one of the dogs in some of the most hilarious sleeping positions, that you'd wonder how they're sleeping peacefully!
It Was The Dogs' First Real Christmas
After getting adopted, Merrill and Taco have come so far from their lives at the shelter. They were even further from their mysterious lives before the shelter, which many assumed was not healthy.
But it was all behind them and Merrill and Taco probably can't even remember what it felt like to be abandoned shelter dogs. With their new lives came new family traditions. This photo is from Christmas with their new family, which they've probably never celebrated before.
Their One-Year Anniversary Was A Miracle
But the biggest celebration for Merrill, Taco, and their new family was the one-year anniversary of their adoption. To celebrate, the family took Merrill and Taco on a grand walk with some of their best canine pals.
The dogs' owner shared a photo of Merrill and Taco with their friends and a woman named Kim, in the blue shirt. Kim was actually the woman who shared the now-famous photo from Taco and Merrill's joint post.
They Are Blind To Their Own Sizes
What makes Merrill and Taco such a lovable dog duo is the unbreakable bond that they share despite their unusual size difference. They are two very different dog breeds, but that doesn't seem to bother either one of them.
Taco is always snuggling and climbing on Merrill as if she were the same size as him, and vice versa. Merrill and Taco must have gone through a lot together, which is most likely why they love each other so much.
Even The Rescue Still Cares About Them
Merrill and Taco have a relationship that left an impression on many, especially the folks who worked at Rocket Dog Rescue. Long after Merrill and Taco were adopted, Rocket Dog Rescue still shared photos of the pups, to show their happy ending.
They once shared a photo and wrote, "Merrill & Taco are doing wonderfully in their forever home. They are enjoying hanging out by the fire snuggling up after a long, fun filled day.
Merrill Grew Up And Made New Friends
Remember that Merrill was still relatively young at the time of her adoption. Since then, she has grown into a sociable dog who has made plenty of new canine friends. Her new owners shared this picture of her with her new pal PJ on their first play date.
Though Merrill looked overjoyed to be running around in the sun, people couldn't help but notice Taco's absence. As it turned out, he had other ideas of fun.
Taco Prefers The Relaxed Life
Merrill and Taco's trust was strong, and they soon grew comfortable in their new digs and were finally able to start spending time apart. Their new owners explained that when Merrill goes out to play with her new friends, Taco prefers to stay home.
This is probably due to his older age. Taco is perfectly content to relax at home with his humans, who explained Merrill's high energy play dates wouldn't be safe for him.
They Had Mixed Feelings About Spa Day
Merrill and Taco were very fortunate to get adopted by humans who know how to treat them right. On one occasions they were even treated to a doggy spa day of sorts! This would seem amazing for humans, but the dogs apparently didn't take to the bathing part so well.
Their owners shared, "Can't say they love bath time but they enjoyed the walk there and back. And the cookie they got afterwards."
Merrill Often Gets Her Nails Done
It's clear that Taco and Merrill can now be classified as pampered pooches. As a result of that, they are often subject to some dog-friendly manicures and pedicures as well!
Their owners even purchased a dog-safe nail polish called Pawlish, made by famed nail polish brand OPI. Merrill was treated to this delightful pink color and thankfully she snoozed right after as they dried. It would have been a pink disaster if she started running!
Taco Has Eyes Bigger Than His Stomach
Taco may be a small pup, but he has a bark and bite that are far bigger than he is. His owners recounted the hilarious story behind this photo.
"Merrill got a nice big yummy bone... We heard Taco barking from the other room and went to investigate. He was barking at Merrill telling her to back off from his bone. He's not going to let a severe deficit of teeth slow him down," they wrote on Facebook.
They Lived To See Another Holiday
It was a miracle to see both dogs have survived long enough to make it to two Christmases with their new family. Merrill got festive when she was dressed up in a reindeer antler headband. Taco tried to join in on the fun, but the sizing was off.
For Merrill, apparently she doesn't like the antlers too much. Her owners wrote, "This is how to get her to stay completely still. She can't move with antlers on."
They Both Went To The Vet Together
Merrill and Taco's health are of the utmost priority for their new owners. They understand that these poor dogs have been through a lot, and much of it was probably undeserved. Because they want Merrill and Taco to live their best possible lives, they often have to got to the vet.
In 2017, they rung in the new year by taking Merrill and Taco for some more procedures, both returning home in the infamous cone of shame.
Merrill Got To Meet Some New Species
One of the benefits of their new lives is the opportunity to explore new parts of nature with their new family. Here is a picture of Merrill meeting both a horse and a donkey for the first time, while Taco was safe at home.
Their owners wrote on Facebook, "Merrill is very interested in this big creature." We can only assume that they're referring to the horse and not Merrill's human sister!
They Love To Deliver Wake Up Calls
There's no sweeter wake up call than one from this adorable doggy duo! Merrill and Taco helped their owners wake up their human brother by snuggling right up under the covers. When that didn't work, they snuggled right under his arms.
Obviously, this sort of wake up call is more comforting and probably wouldn't inspire many to get out of bed, which is probably why the boy's parents took a flashlight to his face. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
The Best Time Is Bed Time
Life isn't always easy for a dog. Merrill and Taco are two pups who know that all too well. Thankfully, they've always had each other to get through the hard times. Sometimes, all they need is a good snooze snuggled right next to each other. They often share the same bed!
Their humans shared this incredibly adorable photo of the duo asleep with the caption, "Home sweet home." It pretty much speaks for itself!
Taco Will Live On In Our Memories
Taco and Merrill's new owners gave them one of the best lives they could have imagined for as long as they could. Sadly for Taco, that life ended in May 2018. His owners shared the sad news and wrote, "When we adopted him we thought we would get a year. We got three. We feel so lucky to have had him join our family."
Taco's passing was hard on everyone, especially Merrill.
In 2022, Merrill Joined Taco Over The Rainbow Bridge
Sadly, Merrill passed away as a result of tumors in her liver.
Even though their owners were devastated to see them go, they were grateful for the time they were able to spend with these special dogs.
"Thank you, everyone, who followed their story and loved them too. Dogs bring out the best in people. Go give yours an extra bit of love today from us," they wrote in a Facebook statement.
Nadine Blanco
