Mixed Breed Dogs Available for Adoption in Wheeling, Illinois

Pepita is at our shelter. Please submit an application from our website or just come in to meet her during open hours!

Scroll through his pictures to see his cute videos!

Our petite princess Pepita hails from the sunny island of Puerto Rico! She and her brother Domino are known as Satos, a slang term for "Puerto Rican street dog" that has become its own unofficial breed (there are estimated to be about 600,000 street dogs on the island).

Here at Heartland we love our Satos! We have a relationship with a rescue on the island whose fosters take in these pups, often very young, malnourished, and in need of medical care. The rescue gets them the necessary vetting, and finds "flight angels" (typically returning tourists) to fly with them in the cabin to the states. That is how Pepita and Domino arrived in Chicago back in April!

They spent two weeks in a foster home with two other dogs, and children, so we do have some information on their unique personalities. Her foster mom writes, "Pepita is the shyer one and takes a little longer to show her affection. However, she is incredibly sweet and highly motivated by treats. She is more of the introvert while Domino is the extrovert. She likes to hang back and observe first, whereas he will dive right into the action!

Overall, both puppies are super friendly with humans and other dogs; they got along wonderfully with my own pets. They have done well roaming free in the house with only a few accidents, and they aren't destructive at all!"

We hope you will come and meet our bonita Pepita this week!

Pepita's adoption fee is $450. This animal is spayed, and is up to date on core vaccines.

She will need a Heartworm test between 6-7 months of age at the adopter's own vet.

Since she is a puppy, any adopter should anticipate needing to work on housebreaking and other training using positive reinforcement training only.

The mixed breed dogs, often referred to as mutts, are a diverse and unique group with a blend of different characteristics from various purebred dog breeds. These dogs come from a mixture of lineages, resulting in a wide range of sizes, coat types, and temperaments. While each mixed breed dog is distinct in its own right, they are known for their resilience, adaptability, and often have fewer health issues compared to purebred dogs due to their genetic diversity. Mixed breed dogs make wonderful companions for families looking for a loyal and one-of-a-kind pet.

Heartland Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter and a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.  We depend on your donations in order to...