'Hugging Dogs' Saved From Euthanasia by Viral Photo Adopted by Best Friends in Georgia
— -- Two dogs seen in a viral photograph hugging each other hours before they were set to be euthanized now have a forever home with two human best friends in Georgia, according to the pet rescue that saved them.
The dogs -- Kala, an 11-month old hound mix, and Keira, a 15-month old boxer mix -- stole hearts on the Internet this past July when Angels Among Us Pet Rescue in Georgia posted the photo of them hugging.
The photo was taken by someone at the Etowah Valley Humane Society, and Angels Among Us Pet Rescue shared the photo as a plea for donations so the rescue could help save the dogs from euthanasia and to get the pups microchipped and the veterinary care they needed, the pet rescue told ABC News in a statement.
A woman named Cris Folchitto fostered the dogs for the past a few months, but only recently did Kala and Keira, who had "bonded together," get permanently adopted by two longtime best friends and roommates in Georgia, identified as Wendy and Pam by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue.
Pam had recently lost her two elderly dogs when she saw Kala and Keira's story in a magazine and realized the hugging pups were still available, the pet rescue said.
"It just fell together," Pam said, according to the pet rescue. "We turned our tears into smiles with these two young, playful dogs."
Wendy told the rescue that she and Pam are currently working on a special Facebook Page for Kala and Keira to keep folks engaged with the "hugging dogs" and to raise donations to help Angels Among Us Pet Rescue save other dogs at risk of euthanasia in Georgia.
