Meet Rocky—your “mini Rottweiler” in a 35-lb body… but please read all the way through, because his story is anything but ordinary. Rocky has been in our care for 455 days, and in that time he’s become something of a legend. Before rescue, he survived about a year and a half on the streets of Mississippi entirely on his own. Multiple people tried to catch him, including animal control officers, and he always managed to slip away. He learned how to survive, evade, and keep going when most dogs wouldn’t have made it. Eventually, one of our volunteers did manage to catch him. Relief didn’t last—just one week later, Rocky escaped again. He was caught... again. Then escaped another home. And traveled 17 miles back to the only “home” he had known for a single week. For two more days the hunt was on and avoiding being hit by cars on busy roads, he was finally tranquilized and brought finally to safety. Since then, Rocky has been safe in foster care, where he has slowly learned that humans can mean comfort and consistency. He is now about 4 years old, under 35 lbs, and currently living with other dogs—but we believe he would thrive as the main focus in a quieter home. He bonds hard and deserves someone ready to give him that same level of devotion. Rocky is very attached to his foster mom. He struggles with big transitions and forms deep bonds with his safe people. His next move must be his last move. We need an adopter who understands trust is earned slowly and protected carefully. He will not be moved lightly, and we won’t place him unless we are fully confident in the match. He also seems to prefer women over men and would do best in a calm, stable home with fewer pets where he can decompress and simply be someone’s dog without competing for attention. Because of his history, Rocky now wears a GPS tracker at all times. His adopter must be fully committed to his safety, structure, and containment. There is no room for error with a dog who has already shown us how far he will go. This boy has taken years off our lives. We say that with love, exhaustion, and deep devotion. We adore him—he’s intelligent, resilient, and loyal—but he needs the right person to anchor his world. If you are that person—patient, steady, and ready for a once-in-a-lifetime dog—we would love to hear from you. Apply at the link below and tell us why you’re the one Rocky has been waiting for. ________ HOW TO APPLY TO ADOPT: Start by filling out our online application at www.bit.ly/mu-adopt Once submitted, we will reach out to approved applicants by phone. We may also suggest other amazing dogs in our care who could be a great fit for your home. **NOTE: Completed applications take priority over Petfinder inquiries or emails. LOCATION & TRANSPORT: This dog is currently in South Mississippi. Local and out-of-town adopters are welcome. For out of town adopters, we offer virtual meet-and-greets and can arrange transport to many states. (The $200 adoption fee includes transport to the city on this listing.) The local adoption fee for pick up in Gulfport, MS is $150. VETTING: All of our dogs are cleared by a licensed veterinarian and arrive to their adopters spayed/neutered with age-appropriate vaccines completed and are microchipped. To see more of the fur babies we rescue and love, follow us on Facebook: Misfits & Underdogs (www.facebook.com/misfitsunderdogs)