When a puppy arrived at a shelter, he never imagined that his strange smile would be his biggest impediment to achieving his dream of being loved in a forever home.

Dustin Kelley was looking through the list of puppies available at the local shelter when one caught his eye.

Unlike the other puppies barking in their kennels this golden retriever named Zeus, was sitting in the corner of his cage with his head bowed.

Dustin at the time was not looking to adopt, but when he found out that this very sad looking puppy was scheduled to be euthanized the next day due to overcrowding, he changed his mind.

The shelter wouldn’t allow him to be adopted because of his strange habit of showing his teeth.

Inexplicable as it may seem, instead of rejoicing that the little dog had managed to win someone’s heart, the shelter staff was not willing to let him be taken.

They claimed the dog was basically “unacceptable” and somewhat dangerous due to his peculiar habit of showing his teeth.

“The shelter staff told me that Zeus had aggressive behaviors as was his smile, and that he probably wouldn’t make a very good dog because he wasn’t trained and wasn’t social. But I was drawn to this sad boy in the corner of his kennel. I told him I would take him home and that, if he turned out not to be a good fit in my home, I would have at least given him a few weeks to live,” Dustin recounted.

Eventually, the shelter agreed to go ahead with the adoption. After completing the paperwork Dustin saw Zeus’ smile for the first time, and it was not what he expected.

He couldn’t believe that this unique little creature was about to be put to sleep forever for the most absurd reason

“The shelter manager took him out of his kennel and brought him to the lobby so we could leave. I’m not going to lie, I was definitely a little freaked out at first,” the young man recalled.

For the first few months after coming home, Zeus was still that sad dog from the shelter.

He didn’t smile, wag his tail, or show his personality.

“After the first three months he started smiling all day, every day, and that’s when I realized he was showing his teeth because he was excited, not because he was angry,” Dustin said.

No one could understand that his way of showing his happiness was a little different.

But little by little this puppy grew to trust his new dad, and his smile began to appear.

Zeus really was fortunate to have crossed paths with his angel on his path

“I think once he realized that I wasn’t going to give up on him and that this was now his home, he really opened up and his fun loving personality started to shine through,” Dustin said, touched.

Five years later, Zeus’ smile has become his adorable trademark.

Everyone loves it!

“He’s usually the center of attention at his vet’s office, the groomer, the pet store, Starbucks and anywhere else we frequent. Once they see him they yell out that the smiling puppy is back, and everyone runs out to see him.”

From death row to being a true light and a celebrity

Dustin couldn’t imagine a more perfect dog and is so glad he took a chance on Zeus, and that Zeus took a chance on him.

“He’s been with me through some of the worst times of my life. And every bad day, his smile has made me smile. I could have adopted him, but he was definitely the one who rescued me.”

It’s a great story that demonstrates in the most graphic way that adoption truly does change lives. And it’s not necessarily the puppies who are transformed, it’s the humans who end up touched by these unique creatures.