Meet Gordon, the Adorable Shiba Inu Who Won World’s Cutest Rescue Dog in 2022

People magazine recently wrapped its annual World’s Cutest Rescue Dog contest, and the win was deservedly taken by a Shiba Inu named Gordon. This canine not only has the looks to fit the descriptions but also a life story like none other.

Back in 2015, Bella Vista, Arkansas, native Wendy Wickersham saw a post on Facebook about an adorable Shiba Inu from Taiwan. The dog was left paralyzed by a hit-and-run and was now looking for a new family. Wickersham wasn’t looking to adopt at the time but changed her mind after seeing the same post a few days later. She managed to resolve all the paperwork, and it wasn’t long before Gordon was in his new home.

Since then, Gordon has been living his best life. Thanks to a custom wheelchair, he is able to do most things other dogs do, including running, playing fetch, and more. He couldn’t be happier with his family, and the family couldn’t be happier with him.

Gordon’s contagious energy and irresistible cuteness made him a star of social media, where he has more than 15K followers. It also got him the title of the World’s Cutest Rescue Dog among 9,000 other dogs that were in the running.

“He exudes joy, and he’s playful,” Wickersham said in a chat with The Talk. “I love to get him out in front of people, to let them see the joy and to let them see that, yeah, there are some things that are different, but different isn’t a bad thing.”

Check out their Instagram for more adorable pictures of Gordon’s adventures.