A scrappy little rat terrier who barely survived Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters just proved that sometimes the best things in life really do come from the most unexpected places.
Meet Bastian, the 7-year-old rescue dog who went from being the only pet nobody wanted at an adoption event to winning PEOPLE’s World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest.
And Bastian just pulled off something that would make most pet owners do a double-take – he’s learned to talk using 100 different buttons.
From Hurricane Waters to Forever Home
Back in 2018, Joelle Andres was browsing pet adoption sites when a scrappy rat terrier’s photo caught her attention. The special education administrator from Levittown, New York, found herself drawn to something in the dog’s expression.
"His eyes were very soulful, but he looked kind of shut down and forlorn," she tells PEOPLE.¹
She submitted an application right away, but discovered the dog was scheduled for an adoption event she couldn’t make due to a wedding conflict. Andres assumed someone else would adopt him at the event.
But fate had other plans. Burlington County Animal Alliance of New Jersey called with news that surprised everyone: Bastian was the only dog who didn’t get adopted that day.
Without hesitation, Andres drove hours through torrential rain to meet the 9-pound pup in person. The moment she held him, she knew he was coming home with her.
"He was just a little, sad, skinny boy. I held him, and I was like, ‘That’s it. You’re coming home with me,’" she says of adopting him in October 2018.²
That was October 2018. Bastian’s "gotcha" day is October 11 – just days away from his sixth anniversary of finding his forever family.
The Remarkable Transformation Nobody Saw Coming
What Andres discovered about Bastian’s backstory would break any animal lover’s heart. The little rat terrier mix had been rescued from Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters in the Carolinas in 2018 before being transported to New Jersey to find a home.
The trauma was obvious. Bastian appeared withdrawn and fearful. "If you went to pet him, his ears would go back, and his eyes would kind of dart around," Andres says about Bastian’s early behavior, noting the dog also suffered from separation anxiety.³
Andres remained patient with her new companion. She created consistent routines with long walks, trips to dog-friendly locations for socialization, and steady reassurance. The energetic dog often gets 30,000 steps a day and still has pep to play catch with a frisbee needed time to learn trust again.
About five months into his new life, a transformation began. Bastian’s cheerful, lively personality started to show through.
The Communication Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Here’s where Bastian’s story gets truly remarkable. Looking to deepen their connection and give him more control over his world, Andres decided to try something most dog owners never consider – training him to communicate with buttons.
They began with basics. Andres recorded "treat" on a button, encouraged Bastian to press it, then rewarded him with a snack each time. The intelligent terrier learned quickly.
Now Bastian operates a communication board featuring approximately 100 buttons. He’s mastered simple commands like "walk" and "outside," plus more sophisticated concepts like "ouch" and "paw" – buttons Andres created when explaining her broken toe to him.
Sound impossible? Bastian has attracted more than 130,000 Instagram followers (@bastianandbrews) who watch his button demonstrations. Scientists have studied videos of the clever dog to research canine behavior and thinking.
"He’s really shown me a lot of resilience and determination. He’s got a tremendous amount of confidence now," she says with a laugh. "So much sometimes to a fault."⁴
The Moment That Proved Dogs Really Do Understand Us
But here’s the story that’ll give you chills. After Bastian started using his buttons, Andres’ senior cat Kiley developed kidney disease. Throughout the cat’s illness, Bastian would check on his feline friend by pressing his "concerned" button, then sniffing and looking at Kiley.
At times, Bastian’s persistent check-ins would prompt Andres to take Kiley to the vet – where the veterinarian would often find that the cat’s medication needed adjustment.
"Kiley’s prognosis was not great, but they actually told us she probably had six months to a year. And she ended up living over two years past that date because Bastian was constantly, seemingly, medically alerting us with his board," Andres shares.⁵
The cat who was supposed to live six months to a year survived over two additional years, possibly because of Bastian’s button-powered alerts.
America Falls in Love with a Hurricane Survivor
Now Bastian has something else to celebrate alongside his upcoming adoption anniversary. Thousands of voters fell in love with his expressive face and incredible story, helping him clinch the grand prize in PEOPLE’s 2025 World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Contest presented by the PEDIGREE Brand.
Celebrity judges Kristin Davis, Shawn Johnson East, and the hosts of CBS Mornings announced Bastian’s victory, which includes a year’s supply of dog food and a $1,000 donation to Burlington County Animal Alliance – the same New Jersey shelter where his journey to his forever home began.
"I thought it was an accident, and then I started crying," Andres says of her reaction to learning of Bastian’s win. "I just felt such pride, and I’m still in disbelief."⁶
The achievement represents more than just a cute contest victory. For a dog who was rescued from hurricane floodwaters and couldn’t find a home at his first adoption event, becoming America’s cutest rescue dog proves that every animal deserves a second chance.
What This Means for Rescue Animals Everywhere
Bastian’s story hits differently when you realize how it started. A hurricane survivor who nobody wanted at an adoption event just became the most beloved rescue dog in America. He went from being too scared to let anyone pet him to confidently communicating his needs with 100 different buttons.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight. It took patience, consistency, and an owner who believed in his potential even when he was just a shut-down, 9-pound bundle of trauma.
Today, Bastian lives with Andres, her mother Gerry Andres, and a new cat friend named Westley, whom Joelle adopted from Oyster Bay Animal Shelter in June 2024. The dog who once suffered from separation anxiety now has "very strong friendships" and "loves deeply the people that he loves."⁷
For folks considering pet adoption, Bastian’s story shows what’s possible when you look past the surface. Sometimes the animal that gets passed over at adoption events turns out to be exactly what your family needs. Sometimes the most traumatized rescues become the most loyal companions.
And sometimes, if you’re really lucky, they might even learn to tell you exactly what they’re thinking.
¹ Kelli Bender, "The World’s Cutest Rescue Dog Winner Went from Hurricane Waters to a Home Where He’s Learned to Talk with 100 Buttons," PEOPLE, October 8, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
Related posts:
Tourist ignored safety warnings for one selfie that left him trampled and half-naked
This giant Alaska bear has been trying to win for three years and just pulled off one major victory
Rescue Team Discovered What 11 Dogs Built Inside Abandoned Hoarding House That Left Everyone Speechless
