Astronaut Leland Melvin Went from the NFL to Space to Dog Rescue (and Has a New Puppy!)

When last I left former NASA astronaut Leland Melvin in the fall of 2018, he had been raving about Zorro, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy he adopted through Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue, Inc. on Jan. 18, 2018. He fell in love with the puppy after flying to Boston and driving to Cape Cod to meet puppies just born from a rescued mother dog. After a strong connection, he chose Zorro.

The adorable puppy was adopted about four years after Melvin lost his beloved rescue dogs Jake and Scout who died nine months apart in 2014. They’d become instant celebrities when they were featured in Melvin’s official NASA photograph.