Metro

NYC dog, whose owner was murdered, gets new home

He found his fur-ever home!

An adorable pit bull who faced euthanization after his owner was murdered in the Bronx has been adopted by an adoring upstate family.

“We are absolutely in love,” new owner Melanie Field said of the 6-year-old dog, Linus. “He’s sweet as can be. He sleeps with us, he snuggles — he’s perfect.”

“He’s our forever dog,” she added.

Field, a social worker from Poughkeepsie, heard about the pup’s ruff situation after The Post ran a story last week on his struggle to find a home in the wake of his owner’s knifing death last year.

Linus was adopted by Melanie and Paul Fields in Poughkeepsie, New York. Facebook
Linus going for a walk with his new owner Paul. Facebook

She and her husband, Paul, got in touch with the New York City animal rescue Ruthless Pawz, met Linus on Sunday  — and immediately clicked with him, she said.

“We call him Linus the Banderstatch, like the character from ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ It’s a big headed creature everybody’s afraid of — but really he’s a gentle giant,” said Field.

Linus exploring his new home. His previous owner was murdered in the Bronx in October 2020. Facebook

Footage posted on Facebook shows Linus getting kisses and neck rubs Sunday — and the lucky dog has since gotten lots more love, Field said.

“We took him to Petco last night and got him a matching harness and collar and tags and toys. We’ve been walking him four times a day,” she said. “He’s getting all kinds of treats.”

Linus lost his owner Rider Ferreras, 35, when he was stabbed to death in October 2020, according to Rob Becerra of Ruthless Pawz.

Ferreras’ mother took in Linus for months but was no longer able to care for  him due to her age  — and Animal Care Center of NYC would have likely put him down due to his breed, age and other factors, said Becerra.

After The Post ran Linus’ story, Becerra said he got calls from animal lovers from as far away as Hawaii with adoption inquiries. Becerra ultimately chose Fields because they live close to the Big Apple, have no other dogs and felt like “the right family,” he said.

“It’s a relief,”  Becerra said. “It’s a happy ending for Linus.”