July 28th 2026
In delightful news that brings together fans of cryptocurrency and animal welfare, Anatoly Yakovenko — better known as Toly, the co-founder of the Solana blockchain — has given a forever home to Sunshine, a sweet six-month-old yellow Lab mix puppy, from Happy Hearts Dog Rescue (@happyheartsdog). The rescue organization broke the happy update on its official X account. Their post read:
“Big news from Happy Hearts! We’re thrilled to announce that Anatoly ‘Toly’ Yakovenko, founder of Solana (@solana), has adopted Sunshine! This sweet yellow Lab mix pup is now part of Toly’s family. Huge thanks to Toly for choosing to adopt and give Sunshine a forever home filled with love, zoomies, and plenty of pets! #AdoptDontShop #HappyHeartsDogRescue”
About Sunshine
Sunshine is a six-month-old female whose breed is a cross between a yellow Labrador Retriever and a Great Pyrenees (also labeled a yellow Lab mixed breed). She tips the scales at about 26–28 pounds, sports a medium-length yellow/tan/blond coat, and is considered medium-sized. Described as playful, friendly, and gentle, she is fully house-trained and crate-trained. Initially a bit shy, she quickly warms up once she realizes people come with pets and treats, and she absolutely adores other dogs. Known for a calm demeanor that shifts into playful puppy zoomies outdoors, she then settles down to lounge nearby. Sunshine gets along well with other dogs, cats, and children, making her an adaptable addition to many households. While in foster care she received all necessary vaccinations and was spayed. Adoption fees at the rescue generally run between $250 and $300 and cover core vaccines, microchipping, deworming, spay/neuter, and preventive care.
About Happy Hearts Dog Rescue
Happy Hearts Dog Rescue (HHDR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, volunteer-run, foster-home-only organization situated in the Austin, Texas region. Co-founded in July 2018 by Alyson and Adri, the rescue pulls dogs from high-kill shelters throughout Texas — many of them on death row — and operates entirely through foster homes instead of a physical facility. It has placed hundreds of dogs (more than 500–650 reported in recent years) into permanent homes. The organization focuses on careful matching, provides foster families with supplies, and sends dogs to new families with familiar items like food, beds, blankets, and toys to help the transition. The adoption process includes an application, reference and vet checks, a meet-and-greet, home check, play date, and often a trial period. Additional details can be found at happyheartsdogrescue.org.
About Anatoly “Toly” Yakovenko
Anatoly Yakovenko (born around 1979–1980 in what was then Soviet Ukraine) is a software engineer and entrepreneur best recognized as the co-founder of Solana Labs and the primary architect of the Solana blockchain. He moved to the United States as a child in the early 1990s, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and worked for over a decade at Qualcomm on high-performance systems before launching Solana. The network, which debuted in 2020, is noted for its high throughput and low fees, enabled in part by Yakovenko’s Proof of History concept. He posts on X as @toly and has previously discussed his late shelter dog Ada. This adoption highlights support for local rescue groups that save dogs from high-risk situations. Happy Hearts Dog Rescue continues to need foster homes, adopters, transporters, and donations to rescue more animals.
