Animal shelters dedicate themselves to finding loving homes for every dog in their care. One way they connect their residents with potential adopters is through special adoption events.
When Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) in Orlando organized one of these gatherings, they knew exactly who deserved the spotlight.
Among the crowd of playful puppies and popular hypoallergenic breeds stood their oldest and longest resident, a gentle senior dog who had spent far too long waiting for a family of her own.
Meet Baby Girl, The Shelter’s Most Patient Pup
Baby Girl, a sweet Pittie mix, arrived at the shelter after surviving a terrifying ordeal.
“[S]omeone watched a timid dog try and cross a busy interstate. They were able to stop the dog and get her inside their car, possibly saving her life,” OCAS wrote on Facebook.
The rescuer brought her straight to OCAS, where she was welcomed with open arms.
After settling in, Baby Girl was examined by the shelter’s veterinary team. The results showed she was a healthy 9-year-old, and her gentle nature quickly won over the staff.
“She is sweet and gentle with people and has shared her space with other dogs. We don’t know anything about her past life or how long she was a stray. But we do know one thing: [S]he deserves better than spending her senior years inside our kennels,” OCAS wrote on Facebook.
A Foster Home Offers Peace And Comfort
Although the shelter team worked tirelessly to find her a permanent home, they knew that a foster environment would help her relax and thrive in the meantime.
Fortunately, volunteer Su Morrison had already fallen in love with Baby Girl and happily offered to foster her.
Life in a quiet home brought out a whole new side of Baby Girl. Away from the noise and stress of the shelter, she began to show her playful and goofy personality.
“Having Baby in our home … it’s a pleasure. The longer she stays, the more we see what an absolute goofball she is. She is such a happy girl,” Morrison wrote to OCAS, later shared on Facebook.
Hopes Rise At The Adoption Event
Even though Baby Girl was enjoying her foster home, she still dreamed of finding a forever family.
When OCAS held a major adoption event, they made sure she was front and center, hoping someone would finally see her.
But no one did. Visitors passed by her kennel without stopping. No one asked about her. She was completely overlooked, and it broke her heart.
By the end of the event, fifty-eight dogs had found homes. Baby Girl returned to her foster home feeling more defeated than ever.
“No one is lining up outside for hours for this sweet girl. No one is fighting for her. No one is begging to adopt her, and it’s heartbreaking,” OCAS wrote.
Just when it seemed like hope had faded, something beautiful happened.
Forever Family
Morrison, who had been fostering Baby Girl, realized she couldn’t imagine life without her. The bond they had formed was too strong to ignore.
Now, Baby Girl is living the life she always dreamed of, spending her days with people who adore her, enjoying peaceful walks and car rides.
And she couldn’t be happier.“Another foster fail, another happy dog,” Morrison wrote in a Facebook comment.
