For many dogs, life in a shelter is only temporary. Most find homes within weeks or months, but a few wait much longer for their chance at happiness.
Some shelters face strict euthanasia policies, while others do everything possible to place every dog in a loving home. Yet despite their best efforts, some dogs still get overlooked, often for reasons no one can quite explain.
Whether it’s age, size, breed, or compatibility with other pets, every overlooked dog carries the same quiet heartbreak.
For Tracy, a large and cheerful pup in Illinois, that heartbreak lasted over two and a half years. Then one day, everything changed.
A Long Wait Finally Ends
Tracy had been at PAWS Chicago for 933 days when she began to lose hope. Day after day, she watched other dogs leave with their new families, while her own kennel remained empty.
“Most of our adopters are people who live in the city looking for calmer, smaller breeds that are more apartment friendly. Tracy just kept growing,” said Allison Wunder, a staff member at PAWS Chicago, in an interview with The Dodo.
Despite her long stay, the staff never gave up on her. They made sure she had daily walks, plenty of playtime, and endless affection. Still, it broke their hearts that no one seemed to notice her.
To help improve her chances, the rescuers gave her extra training, hoping her good manners might win someone over. But weeks turned into months, and then years, with no success.
Just when it seemed that Tracy’s story would never change, a woman named Laura walked through the shelter doors, and fate stepped in.
Love At First Sight
Laura had come prepared with a list of dogs she wanted to meet, but all her plans went out the window the moment she saw Tracy.
“Tracy locked eyes with Laura and laid her head in her hand. About five minutes in, they knew she was the one,” Wunder recalled.
The entire staff was overwhelmed with joy. After so many months of waiting, Tracy was finally getting her forever home. It felt like a miracle.
To celebrate this long-awaited moment, the team decided to throw a special goodbye party.
More than forty staff members gathered to give Tracy hugs, belly rubs, and well-wishes before she left. She wagged her tail nonstop, soaking in every bit of love and attention.
Soon after, Laura signed the adoption papers, officially making Tracy part of her family.
Now in her new home, Tracy has adjusted beautifully and is thriving in every way.
“Despite being in the shelter so long, [Tracy] held onto her spirit and her pride and her joy of life. The love she received from PAWS must have helped her retain her resilience and her hope. Nothing about her is a victim. She’s strong and confident, and she knows how to love because she was loved by the people at PAWS,” Laura told PAWS Chicago.
After 933 long days, Tracy’s story finally has the ending every shelter dog dreams of, the one filled with love, comfort, and a forever family.
