It should have been a happy day. At a free adoption event at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control’s Everyday Adoption Center in Arizona, almost every dog went home with a new family.
Almost every dog. One was left behind.
After the event, shelter staff posted a photo of Lucky sitting among the empty kennels. “Almost every single dog found homes at the Everyday Adoption Center on Saturday, except for one: Lucky, who was not so lucky,” they wrote. “He didn’t get a single meet-and-greet!”
But that sad little photo was about to change everything.
Suzy Martinez had been looking online for a dog to join her family. When she saw Lucky’s picture, something about him stopped her.
“He has the sweetest eyes,” she told 12 News.
When she met Lucky at the shelter, she knew he would fit right in. Her family had adopted a rescue dog before. And seeing how matted his coat was only made her want to take him home and care for him even more.
Today, Lucky has had a much-needed groom, a visit to the vet, and best of all, a family to call his own. Suzy says he has the sweetest personality and already wants to play with the family’s other dogs. He even has his own social media page now.
Older dogs are often the last to be chosen. But as Lucky shows, they still have so much love to give. Sometimes they are just waiting for the right person to look a little closer.
Have you ever adopted an older pet? Share this story for all the senior dogs still waiting.