When Mitch first came to the Cashiers-Highlands Humane Society in Jackson County, North Carolina, he was a stray. He was thin, high-strung and clearly had been through a lot.
Mitch is a treeing walker coonhound. With the staff’s care, he slowly calmed down and became a gentler dog. But the years kept passing, and no family came for him.
Seven years of waiting
By the time Mitch was 12 years old, he had spent seven years at the shelter. He was its longest-staying resident. For a dog, seven years is a huge part of a lifetime.
A video and a decision
Then Teresa Shular came across a video about Mitch online. His story stayed with her. She did not rush. For several days she prayed and thought it over, weighing whether she and her husband could give him the home he deserved.
In the end, the answer was yes. And in a small-town twist, the shelter’s assistant manager, Jodi Henkel, turned out to be Teresa’s former elementary school PE teacher.
Never give up
Mitch now lives with Teresa and her husband, with a porch to relax on and plenty of land to explore. After seven years of waiting, the old hound finally has a place to call home.
His story is the shelter’s message in a single dog: never give up on the ones who wait the longest.
Thinking about adopting a senior pet?
Older dogs and cats are often calm, gentle and already house-trained. If you are curious whether a senior pet could fit your life, our Adopting an Older Pet guides are a good place to start.
Source: This story was originally reported by ABC 33/40 (WLOS). We have retold it in our own words.
Images on this page are AI illustrations based on a true story. They do not show the real people or animals.
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