At Saginaw County Animal Care and Control in Michigan, one dog had been there longer than anyone else. His name was Yankee.
Yankee is a 7-year-old pit bull terrier mix. He had spent nearly 700 days at the shelter, almost two full years, watching other dogs come and go.
Why some dogs wait longer
Dogs who are a little older, or who belong to breeds people have mixed feelings about, often wait much longer in shelters. Yankee was both. Every month that passed made his chances seem smaller.
A lucky day
Then came a St. Patrick’s Day adoption event. That day, Yankee made a special connection with a family who stopped to meet him. It was the moment the shelter had been hoping for.
The family adopted him. As Yankee left the building for the last time, the shelter staff who had cared for him for nearly two years lined the hallways to cheer him on his way.
Worth the wait
Yankee’s story is a reminder to look past age and breed. The dog who has waited the longest may be the one who appreciates his new home the most.
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 KTTC. Yankee was adopted from Saginaw County Animal Care and Control, Michigan. 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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