Record Holding Shelter Dog Falls Asleep Smiling When He Finds A Family

Despite facing several obstacles, Petey, a rescue dog, has always maintained a joyful demeanor. As a 1-year-old, this affectionate pup was the longest-term resident at a North Carolina county shelter.

Due to being over capacity, the shelter had extended Petey’s stay beyond the usual duration. However, with no potential adopters in sight, the shelter contacted the SPCA of Wake County in hopes of providing Petey with additional time to find his forever home.

Upon receiving the shelter’s request for assistance, the SPCA promptly agreed to take Petey under its care. Despite the distressing circumstances, Petey demonstrated no signs of sadness. Instead, he exuded excitement at the prospect of meeting new companions.

According to Samantha Ranlet, a spokesperson for the SPCA of Wake County, Petey eagerly tugged on his leash and bounded through the door upon arrival, impressing the staff with his vivacious personality.

Initially taken aback by Petey’s vibrancy, particularly considering how many times he had been overlooked at his previous shelter, the SPCA staff found the pup to be immensely friendly and playful from the outset. “We couldn’t believe that nobody wanted him,” Ranlet commented.

Shortly after Petey’s arrival at the SPCA, the staff uploaded his picture to the organization’s website, but they harbored concerns that he would once again be overlooked in favor of smaller dogs.

Samantha Ranlet noted, “We, unfortunately, expected that he might be overlooked for smaller dogs, like before. But it only took about a few weeks for someone to fall in love with him.”

Subsequently, Petey’s forever family came across his photo on the SPCA’s website and promptly recognized him as their ideal companion. A month later, they arrived at the SPCA to take Petey home, effectively concluding his prolonged stay at the shelter.

Petey quickly adjusted to his new home, where he enjoys playing fetch in his backyard and lavishing his people with affectionate hugs and kisses. At the end of each day, the once-overlooked shelter dog dozes off on his cozy bed with a large grin on his face, signifying his contentment and sense of belonging.

“That is the smile of a dog who knows he’s home,” the shelter posted on Facebook.

Petey’s experience is not uncommon among shelter dogs, as many of them remain overlooked for extended periods. In fact, at the SPCA of Wake County, between 8 and 10 dogs have been waiting for nearly a year to find their permanent homes.

Despite these challenges, Ranlet and the SPCA staff remain optimistic that their other long-term residents will soon find their happily-ever-after, just like Petey did. “We’re rooting for them to find their people,” Ranlet emphasized. “That’s what they deserve.”