Dog spent most of her life in shelters. Then a man met her and ‘knew she was the one’
A "sweet" dog spent most of her life in shelters — then a man met her and couldn't wait to keep her.
The man adopted the Florida dog , giving her a new home just days before her 4th birthday.
"We are overjoyed to share that Sheila has been adopted," the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Brevard wrote Sept. 16 on Facebook. "After patiently waiting for a majority of her life, she's finally found her perfect match with her amazing new dad."
Sheila got an extra reason to celebrate her birthday after living at the shelter since October. She was transferred from another facility, where she had been since 2021, the SPCA wrote in a past social media post and an email to McClatchy News.
"She has spent the majority of her life waiting for her perfect family," the animal organization wrote. "Sheila is an adventurous spirit who loves walks, hikes, and even swims! She's amazing on leash, loves learning new tricks (especially if there are treats involved!), and is a pro at playing tug."
Sheila, who became the shelter's longest resident, may have been overlooked due to the requirement that she not live with other pets. The SPCA also believes her previous shelter lacked resources to help her get adopted.
"She originally took longer to warm up to new people but our staff worked with her and she began to have an easier time meeting new people," Shelby Montgomery, public relations and community engagement coordinator for the SPCA, wrote in the email.
As the dog waited for a home, the SPCA named this month "Sheila September." The honor was meant to celebrate Sheila's Sept. 18 birthday and promote her as she neared one year at the shelter. Then, two days before she turned 4 years old, the shelter went online to share the good news that she had been adopted.
"Everyone was thrilled when Sheila found her new dad, who met her first and knew she was the one," Montgomery wrote. "I'm sure there were a few happy tears shed!"
The SPCA is in Titusville, a roughly 40-mile drive east from Orlando.
