After nearly seven years in a shelter, Nitro, a Great Dane mix with a heart full of love but no home, has finally found his forever family.
He arrived at The Healthy Hearts and Paws Project in Warren, Ohio, back in 2018—rescued as a puppy from a county kennel where he was facing euthanasia.
From that day on, he became one of the shelter’s most beloved long-term residents.
Nitro wasn’t sick, or aggressive, or untrainable.
On the contrary, shelter staff describe him as healthy, affectionate, well-trained, and full of the kind of gentle energy that warms the soul.
He loves to run, play, swim in lakes, hike, and when he settles down, he’s a cuddly “teddy-bear” of a dog.
Despite all that, he remained unadopted for years. Variations in size, his large stature, or just being overlooked in favor of younger dogs may have played a part.
In July 2025, after years of longing, it seemed Nitro’s luck might finally be changing.
A loving family stepped in, adoption papers were signed—and there was hope.
But heartbreak followed: just weeks after the adoption, the family returned him to the shelter.
Why? It turned out that one of their existing dogs and Nitro didn’t get along.
Sometimes, even with the best intentions, pets connected poorly—and when that happens, it complicates what should be joy.
Still, shelter founder Jason Cooke, volunteers, and Nitro’s many advocates didn’t give up.
There was worry that he might reach his seven-year shelter anniversary without ever having a true home.
But fate stepped in just in time. A family from Greenford, Ohio, visited the shelter and saw what so many others had seen: something special.
Days before that milestone, they adopted him. Nitro would finally walk out the doors of his long-time shelter home—and into his forever one.
For the shelter staff, Nitro’s adoption feels like a major victory, not just for him but for everyone who tried over the years.
Jason Cooke said that the wins are the ones where dogs who have been overlooked find belonging.
At 80 pounds of love, Nitro wasn’t an easy fit for some, but for the right people, he was perfect.
People who saw his profile online had once thought maybe Nitro would never get his chance.
Some thought his size or age might work against him. Others had seen him returned before and feared his story would repeat.
But with the right family, commitment, and patience, it didn’t. Now he has a spot in their home where he belongs.
The shelter has said explicitly: “He is not coming back.”
Nitro’s story is a reminder of the challenges shelter dogs face: some linger for years not because they aren’t lovable but because too few people give them a chance.
It also shows the power of perseverance—not just by the dogs, but by the people who keep believing.
And for Nitro, after seven long years, there’s relief.
There’s joy.
There’s finally a place to call home.
