In the quiet corners of animal shelters, some faces wait longer than others.
For Thelma, an eight-year-old dog with white paws and a soulful dusting of gray on her snout, that wait stretched into a long, grueling fifteen months.
Thelma arrived at Best Friends Animal Society in Northwest Arkansas in early 2024, and while she was an immediate favorite among the staff, her path to a forever home was blocked by two of the most difficult hurdles in the rescue world: her age and her intense separation anxiety.
Thelma was a “black dog” in a shelter, a category of pets that statistically struggle to find homes, but her biggest challenge was her heart.
She thrived in foster care, showing off her gentle, calm nature, but the stress of the shelter environment was nearly unbearable for her.
Thelma suffered from severe separation anxiety, often frantically trying to escape her crate or yard whenever she was left alone.
She wasn’t being difficult; she was simply terrified of being abandoned again.
As the months flew by, the statistics seemed to be stacked against her.
The ASPCA estimates that only about 25% of senior dogs are adopted, compared to 60% of puppies.
For over a year, Thelma remained a “long-term” resident, a seasoned companion waiting for someone to see past her anxiety and her age.
Everything changed in June 2025 because of a “chance encounter” on a website.
Carrie Angel and her husband Johnny were scrolling through the Best Friends page when Thelma’s profile stopped them in their tracks.
Carrie knew instantly that they had to meet her. When they arrived at the shelter, the connection was immediate.
While other potential adopters might have been scared off by the mention of “separation anxiety,” the Angels weren’t fazed in the slightest.
“The second we met Thelma, we knew she was our dog,” Carrie said.
They recognized that their peaceful country home was exactly the “soft landing” Thelma had been searching for.
The most beautiful part of Thelma’s new life is that she will truly never be alone again.
Carrie’s older brother, Jamie, lives with the family and has disabilities that keep him at home full-time.
This unique living situation created a perfect synergy: Jamie has a constant, loyal companion to brighten his days, and Thelma has a round-the-clock human presence to soothe her anxiety.
It is a home where she has the freedom to do whatever she wants, yet she almost always chooses to be exactly where her people are.
Today, Thelma is thriving. She has plenty of space to run in the country and shares her life with both human and feline family members.
But more importantly, she has provided a healing presence for her new owners.
The Angels admit they needed Thelma as much as she needed them, as her gentle nature has helped them navigate their own recent difficult times.
As Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, noted, the beauty of senior pets like Thelma is that they’ve already grown into themselves.
They are “tried and true” companions who just need a second chance.
Thelma isn’t just a rescue dog anymore; she is the missing piece of the Angel family, proving that no matter how long the wait, there is a perfect home for every dog.
