This is a story that proves the internet can be a powerful force for good, especially when it comes to finding forever homes for our furry friends. Get ready for a heartwarming tale of patience, a little bit of sadness, and a whole lot of happy tears!
Meet Chino, a sweet, fun-loving 6-year-old terrier mix. For over a year, Chino lived a difficult life, moving between two North Carolina shelters.
He spent a full year in one, then an additional two months at Burlington Animal Services. Can you imagine the confusion and longing a dog must feel after so much time without a family?
Laura Michel, the marketing and communication specialist at Burlington Animal Services, told Daily Paws that it was truly puzzling why Chino stayed so long. After all, he has a playful and friendly personality!
While they were initially told he might be “dog selective,” the staff at Burlington saw no signs of it. “We just know that Chino loved getting outside in our play area and loved being with people!” Michel said.
He’s described as a “100 percent good boy” and a “happy, silly boy” who loves to run and play with volunteers. Plus, he’s smart, knowing cues like “sit,” “speak,” and even a cute “whisper” that brings his bark down a notch or two.
Chino arrived at Burlington Animal Services as part of a dog swap with another local shelter, Guilford County Animal Services. He had been at their shelter for about a year and truly needed a change of scenery.
Initially, Chino was like many other dogs in the kennel – he’d get excited and bark when people walked by. But as the weeks stretched into months, the staff started to notice a change.
They moved him to an individual room, hoping for more space and visibility to visitors. While he still loved when staff or volunteers came in to see him or take him outside, a quiet sadness began to set in.
“He also seemed a little depressed and slept a lot,” Michel explained. “We realized he really needed to get adopted or go to a foster home.”
Burlington Animal Services uses social media to promote their adoptable pets, and it’s usually very successful. They had already posted about Chino a couple of times, but this time, they decided to try something different.
They took a photo that truly captured the Chino they were seeing – sleeping on his blanket, looking a little depressed and sad.
And that, my friends, was the magic moment. “For some reason, this particular post went absolutely viral and reached an incredible number of people. And it worked!” Michel exclaimed.
Just a day or two after that heartbreakingly honest post went up, a young woman arrived at the shelter. She spent time with Chino, and it was clear: he was the one for her.
The shelter even shared a joyful Facebook post, capturing Chino’s (metaphorical) excitement: “Chino shared his opinion by telling us how he felt about spending so many months in a shelter—a big, fat, THANKS, BUT NO THANKS! I’M OUTTA HERE!”
While the shelter hasn’t had direct contact with Chino’s adopter since his “Gotcha Day,” they believe he’s thriving in his new home.
Just in time for the holidays, Chino finally found the love and happiness he deserved after a lonely year.
His story is a beautiful testament to perseverance, the power of a single photo, and the incredible joy of a second chance.
