“Sadly, this is the reality for many adult dogs.”
Sade was only about 2 years old when she was rescued from the street as a skinny stray and transferred to the Humane Society of Broward County, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Though still very much in her youth, Sade had passed beyond puppyhood apparently unloved.
What Sade needed most was a second chance.
Staff at the shelter did their best to keep Sade comfortable as she waited to catch the eye of a potential adopter. But the dear dog’s quest to find a loving family wasn’t without competition.
In the kennel next to Sade’s were adoptable puppies — more appealing pets in the eyes of some.
“Sadly, this is the reality for many adult dogs,” the shelter wrote. “While the puppies get adopted quickly, our wonderful adult dogs can wait months to find a family.”
It’s a reality Sade had grown all too familiar with:
As Sade watched the puppies being whisked off to start new lives as cherished pets, she faced an uncertain future. How long would she have to wait?
Fortunately, she soon had the answer.
Within days after the video above was posted online, Sade was adopted by a family who’d met her while volunteering at the shelter.
“This sweet girl, who won over the hearts of so many online, has found her forever home,” the shelter wrote, adding: “Sade has settled in almost immediately in her new home. Happy tails, Sade!”
Sade, of course, is far from the only dog who’s been passed by for younger pups. For countless adult and senior dogs in animal shelters, finding the forever home they deserve can sometimes take weeks, months and even years. But while puppies are certainly worthy of love, there are plenty of good reasons to adopt an older dog.
