Chunky Dog Nicknamed 'Milk-Bone Charlie' Waiting in Shelters His Whole Life

In a shelter in Ohio, an adorable and slightly chunky Labrador mix is still patiently waiting to find out what life outside a kennel is like.

Soon to be 7 years old, this large pup weighs just over 100 pounds and has spent most of his life waiting for a home of his own. With a seriously fun personality, the shelter staff caring for him hope his happy ending is coming.

"He arrived at our shelter three years ago from [another shelter in] South Carolina, heartworm positive and in need of treatment that the local shelter couldn't provide," Jason Cooke, President of the Healthy Hearts and Paws Project told Newsweek. "We successfully treated his heartworm disease, and he's now heartworm negative."

Each year 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters, which is an average of 17,260 a day, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The number of dogs and cats taken in by pet shelters hit 46,807 during January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared with January 2022, the 24Pet 'Shelter Watch Report' found. Around 920,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Despite overcoming his health challenges, Charlie is still struggling to find a permanent home as he has been repeatedly overlooked at the Ohio-based shelter where he has gained the nickname "Milk-Bone Charlie."

Given to him by staff at the shelter, the nickname stems from his charming and mischievous antics.

"He's in a kennel, flanked by two other dogs, and he's become notorious for sticking his paw about 2 1/2 feet into neighboring kennels to steal treats," explained Cooke. "One day, we caught him pulling a milk bone from one kennel to his own, and that's how he got the name Milk-Bone Charlie."

His love of food is one of the reasons Cooke thinks Charlie might be struggling to find the right home.

"One of the problems is that, prior to ending up in the shelter, he may have been underweight and developed food guarding issues," he explained. "He needs a family willing to work with him on these issues, understanding his boundaries. Unfortunately, this limits potential adopters to those without children, as Charlie needs a patient and understanding environment."

But despite food-related quirks, Charlie has many positive qualities and would make a great pet for plenty of families. He is especially interested in playing with other dogs and outdoor activities.

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