Dog in Shelter for Almost 3 Years Finally Gets Forever Home—'Never Gave Up'

After holding onto hope for nearly three years and becoming a shelter's longest-term resident, one Arizona dog finally had his happy ending.

A blue pit bull mix named Kansas lived at the Humane Society of Central Arizona (HSCAZ) for over 1,000 days. Every day since being brought in as a stray on December 16, 2020, Kansas would watch other dogs walk out of the shelter doors with their forever families and yet, he never gave up hope that one day it would happen to him.

His day finally arrived when a family adopted him and brought him home on October 28, but not before the whole shelter celebrated with him.

"Today is honestly one of the best days at HSCAZ," the Facebook post said. "... To him, all the staff and volunteers were his family. Well, today he has his own home and family to call his own! We couldn't be any happier for him!"

Staff members, volunteers and even fans who followed Kansas on social media came to the Payson, Arizona, shelter to send him off. His whole fan club was there cheering him on. PetSmart donated a bed, a volunteer baked him special dog cookies and the shelter sent him off with extra goodies.

"He knew something was happening that day," Luci Trushel, director of operations, told Newsweek.

It was all smiles from Kansas, as usual. He walked off with the biggest grin on his face and hopped right into his family's car.

The shelter originally wanted Kansas to go to a home where he would be the only pet. But the family that adopted him put in extra work with meet-and-greets at the shelter and their house to ensure he would get along with their 11-year-old dog, Missy. The smile on Kansas' face says it all—a match made in heaven.

Kansas and Missy have gotten along great since he's been living there, Trushel said. The family even sent her a picture of them lying together on the bed.

The touching adoption, which was shared on the HSCAZ Facebook page, brought readers to tears.

"I have thought about Kansas all day!! I woke up and thought about how happy he must be to finally wake up in a home and not the shelter ..." commented one Facebook user.

Another person added: "Congratulations to Kansas for finally finding your new forever home and family! Best wishes!"

Trushel said this is one adoption she will never, ever forget in the 14 years she's been working in animal welfare.

There is another dog at the shelter who just reached her two-year mark, but Trushel is determined that she won't hit the three-year mark like Kansas almost did.

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