Dog Waits for Forever Home After 902 Days in Shelter: 'Half of His Life'

Kubo's life hasn't been easy, and regrettably, the dog's bad luck hasn't changed. After more than 900 days in an animal shelter, he still yearns for a caring home.

The 5-year-old mixed breed dog has spent almost half of his life in the shelter after being surrendered twice.

Anita, the director of Franklin County Humane Society Planned Pethood & Adoption Center, hopes the term "third time lucky" will ring true for Kubo who is patiently waiting for a place to call home.

"Out of his 2,105 days alive he has been in a home for 1,088 days and in a shelter for 902. In 65 days he will be in a shelter for half of his life," she told Newsweek.

In March 2018, Kubo and his four siblings were rescued by the Rocky Mount, Virginia, based shelter and adopted two weeks later at seven weeks old. But 376 days later, he was returned.

Anita said: "The first adopter took him as a puppy but provided no guidance or stability. He came back as an adult with no training."

His second stint at the shelter was for 76 days before getting adopted in May 2021, but sadly due to job and housing complications, the owner was left with no choice but to surrender Kubo. Today, he has been in the shelter for 902 days in total.

Anita and the team of volunteers are desperately vouching for the whippet mix and want nothing more for him to find the love he deserves.

He is described to be a "trainer favorite" as he knows basic commands and is very smart and agile.

Anita explained he would best suit an owner who loves being outdoors and ideally someone without cats.

She said: "Kubo is in search of a person that can keep him safe while he learns to be in the outside world. Someone who is willing to let him decompress and learn things he has never been exposed to.

"As you imagine by his shelter stay length, he has been homeless for a long time all throughout his life; as a result, Kubo tends to be weary of strangers.

"When walking with people he is familiar with, Kubo will walk right on by a stranger without any reaction. He just likes to be introduced to new people without the new person touching him immediately though he adjusts quickly.

"Kubo would do well in a home with someone who enjoys being outside, being at least somewhat active, someone who is content to leave the dog at home when going to social gatherings, and ideally someone who has shared their life with dogs before. He has easily met over 200 dogs in his life while at the shelter."

He has previously lived with children before and they didn't have any problems.

"He does not have any known known medical conditions and seems to be healthy and happy. He is just an overall cool fella," said Anita.

Unfortunately, Kudo's story isn't uncommon and he is one of many dogs who have spent over two years in the shelter.

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.

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