Dog Surrendered to Shelter After 10 Years With Family Finds New Home

After being surrendered by his previous owners and a long stint at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, an animal rescue shelter in Florida, 10-year-old Max has finally been adopted and the internet is delighted.

The senior dog had been given to the the animal shelter after his owners came to the realization they could "no longer look after him". Max waited for over the month in the shelter, while he was cared for by members of staff, to be welcomed in by a new family.

A young couple from Sarasota, which is over an hour away from Tampa, ended up being the dog's perfect match. Tyler and Alexandra made the drive up to Tampa to pick him up.

"We were so overjoyed when Alexandra and Tyler drove to meet and adopt Max and were excited to give him the best life possible," Regan Blessinger, marketing and content manager at the animal shelter, told Newsweek.

"Max is all of the best things about having a senior pet. He's calm, loving, good with people and other dogs, and great on the leash too! Max waited for his forever home for over a month, as many senior pets do, often being overlooked for younger or smaller dogs," Blessinger added.

The senior dog had captured the hearts of the animal shelter's social media following, which prompted shelter staff to post an update about him to its official Facebook page. The post has received over 1,300 reactions since it was first shared online on November 1, with many warm wishes in the comments section being directed at Max's new paw-rents Alexandra and Tyler.

"I am so happy to hear this news. I'm so glad that Max will be spending the holidays at home where he belongs. I got to enjoy morning walks with him on the weekends when I volunteer," Rowena Daniel-Ferry, who said she volunteered at the shelter, commented on the post.

"Happy tails to you Max and congratulations to the new family," Daniel-Ferry added.

Another user commented: "Thank you both for saving this beautiful dog and giving him a wonderful life through his senior years."

Shelter staff had mentioned in the post that the Sarasota couple had been excited to "curl up on the couch and watch TV with Max", having fallen in love with him after laying eyes on him in the shelter.

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay's mission is to end animal homelessness and provide care and comfort for companion animals in need. The organization cites its adoption programs, animal health center services, community outreach efforts, and volunteer opportunities as essential to the health and well-being of animals in the Tampa Bay region.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.