Shelter Greyhound Who Was Always 'Left Behind' Finds a Home After 3 Years

As the patron of a greyhound rescue center, Alex Osborn regularly visits the shelter to help out and raise awareness for the many dogs in need of loving homes. While his most recent trip was intended to simply film clips for social media, something far more important caught his eye.

While filming content to generate interest for Hector's Greyhound Rescue, Osborn got to meet many of the dogs, but he told Newsweek that, as soon as he saw Lady, it was "love at first sight." The 5-year-old racing dog had been in the shelter for three years and received very little interest, until now.

Osborn, from Worcestershire, in the U.K., said: "The black dogs seem to get overlooked for some reason, and she is very gray in the muzzle, so she always seems to be left behind. She was so desperate to have a home and she kept pleading and doing everything in her power to be loved, so how could we refuse?"

If he could have taken her home in that moment, Osborn, 45, almost definitely would have. However, he has six dogs at home already, five of which are rescues, so he had to consider it thoroughly before adding to his pack.

After discussing it at length, he knew he could not leave her there, and he plans to drive back to Wales to collect her in the coming days. "This is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for. She really is a dream come true," Osborn said.

There is little doubt that greyhounds make wonderful pets for any dog lovers, due to their gentle nature and easy-going temperament. As a result of the racing industry, many are rescued later in life, and PetMD says that 18,000 greyhounds are adopted every year in the U.S.

Anyone adopting a greyhound is encouraged to learn about their past to know what they have been through, so they can give them the love and nurturing they desire. As explained by PetMD, greyhounds are handled a lot in their racing years, so they will have many trained behaviors, which might even serve as a source of comfort. They might enjoy a sense of routine and regiment, even after finding their forever home.

Osborn shared footage from the moment he met his newest addition on TikTok (@theoldmanorstables) and it's already been viewed more than 255,700 times and received over 8,300 likes. Social-media users have loved seeing the loving bond that was instantly struck between Osborn and Lady, and they can't wait for more updates when she finally comes home.

"The response has been truly incredible. I've had random people come up to me saying they've seen the video, and I've even made them cry," Osborn told Newsweek. "I don't believe in just having so-called pretty dogs. Everyone needs a chance and they need love, and I will do whatever I can to help these dogs."

After spending over half of her life in the shelter, Lady will finally get to walk out of its doors and be welcomed into her new family just in time for Christmas. She has had to wait three years to get her second chance, but now she is in very capable hands with Osborn.

Many people have lauded the cherished moment between Lady and her new owner, leading to hundreds of comments on the viral post. One TikTok user commented: "Greyhounds are so loving, thank you."

Another posted: "She chose you! What more could you wish for? Thank you for choosing her back."

A third wrote: "You will not regret it."

Do you have any amazing rescue videos or pictures 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.