When Higgins first arrived at the Humane Shelter of Preble County in Ohio in 2011, he was a young puppy. Since he was so little and cute, it didn’t take long for him to find a forever home. The shelter’s executive director, Leslie Renner, said goodbye to him, thinking that she would never see him again.
In 2012, someone brought a ‘stray’ dog to the shelter. It was Higgins.
The person who brought Higgins in explained that the poor pup had spent all his time outside, chained to a dog house. The person who adopted Higgins never came back for him—they didn’t seem to care that their dog was missing.
Higgins settled into his old kennel and waited for his next forever home. And waited. And waited.
Six and a half years went by, and no one asked to adopt poor Higgins.
“People are looking for puppies or dogs that are 6 months old,” Renner told The Dodo. “When he came back he was a year old, and then two and then three.”
Higgins was an anxious dog, and he didn’t get along with other animals. This limited the number of people who could adopt him.
“His face always had such a worried look on it that he was a little intimidating when he was in his kennel,” Renner said. “People just walked past him.”
Finally, after Higgins had been in the shelter for 2,381 days, someone came for him.
A man named Brendon Reed walked in and told the shelter staff he was there to adopt Higgins. The staff was shocked and excited—finally, someone wanted to give Higgins the home he deserved.
Reed told the staff he had seen a photo of Higgins online, and he was touched by the poor dog’s story.
“He was just a beautiful dog,” Reed told The Dodo. “He just seemed so cute … I don’t know how he didn’t get adopted.”
Twenty-two-year-old Reed had just bought his first house, and he knew he needed a dog to make the house feel like home. Higgins was perfect for him!
Reed filled out the paperwork and took Higgins home. The dog was so happy to finally have a place to call his own.
“He is just so happy, it’s kind of crazy,” Reed said. “He just likes to chillax.”
Higgins is having a great time in his new home!
He loves running around his backyard, and he enjoys going on long walks with Reed. He also loves curling up on the couch with his dad. This pup has gone through so much, but he has finally found the right place to call home.
After thousands of days of sleeping in a cold kennel, Higgins finally has a forever home. We’re so glad Higgins and Reed are doing well together!
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