After four years of waiting in an animal shelter, a 7-year-old dog who has overcome considerable hardship has finally been adopted into a loving home.
The American pit bull first arrived at the Spartanburg Humane Society shelter in South Carolina as a 3-year-old. He was found in a state of neglect, lacking proper care and affection. Shelter staff provided Zeus with the medical attention he needed, but despite their efforts, finding a permanent home for him proved to be a challenge.
“He is a great dog and so full of love but he can be selective with the people he loves and he does not really like other dogs which is the reason he probably languished at the Humane Society,” the shelter’s chief executive officer, Angel Cox, told Newsweek.
Cox explained that Zeus was picked up by animal control officers back in January 2020, with another dog who was adopted fairly quickly from the shelter.
Spartanburg Humane Society
“Sometimes the owners choose to surrender them rather than pay the fines, or sometimes they are not able to comply with the rules of the City of Spartanburg, so they have to surrender them,” told Cox.
Upon arrival at the shelter, it was clear that Zeus had faced neglect. Not only was he underweight, but he was also suffering from heartworm disease, a condition that could have been fatal without proper treatment.
Cox explained: “He had to undergo extensive treatment for these deadly heartworms. They are caused by mosquitoes, but they fill the heart and often take up the space in the heart for oxygen and stop ample blood flow throughout the body which can cause death.”
The treatment was not only expensive but also required Zeus to remain inactive for nearly four months, impacting his social development and quality of life.
“Bringing in a dog that does not like other dogs is so challenging and often prohibitive to an adoption,” told Cox.
Annually, about 6.3 million companion animals find their way into animal shelters across the United States, as reported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This figure includes roughly 3.1 million dogs and 3.2 million cats. Although the shelter stay might be longer than ideal for some of these animals, approximately 2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats are adopted into new homes each year.
Spartanburg Humane Society/Spartanburg Humane Society
On March 15, Zeus’ luck changed for the better as a volunteer was going to adopt him but someone else beat him to it.
A few days later, the shelter shared a Facebook post about the canine “Living his best life” in his new home. The photos show him relaxing in his bed and lying down on the sofa.
Cox told Newsweek: “He looked happy with his new owner and all of the staff were over the moon and shed a few tears of joy.
“But we all know this is what we live for…happy endings for all of our animals!
“It is hard to say goodbye but we know it makes room for the next dog needing to come into our shelter and find their new home too.”
As Zeus settles into his new home, his story has captured the hearts of many online. The post has since racked up 766 likes and over 110 comments.
One user said: “You don’t know how many people have loved on that dog. I’m so happy for Zeus. Thank you for giving him a chance. Zeus hit the jackpot.”
“This just made my day. Live it up sweet Zeus. Your days as a shelter pup has finally ended,” said another.
A third commenter said: “My heart is so happy! Every dog deserves love and a home! Thank You for adopting him!”
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to [email protected] and they could appear on our site.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.