After eight long months in a rural North Carolina shelter, a 2-year-old lab mix named Doc is still holding out hope that the right family will finally come along.
The Friends of Anson County Animal Shelter in Wadesboro, North Carolina, has been caring for Doc since he arrived as a stray nearly eight months ago. Despite his playful spirit and lovable quirks, he has struggled to find a forever home.
“Eight months. That’s how long this sweet, silly boy has been waiting in the shelter for a family to call his own,” the shelter shared in a recent video posted to Facebook.
Shelter director Maureen Lett told Newsweek: “Doc came in as a stray almost 8 months ago. Strays are very common in our county because there aren’t any leash laws. People tend to let their dogs wander and many are not fixed. Doc is a very unique dog in that he is looking for a very specific type of home. He isn’t super human focused, meaning that he doesn’t seek out attention or cuddles from people, though he accepts them.”
The Friends of Anson County Animal Shelter
Lett explained that Doc’s high prey drive means he must be the only pet in the home, and that he is a bit of an escape artist, capable of scaling fences. Because of this, he’ll need to be walked on a leash or securely tethered in any outdoor space.
“It’s extremely hard finding homes for dogs who don’t do well with other dogs,” Lett said. “Even if people don’t have other dogs, everyone these days wants to be able to bring their dogs everywhere, so people have really high (and unfair) expectations for their animals to like everything.”
The Friends of Anson County Animal Shelter
Despite his limitations, Doc has captured the hearts of the shelter staff. They describe him as affectionate in his own way, full of energy, and deserving of a family that understands and appreciates him for who he is.
Lett believes Doc would thrive in a home with no other pets, where he can get plenty of daily exercise and live with adults who are willing to help him channel his energy in healthy ways.
The Friends of Anson County Animal Shelter, located in a rural area with little foot traffic, relies heavily on social media to get the word out about animals like Doc.
“Because of our rural location, and limited community support, we work really hard to promote all of our animals on our social media accounts because it’s our only way to get eyes on them,” Lett said. “Without social media our animals would not get adopted.”