Senior Dog Spends 5 Lonely Years in California Shelter, Until Finally Getting Adopted for Christmas

A 9-year-old pit bull mix that spent over half his life living alone in a California shelter dog kennel finally got adopted, just in time for Christmas.

Seamus spent over 2,000 days in total at the Fresno Bully Rescue in Sanger, California, an organization that specializes in helping “bully breeds” such as pit bulls and boxers to find understanding, loving forever homes.

Photo courtesy of Fresno Bully Rescue

The rescue group had tried in vain for years to appeal to a family that might take sweet, senior dog Seamus into their home. Back in 2017, the group posted a Christmas plea on Facebook: “We know ya'll need a couch-loving senior like Seamus in your life. As a Christmas bonus his fee is $75 through December.”

But sadly, it was to no avail.

Photo courtesy of Fresno Bully Rescue

Two years later, the group’s Christmas plea on Seamus’s behalf was decidedly more imperative. “He needs to be in a warm home please,” they posted, reaching out to all potential adopters, adding, “His fee is covered, and he needs to be an only dog; any seniors out there that want to just cuddle all day? Seamus is your man!”

This time, waiting patiently finally paid off for the senior pup. Someone responded to the shelter’s cry for help and came to visit the gentle, cuddle-loving dog in Fresno.

Naomi Gallegos and Rick Negrete fell in love with Seamus, and the timing could not have been better. As the weather turned chilly, Christmas loomed, and Seamus, no doubt, longed for a warm hearth on which to lie, his wish for an adoptive home finally came true.

The rescue group took to Facebook once more to celebrate that their long-term resident pup finally had “a home for the holidays.”

On Dec. 22, 2019, Fresno Bully Rescue posted: “Senior shelter dog, Seamus, finally finds his forever home just in time for Christmas after spending just over 2,000 days living at our shelter! Christmas miracles really do happen!”

Photo courtesy of Naomi Gallegos

Supportive comments poured in, proving that many people do see beyond the misunderstood breed’s negative reputation. “Seamus! You lucky pup. So happy for you and your humans,” wrote one supporter. “Merry Christmas, enjoy snuggling on a couch.”

“You guys are awesome for adopting that senior,” added another. “Take good [care] of him & give him the love he deserves for the rest of his life!”

“So happy for Seamus,” another person contributed. “We wanted to adopt him, but we already have a dog, and Seamus needed to be the only dog in the home. A big shout-out to the company who sponsored Seamus’s adoption fees. I’m really impressed.”

Photo courtesy of Fresno Bully Rescue

Photo courtesy of Naomi Gallegos

According to Fresno Bully Rescue’s website, “bully breeds” like Seamus’s are the first breeds to be euthanized when open-admission animal shelters become overcrowded. Finding adoptive homes for such breeds has, therefore, never been more imperative.

“FBR is committed to promoting responsible ownership of bully breeds, fighting against breed discrimination, spaying and neutering pets, reporting dog fighting, and demonstrating to the community that bully breeds are loyal, loving, and wonderful forever companions,” the shelter explains.

Photo courtesy of Naomi Gallegos

Since opening their doors in May 2008, Fresno Bully Rescue has rescued and rehabilitated over 2,500 dogs and houses around 40 dogs on their premises regularly.

Seamus’s new human family, keen to further dispel the bad reputation of “bully breeds,” gave their handsome senior pup an immediate platform on social media. Instagram photo highlights include Seamus sleeping soundly in a huge, comfortable dog bed and lounging in the yard under the warmth of the California sun.

Photo courtesy of Naomi Gallegos

If any animal deserves the comfort of a loving family home in its final years, it’s senior, former shelter dog Seamus. This pup certainly paid his dues.