An almost 11-year-old puppy named Elf who spent over a year in and out of homes and a shelter has a forever home just in time for Christmas.
He also has a touching adoption story that began more than a year ago when he arrived at the Best Friends Animal Society center in Los Angeles covered in ticks. Not much is known regarding Elf’s life before Best Friends took him in, but it probably wasn’t easy.
“It was apparent that this senior had had a tough time,” Best Friends said in a press release. “Upon arrival, he was covered in ticks and shy around most people.”
In a serendipitous moment, Sabrina Maharaj began volunteering with Best Friends a few weeks later, in June 2021. Over the next several months, Maharaj kept an eye on the pup who just mightn’t seem to find the right person to take him home.
It turned out that the right person was taking care of him all this time.
“Every time I saw Elf go into a foster home I was so happy, but then she went back to the shelter,” Maharaj said. “It was obvious that he was a unique, fun, and super sweet soul. He never barked at the shelter, which is incredibly rare. Despite this, I was afraid potential adopters would continue to overlook him due to his age. the”.
In October, Finn, Maharaj’s adopted boxer, died of cancer. No dog can be replaced, but he knew Elf might help fill that dog-shaped hole in his heart.
“I mightn’t let grief stop my family from bringing Elf home for the holidays,” Maharaj said.
Shelters across the country are struggling with higher levels of animal consumption as adoptions, foster homes and rescues try to keep up, according to Best Friends. The result: animals staying in shelters for longer periods.
Embrace Pet Insurance will cover adoption fees at all Best Friends Animal Society rescue centers and programs in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Northwest Arkansas, Salt Lake City and the sanctuary in Kanab, Utah through December.
Animals are checked, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go home.
