CLEVELAND, Ohio — Petey, a 6-year-old dog at the Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL), has spent more than a year waiting for a family to call his own.
Since arriving at the shelter on Sept. 20, 2023, after being found abandoned, Petey has become a favorite among staff for his lively personality and impressive intelligence, according to Ayse Dunlap, the Cleveland APL’s vice president of operations.
“He’s a great listener and has excelled at learning all kinds of tricks, like sit, down, roll over and more,” Dunlap told cleveland.com.
“Petey is very well-mannered and loves people. He loves to entertain and make everyone around him happy.”
Petey enjoys spending time outdoors and thrives on engaging activities.
“He loves any time he gets to zoom around the play yard and be outside,” Dunlap said. “Petey likes to play with toys, go for walks and be around his favorite people.”
Despite his sweet demeanor and affectionate nature, Petey remains at the shelter, waiting for a potential adopter to take a chance on him.
Dunlap said long-term residents like Petey often face unique challenges in finding homes.
“His biggest challenge is being seen,” she explained. “Sometimes, wonderful dogs like him get overlooked, but we believe his perfect match is out there, just waiting to discover him.
“Despite being in the shelter for over a year, he hasn’t lost his sweet spirit or hope for a family.”
Petey’s ideal home would include older children and no other pets, though Dunlap encourages interested families to visit the shelter to meet him in person.
“We’d love the whole family to come meet him,” she said.
“Whether it’s cuddling on the couch, going on adventures or simply being your loyal sidekick, Petey is ready to give his whole heart to his new family.”
Dunlap emphasized the importance of looking past a dog’s length of stay at the shelter.
Petey, available for adoption at the Cleveland APL, is described by staff as a great listener with excellent manners and a loving personality.Cleveland Animal Protective League
“Many long-term residents are incredible pets, but they’re often overlooked because adopters assume something must be ‘wrong’ with them, which isn’t true,” she said.
“It can also be tough to find the right match for dogs with specific needs, like needing to be the only pet.
“Despite these challenges, we stay committed to showcasing their wonderful qualities and finding them loving homes as quickly as possible — sometimes it just takes a bit more creativity.”
For dog lovers eager to help long-term shelter residents like Petey, Dunlap shared several meaningful ways to make a difference.
“Even though we don’t have any time limits for the animals in our care, we don’t think any animal should be in a shelter for a year. So please, help us spread the word,” she said.
“If you think Petey would be a good fit for someone you know, please suggest him.”
Dunlap also highlighted fostering programs as a critical step in easing the transition from shelter life to a permanent home.
“We are always seeking to add more foster volunteers to our team,” she said. “Foster volunteers provide temporary in-home care to animals.
“Long-term residents, like Petey, can benefit from getting a break from the shelter. Whether you are able to foster for a weekend, a week or longer, it helps them tremendously.
“We provide the training, supplies and medical care for any foster animal in our care.”
To learn more about becoming a foster volunteer or to sign up, Dunlap encouraged people to visit clevelandapl.org/volunteer/foster-care/.
Anyone interested in meeting Petey can visit the Cleveland APL during open hours, no appointment necessary, or complete a dog adoption survey online at clevelandapl.org/dog-adoption-survey/.
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