An animal shelter in New York has shared the heartbreaking story of a dog who thought he’d found his forever home, only to wind up back at the shelter years later, through no fault of his own.
Chase, an American pit bull and terrier mix, first came to North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington in 2019, as part of a rescue program. It wasn’t long before he was adopted at 4 months old, and for more than five years, he put the shelter behind him because he’d found a loving home.
Unfortunately for Chase, it wasn’t set to last, and he was surrendered to the shelter again this month. Joanne Yohannan, senior vice president of operations at North Shore Animal League America, told Newsweek that his owners were moving and “unable to continue to care for him.”
Everyone was devastated to see Chase return to the shelter, which Yohannan said has been “extremely difficult” for him to go through.
“He was shut down, avoided eye contact, and refused to eat, sitting in the back of his run,” Yohannan told Newsweek. “It was heartbreaking to see, but our dedicated staff and volunteers remained committed to bringing him out of his shell. It absolutely breaks our hearts when animals are surrendered back to us through no fault of their own. When Chase returned to us, we were frustrated for him. Chase was confused, stressed, and depressed—he mourned the life he once had.”
Chase, a pit bull and terrier mix, is seen after returning to the shelter in January.
North Shore Animal League America
It’s been a difficult start to 2025 for Chase, but everyone at the shelter is determined to help him find the right home.
His story was shared in a Facebook post on January 12, and it has already been shared over 4,100 times and generated more than 6,500 reactions at the time of writing.
The perfect owner for Chase is someone patient (as he’s very shy), and an active household where he can get plenty of exercise and enrichment. He gets along with other dogs and children, but Yohannan recommends introducing Chase to potential canine siblings beforehand.
“Chase is an incredibly sweet and gentle dog. He is housebroken, knows basic commands, walks great on leash, and is affectionate with the staffers he’s comfortable with. He deserves to be cherished and loved beyond measure,” she said. “Chase is often overlooked as he’s shy and tends to hide when approached by strangers. If there’s one thing I would stress, it’s the importance of asking to see shelter animals outside of their runs to truly see their personalities.”
Chase after spending over five years with his family.
North Shore Animal League America
Although they’re yet to receive any adoption inquiries for Chase, Yohannan says his story has “resonated deeply” with so many people online. The Facebook post has generated so much support for Chase, as thousands of people want him to find a forever home.
Among the 300 comments on the post, one Facebook user wrote: “He’s beautiful and deserves the best.”
Another responded: “Chase is a great dog! Please adopt this sweet puppy! He is worth it!”
A third user posted: “Hope he finds a loving and permanent home.”
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