It took 802 days and a lot of community support, but a Florida shelter dog finally found his happily ever after.
Yogi the pit bull had been at Humane Society Naples for over two years — his former owners surrendered him in 2022 — when a local outlet, WINK News, shared his story earlier this month.
The sweet pup, who the shelter’s staff says is about 4, was one of the humane society’s “longest-term stay dogs,” Jonee Willette, a satellite shelter manager, told WINK News.
“So we obviously want to try to get him a home,” Willette continued, adding that “everybody knows who Yogi is at Humane Society Naples, for sure.”
Courtesy of Human Society of Naples
Yogi’s shy nature—at least around new people—proved difficult as he attempted to find a home. As the shelter stated in a July 12 Instagram post about the pup, “Yogi has ‘stranger danger,’ making him shy and reserved initially.”
“This is why we require slow introductions, sometimes needing multiple visits, to ensure both Yogi and his potential adopters feel comfortable and safe,” the post said. “While he may require more patience than other dogs, this doesn’t mean he’s any less deserving of love and a loving home.”
But with “a little bit of your patience and time to get to really know him,” Willette told WINK News, it is difficult not to fall in love with the pooch.
Courtesy of Humane Society Naples
“He loves to be on his back and roll around in the grass; he loves to chase after his big jolly ball; he loves playing in the water,” she said of the pit bull. “He’s a really, really, really sweet boy.”
“Yogi is gonna be one of those dogs — when you earn his trust and love — that is just gonna be one of the most rewarding feelings that you have,” she added.
Less than a week after WINK News shared Yogi’s story, Human Society Naples made a special announcement: the pup had found “peace” with a new owner.
“We are thrilled to announce that after 802 days, Yogi has been adopted! He found his perfect match, and after several thoughtful introductions, patience, and time with our behavior team, he found someone who respects his pace and won him over,” the shelter wrote in a July 30 Instagram post.
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“We couldn’t be more thankful to his adopter for giving him a chance for a happy new life.❤️🏠,” the post continued. “We also want to thank everyone who shared, liked, and commented on Yogi’s original post. Because of YOU, we gained national attention and raised significant awareness.”
Over clips of the smiling canine in his new home, the shelter said that he was “finally at peace.”
“You found your perfect match,” the post read. “And we couldn’t be more happy for you!”
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