Stray dogs struggle every day to survive on the streets, dreaming of safety, food, and a warm place to call home.
When they’re finally rescued and brought into shelters, their hearts fill with hope that someone will stop at their kennel and choose them.
Nicholas, a lovable shelter pup, carried that same dream. Each time visitors walked into the shelter, he would wait eagerly by the door, hoping to be noticed.
Just as he was beginning to lose faith that he’d ever be chosen, his life took a surprising turn.
Nicholas Longed For A Family
When Nicholas arrived at Orange County Animal Services in Orlando, Florida, he was a nervous and shy pup.
But once he realized he was safe, he began to relax and quickly grew fond of the shelter staff and volunteers.
Every time potential adopters visited, Nicholas wagged his tail and pressed against the kennel door, silently asking for a chance to show how special he was. Sadly, time and again, people passed him by.
One by one, he watched his fellow shelter dogs leave for their forever homes, while his kennel remained locked.
Disappointment slowly crept in, and Nicholas began to doubt he’d ever be adopted.
The staff’s hearts broke as they watched Nicholas constantly overlooked. Most adopters gravitated toward smaller dogs, leaving bigger pups like Nicholas behind.
Nicholas loved the outdoors, but daily walks with volunteers weren’t enough. Each time he was brought back to his kennel, he resisted, craving more freedom and playtime.
Shelter staff were convinced Nicholas would be adopted quickly if only visitors spent time with him.
“We knew what kind of dog he was, we knew he was amazing. He’s one of those dogs that just likes people. He likes attention. He wants to snuggle. He wants to be on your lap,” said Bryant from Orange County Animal Services.
Cherishing Every Bit Of Love
Despite being the longest shelter resident, Nicholas never grew bitter. He remained joyful whenever he had the chance to interact with his human friends.
The staff adored him just as much, and they worked tirelessly to share his story on social media and even in the local news. Still, no one came forward to meet him.
Determined not to give up, the shelter organized a special event just for him—“Pick-Nick Saturday”—hoping someone would fall for him.
A week before the big day, a woman visited the shelter and met Nicholas.
“She just genuinely came in and fell in love with the dog organically. She met him and she liked him and she couldn’t stop thinking about him,” Bryant recalled.
Nicholas finally left the shelter for what seemed to be his forever home.
Unfortunately, despite her love for him, his adopter couldn’t devote the time Nicholas needed to adjust. Alone in her apartment, his fear led to constant barking, and after complaints from neighbors, she had no choice but to return him to the shelter.
The Happy Ending He Deserved
Though the staff were saddened to see him back, Nicholas himself was thrilled to reunite with his old friends.
They refused to give up on him and continued sharing his story online. Their persistence paid off.
Orange County Animal Services joyfully announced that Nicholas had finally found his forever home.
This time, it was for real. His new dad came to pick him up, and Nicholas wagged his tail with pure joy, grinning from ear to ear as he hopped into the car.
His new family promised they’d love him unconditionally and never let him go.
After such a long and painful wait, Nicholas finally found the happiness he’d been searching for all along.