“Adopting an older dog can be an amazingly fulfilling experience” ~ Oahu SPCA.
When a sweet dog named Pirate arrived at the Oahu SPCA in Wahiawa, Hawaii, no one could have imagined she would spend nearly a decade there.
Weeks turned into months, and months into years, yet Pirate remained in her small kennel. The only thing that truly changed was her face, slowly turning white with age.
After seven long years, not a single person had come to ask about her—until one day, everything changed.
Meeting Pirate Marie
“Pirate’s biggest obstacle was the fact that she was an older dog. People don’t want to adopt the older dogs because they think it’s going to be more work,” Amanda Villeme, Executive Director at Oahu SPCA, told The Dodo.
The shelter staff never gave up on her, but after so much time without a family, Pirate began to lose hope.
Her face showed her sadness, and it was clear she had grown weary of life behind bars.
Then, out of the blue, her world shifted thanks to one woman.
Jennifer Shaffer and her husband, Dennis, moved to Hawaii for military assignments. Although they agreed not to adopt right away, Jennifer wanted to volunteer with animals, so she began researching local shelters.
That’s when she came across Pirate’s picture.
“I saw this one [dog] that was really old. Her face was all gray. She had the cutest ears, they just stuck straight out. She just started winning my heart over,” Jennifer said.
The very next day, Jennifer visited Pirate in person.
The shelter staff could hardly believe it. After so many years, someone had finally come specifically to meet Pirate.
“Our Pirate?” they asked, shocked.
“They were, like, in complete disbelief that anyone was there to ask about Pirate ‘cause I guess no one [had],” Jennifer said.
The reaction alone showed just how often this senior girl had been overlooked.
A Fresh Start At Last
Jennifer was devastated to think of Pirate spending her whole life lonely and unwanted. At the time, Pirate was already 11 and a half years old.
She knew immediately that she wanted to give Pirate happiness, no matter what it took.
The first night after meeting her, Jennifer bought Pirate her very first toy and a soft new bed. That marked the beginning of their special bond.
“She’s the dog that nobody wanted, and she won me over immediately.”
Unfortunately, Jennifer had just arrived on the island and did not yet have a house, which meant Pirate couldn’t go home with her right away.
So, for the next two months, Jennifer visited the shelter every single day. She came before and after work, making sure Pirate never felt forgotten.
Finally, once their home was ready, Jennifer and Dennis brought Pirate with them. Everyone at the shelter celebrated this long-awaited moment.
Pirate finally had the chance to spend her senior years surrounded by love.
The transformation was incredible. A once-depressed dog suddenly blossomed into a playful, spirited pup.
Her family even gave her a new nickname: “old lady baby.”
Despite her age, Pirate was full of life and eager to experience the world.
She had her very first zoomies, discovered what it felt like to sleep on a couch, and visited the beach for the first time. She celebrated holidays, birthdays, and everything in between.
Each new experience showed how much she had missed, and how much joy she still had to give.
Pirate, The Angel Of The Family
“It was the most rewarding and fulfilling thing knowing that we changed her life. What she needed, and I think what she wanted was a family. Watching her life being changed is what changed our lives,” Jennifer said.
For two beautiful years, Pirate thrived in her forever home.
She became Jennifer’s “puppy soulmate” and Dennis adored her just as much.
It was a comfort to know she left this world knowing unconditional love.
Pirate Marie passed away just one day before her parents’ wedding. But Jennifer says she still had her guardian angel walking down the aisle with her.
Today, Jennifer continues to honor her memory on Instagram: @pirate_marie.
“She was the best girl… she was truly my soul girl,” Jennifer said.
Pirate’s journey proves that even senior dogs who have been overlooked for years can change lives, and deserve a chance to feel love.