For a long time, I kept asking myself what could have made Toby so unwanted that multiple families chose to give him up.
It wasn’t aggression. He’s one of the gentlest dogs you could meet, with no trace of hostility. It wasn’t a lack of friendliness either, since Toby simply doesn’t know how to be unfriendly.
So what was it?
When I finally learned the truth, it was deeply painful.
Throughout all the times he was passed from one home to another, none of it was ever Toby’s fault. And it certainly wasn’t his doing that led to him spending two more years waiting in a shelter.
Fortunately, Maddison Egan, a woman from Florida, saw what others had missed and chose to give Toby the chance he had long deserved.
Three Homes Lost Before Someone Finally Saw Him
Toby’s journey was filled with hardship. By the time he was six years old, he had already been rehomed three separate times over a span of four years, and each transition left its mark.
His first home valued him only for his appearance. He was used for breeding and discarded once he was no longer needed.
The second time, he was given up due to a landlord conflict. The third time, the reasons were never explained.
Then Maddison entered the picture.
After enduring a string of unstable homes, Toby was taken in by a Humane Society. The staff welcomed him warmly, and he quickly became a favorite among them.
Maddison visited the shelter several times and found herself drawn to Toby. When she learned the full extent of his past, it broke her heart.
“He lived in the shelter for two years and I found out that he was rehomed three times,” Maddison stated for GeoBeats Animals.
But it wasn’t just his history that affected her. Toby had emotionally shut down.
“He was very quiet. It just almost looked like he’d just given up after being there for so long. I could just see it in his eyes that he was just attention deprived, deprived of love, just needing affection,” Maddison added.
That realization changed everything.
Maddison’s heartbreak turned into determination. Within days, she brought Toby home. She began by fostering him, wanting to make sure he was ready for adoption.
But it didn’t take long before she knew he wasn’t going anywhere.
A Few Hours Was All It Took
Just five hours after arriving at Maddison’s home, Toby had already made himself comfortable. They spent time getting settled, and before the day was over, Maddison knew he was hers.
He was gentle, loving, and immediately formed a bond with her. The transition felt effortless.
It was as if Toby had always belonged there. His affection for Maddison was clear from the very beginning.
One week later, Toby began to play with toys and show glimpses of his playful spirit. Each morning, when he woke up and realized he was still in his new home, his joy was unmistakable.
And then there were his eyes.
Toby’s gaze is soft and full of warmth, and it never fails to move Maddison.
“Dogs don’t lock eyes that much with humans unless they feel secure. And sometimes that’s all he does, just looks at me right in my soul,” says Maddison.
Now, Toby is exactly where he’s meant to be. He’s no longer facing the uncertainty of being passed from one home to another. Every day, he’s discovering what it truly means to be loved.
Here’s to a life filled with comfort, companionship, and new adventures for Toby and Maddison.