Gandalf had been a faithful companion to his family for fourteen years. He showered them with love and trust, believing they would never leave his side.
Unfortunately, life turned out differently than Gandalf the Schnauzer expected.
He developed severe dental problems and had several cysts on his body, though otherwise he was healthy. His family decided he needed more care than they could give and surrendered him to Animal Haven Animal Haven in New York.
Gandalf felt confused and abandoned when the humans he adored disappeared from his life.
Devoted Dog Faces Heartbreak
The staff at Animal Haven were heartbroken for Gandalf. They worried he would sink into depression if confined to a kennel, so they kept him close to the front desk team.
While he appreciated their kindness, Gandalf still felt the pain of being left behind, wondering why his family never returned.
The shelter didn’t want him to spend his golden years in a kennel, so they shared his story on their TikTok account account, hoping someone would open their hearts to him.
Gandalf’s shelter friends never gave up hope that someone would open their hearts to him and give him the love and safety he so desperately needed.
The video showed a sad-looking dog who couldn’t understand why the humans he loved had left him forever.
The New York shelter praised Gandalf for being good with “people, children, other dogs, and probably cats,” noting he “would likely do well in almost any type of home.”
The TikTok community was deeply moved. Many expressed their desire to give Gandalf a forever home after seeing his gentle, loyal nature.
Gandalf Finally Finds Happiness
A few days later, the shelter posted an incredible update: Gandalf had found his forever family.
A couple saw him on TikTok and fell in love immediately, rushing to the shelter to adopt him.
“Gandalf’s new dad was literally waiting outside of Animal Haven before we opened the day after we posted his story,” the shelter wrote in the caption of the video.
Before starting his new chapter, Gandalf received dental care and had the cyst on his chest removed. The shelter confirmed it was just a lipoma.
When his new family came to pick him up, Gandalf beamed with joy. Today, he lives happily with his forever humans, receiving all the love and spoiling he deserves.