From the moment dogs enter shelter kennels, they begin dreaming of finding people who will give them what they need most, love.
Steven Tyler, a Pit Bull Terrier, dared to believe in that dream after a Good Samaritan spotted him wandering near a high school and called for help.
When he first arrived at Bradshaw Animal Shelter in Sacramento, California, Steven Tyler was shy and unsure, but it didn’t take long before he warmed up to the staff and became a favorite.
In his heart, he held onto hope that one day a family would come and cherish him as he deserved.
Hoping Someone Would See Him
Steven Tyler spent hours peering out of his kennel window, resting his chin on the sill.
With eyes full of longing, he waited patiently for someone to give him a chance.
Sadly, the months went by, and the same scene played out each day.
Even though no one adopted him, he never lost hope. His dream of finding a family never faded.
When he wasn’t watching from his window, Steven Tyler cuddled close with his kennel companion and best friend, Helga Hufflepup.
The staff adored him for his gentle and loving nature, and they couldn’t understand why he was being overlooked.
It broke their hearts to see his efforts go unnoticed.
They knew they had to step in and help.
The staff shared a touching video of Steven Tyler on social media, showing him waiting faithfully at his kennel window for the family he hoped would come.
“…We thought if we could show more people what we were seeing, someone would fall in love with him the way we had,” Luna Anona, the public information officer for Sacramento County Animal Care Services/Bradshaw Animal Shelter told PEOPLE.
The video touched countless people online, and many began rooting for Steven Tyler to finally get the home he had been waiting for.
Dreams Begin To Come True
A wonderful family who saw the video instantly fell for Steven Tyler. That very same day, they visited the shelter and adopted him.
When the pup spotted them, his face lit up with joy.
He knew at last that the family he had been waiting for had come to take him home.
After saying goodbye to the shelter staff who loved him dearly, he walked out of the building with a bright smile.
The video also made a difference for his best friend. A kind woman came to adopt Steven Tyler, but since he had already been chosen, she decided to adopt Helga Hufflepup instead.
Now in his forever home, Steven Tyler, whose name was changed to Donner, quickly bonded with his new little humans and his furry sisters, Daisy and Tahoe. He loved snuggling with them and soaking up all their affection.
His family couldn’t be happier.
“He’s a gem. He got along with our dog instantly, and he is SO good with our kids. He’s sweet and loving and it feels like he’s been here forever. He fits our family perfectly,” the shelter shared the update from his family in a Facebook post.
Now called Donner, the once-overlooked pup is living his best life.
He and his sisters often share sweet snapshots of their days together on their Instagram account.
Thanks to the Sacramento shelter for believing in him and to his forever family for giving him the fairytale he had waited so long to find.