Stray dogs dream of a safe place to rest and people who will treat them with care and kindness.
When rescuers bring them to shelters, their hearts fill with hope that a loving family might soon discover them. Some dogs are quickly noticed. Others wait far longer than anyone ever expected.
This is the story of Higgins, a dog who spent years wishing for a home where he would finally be wanted. Despite countless disappointments, he refused to give up on the future he believed was possible.
Higgins’ Long Stay At The Shelter
Higgins first came to the Humane Society of Preble County in Eaton, Ohio, as a young puppy.
Not long after arriving, he was adopted, but the family who took him home did not give him the life he was promised.
“We heard he was nothing more than a dog chained up to a dog house. About a year later, someone walked in with a stray dog — and it was him,” said Leslie Renner, the executive director of the shelter.
Once he returned, Higgins never stopped hoping that his real family would one day appear. Many people visited the shelter, yet time after time, they chose other dogs instead of him.
“People are looking for puppies or dogs that are 6 months old. When he came back he was a year old, and then two and then three,” Renner said.
The staff adored him and supported him through every setback. Although he had a wonderful personality, Higgins did not get along well with other cats or dogs, which made some adopters pass him by.
After such a long stay, visitors began to assume there must be something wrong with him, even though that was far from the truth.
A Life Changing Moment
For years, shelter workers continued to post updates about Higgins, hoping his story would reach the right person. They refused to give up, believing he would eventually find his perfect home.
At last, on day 2,381, a man named Brendon Reed entered the shelter and announced that he was there specifically to adopt Higgins.
Reed had seen Higgins online and felt a strong pull to help him. He could not understand why such a loyal dog had been overlooked for so long and knew immediately that Higgins was meant to be part of his life.
After waiting more than six years, Higgins finally had the happy ending he had always needed. The shelter team celebrated his adoption, thrilled to see his patience rewarded at last.
The anxious expression he carried for most of his life faded quickly, replaced with genuine joy.
“He is just so happy, it’s kind of crazy. He just likes to chillax,” Reed said.
Now Higgins spends his days exploring his yard, relaxing inside his home, and receiving the affection he had missed for so many years. For the first time, he feels completely valued and loved.