The shelter is far from an ideal home for dogs, and any true dog lover knows this. Sadly, kennels are often filled with lonely canines trying to make the best of life in cold, unfamiliar spaces.
It is difficult to see any dog in a shelter, but it feels even more tragic for senior dogs who have been surrendered and now face spending their golden years there.
For older dogs, the struggle is even harder because most adopters gravitate toward younger pups and puppies, often passing them by without a second glance.
The way the shelter’s longest resident responded to a visitor one day shows just how deeply love can affect these overlooked dogs.
“I’m Not Crying…”
Over the years, many dogs have come and gone from the Junction City Shelter in Kansas each with their own heartbreaking story. But one senior dog’s situation is especially touching.
A Boxer Pit Bull mix fittingly named Grandma recently became the shelter’s longest resident. With visitors walking past her kennel time after time, the staff wanted to show the world how much a little human attention means to her.
They posted a video to their TikTok account, @jcanimalshelter, and it moved many viewers to tears.
In the clip, Grandma can be seen lighting up with excitement just to have someone standing by her side after being ignored for so long.
The caption reads: “Im not crying… you’re crying.”
In the clip, Grandma can be seen lighting up with excitement just to have someone standing by her side after being ignored for so long.
“Praying for this sweet senior! They’re the best🤍🤍🤍,” one user wrote, while the other added: “Boost for the Grandma♥️🐾 Someone needs this senior 🐶 ♥️.”
The third wrote: “Grandma! You’re gonna find your safe space soon, baby! ✨”
A Tough Reality
Grandma is nearly 10 years old and officially became the shelter’s longest resident on November 2, 2024, after her owner surrendered her a year earlier.
In those 365 days, almost no one has shown interest in adopting her, which has been a heartbreaking truth for the staff to face.
Her age is one reason she is overlooked, but her breed also plays a role since many people assume dogs like her are harder to place. On top of that, Grandma needs to be the only dog in a home, as she does not get along with other dogs or cats.
All of this has left her still waiting, which is why the shelter shared the TikTok video. Despite everything, Grandma’s spirit remains unshaken, and she still has the energy and love to give. The staff believes her happy ending is out there.
“She loves to curl up under blankets, sniff around to find tasty treats, and sunbathe. She is best in a home with no other animals because she is a Queen!” they wrote in a Facebook post. “Consider this sweet old lady!”