Shelter workers understand how deeply their residents dream of a family to call their own. Every pup hopes for a safe home filled with love, and none of them can truly feel whole until that dream comes true.
To help make that happen, the Metro East Humane Society hosts a Black Friday adoption event each year. Thanks to the generosity of the shelter’s sponsors, adoption fees are covered so more dogs have the chance to meet their new families.
This year’s event turned out to be the most successful one yet. Ninety-four animals found their forever homes, including sixty-four dogs. Staff members were thrilled to see so many happy endings.
But while most animals were wrapped in the arms of their new families, one pup was left standing alone. Her name was Frito, and she was one of the shelter’s favorites.
Frito Is Passed By
When staff noticed that this lovable girl had been overlooked, their hearts sank.
“She is a very lovely and deserving girl, so it was a shame that she was overlooked and no one came forward for her. We all know how special Frito is, so to see so many people pass her by was upsetting,” Ali Hillard, the program manager, told The Dodo.
The team brought Frito back to the shelter in Madison County, Illinois. When they walked through the doors, the silence was heavy.
Frito seemed to understand she was the only one left behind. She looked toward the empty kennels where her friends had once been, sadness clear in her eyes.
Before guiding her back into her kennel, staff members cupped her sweet face in their hands. They hugged her close, kissed her, and whispered goodnight, promising her that things would be okay.
Frito Refuses To Let Sadness Win
By the next morning, Frito had made up her mind not to dwell on what had happened. Even without playmates, she bounded around the yard with her toys, chasing after her stuffed animals as though they were her closest companions.
In a TikTok video, staff wrote that she was happily playing with her “imaginary friends.”
Frito carried her plush toys proudly, her tail wagging as if nothing could shake her spirit.
The shelter team hopes her joyful nature will soon catch the eye of someone ready to adopt. Frito is a dog who lives to love and play, and she has so much to give.
“Frito is really not a picky girl. Her ideal forever home would be any home looking for a dog that is a healthy mix of both sweet and cuddly while also being super silly and playful,” Hillard said.
Not long after, the shelter shared on their TikTok that Frito had moved into a foster home. She’s now enjoying the comfort of soft beds, gentle hands, and the warmth of a real household.
Just like her friends at the shelter, we’re rooting for her to find her forever family soon. Frito is a pup who deserves endless love and a home to finally call her own.