There’s a universal soft spot for cute dogs, and these adorable canines often find homes quickly when they’re in shelters.
However, Martin, an irresistibly cute dog at the SPCA of Wake County, hasn’t been as fortunate.
This senior dog was surrendered by his 89-year-old owner, who felt he could no longer provide the care Martin deserved.
Samantha Ranlet, a marketing communications specialist at SPCA, shared with The Dodo, “His [dad] was 89 years old and reached a point where he couldn’t provide the life that he felt Martin deserved.”
She continued, “He wanted a better life for him.”
While the reason was heartbreakingly genuine, it underscored the need for Martin to find a loving home where he could spend his golden years.
Despite his age, Martin adapted well to his new surroundings.
Ranlet observed, “He adjusted pretty well. I don’t know if he understood what was going on, but even from day one, he was just this happy, easy-going, really sweet old man with a teddy bear face.”
However, Martin’s journey to find a forever home wasn’t smooth.
He was adopted multiple times, only to be returned to the shelter. In the two months he spent there, he was returned a staggering seven times.
The challenges of caring for an older dog, coupled with Martin’s heartworm condition, might have been factors.
Yet, the shelter staff remained optimistic about finding Martin’s perfect match. They believed that somewhere out there was a family meant for him.
In a bid to help Martin find his forever home, the shelter highlighted his story on their Facebook page.
They wrote, “Martin really is the bestest boy. His former owner said he is extremely gentle, especially with kids — Martin used [to] cuddle up with their grandkids so they could lie their heads on him for a nap. He’s great with people of all ages, including seniors, gets along with dogs of all sizes and energy levels, and is housetrained and crate-trained. Martin is a bit hard of hearing (he’s 10 years old), but he still knows some tricks and loves being rewarded with treats.”
The power of social media shone brightly for Martin.
The post quickly went viral, amassing almost 3,000 shares. Within a mere 48 hours, the shelter was inundated with adoption applications for him.
Among the hopeful adopters was a couple experienced in caring for senior dogs.
They weren’t deterred by Martin’s age or his medical condition.
Ranlet revealed, “They just fell in love with him and his teddy bear energy.”
The post’s popularity even turned Martin into a local celebrity. The SPCA of Wake County recounted an amusing incident: “…right after Martin’s family left the SPCA and took him down to the pet store, the pet store employees recognized him immediately and said, ‘Is that Martin?!’”
While the staff at the SPCA of Wake County miss their teddy bear-faced friend, they’re overjoyed that Martin has found his forever home.
Check out a video about the SPCA of Wake County below!
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