Beowulf waited three years to find a home. He was left at our gate, scared and shut down. We don't know his story before he came to PAWS Atlanta, but it's clear he wasn't given the opportunity to truly bond with his previous owner. His fear and suspicion caused him to lash out humans, even the ones trying to care for him. His trust in people had been demolished, and we knew it would take time to build it back up.

Thanks to the hard work of our staff and our volunteers (especially our cat whisperer, Ed!), Beowulf slowly got more comfortable around people. It took nearly a year, but he gradually started to come out of hiding. He loved laying in the window bed to keep an eye on things. Quick movements and loud noises still scared him, though, and he had a ways to go before he was ready to fully relax.

Eventually, he spent time in two foster homes, which helped him continue to grow his confidence. He was able to decompress for several months in each foster placement, giving him the chance to show us his true personality. One of his foster sisters brought out his chatty side - something we had never seen before! He would roll on the floor to get her attention, give her little kisses, and talk to her. We loved seeing him blossom.

In October of this year, Beowulf finally found the loving home he waited so long for. His new mom had met him a year before, when he was still quite shy. He stayed on her mind long after, and when she saw his photo in a slideshow at our Party for the PAWS event, she knew it was fate. Beowulf was comfortable with his new family almost immediately. It was as though he knew he was finally home. He has three dog siblings and a cat sister, who he's slowly wooing to be his best friend. His new parents adore him, and he continues to grow more and more confident every day. Beowulf's happily-ever-after might be one of our favorites!

Every animal in our care deserves to the chance to thrive, and we want each one of them to find the loving homes they deserve. We're in it for the long haul, especially for the 37 dogs and four cats who have been at our shelter for over a year. Will you help these animals receive the care they need while they wait for their perfect family? Will you join us for the long haul? Give now.