Henry appeared in the PAWS Atlanta parking lot one morning as a 70-pound surprise waiting for our team. Even though he wasn't quite sure about us at first, we could tell he was a sweetheart. He had clearly lived in a home before and seemed to know a few tricks and knew exactly what the leash meant (walk time!). Though our large dogs sometimes spend longer at the shelter, we thought Henry would probably find a home quickly because he was so affectionate. However, after nine months Henry was still waiting.

Henry eventually found his way to a foster home where he could decompress and thrive. The shelter’s stress had been visibly affecting him, as he was losing weight, but foster care made all the difference. He was very well-behaved in his foster home, reinforcing our suspicion that Henry had lived in a loving home previously. This combined with his insistence on being a snuggly "lap dog" despite his size made us even more determined to find a home for Henry.

But the wait continued. After four months in foster care, he returned to the shelter and spent another three months hoping for a home. Then, this past January, it finally happened: someone came to meet him, fell for his personality, and couldn’t leave PAWS Atlanta without him. Henry finally got his second chance!

Henry is thriving in his new home, and his mom is, understandably, smitten with him. She says,"[Henry] has been settling in smoothly, and we were happily surprised how quickly he felt comfortable with us. We’re so grateful to have found him and for your team who did such great work taking care of him. He’s been so cuddly and already has his favorite spot on the couch. He is gentle and polite with his toys, brings them to us when we come home, or plops them at our feet while we’re playing. He’s been great on walks with his new harness. We have a fenced-in soccer field a quick walk from our apartment, so he’s been loving getting to fetch and play there after work. He’s been sleeping through the night without a peep and is a true gentleman. We’re so grateful to have a new family member and we love him so much already!"

Even when it takes a year or more, we know the right home is out there for every PAWS Atlanta pet. There's nothing better than watching an animal like Henry, who needs a second chance, finally find his family.