Dog Still Looking For Forever Home After Over 1,000 Days In Shelter Melts Hearts
In 2024, about 5.8 million dogs and cats were taken in by animal shelters and rescue organizations in the United States, but only 4.2 million of those animals found their forever homes. Shelter surrender is likely worse than you thought, with many of the animals clearly demonstrating fear, anxiety, and destructive behavior in noisy and often chaotic shelter environments. Finding loving homes for dogs and cats is a seemingly endless problem all around the world. The shelter Pawprints to Freedom rescues abandoned and abused dogs in Romania and finds permanent homes for them in the United Kingdom.
As of August 2025, one long-term shelter resident still looking for a home is a sweet mixed-breed named Martini, whose happy grin and shy but sweet personality are guaranteed to melt hearts. Found on the streets of Romania on July 22, 2022, she has been living in the shelter ever since. It's a heartbreaking length of time to think of any dog surviving without a forever home filled with belly scritches, long walks, games of fetch, and loving cuddles. So, what's Martini's story?
Finding a permanent home for Martini
At 4 years old, Martini has already spent more than three years living in an animal shelter. Large dogs are among the shelter dogs who take the longest to be adopted, which may go some way toward explaining why playful but gentle Martini hasn't yet found a permanent home. Despite her size, shelter staff say she would be good with children 12 years or older, and she would also do well living with cats or other dogs. "She would love a home who will take her on adventures, help her to continue to grow in confidence, and become a trusted person in her small world," Rebecca Smyth, director and trustee of Pawprints to Freedom, told Newsweek.
If you're in the UK, you may want to consider giving a local shelter, or Martini, a look. Even if you're unable to adopt Martini or another needy animal, there are other ways to help pet shelters, such as by donating blankets, towels, and other items on shelter want lists, volunteering your time, or donating money. Of course, the ultimate goal is to find fur-ever homes for Martini and all the other very good girls and very good boys out there.