For 933 days, Tracy, a big, high-energy pup, waited in PAWS Chicago shelter for a family to notice her. Despite being beloved by volunteers, potential adopters kept passing her by, drawn to smaller, calmer breeds better suited for city living.
“Most of our adopters are looking for apartment-friendly dogs,” Allison Wunder, PAWS Chicago’s senior digital media manager, told The Dodo. “Tracy just kept growing—and getting overlooked.”
But the shelter never gave up on her. Staff worked hard to give Tracy mental stimulation, physical enrichment, and positive reinforcement training, ensuring she’d be ready for her forever home when the right family finally came along.
Then, Laura and her family walked into the shelter. They had a list of dogs they were considering—including Tracy, whom they’d seen in a video online. After meeting a few pups without feeling a real connection, they locked eyes with Tracy.
“Tracy laid her head in Laura’s hand,” Wunder recalled. “About five minutes in, they knew she was the one.”
The PAWS Chicago team was overjoyed.
“They chose her, but watching Tracy choose them back was magical,” Wunder said. “It was like she’d known them for years and had been waiting for them all along.”
To celebrate Tracy’s final day as a shelter dog, the rescue threw her a goodbye party, gathering over 40 of her favorite people—volunteers, running partners, and former foster parents—who had loved her over the years. Tracy basked in the affection, soaking up every pet and well-wish before leaving with her new family.
Now, Tracy is thriving in her forever home. She loves walks, car rides, and tugging on her rope toys, but most of all, she adores her people, often following them around the house. Laura is grateful to the PAWS staff for believing in Tracy and helping her shine.
“Despite being in the shelter so long, Tracy held onto her spirit, her pride, and her joy for life,” Laura told PAWS Chicago. “The love she received from PAWS must have helped her retain her resilience and her hope. She’s not a victim—she’s strong, confident, and knows how to love because she was loved by the people at PAWS.”