Quirky dog waiting in shelter 4 years ‘still believes in joy.’ He needs a home
A quirky dog has been at a North Carolina shelter longer than any other pup — and he still needs a home.
“Despite everything, Lilo still believes in joy,” the Humane Society of Catawba County wrote April 29 in a Facebook post. “He loves car rides, squeaky toys, and sprawling out in the sun.”
Lilo is up for adoption after a journey that started more than four years ago.
“Lilo lived alone in an outdoor kennel — without comfort, without guidance, and nearly without hope,” the shelter wrote. “His owner gave him up in March of 2021, stating that they didn’t have the time to work with a puppy. At just two years old, Lilo had already learned what it felt like to be given up on. Still so young, with so much love to give — and no one to give it to.”
Over time, Lilo has become the longest canine resident in the history of the humane society. He has gotten accustomed to shelter routines and will need structure in his next home.
“I believe it’s taken Lilo longer than most dogs due to his need for a dog savvy adopter who understands he isn’t a dog you can take around everyone everywhere,” Kaitlyn Ewing, the shelter’s director of intake, rescue and foster coordination, told McClatchy News via email. “He’s a dog who needs time to adjust to changes.”
The shelter also believes Lilo is being overlooked due to his 85-pound size and the amount of time he has spent waiting for a home.
“It almost feels like the longer they wait, the less people want to give them a chance,” Ewing wrote. “Yes, animals need decompression when they’ve been institutionalized for so long, but their ability to love is no different than a dog that’s been here for 2 days.”
Lilo is described as a smart, 6-year-old mixed-breed pup. He has an active side but also loves to settle down and snuggle.
“He’s goofy by his quirks such as flopping on the ground and scratching his back in the grass, or playing fetch not so gracefully with his big paws slapping the floor when he chases at a toy,” Ewing wrote.
As of May 1, Lilo was in need of a patient owner who has no cats or children in their home. Details about the shelter’s adoption process can be found at catawbahumane.org.
“Lilo is ready to leave the shelter life behind,” the shelter wrote. “He’s spent so long adapting to our routines, our voices, and our daily check-ins…but what he really needs is someone to call his own. A best friend. A forever family.”
The humane society is based in the Hickory area, a roughly 55-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.
This story was originally published May 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Quirky dog waiting in shelter 4 years ‘still believes in joy.’ He needs a home."
