Shy shelter dog was always passed over for being “intimidating” — after 800 days, he finally has a home

Every shelter dog dreams of finding their forever home, but it takes some longer than others to get adopted. Some dogs are overlooked for the way they look, and spend months and even years in shelters.

That was the case for one sweet but shy dog, who spent over 2 years waiting for a home — and now, his wait is finally over.

Yogi, a 4-year-old pit bull, was surrendered to Humane Society Naples in 2022, when his former owners surrendered him when they moved.

Despite their efforts, Yogi struggled to find a new home. They wrote that he had “stranger danger” and was very shy around new humans. He needed someone who would take the time to gain his trust and get to know him, but it seemed no one was willing to do that.

“Many people overlook Yogi due to his rough past and intimidating appearance,” Humane Society Naples wrote on social media. “But he deserves a second chance just as much as any other dog.”

Despite his reserved nature, they said that Yogi was an “incredibly affectionate and loyal” dog once you got to know him. He won over shelter staff, who said he would make a perfect addition to someone’s home.

“Everybody knows who Yogi is at Humane Society Naples, for sure,” satellite shelter manager Jonee Willette told WINK News. “He loves to be on his back and roll around in the grass; he loves to chase after his big jolly ball; he loves playing in the water. He’s a really, really, really sweet boy. He just needs a little bit of your patience and time to get to really know him.”

But for so long, they had no luck finding Yogi a home. After more than 2 years in the shelter, he was one of their longest-waiting residents.

Then, Yogi’s luck finally turned around. On July 30, Humane Society Naples announced the news everyone had been waiting for: Yogi was adopted!

It took 802 days, but it seems the pit bull finally found just the right family, one who took the time to get to know him and gain his trust.

“He found his perfect match, and after several thoughtful introductions, patience, and time with our behavior team, he found someone who respects his pace and won him over,” the shelter wrote. “We couldn’t be more thankful to his adopter for giving him a chance for a happy new life.”