Chicago Shelter Dog Waits 933 Days For A Family And Her Reaction At Goodbye Party Says It All
Some dogs find homes within days. Others wait a little longer. But for one sweet pup named Tracy, the wait dragged on far too long.
Inside her kennel at PAWS Chicago, life went on. Dogs came and went into their forever homes, while Tracy stayed behind, still waiting for her turn.
She had spent 933 days in that shelter. That’s two and a half years of watching other dogs leave, hoping that one day, someone would look at her and see how special she is.
Everyone at PAWS adored her. Tracy was goofy, full of energy, and endlessly affectionate. She had this big, silly grin that could light up any room.
But being a large, energetic dog in a city full of apartment dwellers made things tough. The shelter’s senior digital media manager, Allison Wunder, shared in an interview:
“Most of our adopters are people who live in the city looking for calmer, smaller breeds that are more apartment friendly. Tracy just kept growing.”
Still, no one at PAWS ever gave up on her. They made sure her days were filled with love, fun, and purpose.
She had long walks, playtime, training sessions, and enrichment games to keep her mind sharp. But above all, she had people who cared deeply for her. Allison continued:
“No day at PAWS was wasted for Tracy — we work really hard to provide mental and physical enrichment alongside positive reinforcement training for all our dogs, so that Tracy could be successful when her family did come along.”
The staff never stopped believing that her day would come. Tracy didn’t stop believing either. She greeted every morning with a wagging tail, ready to love whoever walked through that door.
Then one day, her moment finally arrived. A woman named Laura and her family came to the shelter, looking to adopt.
They had a short list of dogs they wanted to meet, and Tracy happened to be one of them. The family met a few dogs first, but nothing quite clicked.
Then Tracy came out to meet them. She walked right up to Laura, pressed her head into her hand, and stayed there. No words were needed.
In that moment, everyone just knew. Tracy had found her family, and they had found her. Allison shared:
“They certainly chose her, but to watch Tracy choose them right back was magical. It was like she’d known them for years and had been waiting for them all along.”
After 933 days, Tracy’s wait was finally over. To celebrate, the PAWS team threw her the most heartwarming goodbye party, a celebration of her journey.
Over forty people showed up to say goodbye: volunteers, staff, foster families, and walking buddies who had cared for her over the years.
Tracy was overjoyed. She soaked in every hug and belly rub at her party. She knew, somehow, that this was her day. And then, just like that, she was off to start her new life.
Now, Tracy is finally living the life she always dreamed of. She goes on long walks, rides in the car with her head out the window, and plays tug-of-war with her favorite rope toy.
But her favorite thing in the world? Simply being near her family. She follows them from room to room, as if she still can’t believe she gets to stay with them forever.
Laura says she’ll always be grateful to PAWS for the love they gave Tracy during her long wait.
That love, she believes, is what kept Tracy’s spirit strong, as she shared:
“Nothing about her is a victim. She’s strong and confident, and she knows how to love because she was loved by the people at PAWS.”
After nearly three years in a kennel, Tracy is finally home, and her joy says everything words can’t.
