Chicago Shelter Dog Who Waited 933 Days For A Home Bursts With Joy At Her Goodbye Party
Tracy had no idea how long she’d been waiting at the PAWS Chicago shelter. Days turned into months, and months into years.
She spent two and a half years watching other dogs leave with families while her kennel stayed closed.
It wasn’t that people didn’t like her; everyone at the shelter adored her. She was goofy, affectionate, and full of life.
But Tracy was a big, energetic pup in a city where most people wanted small dogs who fit perfectly into apartment living.
And so, time after time, she was overlooked, as the shelter 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, the staff at PAWS Chicago never gave up on her. They made sure she had everything to keep her heart happy.
She had daily walks, training, enrichment games, and endless cuddles, as Allison explained:
“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.”
They knew that one day, someone out there would see Tracy the way they did. And in the meantime, she was still learning, still wagging, still hopeful.
Then came the day her world finally changed. A woman named Laura and her family came to the shelter, ready to adopt.
They had a list of dogs they wanted to meet, and Tracy happened to be one of them. The family greeted a few pups first, but something was missing. There was no click.
And then they met Tracy. The big pup walked right up, leaned in, and rested her head in Laura’s hand. That was it. No one had to say anything.
In just a few minutes, it was clear that Tracy had found her people. And more importantly, she had chosen them right back. 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 of waiting, Tracy was finally heading home. To mark the occasion, the rescue team threw her the send-off she deserved.
It wasn’t just a quick goodbye; it was a real celebration. More than 40 people showed up: volunteers, foster parents, walking buddies, and friends she’d made over the years.
Tracy lapped it all up at her celebration party, the true guest of honor she was. She soaked up every hug and belly rub, as if she understood this was her big farewell.
Now, Tracy is living the life she had always dreamed of. She spends her days going on walks, sticking her head out of the car window, and playing tug with her favorite rope toy.
Most of all, she loves being close to her family. She follows them around like she never wants to let them out of her sight.
Laura couldn’t be more grateful to PAWS for loving Tracy so deeply during all those years. It was that love, she believes, that kept Tracy’s spirit unbroken.
Despite being overlooked for so long, Tracy never lost her spark. She’s strong, joyful, and full of love, as Laura shared:
“The love she received from PAWS must have helped her retain her resilience and her hope. 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.”
From a lonely kennel to a home filled with love, Tracy’s wait was long, but her happy ending was worth every single day.
