Dog Gets Adopted After Waiting 1,043 Days in Shelter—Her Smile Says It All

A dog who waited over 1,000 days for a forever home has finally been adopted, and the excitement in her face is everything.

In September 2022, Sheba the pit bull and terrier mix arrived at IndyHumane animal shelter in Indiana after being dumped outside. The dog was discovered roaming the parking lot alone, and, sadly, nothing is known about her past or what she went through prior to her arrival.

Sheba quickly became a staff favorite at the shelter. Jenna Habisch, the social-media manager at IndyHumane, told Newsweek that the dog is a “lovable goofball with a big heart.” Sheba is always a joy to be around, as she loves to run around and play, but she is also more than happy to settle down for a snuggle.

“One day, she would be all about a quick potty break and snuggling, but then other days she would be full of zoomies,” Habisch, of Indianapolis, Indiana, said. “When she was happy and playing, her signature honks would come out (think funny, pig-grunting noises) when she had the zoomies. She loves being the center of attention and thrived when she was close to her humans.”

Sheba is house-trained, behaves well on a leash, is gentle, and can be very calm. Overall, she would make a wonderful addition to anyone looking to adopt, but, unfortunately, Sheba was kept waiting for a total of 1,043 days in the shelter.

During that time, she was adopted and returned twice, through no fault of her own. The first time was in 2023 when the family took her back to the shelter as she was more than they could handle. It was hoped that her fortunes had changed when she was adopted again in 2024, but Sheba’s owner died, and the dog was back at the shelter just two weeks later.

“We are so thankful for the short time that they were able to spend together, the memories they made, and the break she was able to get from the shelter,” Habisch said.

It was heartbreaking to see Sheba return to the shelter twice after thinking she had found her forever home. She was often overlooked due to her breed and size, and Habisch noted that she didn’t always have “the best kennel presence.”

People would frequently walk past her because they couldn’t appreciate her true personality unless she was outside the kennel. As her wait for a home went on, the kennel stress really took its toll on Sheba, but whenever she got to meet people outside, she “perked right back up.”

Finally, more than 400 days since her last adoption, and after waiting 1,043 days in total, Sheba’s luck changed, and she was adopted on July 12, 2025. It is hoped that third time’s a charm for this lovable pup, who seems to be settling into her new home wonderfully.

“She gets to be the only pet in the home, so she will have the full attention of her new adopters. They have been very intentional and communicative about checking in with our enrichment team for additional support, so we feel confident she’s in great hands,” Habisch said.

“Sheba is an amazing example of how a dog that is commonly overlooked in the shelter due to size, age, breed, or kennel presence can still be an absolutely amazing addition to someone’s family.”

The shelter staff couldn’t resist sharing pictures of Sheba when she finally got her freedom ride to her new home. The pictures were shared on the IndyHumane Facebook account, and they have delighted internet users who love seeing how much Sheba is thriving.

The images show Sheba appearing to smile beside her new owner, playing with toys, and enjoying her new backyard.

In just a matter of days, the Facebook post has generated over 600 reactions and been shared more than 130 times. Plenty of social-media users were quick to comment about how happy Sheba looks to start her next chapter.

One comment on the post reads: “All smiles, what a happy beautiful girl.”

Another person wrote: “Look at that smile. She is so happy.”

A third Facebook user replied: “So happy for her!”

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