Dog adopted and returned to shelter 3 times needs special home. ‘He’s worth it’
A dog was adopted and returned three times — and now he needs a special new home.
Hoagie is waiting for a “hero” to adopt him from a North Carolina animal shelter.
“He’s trying. He’s learning. He’s worth it,” Madison County Animal Services wrote May 13 on Facebook. “We’re not going to sugarcoat it: Hoagie needs someone a little extraordinary. But in return, he will love you with everything he has.”
The “gentle” 5-year-old dog is up for adoption after overcoming struggles at the shelter. He arrived as a stray in March and wasn’t ready to trust people at first, according to the social media post and full-time volunteer Mike Ring.
“Hoagie didn’t want to be touched,” animal services wrote. “He was scared of other dogs, confused by kindness, unsure of how to be a dog at all.”
But after some time, Hoagie made a breakthrough. The husky-German shepherd mix now always seems to be happy and helps other dogs feel more comfortable in the shelter environment, Ring told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
“He lights up when it’s playtime and finds his greatest joy in romping around with his canine buddies,” the shelter wrote. “He likes being petted (especially once he knows you), enjoys cheese like it’s a sacred food group, and has discovered the magical joy of toys and baby pools. He’s energetic and goofy, but after a good romp, he’s happy to hang out and chill by your side.”
After arriving at the shelter, Hoagie has been in and out of three loving homes. He lived in a stressful college dorm, with an older couple who had trouble keeping up with him and with a family who struggled to train him. Now, animal services wants him to end up with an owner who will prove the fourth time’s the charm.
“Hoagie has stress-induced seizures,” the shelter wrote. “They’re not constant, but they’re real. And they mean that Hoagie needs a home that fits — one that’s calm, predictable, and patient. Someone who won’t expect him to be perfect on day one.”
As of May 14, the pup was still available for adoption in Marshall, a roughly 20-mile drive northwest from the mountain town of Asheville. Details about the shelter’s adoption process can be found at madisoncountync.gov/animal-shelter.
“If you believe in second chances (and third… and fourth), if you have a soft spot for the underdog, if you know that the best dogs are sometimes the ones who’ve had to fight hardest to trust again — then Hoagie might just be your soulmate,” the shelter wrote.
This story was originally published May 14, 2025 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Dog adopted and returned to shelter 3 times needs special home. ‘He’s worth it’."
