Shelter dog — an ‘irresistible cuddlebug’ — needed home. Man fell for her right away
A loving dog waited months for a home — then a shelter visitor fell for her right away.
“When they met face-to-face, the bond was immediate, and an hour later, they left the shelter in great spirits to start a new life together,” a Florida humane society wrote Feb. 11 on Facebook.
The Humane Society of Tampa Bay celebrated the heartwarming adoption after Mona arrived in October. She had been transferred from another facility and was in rough shape.
“Likely used for breeding purposes, she came to HSTB with a variety of significant health issues, including fractured teeth and heartworm disease,” the shelter wrote. “Despite a life of neglect, Mona’s over-the-top affectionate nature quickly won over our staff and volunteers.”
Over time, Mona became known as an “irresistible cuddlebug.” So the 6-year-old pup was ready to show off her friendliness when a visitor, identified only as Jeffrey, arrived in search of a long-term shelter dog.
“Mona immediately caught his eye when he passed her kennel, and she ran up to greet him with a huge smile and nonstop tail wags,” the animal organization wrote. “Although Jeffrey understood the seriousness of heartworm treatment (which the shelter provides at no cost to our adopters), he also knew there was far more to this special girl than a medical diagnosis.”
Then came the good news that the man adopted Mona, kicking off their new chapter together. Several Facebook users congratulated the dog as she got a fresh start and wished the duo well.
“This made me cry, tears of joy for this sweet girl....Happy tails to you baby girl,” one person commented.
“I hope she lives the rest of her life loved and happy,” another commented.
The humane society didn’t respond to McClatchy News’ requests for additional information on Feb. 12.
This story was originally published February 13, 2025 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Shelter dog — an ‘irresistible cuddlebug’ — needed home. Man fell for her right away."
