Babydoll, an 8-year-old rescue dog, has now spent more than a year in a shelter. But despite waiting so long, she still greets people with a wagging tail and the same hopeful smile she had when she first arrived.
What happened?
A video shared by Cassondra Christman, an Instagram user documenting Babydoll's journey, captures just how consistently cheerful the dog has remained.
The clip opens with Babydoll in a pink frill dress, smiling at the camera while on-screen text says that "she's been waiting for 368 days." It then flashes back to her first day at the shelter, when tear stains marked her face and her nose was bleeding, but her tail was still wagging as someone came over to help.
According to DogTime, Babydoll has been a bundle of joy despite having not found a forever home. She perks up when visitors stop at her kennel, carries her favorite toys around, and eagerly takes every chance she gets to go on outings.
Cassondra's post says Babydoll has done much more than sit and wait. She has been on car rides, appeared on TV, dozed off in office chairs, and stayed in foster homes, and the post says she is potty trained, crate trained, and house trained.
Why does it matter?
Her situation is a familiar problem in animal rescues — adult and senior dogs spend a much longer time waiting for homes than puppies, even though they may already have the training and personality many adopters say they are looking for.
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A prolonged stay in a shelter can be hard on animals, even when staff and volunteers work to give them enrichment, affection, and time away from the kennel.
There is also a capacity issue for rescues, since dogs who are passed over again and again continue occupying limited space that might otherwise go to another animal needing help.
Despite her difficult start, this adorable dog is affectionate, resilient, and still eager to connect with people.
What's being done?
Cassondra's post also gives prospective adopters a clearer picture of the kind of home that might suit Babydoll. She is described as great with people, while any dogs already in the home would need to be introduced to her first.
The post adds that Babydoll is very interested in chasing cats and other small animals, so a home without them would likely be the better fit. It also says she has done well in foster care and can comfortably stay home while her foster family is at work.
Cassondra states on Instagram that anyone interested in welcoming Babydoll to their family can fill out an adoption interest form.
The video keeps returning to one painful question: "Why has no one wanted her?" At the same time, it underscores something else just as memorable: Babydoll is "still smiling through it all."
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