Sweet Senior Dog With Dementia Gets a Forever Home in Adorable Foster Fail
This story has such a happy ending for both the pup and his new favorite person.
Published Sept. 30 2024, 3:36 p.m. ET
A North Carolina pooch has found his forever home after being adopted by his foster mom. The beloved pup was a resident of the Forsyth Humane Society for nearly a year when his new mama stepped in, officially adopting the 12-year-old and giving his story the ultimate happy ending.
The canine in question had been having a hard time after being surrendered due in part to his age-related dementia.
Fortunately, the senior dog's dementia diagnosis didn't scare his new foster mom away, and she was eager to rescue the pup after almost losing him to another family. You can get all the details of this heartwarming story below.
Ollie was adopted by his foster mom.
On Sept. 24, 2024, the Forsyth Humane Society shared some happy news with its Instagram and Facebook followers after a long-term resident found his forever home. The shepherd mix, while technically under the care of the Humane Society, had been spending his days living with his foster mom Allyson Hewitt, who had fallen in love with the pup after taking him in over Christmas weekend in 2023.
"Though Ollie was initially available for adoption, his foster realized after the first meet and greet with an interested couple that she couldn't stand the thought of letting him go," the Humane Society posted. "If they passed on adopting Ollie, she wouldn't let the opportunity slip through her fingers again."
Fortunately for both Ollie and his foster family, they got a second chance together when the meet and greet didn't result in an adoption, and Ollie was able to return home, this time for good.
Ollie had been with the Forsyth Humane Society since November 2023.
According to NBC affiliate WXII 12, Ollie was surrendered to the Forsyth Humane Society after his previous family could no longer manage his care.
Hewitt came into Ollie's life when she answered an email looking for volunteers to take some animals home over the Christmas holiday. She came to love him so much over that short weekend that she continued to foster Ollie while he waited for his forever home, not realizing that he'd already found it.
One of the reasons the 12-year-old went so long without being adopted had to do with his age and dementia diagnosis. Both factors meant he would require a bit of specialized care, including the need for a calm and quiet home with a fixed schedule that would be easy for him to get used to.
Before Hewitt adopted Ollie, Annette Grove, the adoption counselor from Forsyth Humane Society told the NBC News affiliate how she had just one wish for the senior while trying to find him a new family.
"Just a home where he can spend his last years and be pampered and loved," Grove said. Well, it may have taken a little while, but it seems like Grove finally got her wish.
Here's hoping that Ollie's story inspires more people to consider senior dogs with special needs so that more pooches can get their happy ending, just like Ollie did!
