Detroit Pistons Coach Adopts Eastwood, Shelter’s Last, Overlooked Dog

DETROIT, MI — In April, Eastwood, a partially blind Labrador with a bum leg, melted a lot of hearts, including those of Detroit Pistons Coach Stan Van Gundy and his family. Forty-nine dogs and cats were adopted during the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society’s “empty the shelter” event during the week ending April 29, but Eastwood, with his potentially sky-high veterinary bills, was left behind.

The shelter took in Eastwood after finding him shivering in the cold. His vision was reduced but is improving, and a genetic problem that causes him to drag his back leg a bit will have to be watched as he grows older. No one wanted a special needs dog, it seemed.

A social media push proved how wrong such cursory assessments can be. Once the pooch’s story got out, the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society was flooded with applications from people who wanted to adopt Eastwood.

“Poor Eastwood is so lonely now that all of his pals have been adopted,” the shelter wrote on its Facebook page. “Eastwood is the only dog left at the shelter … but we know the perfect home is out there somewhere.

“This amazing boy has a few health issues that need to be addressed (which is why we think he was abandoned initially, poor guy!), but this boy is so sweet, we know it will be well worth it,” the post continued. “He's only a year old and as nice as they come. Did we mention he's great with other dogs, cats AND kids?? Please ‘like’ and share this post, so Eastwood can have the happily ever after that he so deserves!”

Animal lovers were quick to respond. The original post was shared more than 1,900 times. The Humane Society said vetting the applicants to find the right home for Eastwood was a monumental task. The staff held the dog’s growing fan base in suspense — kind of like at an NBA game as fans wait for referees to decide if a buzzer shot counts — before announcing Tuesday the Pistons coach would welcome Eastwood into his family.

Van Gundy, his wife, Kim, and daughter, Kelly, are longtime rescuers who have adopted seven shelter dogs and nine cats over the years. Eastwood joins a menagerie that includes six cats and another dog, Opie, who’s 5 or 6.

The Van Gundys lost their 14-year-old shepherd-Labrador mix in March, “so we were kind of waiting, patiently,” Kim Van Gundy said. “We knew our next dog was going to come along.”

Eastwood was wearing a Pistons neckerchief when his new family arrived at the northern Michigan shelter to take him home to Detroit.

“We are so thrilled for Eastwood!” Deter Racine, executive director of the shelter, told People. “He went from a cold, abandoned dog living on the street to the newest member of the Van Gundy family where he’ll receive a lifetime of love and care. We couldn’t ask for a better happy ending for him, and we hope to see him on the sidelines next season cheering on his new team!”

Below, the Detroit Pistons posted photos of Eastwood headed to his new home.

Feature photos from Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, used with permission