Dog Found Padlocked To Tree Finds Home After 179 Days In LI Shelter

NORTH FORK, NY — It was a happy ending for a homeless dog who was in a North Fork shelter for 179 long days.

According to Gabrielle Stroup, director of operations at The League, which has locations in Peconic and Aquebogue, Olivia had had multiple applications to adopt her fall through, "through no fault of her own."

Stroup and the shelter shared Olivia's heartbreaking story on social media: "Before Olivia arrived to the North Fork on one of our transports from Georgia, she was found tied up to a tree with a heavy padlock tightly fit around her neck."

After that, she spent her days sitting in a kennel, "watching potential adopters pass her by. Despite her unfortunate start at life, she is an absolute sweetheart," the shelter said. "She has so much love to give, and does so when given the opportunity. This sweet girl wants nothing but to be loved."

Added Stroup: "She's an exceptional dog, and great with other dogs. We would come in every day and say, 'Why is Olivia still here?'"

Staff then put out a social media post and sent out emails, which got "a ton" of reponses, Stroup said.

Soon after the social media appeal, it was the day shelter staff had been hoping for: A call came in about Olivia.

A man, who the shelter said was named Joseph, had received an email from his neighbor Linda, which had been sent out by the shelter in hopes of finding Olivia a place to call her own.

"He was very willing to meet her," Linda said; she had also adopted three kittens from the shelter in August.

Olivia and Joseph's senior dog Jett bonded immediately, Linda said. "They immediately knew that they had found a new member for their family," she said. "In the car, she laid her head on laps, perhaps missing the shelter buddies she'd had for six months, but she is already acclimating to having a home. Olivia has a wonderful new family."

Stroup, on Monday, reached out on social media to thank all who'd shared the emails and posted about Olivia. "Because of your shares, she found her forever home Sunday," she wrote. "We are so excited for her. We are all thrilled that it was finally Olivia’s time to be picked for a happy life!"