Lafayette, We Are Here: Nashville Animal Control Still Looking for Forever Home for Long-Time Resident

NASHVILLE, TN — The first question, naturally, is whether "Lafayette" is "Luh-fayette" like the seat of Macon County or "La-fee-et" like the French hero of the American Revolution.

It's the former, at least officially.

"We just call him 'La La,'" Becca Morris, public relations coordinator for Metro Animal Care and Control, said. "Either way he is awesome."

The three-year-old Lafayette was one of 130 animals adopted from MACC during this weekend's fee-free adoption promotion, sponsored by Mars Petcare. In total, there were 375 adoptions at the participating shelters, which also included the Nashville Humane Associate and Williamson County Animal Control.

But Lafayette's was special. He is the animal who had been at the MACC shelter the longest: 120 days. The staff, which tries not to get too attached to their charges, was unabashedly enthusiastic about his adoption, giving him a special send-off.

But, as sometimes happens, the adoption did not work out.

"It was no fault of his or the adopters and we have an open return policy for that reason. We want people to get the right animal for their home. He's amazing, he's really a cool dog," Morris said.

Lafayette was one of 97 animals — 40 of which were cats — who were taken in to the shelter Tuesday, an all-time single-day record. Thirty-one of those came out of an eviction and were not being well-cared for. Another 17 were in a "hoarding situation." Most of the rest, like Lafayette, were owner-surrendered.

The important thing is that Lafayette and his compatriots find the right fit. The 3-year-old dog is "high energy," Morris said and needs a family that is willing to exercise with him and be patient as he learns appropriate behavior.

Shelter staff have been working with him on basic commands and he is getting those down. He has become an excellent walker. Morris said a volunteer — "a big burly guy with a beard" — came back to the shelter after taken Lafayette for a walk with tears in his eyes.

"He said, 'The only time he pulled on the leash is when he tried to chase a butterfly,'" Morris recalled.

In a shelter with 200 animals and a society that covets designer dogs, Morris said a dog like Lafayette can often get overlooked, but "he's a cool dog."

"He does well with other dogs. He does our play groups," she said. And even though it didn't work out at home, his would-be-adopters have been by to take Lafayette on regular walks anyway.

"We have several long-term stay dogs," Morris said. "They aren't broken, they are down on their luck and someone needs to take a chance on them."

In a shelter like MACC, an animal is classified as "long-term stay" after two weeks. Lafayette is now over 120 days and a handful of other dogs at the shelter are not far behind.

On Thursdays, MACC, which is located at 5125 Harding Place, waives adoption fees for those animals who have been in the shelter for longer than two weeks. The shelter is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and until 6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Photos by Adrian Budnick and Penny Adams, via Metro Animal Care and Control