After 364-Day Wait At FL Shelter, Rescued Dog Finally Gets New Home

SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL ? For 364 days, Sophie, a sweet, gray-colored American Staffordshire terrier mix, watched as hundreds of rescued dogs came into the Seminole County Animal Services shelter.

The 7-year-old dog stood anxiously at the gate of her kennel and watched with soulful eyes as dozens of families passed by her pen, rarely giving her a second glance, opting to adopt one of the other rescued dogs at the shelter instead.

Despite being passed over again and again, Sophie continued to press her nose against the kennel gate whenever she heard a potential adoptive family walk down the hall separating the kennels, hoping against all hope that she'd finally be noticed.

As the one-year anniversary of Sophie's stay at the shelter approached, and animal services staff despaired of ever seeing the gentle, good-natured dog adopted, Bree Burkett, Seminole County adoption coordinator, posted a heart-breaking video on the shelter's Facebook page. It showed a time-lapse video of Sophie as she watched and waited, day after day, for a family to choose her.

In the Facebook post, Burkett noted that Sophie "loves going for walks and is a volunteer favorite here at the shelter. Don?t leave her in her kennel begging for attention any longer."

"It (the video) kind of gave the point of view of the dog," said Burkett. "You got to see what she sees every day. People coming and going, walking by her cage. Sometimes not even stopping to say hi."

The video attracted more than 28,000 pageviews, including that of a Seminole County man who promptly contacted the shelter and adopted the forgotten dog.

"We did it," posted Burkett. "After 364 days living at Seminole County Animal Services, Sophie has found a home. Thanks to all of you, our dedicated animal lovers, for sharing and spreading the story of Sophie. Her new dad saw her on social media and just had to have her."