1,169 Days in a Shelter: Why Is Everyone Overlooking This Perfect Dog?

For over three years now, Chief — a mixed-breed dog currently at the Humane Society Naples, Florida — has watched hundreds of other dogs go home with their forever families. Chief has also lost count of the times he’s seen visitors walk past him like he is invisible, yet all he wants is simple: to be part of a loving home, just like the other pups around him who get noticed faster than him.

This 5-year-old sweetheart of a boy has been a shelter resident for about 1,169 days now, a reality that staff and volunteers are having a hard time accepting. That’s because Chief is just so perfect, so much so that he deserves the title “dream companion.” 

Source: TikTok/@hsnaples

A Tough Three Years  

Just like most dogs who’ve found themselves stuck in the shelter for a prolonged period, Chief has experienced his fair share of kennel stress. The shelter environment hasn’t been too kind to him, with stress and anxiety being his closest companions. 

Chief recently found a foster home, which gave him a chance to press pause on his miserable kennel life. He was the happiest boy while under foster care, and the joy and peace of being away from the shelter, albeit temporarily, even made him add a bit of happy weight.

Unfortunately for Chief, his time at the foster home was only limited to a few days. He’s currently back at the shelter; back to wondering when he will ever get noticed and chosen. Having experienced what life in a warm, loving home feels like, Chief is sure of one thing — he doesn’t belong to the shelter. 

Chief Is Counting On You for a Forever Home

Imagine a dog that has it all: goofiness, good manners, excellent recall, a fast learner, an eagerness to please, excellent on and off-leash behaviors, loves running and going on walks, never has potty accidents, fully house trained, energetic, loves car rides, and to top it off, a heart overflowing with love. That’s Chief for you — he’s all that and more. Let’s just say that if you try to look for a flaw in Chief, best believe you’ll only hit a dead end. 

Chief enjoys spending quality time with his loved ones and will go the extra mile to show you how snuggly he can get. This handsome boy is more than ready to meet and commit to his future best friend. Could that be you? We hope so.

If you’d love to bring Chief’s 3-year-long stay at the shelter to an end, please visit the Humane Society Naples’ website for details on his adoption process. 


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