After 1,731 Days, This Shelter Dog Finally Finds a Home—& His Reaction is Heart Melting
Back in February 2023, Jones — a now 13-year-old Terrier mix — went viral on TikTok for being the longest shelter resident at the Humane Society of Greater Miami. Millions watched his heartbreaking story, and as the comments and views went up, the shelter was optimistic that his breakthrough for a forever home was just around the corner. They were wrong. Somehow, the world moved on and forgot all about Jones.
As the clicks on his video stopped climbing, Jones was back to waiting. Back to pressing his graying face on the metal bars of his kennel, longing for someone to choose him once and for all.
@humanemiami The Ultimate & Final Jones Update! ✨ After waiting almost five years for his forever home, Jones was FINALLY adopted today! His adopters recently lost their senior pet, and when they saw Jones’ viral videos, they instantly fell in love. They told us he reminded them of their beloved pet, and they couldn’t bear the thought of him spending his final years without a family. It’s always a bittersweet moment when our long-timers walk out those doors with their new families, but we couldn’t be happier for our sweet man, Jones. Jones has been, and always will be, a favorite among our staff, volunteers, foster parents, and Bark Around Town crew. We know who’s about to be extra spoiled! We hope he and his family come visit us soon. A HUGE thank you to everyone who posted, shared, and advocated for Jones—you helped him find his perfect match! ❤️ Now, onto finding loving homes for the rest of our seniors and long-timers! #adopted #happytails #jones #humanemiami #humanesocietymiami #adoptaseniorpet #adoptadog #adoptaseniordog ♬ BIRDS OF A FEATHER – Billie Eilish
Jones arrived at the shelter when he was nine years old. When 2025 came, he was still a senior shelter resident, with no place to call home. He’d often spend his days curled up on the cold kennel floor, wondering why he was so unlucky. Even though his old body was tired of waiting for his perfect match to come along, his heart still beat with unconditional love and faint hope.
The Perfect Day Out
When Eric & Joey — a duo of volunteers fully dedicated to helping shelter dogs in various animal shelters across the country find homes — visited the Humane Society of Greater Miami a couple of days ago, their hearts broke when they encountered Jones.
You see, Eric and Joey were the ones who shared Jones’s story in 2023. Seeing this lovely senior at the shelter nearly 3 years after his viral video tugged at their heartstrings, and so they decided to try once again. Eric and Joey treated Jones to a day out just so he could catch a break from his lonely reality and get his sweet face seen on TikTok one more time.
For a few precious hours, Jones forgot he was a shelter pup. The happy look on his face as he rode in the backseat with the windows rolled down spoke volumes about a pup who wished he could freeze that moment. Little did Jones know that the next time he’d take a car ride, it wouldn’t be for a temporary outing; it would be to his forever home.
Jones Has Found a Forever Home
After almost five years of waiting, Jones recently got adopted into a loving family that lost their senior pet. For the first time in a long time, he isn’t waking up to a cold concrete floor and the constant barks of other desperate shelter dogs around him. All he will hear from now on is the warm laughter of a family that chose him, not out of pity, but out of true love.
Jones now has a soft bed to rest his aging bones, gentle hands that scratch his ears and belly, and a cozy spot on the couch where he can curl up next to the people he considers his family. After everything, Jones is exactly where he was always meant to be.
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