After 640 days of waiting, Louise finally got the send-off shelter workers felt she had earned.
The 4-year-old terrier mix was adopted earlier this month from RG Cares Animal Shelter in Pomona, New York, after staff and volunteers lined a hallway and cheered as she walked out wagging her tail.
Rachel Oldenburger, an Instagram creator who shares shelter updates at @rachels.dogs, posted the video of Louise’s adoption. Newsweek reported Louise had been the shelter’s longest resident before finding what Oldenburger described as “the perfect applicant.”
The video shows staff gathered near the front as Louise heads for the exit and is clapped out. Her leash was then handed to her new owners. As she walked away with them, she looked back once at the shelter and the staff who had cared for her before continuing on.
“We don’t clap out every dog that gets adopted,” Oldenburger told Newsweek. “We decided to do this special adoption farewell for Louise because she was the longest resident at the shelter. … She deserved a special goodbye.”
Oldenburger told Newsweek Louise was “dog selective,” which narrowed the pool of possible adopters. Many people interested in her already had another dog at home, so the shelter kept looking for the right fit.
“She exudes happiness and love,” Oldenburger said. “Everyone can see what a special girl she is, and now her adopter can give her the life she has always deserved.”
According to Newsweek, Shelter Animals Count reported about 7 million animals entered US shelters and rescues in 2024. By the end of the year, intake outpaced exits by 103,000 pets.
Oldenburger urged people to adopt in the caption of her Instagram post.
“Please, please, please consider adopting a shelter dog. They need us more than ever and you quite literally are saving the life of a dog in need and inspiring the people who are writing the stories for the rest of their futures.”
The post drew emotional reactions from viewers.
“Brings tears of joy,” one person commented.
“So happy for you girl you deserve to be happy,” another wrote.
“Totally sobbing now. I hope she’s living her best life,” another commenter wrote.
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