Senior shelter dog overlooked for a year finds ‘perfect' home with familiar face
Honey Bun now has the 'perfect' home — with a familiar face. A North Carolina animal shelter said the dog had been living with a foster mom, who eventually decided to adopt her.
'She's such a sweetie and I love her very much,' her new owner told the Asheville Humane Society in an April 11 Facebook post. 'I feel so lucky that she came into my life.'
Honey Bun got a second chance after she landed at the shelter in March 2024. She had anxiety, possible arthritis and eyes that didn't 'work as well as they once did,' the shelter wrote in past social media posts and an email to McClatchy News.
'Honey Bun came to us as a senior in rough condition — sporting a lengthy list of medical concerns, she required a great deal of care,' the humane society wrote. 'Sweet, patient, and easygoing, our staff fell in love with Honey Bun. She gave as much as she received through limitless affection.'
As Honey Bun spent months waiting for a home, Hurricane Helene devastated parts of Western North Carolina in late September. In the wake of the storm, the senior pup was one of roughly 100 dogs who had to be transferred to another facility. A shelter worker, only identified as Grace, stayed behind to spend extra time with her.
'Honey Bun and Grace had a powerful bond,' the shelter wrote in October. 'Grace knew transport was necessary for Honey Bun's happiness, even if that meant not sharing the adoption experience together.'
Honey Bun landed at the Forsyth Humane Society in Winston-Salem, which placed her in a foster home. The shelter said her foster mom, identified only as Susan, was dedicated to caring for the 'calm,' snuggly dog.
'Susan cared for Honey Bun like she was her own, never complaining about the requirements of her care, choosing instead to celebrate her personality, companionship, successes, and 'happy hops,'' the humane society wrote. 'Susan sent us updates on Honey Bun regularly, and even hosted a tiny reunion at her home for the members of our staff who had bonded with her.'
Over time, the 11-year-old, mixed breed pup was overlooked. The shelter said people often pass over senior dogs, especially those with medical issues.
Then the shelter shared the good news that Honey Bun finally was matched with the 'perfect adopter': Susan. Several Facebook users celebrated the pup as she kicked off her next chapter.
'Staff was elated to see her adopted,' the animal organization wrote. 'One staff member in particular gushed at what an exceptional sweet dog she is and that her adoptive parent is perfect for her.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
As Texas flood waters recede, efforts to rescue pets intensify
As the search for signs of life in flood-stricken Texas Hill Country continue, the race to save pets impacted by the devastation is on. Non-profit pet shelter Austin Pets Alive! has taken in over 230 animals primarily from shelters impacted by the floods that began July 4. The shelter said in a July 6 blog update it is coordinating a volunteer search and rescue group to find animals in impacted areas. The shelter also said it is seeking donations to provide support to families that have lost pets, including body recovery and cremation services. "It's been devastating for all living beings," Dr. Ellen Jefferson said in a July 6 Facebook post. "So many people are searching for their pets that are the last connection they might have to a lost family member. Pets are so intertwined in this saga and it's so important." Suzie Chase, the shelter's community affairs officer, told USA TODAY in a July 7 interview that the Austin shelter has served as a sanctuary for pets who have lost their family in the destruction the storms wrought. "We've had some cases where extended family members have asked us to foster animals because the animal's family perished in the floods," Chase said. "The extended family members just need to be able to figure out what to do next with the dogs and cats that have been located." Chase said that it is not the first time the shelter has been a part of a large-scale animal rescue, pointing to efforts following Hurricane Harvey and Winter Storm Uri. Lindsay O'Gan, the shelter's Instructional Design Manager who is in Kerrville with the rescue and reunification efforts, said in an interview with USA TODAY that the devastation in Central Texas was "hard to describe." "It happened so fast. In the same way we are seeing so much human missing and casualty ... I think the numbers are going to be much higher than we realize," O'Gan said. "Maybe 80%, 90% of the animals that are reported to us are lost, their owners are also lost or deceased." Texas flooding death toll hits 104: Hard-hit areas face new flooding risks Pet reunifications bring respite One of the pets the shelter was able to reunify with surviving family was Superman. The medium-sized mixed breed was found in the debris and was wary of rescuers, snapping at them before they earned his trust. "His surviving family, now grieving and having lost everything, are doing everything they can to hold on to the last piece of their past that remains," the shelter wrote in the July 6 Facebook post. O'Gan noted that the staff at Kerrville Pets Alive!, where the recovery effort is based, continued their work despite connections to the unfolding tragedy. "They've lost their own family members, or they've lost their own friends, or they've just had tragedy rolling in on their phones as they are working and they would keep going," O'Gan said. "I can't imagine what it's like, that it's in their own community and they have their own losses to deal with but they just keep going." She described the moments when pets can be reunified with families as, "Christmas, New Years and birthdays all combined." "We all really absorb those moments, because they are so rare," O'Gan added. What does the pet shelter need? On its website, Austin Pets Alive! said its largest need is monetary donations. The shelter also said the following supplies are needed: Chase noted that the list on its website is updated as needs change. O'Gan added that the shelter will need support long after the waters recede. "There's always this outpouring of support right after a disaster that dries up and I understand that as folks move on," O'Gan said. "We're going to be working on this for the next months after the news moves on. Hopefully they'll keep us in their thoughts and keep sending those donations because they are going to be needed for the foreseeable future."
.jpeg&w=3840&q=100)
Miami Herald
6 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Dog badly burned in CA wildfire was ‘lucky to be alive.' Now, he's found a home
Less than a day after the onset of a deadly California wildfire, a badly burned dog arrived at an animal shelter. Riley spent months healing in the wake of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, which began Jan. 7, burned 14,021 acres and left 18 dead, Pasadena Humane said in a July 5 Facebook post. He was ready for adoption in May, McClatchy News previously reported. 'It was incredibly moving to watch this Eaton Fire survivor recover and thrive until finally, he was ready to find his new home,' the nonprofit shelter said. 'And now, Riley has found his perfect match.' Users on Facebook were quick to share their excitement over Riley's adoption, with one calling it a 'beautiful story.' 'So happy he's settled in his new home with his new family,' one user commented. 'He certainly deserves it.' When Riley first arrived, 'he had burns all over his body, including all four of his paws, and was suffering from smoke inhalation,' the shelter said. 'He was lucky to be alive,' the nonprofit said. As his first photo from the shelter made rounds 'around the world,' Riley became 'a powerful representation of the fire's devastating effect on the animals,' the shelter said. Slowly, 'with the help of our compassionate and caring staff,' he began to heal from 'his physical and emotional trauma,' the shelter said. Before adopting him, Riley's new owner 'met with him several times, making sure it was the right fit — both for her, and for her other husky at home,' the shelter said. 'When Riley finally jumped into her car, it was clear: he was ready for this next chapter,' the nonprofit said. Riley's new owner told the shelter he's settling into his new home. 'Riley likes to watch me work or sleep next to me while I'm in Teams meetings,' she told the nonprofit. 'Thankfully, he doesn't micromanage.' For the shelter, his adoption marks a turning point. 'As the face of the Eaton Fire, his adoption was a huge milestone,' the shelter said. Altadena is about a 15-mile drive northeast from downtown Los Angeles.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- USA Today
Twin sisters. Woman who 'shaped generations of campers': Texas flood victims remembered
Camp directors. Sisters. Teachers. Grandparents. More than 80 people died in flooding in central Texas. Here are stories of those who lost their lives. A director of a Texas summer camp for girls who was known as the "heart and soul" of the program. Two sisters found together after being swept away by floodwaters. A beloved teacher from the Houston metropolitan area. Destructive flooding triggered by unrelenting rain that rapidly overwhelmed the Guadalupe River has killed at least 81 people across central Texas. State and local officials said search and rescue efforts were still underway, including for 10 children and a counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian girls' camp at the edge of the Guadalupe River. At least 27 children and counselors from the all-girls summer camp, which has long had ties to top Texas political figures, have died. The river surged over 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, carrying away cars, RVs and structures. It blew out the wall of one camp building where children slept, leaving debris-covered mud amid pink blankets and stuffed animals. Flooding-related deaths have been reported in six counties. The victims include summer camp directors, teachers, grandparents, parents, and children. Here are the stories of those who lost their lives: Jane Rasgdale Jane Ragsdale was the "heart and soul" of Heart O' the Hills, a summer camp for girls in Kerr County, according to the program's website. She was a camper and a counselor there before becoming a co-owner of the camp in 1976. Ragsdale later served as the camp's program director from 1978 to 1987, and went on to become the camp director in 1988, the website added. In a statement, the camp said it was "right in the path of the flood" and its facilities sustained serious damage. They noted that since the camp was between sessions when the flooding occurred, no children had been staying there. "However, our Director and the camp's longtime co-owner, Jane Ragsdale, lost her life. We at the camp are stunned and deeply saddened by Jane's death," the camp said in the statement. "She embodied the spirit of Heart O' the Hills and was exactly the type of strong, joyful woman that the camp aimed to develop with the girls entrusted to us each summer." The camp also paid tribute to Ragsdale in a Facebook post, saying she was "the heart of The Heart." "Jane wasn't just our director, she was our guiding light, our example, and our safe place. She had the rare gift of making every person feel seen, loved, and important. Her kindness, strength, and wisdom shaped generations of campers and staff," the post states. "Her legacy lives in every laugh heard on the hill, every tradition passed down, every song we sing, every manner she taught us and every life she touched, which is too many to count," the post continued. − Thao Nguyen Blair and Brooke Harber Two young sisters, Blair and Brooke Harber, were staying in Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday when their "lives were tragically cut short" by flooding along the Guadalupe River, according to St. Rita Catholic School. The school said in a statement on Facebook that Blair was a rising eighth grader, while Brooke was entering the sixth grade. The school described Blair as an "outstanding student" who was enrolled in advanced classes and actively involved in school activities. She played several sports, cheered for the school's cheerleading team, served as a student ambassador, and was part of the yearbook team and speech and drama program. Brooke was an "excellent student who brought joy and energy wherever she went," according to the school. She also played several sports, and loved speech and drama, in which she had a gift for improv, the school noted. "Blair had the kindest heart and loved to serve others," the school said. "Brooke never met a stranger and loved everyone she met." The two girls had been with their grandparents, who remain missing, when the flooding occurred. The girls' parents were in a separate cabin and were safe, according to the school. "Blair and Brooke were young women of deep faith, and religion was one of their favorite subjects. On the night they died, they went to the loft of their cabin with their rosaries," the school said. "When Blair and Brooke were found the next day, fifteen miles downriver, they were together. Even in their last moments, they held tightly to each other, a powerful symbol of their lasting bond and their trust in God." − Thao Nguyen Jeff Wilson Jeff Wilson died in the flood, according to a social media post from the Humble Independent School District. "Tonight our #HumbleISDFamily is grieving the devastating loss of @HumbleISD_KPHS teacher Jeff Wilson, who passed away due to the catastrophic flooding in Kerrville," the school district said, which is located in the city of Humble in the Houston metropolitan area. Wilson had been a teacher in the school district for 30 years. He worked at both Humble High School and Kingwood Park High School. "He was a beloved teacher and co-worker to many and will be deeply missed," according to the school district. "Jeff's brother-in-law has shared that at this time, Jeff's wife Amber and son Shiloh are still considered missing. Please continue to keep their entire family, and ours, in your prayers." − Thao Nguyen Sarah Marsh Sarah Marsh, an 8-year-old from suburban Birmingham, Alabama, died in the flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas, according to Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch. Welch said the city of Mountain Brook was heartbroken over the "tragic loss" of Sarah, who was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary. The mayor noted that the community would come together and support the Marsh family. "This is an unimaginable loss for her family, her school, and our entire community," Welch said in a statement on Facebook. "Sarah's passing is a sorrow shared by all of us, and our hearts are with those who knew and loved her. As we grieve alongside the Marsh family, we also remember the many others affected by this tragedy." − Thao Nguyen Dick Eastland Camp Mystic owner Richard "Dick" Eastland died while trying to save campers, the Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post reported. Family and friends of Eastland described him as a father figure for generations of girls who attended the summer camp, according to the Chronicle. In an Instagram tribute, his grandson said Eastland was more than his grandfather. He said Eastland was his "dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my #1 fan, and above all else: a hero." "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for," George Eastland wrote in the post. "That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched." − Thao Nguyen Hanna and Rebecca Lawrence The twin granddaughters of David Lawrence Jr., the former publisher of the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, were among the dozens killed over the weekend, he told the Miami Herald. The girls, both 8 years old, and their sister, 14, attended Camp Mystic, the newspaper reported. 'It has been an unimaginable time for all of us," Lawrence told the Herald. "Hanna and Rebecca gave their parents, John and Lacy, and sister, Harper, and all in our family, so much joy. They and that joy can never be forgotten." Contributing: Charles A. Ventura, USA TODAY
