Roxi The 'Perfect Girl' Waiting 408 Days For A Family To Love Her Forever

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Roxi has been waiting for her forever family for far too long. This sweet 8-year-old boxer mix has been with the Humane Society of Harford County for 408 days.

Roxi ran into Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler while both were walking along Main Street near police headquarters. She was on a stroll with volunteers from The Humane Society of Harford County.

"She's a great dog — we can't believe she hasn't been adopted. She loves to cuddle. She's quiet. She walks well on a leash and rides well in a car. We take her to offsites and she's the perfect girl," said HSHC volunteer Vickie Piña.

As a way to boost Roxi's visibility among potential adopters, the HSHC partnered with the Hilton Garden Inn in Bel Air for a photoshoot a couple of months ago of the dog enjoying a sleepover at the hotel.

"I can't understand why nobody has adopted this sweet dog," said volunteer John Drexler, who walks Roxi multiple times a week.

HSHC Marketing Coordinator Erika Ponsiek teamed up with Hilton's Director of Sales Patricia Parker to iron out the details for the sleepover. Parker happens to be an animal lover who operates a neonatal kitten rescue called Frogtown Fosters and was thrilled with the idea.

"...Hilton Hotels are pet friendly and travel should not be a hindrance to adoption," Parker said.Ponsiek and Roxi headed to the hotel with the intention of photographing how well behaved the she is in a home setting, but Roxi quickly closed her eyes and spent the majority of her time at the Hilton sound asleep.

"She slept like she hasn't slept in days," Ponsiek said. "But she demonstrated that she's housetrained, cuddly and quiet, which are all great attributes for potential adopters to know."

Animal shelters nationwide are brimming with pets desperate for their forever home. To encourage dog adoptions in Harford County, the shelter has created the Lonely Hearts Club, a program designed to help decrease the length of stay for dogs who have been at the shelter for four months or more. The shelter offers package valued at $150 that includes a free 32-pound bag of kibble as well as a 3-month supply of flea, tick and heartworm preventative. Roxi is part of the Lonely Hearts Club.

To meet Roxi or any of the other pets up for adoption at the Harford County shelter, stop by the facility at 2208 Connolly Road in Fallston or view the animals online at harfordshelter.org. The shelter is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m