The Face Of Happiness: Newark Dog Finally Leaves Shelter After 2 Years

NEWARK, NJ — It wasn’t long ago that “Red” the dog was waking up behind a kennel door at an animal shelter in New Jersey, where he spent more than a third of his life. The “once rambunctious and lively spirited dog” had become melancholy and depressed after 730 days behind bars, staff at the Associated Humane Societies in Newark said.

It was a plight that hit home with many Patch readers, who shared the call to rescue Red far and wide on social media. Read More: Newark Dog Is Struggling With Depression After 730 Days In Shelter

The good news? Things are looking much brighter for the downtrodden doggo.

Last week, Heart & Soul Dog Rescue Inc., a nonprofit rescue that is helping to find Red a permanent place to crash, confirmed that there was a plan to temporarily house him at the home of the group’s president. From there, trainers will work with Red for four to six weeks until he is ready for a foster home – or a forever family. Read More: Newark Dog May Finally Be Leaving Shelter (2 Years After Arriving)

What’s it like having Red as a housemate? Just as amazing as you’d think, the president of Heart & Soul Dog Rescue told Patch after he was picked up from the shelter last weekend:

“The first day, I took him straight to give him a bath to wash off two years of dirt… LOL. He was great in the bath – didn't care at all – and let me wash him all over and then dry him with no issues. Then I took him for some good food and toys, and he was just so happy and bubbly. It’s like life came back into his eyes. He knew he was forever safe with us.”

She continued:

“Once I got him home (he is being fostered with me right now), I had everything set up for him… new bed, crate, food and water and now his own toys. I hung out with him for a while, we played fetch and he was able to run in my yard, which he LOVED. After that, I set him up in his crate. He walked right in and I closed the door, and he laid right down and went right to sleep. I kept checking him in my camera to make sure he was OK, and he was just having the best sleep of his life. Then throughout the day, routine walks and bathroom breaks.”

According to Heart & Soul Dog Rescue, it appears that Red seems to be crate-trained, housebroken and “non-destructive” when left out: all good signs that he is fit for the next stage of the adoption process.

His journey to a forever home isn’t over yet. But Red’s burgeoning internet fame has already helped to line him up some potential “foster-to-adopt” applicants – putting him in a pretty “pawsome” position to make that final leap, the nonprofit says.

And for now, the formerly depressed doggo is just happy to have a home that isn’t behind bars.

Thankfully, Red is on his way to better days. But there are still many canines in animal shelters across New Jersey who are in need of a warm heart and a happy home.

Statistics from the New Jersey Department of Health show that there were 18,548 dogs impounded in the state in 2022, up more than 100 from the previous year.

All across New Jersey, shelters are reporting spikes in their intake numbers, leading several to temporarily hit the brakes on accepting new dogs. Read More: Animal Shelters Are Hitting Their Breaking Point Across North Jersey

Searching for a new dog, cat or other forever friend in New Jersey? Check out online locators such as Petfinder.com, or visit your local animal shelter (see a list here).

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