Meet Red and Gunner, two resilient shelter dogs who have finally found their forever homes after enduring lengthy stays at the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Florida. 

• Red, who waited 593 days, and Gunner, who waited for 582 days, captured the hearts of the Refuge staff and volunteers during their time there. 

Their stories highlight the challenges faced by larger dogs in shelters, often leading to their overlooked status despite their lovable nature, according to Alaqua.

Red and Gunner arrived at the refuge with tales of abandonment and a longing for a place to call home. Despite their charm and personalities, these two dogs faced extended stays due to common biases against larger dogs.

“Gunner’s size and being a black dog over 100 pounds were factors that often caused him to be overlooked,” said Ashley Englehart, a staff trainer at Alaqua. “However, among the staff and volunteers, he was an absolute favorite and just a big goofball, full of love and playfulness.”

Despite the passing days, the team at Alaqua showered Red and Gunner with love, care, and attention and continued their efforts to find them loving homes through social media campaigns, community events, and collaborations with local businesses.

• That’s when fate happened, on separate occasions, for the dogs who found their forever homes. The staff and volunteers lined up along the sidewalk to celebrate their freedom walks out of the refuge doors.

Red’s and Gunner’s journeys are a reminder of the countless shelter animals patiently awaiting their second chance. Through stories like this one of Red and Gunner, Alaqua Animal Refuge hopes to inspire the community to consider opening their hearts and homes to shelter animals in need.

For those interested in adopting a shelter pet like Red or Gunner or supporting Alaqua Animal Refuge’s mission to provide care and find forever homes for animals in need, please visit their website at www.alaqua.org or contact Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-880-6399.