It was an emotional day for this rescue dog who waited nearly 8 months to get adopted—but she couldn’t possibly leave the shelter without saying goodbye to everyone first.
In October 2024, Farah the bully mix was found running along a busy road near traffic before being taken to the Human Rescue Alliance in Washington, D.C. Staff at the shelter immediately fell in love with her kind heart and expressive face, including the rescue’s Director of Public Affairs, Kelly Whittier.
Farah was considered an absolute sweetheart by everyone, as Whittier told Newsweek that she became “a favorite among staff and volunteers.”
When she arrived at the shelter, Farah was found to have a microchip already. Unfortunately, nobody ever came to reclaim the sweet pup.
“We don’t know much about Farah’s past, and since no owner came forward, we pieced together what we could from her behavior. She was clearly used to being around people as she is affectionate, social, and well-mannered, so we believe she may have been someone’s pet at some point,” Whittier said.
The shelter did everything they could to try and get Farah adopted. They regularly featured her on social media, took her to adoption events, and even held photo shoots to boost her attention.
Yet, Farah continued to be overlooked and the wait for an owner went on for more than 243 days.
“Dogs like Farah—larger dogs with blocky heads and pittie-type features—often face longer stays in shelters due to lingering misconceptions about their breed, as well as the very real housing policy restrictions that face renters across the country,” Whittier continued.
But that changed in early June when someone came in looking for a calm and loving companion—and the shelter knew exactly who to introduce them to.
The duo had an instant connection, and the person chose to adopt Farah and give her a loving home. Needless to say, everyone at the shelter was cheering, applauding, and even crying happy tears for the 2-year-old rescue pup.
Whittier told Newsweek: “It was such an emotional day for the team. Farah had been with us for nearly eight months, and she was one of our longest-stay dogs at the time. Staff and volunteers gathered to say goodbye—it felt like sending a family member off to their forever home.
“Sometimes it just takes that one person who sees the dog for who they really are, and thankfully, that day came for Farah. Seeing her finally get her happy ending was incredibly rewarding. It’s an emotional reminder of why we’re in this work.”
An emotional video showing everyone waving Farah off on her gotcha day was shared online (@humanerescuealliance on TikTok) and it went viral with over 504,000 views and more than 90,100 likes at the time of writing.
Farah had to be patient for 243 days, but she never lost hope and now she’s reaping the rewards.
The online reaction to Farah’s story has been overwhelmingly supportive, as staff at the Human Rescue Alliance were delighted to share her happy ending. Indeed, they even hope it will encourage others to take a chance on an animal that’s been overlooked in the past.
Whittier said: “Farah’s story is a reminder that every animal has their moment—it just takes time, patience, and the right match. We’re so grateful to everyone who rooted for her and supported her along the way. And to anyone considering adoption: don’t overlook the ones who’ve been waiting the longest. They often have the most love to give.”
With over 300 comments on the viral video of Farah saying farewell to the shelter, TikTok users were full of praise for the momentous day.
One comment reads: “The picture of Farah with her new mom made me tear up, they’re going to live such great lives together”
Another person wrote: “I’m bawling like a baby after this video.”
While another TikTok user replied: “Omg she and her new mom look radiant! It was like they were meant to be together!”
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