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By Rachael O'Connor
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A Border collie who had given up hope of getting a forever home has now had her life changed after a post about her went viral.
Billie is a Border collie mix who has spent most of her life at the Animal Care Society in Louisville, Kentucky, after being repeatedly overlooked by potential adopters. Taken into the shelter as a puppy, Billie is now 2.5 years old—and has spent more than two years in the shelter.
Shelter operations manager Haleigh Mace told Newsweek that Billie has been in their care since being picked up as a stray, and the shelter workers thought the "absolutely gorgeous" dog would "find a home quickly."
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But it wasn't to be, as they soon learned she wouldn't suit a home with children or cats, and had resource guarding issues, which meant "her chances of finding a forever home seemed to shrink by the day."
"Thankfully, ACS is a no-kill shelter, or Billie’s story could have had a very different ending," Mace said. "In many shelters, overwhelmed with dogs and limited resources, a dog with behavioral concerns like hers wouldn’t have been given the time she needed. We were determined to give Billie that chance."
Animal Care Society shared her story in a video to its Instagram account, @animalcaresociety, on October 14, showing the heartbreaking difference in the dog on her very first day versus two days later—but it is this devastating clip that may have found her a forever home at long last.
The video, liked more than 56,000 times, begins with the gorgeous border mix looking at the camera with her unusual brown and blue eyes, tail wagging and her ears pricked up, as the shelter described it: "Billie on day 1 at the shelter excited to find her forever family!"
But the clip then changes, showing Billie now: laying on her side in a kennel, "on day 748 still waiting for her forever family."
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In a caption, shelter staff said that Billie "has now been at the shelter for over 2 years. She is a vibrant 2.5 year old Border Collie mix with a zest for life and a heart full of love, but due to some resource guarding tendencies, she requires a dedicated and experienced owner who can be patient and understanding with her."
Determined to do the best for Billie, the shelter added: "We know Billie’s perfect home is out there, and we’re not giving up on her. We hope you won’t either. Come visit her at Animal Care Society today!"
Animal lovers were heartbroken, with one commenter asking: "How is it possible…the right humans must be out there."
"Please someone adopt her," another posted, with a third agreeing: "Please find Billie a home."
Many others pleaded for "updates" on Billie's story—and, in a comment in November, a staff member shared the happy news: "Billie is currently in a foster to adopt with a family that has came to meet her a few times now and we are hoping for the best!"
On November 14, staff member Meredith appeared in a video with Billie, explaining some of her resource-guarding issues and how there was ongoing training to combat this.
And in a caption, the shelter wrote: "Since filming, Billie has moved into a foster-to-adopt home! We're so excited for her and hr new family and are hoping it's the perfect match!"
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Resource guarding in dogs sees an animal protect what they see as theirs, such as food, a bed, toys or what they perceive as their territory. The canine may growl or even bite if they feel like what is 'theirs' is in danger of being taken away, which can cause major issues in a domestic setting, according to a report from the American Kennel Club (AKC).
Owners dealing with resource guarding in their dogs should approach a professional trainer for help, while owners of puppies should begin training early to prevent resource guarding from developing.
Mace told Newsweek that getting a trainer for Billie has made a tremendous impact on her issues, and thanks to thousands of people sharing Billie’s story across social media, "inquiries poured in."
One family seemed the perfect fit, and agreed to training sessions and meet-and-greets with their other dogs—and "their dedication made it clear that they truly understood Billie and what it would take to help her thrive."
Billie has now been in her foster-to-adopt home for nearly three weeks, and Mace said she is doing "so well."
"The family has already experienced some of the behaviors we were most concerned about, but they continue working closely with our trainer, Meredith, and have her full support as Billie adjusts.
"We are deeply grateful for this family—willing to put in the time, patience, and love to give Billie the forever home she deserves."
Update, 11/21/2025, 10:09 a.m. ET: This story has been updated to include comment from Haleigh Mace.
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