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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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One Kentucky shelter is celebrating a heartwarming milestone this Thanksgiving—after 540 days in their care, a shy, brindle mixed-breed dog named Francesca has finally found a forever home.
Logan County Animal Care and Control in Russellville, Kentucky shared the good news in a Facebook video posted on November 26 where they said: “Excuse us while we go cry for a minute. After a whopping 540 days… Francesca got adopted!!!”
The adoption came just in time for the holiday, marking a life-changing turning point for the 2-year-old dog who had spent nearly her entire life waiting for someone to choose her.
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A Tough Start In Life
According to the shelter, Francesca didn’t have an easy start in life. She and several littermates were brought in cramped inside a crate, having grown up in such tight quarters that they developed survival behaviors early on.
Francesca, smaller and more timid than her siblings, was often bullied. The experience left her fearful, and staff said she would cower even during mealtimes—something that required patience and time to overcome.
Despite a difficult start, the shelter described her as “a very sweet girl who wants to be loved,” but for months, nobody came forward to give her a chance.
In the first half of 2025, U.S. shelters took in about 1.41 million dogs, according to Shelter Animals Count. Despite a slight decline in intake compared to 2024, shelters remain overcrowded, with more dogs entering than leaving.
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A Thanksgiving To Remember
Her long wait ended after a feature by WNKY News 40, where Francesca appeared as “Pet of the Day.” Her future family saw the segment, fell in love, and soon made the drive to Russellville to meet the dog who had captured their hearts through a screen.
“The day everyone here at the shelter had been praying for finally came!” the shelter wrote.
They thanked her adopters for “giving this sweet girl a chance,” adding that while staff would miss seeing her every day, they were overjoyed knowing she was heading to “an amazing and loving home.”
After nearly a year and a half behind shelter walls, Francesca will spend this Thanksgiving not in a kennel—but at home, surrounded by people who chose her.
“Happy life, sweet girl. You deserve it so, so much,” the shelter said.
Newsweek reached out to Logan County Animal Care and Control via email for comment.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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