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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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Not every dog is fortunate to have a home this Christmas, which is why a veterinary technician from Oregon went to her local shelter and offered to foster their longest-term resident.
It was only supposed to be a three-day foster when Maribeth Hensel, 25, took Prada home in November, but since then, she has made it her aim to "try and keep her out of the shelter" for as long as possible. So, a month later, and the border collie mix is still enjoying her foster stay, and Hensel is so glad that she has been able to make this dog's life a little bit easier.
She told Newsweek: "Fostering her has been such a gift. I don't understand why she hasn't been scooped up yet, but I am not planning on giving her up any time soon.
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"Being able to see her roll around in my king-sized bed, relaxing in front of the TV, and going on walks outside (all things that shelters try their best to provide with what they have) has been a heartwarming experience. I wish every dog could have this," Hensel said.
After almost a year in the shelter, Prada is one of the pups who has been there the longest, so this foster stay has given her a whole new lease of life. It's part of Oregon Dog Rescue's program encouraging volunteers to take care of a pup over the holidays and give them a much-needed break from the shelter. Hensel added that this not only gives them a relaxing environment, as shelters can undoubtedly be stressful places, but it can also help with enrichment.
Many animal shelters across the country are dealing with overcrowding and struggling to keep up with the number of animals who need their help every day. There are an estimated 3.1 million dogs entering U.S. shelters every year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). While it is thought that around 2 million dogs get adopted each year, there are many more who are left waiting for a forever home.
Hensel, from Portland, said that many people aren't aware of how many dogs need rescuing, which is why she's encouraging more people to "give shelter pets a chance." She has been sharing her foster experience on TikTok in the hopes that more people will consider adopting, and maybe even find Prada her own family.
As much as she wishes she could adopt Prada permanently, Hensel said that she works full-time and lives in an apartment, which wouldn't be a great long-term solution for such an energetic breed.
"I think Prada has been at the shelter for so long simply because not enough people know about her or what shelter dogs are available in their area," Hensel added. "A lot of people have no idea how many dogs make their way into shelters every week.
"Dogs like Prada are waiting for their second chance, and they need all the exposure they can get. If anyone is interested in Prada, she's a wonderful dog that would do well in a home where she is the only pet, and preferably a yard where she can run and play," Hensel said.
After posting about Prada online, Hensel's TikTok has received more than 255,000 views and over 10,000 likes, and many people have even asked for more updates on the wonderful dog.
Among the 300 comments so far, one person posted: "Looks to me like she has found her someone special!"
Another commented: "She looks so sweet, thank you for giving her a chance to flourish."
A third TikTok user wrote: "Hoping beautiful Prada finds her forever home soon."
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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