Every shelter dog dreams of the day they’ll find a loving home, but some dogs face the heartbreaking reality of being overlooked time and again. Such was the case for Rocky, a 3-year-old pit bull, who seemed to lose hope with each passing day. A viral photo captured his sadness, showing the weight of rejection as he sat in his kennel, head hung low. Despite the setbacks, hope still lingered for this sweet dog.
Rocky arrived at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, in October 2022 after his family was evicted and could no longer care for him. The shelter staff hoped it wouldn’t take long for him to find a new family, but Rocky’s journey was filled with ups and downs. He was adopted twice, only to be returned each time. There were a couple of two-week trial adoption periods that also didn’t work out, and each time, Rocky found himself back in the shelter.
“He’s a wonderful dog,” said Lindsay Brewer, communications specialist at Lollypop Farm, “but Rocky would thrive best in a specific kind of home — one without other pets and preferably adults-only.” Finding the right match for Rocky was proving difficult, and the longer he waited, the more disheartened he seemed.
In September, Rocky was returned again after an adoption, and it was then that the shelter shared a photo of him on Facebook. The image, which showed him sitting alone in his kennel, visibly saddened after being passed over again, touched hearts around the world. “This handsome guy is losing hope,” the post read. “He really needs our community’s help in finding his new family.”
The photo quickly went viral, with over 31,000 shares and hundreds of comments. Many people expressed their desire for Rocky to find a home, and some even offered to cover his adoption fees. The shelter was flooded with inquiries, and on December 1, they announced that Rocky had been placed on adoption hold. Unfortunately, the initial attempt didn’t work out, but hope was rekindled on December 7 when Rocky went on an “adoption sleepover” with a potential family.
It was the chance Rocky had been waiting for. Days later, Lollypop Farm posted another update — Rocky’s sleepover was a success, and his adoption was finalized! On December 12, Rocky’s story took a happy turn as he officially found his forever family.
Lollypop Farm celebrated the heartwarming conclusion to Rocky’s long journey with a final message: “Congratulations to Rocky and his amazing new family!” After over a year of waiting, Rocky finally got the love and care he deserved — proof that sometimes, hope pays off, no matter how long the wait.
The man responsible is facing felony charges but must never be allowed to own or care for animals again.
Rocky’s story is just one of many. Let’s share stories like this one to bring awareness to these precious souls waiting for their forever families. ALL dogs deserve love and stability.
Toledo, United States.
