Running isn’t for everyone, but Max the Pit Bull mix loves it! In fact, he loves it so much, that he decided to join in on a human race just for fun. He kept up with the runners and he had a blast, but at the end of the day, he had nowhere to go. Poor Max was a stray, and he desperately hoped that one of the kind runners could give him the forever home he deserved. Luckily, many of the race participants were happy to help!
Max was first seen hanging out near the road in Dunn, North Carolina. He quickly spotted a nearby group participating in a holiday charity run. So, he figured he should join in too!
Run Like the Wind
During the race, Max bonded with lots of people. He spent a lot of time running beside a man named Charles Akers. At first, Akers just assumed that Max was another runner’s dog, so he didn’t think much of it. But Max seemed to be everywhere he turned!
Max was so excited to be running among the people. He loved all the excitement and attention, but he quickly proved that he was serious about the race. He was in it to win it!
The Pit Bull ran a total of 15 miles that day. At least 10 of those miles were with Akers. This pup was having the time of his life!
When Akers made it to the finish line, he saw that Max was waiting in a nearby truck bed. He jumped out of the truck and began bouncing around excitedly. He was clearly waiting for the post-race celebration.
It was at that point that Akers realized Max was a stray. The poor pup didn’t have anywhere to go home to. The race director was going to contact the authorities, but Akers had a better idea. He didn’t want to crush this dog’s excited spirit.
Max’s Situation
Akers called his wife to tell her about the situation. Then, he waited with Max until she arrived. The excited pup was very well-behaved and even listened to basic commands. It was hard to believe he was a stray!
Akers and his wife brought their new friend to the vet to scan him for a microchip. They were relieved to find out that he did have a chip, so they contacted his family right away. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the heartwarming news they were expecting.
“They responded with, ‘Take him to the pound, and we will think about it,'” said Akers.
Akers and his wife were heartbroken when they heard this. They would’ve loved to adopt Max themselves, but their house was already full. They had 3 dogs and a cat in their family already, so they didn’t have room for another four-legged family member.
Despite what they wanted, Akers and his wife brought Max to the Wake County Animal Center. They soon learned that this wasn’t Max’s first time being left behind. His first family dropped him off at the shelter because they had to relocate. Then, another family adopted him a few months later.
The staff at the shelter tried to contact Max’s most recent adopters, but they never called back. So, Max had to be put up for adoption yet again.
Max’s Forever Home
Akers and the other runners were determined to help Max find a loving home as soon as possible. They all knew how sweet and loving this pup really was, so he deserved the perfect home.
“We have a note on Max that the race director called to make sure we had information about him,” said Dr. Jennifer Federico, animal services director. “That’s how smitten these runners were with him. They wanted us to know he’s so friendly, super happy, and would be a gem for a running family to adopt.”
Word about Max spread quickly thanks to all the runners sharing posts about him. Chad Duffy, a fellow runner, soon came across Max’s photo online. He and his family were looking to adopt a dog after their last dog passed away. He and his wife were both triathletes, so they were interested in a dog that could run with them.
When the Duffys heard about Max, he sounded perfect! They assumed someone had already adopted him, but they visited the shelter just in case. Sure enough, there he was, waiting for his perfect family! Duffy, his wife, and his daughter all knew in a heartbeat that he was the dog they’d been looking for.
“He wrote himself the best bio he could to find the best family for himself,” said Federico. “He went out there, and he was like, ‘Look, here’s about me, I like to run.’ He wrote his own adoption ad. It’s the perfect family for him.”
Now, Max is living the dream! He gets plenty of time to run with his human parents, sometimes for up to 6 miles a day. Entering that charity race was the best decision of his life!
H/T: thedodo.com
Featured Image: @nogrunclub/Facebook
Toledo, United States.
