Search
Close this search box.

Two shelter dogs finally find ‘forever homes’ after nearly 600 days at Alaqua Animal Refuge

Meet Red and Gunner, two resilient shelter dogs who have finally found their forever homes after enduring lengthy stays at the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Florida.  Their stories highlight the challenges faced by larger dogs in shelters, often leading to their overlooked status despite their lovable nature, according to Alaqua. Red and Gunner arrived […]

Source: Alaqua Animal Refuge

Meet Red and Gunner, two resilient shelter dogs who have finally found their forever homes after enduring lengthy stays at the Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, Florida. 

  • Red, who waited 593 days, and Gunner, who waited for 582 days, captured the hearts of the Refuge staff and volunteers during their time there. 

Their stories highlight the challenges faced by larger dogs in shelters, often leading to their overlooked status despite their lovable nature, according to Alaqua.

Red and Gunner arrived at the refuge with tales of abandonment and a longing for a place to call home. Despite their charm and personalities, these two dogs faced extended stays due to common biases against larger dogs.

Red (Alaqua)

“Gunner’s size and being a black dog over 100 pounds were factors that often caused him to be overlooked,” said Ashley Englehart, a staff trainer at Alaqua. “However, among the staff and volunteers, he was an absolute favorite and just a big goofball, full of love and playfulness.”

Despite the passing days, the team at Alaqua showered Red and Gunner with love, care, and attention and continued their efforts to find them loving homes through social media campaigns, community events, and collaborations with local businesses.

  • That’s when fate happened, on separate occasions, for the dogs who found their forever homes. The staff and volunteers lined up along the sidewalk to celebrate their freedom walks out of the refuge doors.
Gunner (Alaqua)

Red’s and Gunner’s journeys are a reminder of the countless shelter animals patiently awaiting their second chance. Through stories like this one of Red and Gunner, Alaqua Animal Refuge hopes to inspire the community to consider opening their hearts and homes to shelter animals in need.

For those interested in adopting a shelter pet like Red or Gunner or supporting Alaqua Animal Refuge’s mission to provide care and find forever homes for animals in need, please visit their website at www.alaqua.org or contact Alaqua Animal Refuge at 850-880-6399.

Join the conversation...

Continue reading 👇

Community Comments

“How is this going to help the crowding of the high school?? This doesn’t make sense to build another elementary school/middle school when they all flow into the ONLY high...”
Respond
“The.Statue of Liberty was partly paid for in France by school children collecting coins. The Washington Monument program was going bust when American children sent in pennies to revive it....”
Respond
“What about the oil previously reported to still be in the bilge ?”
Respond
“In 1963 I was on the SS United States with my parents and sisters. We docked in New York very close to Christmas. I was 16 yrs old and had...”
Respond
“Thanks Jared for a concise factual article. Too much false narratives floating around social media.”
Respond
“Thee is no such a thing as affordable housing for over half the people that live in this area. People can’t afford 300, 400 or 500k for a house. Build...”
Respond
“That portion has been closed because of wild hogs destroying it, I believe”
Respond
“Got make up for the 10 mill purchase of the SS United States and getting fined 1k a day while it still sits in port”
Respond
“Follow the $. It's highly probable the developers have a military connection. And "affordable housing" is a sad case of smoke and mirrors.”
Respond
“Why not give the actual location of the new school, but from the little you gave on that point, I'm "assuming" that it will, like just about nearly every school...”
Respond

GET OUR FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER

Get the weekday email that actually makes reading local news enjoyable again.