Lexington dog waited more than 500 days for adoption. She found a home for the holidays
A dog who spent more than 533 days under the Lexington Humane Society’s care has finally found her forever home — just in time for the holidays.
Ice, a 3-year-old bull terrier mix, first came to the Lexington Humane Society in 2023 as a stray. She has been fostered several times since then, but for whatever reason, was overlooked for adoption.
That changed Dec. 23, just two days before Christmas, when Lexington resident Kathryn White welcomed Ice into her home. For White, it’s the first pet she’s adopted through a humane society. Her family keeps other pets, just not the furry kind.
“We do have three bearded dragons that belong to my kids, and we also have two ball pythons. She is very intrigued,” White said of Ice, who has getting to know her new family members. “Ice has definitely taken to them.”
Typical of a terrier, Ice gets a lot of use out of her nose, and she’s been sniffing around the family’s home ever since she was adopted.
“She’s so full of energy and just so sweet and playful,” White said of Ice’s temperament.
Before she was adopted, Ice was facing the possibility of spending 2025 at the shelter. She avoided that fate after the nonprofit raised awareness of her case with social media posts on Instagram and Facebook.
“Ice has been overlooked for far too long. How has no one taken the time to meet this sweet, smart, and loving girl? We know she’s perfect, and we know the right person is out there for her. But her wait has gone on long enough… She’s ready. She’s waiting. And she deserves a chance,” a Dec. 17 Instagram post from the Lexington Humane Society states.
When White saw a similar post on Facebook, she knew she had to apply for adoption, even if it was a long shot. White was fourth in line on the waiting list for adoption, so when she got the call to meet Ice, she immediately jumped on it.
When she first met Ice, White knew right away: “I’m not leaving without her.”
It’s hard to say why Ice was overlooked for so long, though it may have something to do with the attitudes people have about certain dog breeds. After surge in all adoptions during the coronavirus pandemic, Lexington’s Humane Society has seen preferences shift in recent years. People generally prefer cats, and it’s become much more difficult to find homes for large dogs, humane society staff told the Herald-Leader in July.
Meghan Hawkins, director of community engagement for the Lexington Humane Society, wrote in an email to the Herald-Leader it’s typical for some of the shelter’s long-time residents to be dismissed based on their breed or size.
But given Ice’s affectionate and sweet-natured temperament, it was still something of a head-scratcher as to why she was overlooked for so long.
“At the end of the day, I think we can refer to a phrase we often use in the animal welfare world,” Hawkins told the Herald-Leader. “Ice was meant to be adopted by Kathryn. Her perfect adopter came along and their lives will never be the same now.”
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This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 10:48 AM.