By Jack BeresfordShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA senior dog was struggling badly in the shelter with no end in sight, until a moment of pure chance changed everything.
Thelma the eight-year-old dog was an instant hit with staff when she first arrived at Best Friends Animal Society in Northwest Arkansas in March 2024.
Affectionate, calm and gentle with black fur, white paws and an adorable dusting of gray on her snout, Thelma thrived whenever she spent time with one of the foster carers linked to the shelter.
However, it was an entirely different story when it came to life in the shelter. Thelma struggled badly with separation anxiety. Despite the best efforts of Best Friends' staff, she really struggled to adjust when left alone, often trying to escape her crate or yard.
At the same time, Thelma struggled to drum up much in the way of adoption interest. The fact is senior dogs often do. The ASPCA estimates around one in four senior dogs end up being adopted. By contrast, three in five younger dogs and puppies end up finding a forever home.
Despite the best efforts of staff and foster carers, the months began to fly by and soon enough Thelma had gone a year without finding a family.
...Long-term shelter dogs are often older. A study published in the journal Animals exploring the characteristics of long-term shelter dogs found they were “more often of older age, male, of large size, neutered, and of a ‘dangerous breed.’”
Thelma’s stay could so easily have been extended even further. However, in June 2025, 15 months after she first arrived at Best Friends Animal Society, something changed.
It turned out Thelma had an angel looking out for her. Carrie Angel, to be precise. She and her husband Johnny had come across Thelma’s profile while scrolling through the Best Friends website. In that chance moment, she immediately caught their eye and Angel knew they had to meet her.
Upon arriving at Best Friends, they immediately fell in love and brought Thelma home that day, completely unfazed by her separation anxiety. “The second we met Thelma, we knew she was our dog," Angel told Newsweek. "Learning about her personality didn’t give us any hesitation. Our home is a very peaceful place, and we knew it would be the right home for her. She has the freedom to do whatever she wants, but she chooses to be right next to us."
Now, Thelma is part of a family where she will never be alone again. Carrie's older brother, Jamie, lives with the Angels and has disabilities that keep him at home full-time. This means Thelma has a round-the-clock companion—as does Jamie!
Today, Thelma is happy and thriving in her new home in the country with both human and feline family members. She has plenty of space to run around, but she prefers to stay right next to her people, getting endless love and attention.
...“We have completely fallen in love with Thelma, and it’s hard to imagine life without her now," Angel said. "We really needed her in our lives at this time. We’ve gone through some difficult times over the past few years, and she takes our minds off all of it.”
Thelma's story is the perfect example of what happens when someone chooses to adopt rather than shop for a dog. The Angels have changed their lives and Thelma’s for the better. It’s a reminder that, whatever a pet’s age, there’s a family out there for everyone.
“Senior pets are some of the most at-risk in shelters, but the truth is most of these dogs and cats are tried and true companions that just need a second chance,” Julie Castle, CEO, Best Friends Animal Society, told Newsweek. “As Thelma’s story demonstrates, the beauty of senior pets is that they’ve already grown into themselves, so you can choose a pet that’s the right fit for your lifestyle just like the Angel family did.”
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