Big moment for big dog at Indiana animal shelter

With his black-and-white spotted coat, Oreo looks exactly how you might expect a big dog named Oreo to look — a little bit like a small cow. These days, you can find him zooming around his large pasture — err, yard — or sitting (somewhat awkwardly) on his person’s lap. But life wasn’t always so joyful for this handsome, blocky-headed pooch.

When Oreo arrived at Winchester Randolph County Animal Shelter in Indiana two years ago, he trembled with every step. “Oreo was very withdrawn at first and wouldn’t make eye contact,” says Aaron Orr, shelter director at Winchester Randolph. “He would cower down in a corner of the kennel and would not let anyone get close to him.”

But with time, patience, and a young volunteer with a soft touch, Oreo slowly emerged from his furry shell. “Almost every Saturday my stepdaughter would come to the shelter with me,” says Aaron. “She took Oreo to our adoption area and sat on the couch with him, and he eventually started trusting her. Then, about a month later, he started trusting all of us.”

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In no time at all, his goofy charm and adorable grin won over staff and volunteers. But around new people, Oreo was often unsure, appearing scared or standoffish when potential adopters approached him. Aaron explains that this made it harder for people to see past first impressions and give him a chance at a new home.

Then, on a recent Saturday, a regional adoption event changed everything.

Winchester Randolph, a Best Friends Network Partner, was one of 34 participating animal shelters and rescue organizations across Kansas, Iowa, and Indiana that held low-cost adoption events at their locations on that life-changing Saturday.

Best Friends provided grants for the event in the form of special adoption stipends. Each organization received $25 for every adopted cat and $50 for every adopted dog. Our goal at Best Friends is for every shelter nationwide to reach no-kill, and supporting shelters by awarding them funds is one way we’re helping shelters and the pets and families they serve.

In addition to finding loving homes for more pets, the event was a celebration of statewide no-kill proclamations issued by the governors of Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas.

"Having the support of these governors shows us that the no-kill movement is gaining momentum in the heartland,” says Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society. “No-kill is about getting pets out of shelters and into loving homes, not about warehousing pets, turning them away, or simply transferring them elsewhere. But shelters and rescue groups cannot do this work alone, and one of the best ways people can help is by choosing to adopt rather than purchase their next pet.”

And people in the heartland opened their hearts in a big way: 400 pets were adopted into new homes in just one day during the event. One of those pets was a large, goofy pup named Oreo.

At the event, Oreo met a woman who’d been misunderstood as well. She’s older and uses oxygen, and because of that, other organizations were hesitant to adopt a big dog to her.

The Winchester Randolph team dug deeper and learned the woman had a large, fenced yard; a dog door; and family across the street ready to help. Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do, they focused on what she could. That conversation changed everything.

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“What made this experience truly special was the respect and kindness shown to her during the adoption process,” says Aaron. “She was treated as a valued individual, and that mattered. We were able to help her find a connection that would change both her life and the life of a deserving dog.”

As if he sensed a kindred spirit, the connection between Oreo and his new person was instant. “Oreo went right over to her, licked her, and then laid his head on her lap like he knew she was his person,” Aaron says. “The joy on Oreo’s face was unforgettable.”

Happy cheers (and a few happy tears) erupted down the hallways of the shelter as Oreo left with his new person. “I don’t like to admit it, but I cried,” says Aaron. “I cried in my office while I was finishing up the paperwork after they left and cried on the way home. I was so happy. Finally, this dog is going to live his best life and be loved like he deserves.”

Oreo continues to believe he’s a lapdog and loves snuggling close to his special person every hour of every day (and night). It’s a love connection that was simply meant to be. And when shelters and communities prioritize no-kill and give pets (and people) a real chance, beautiful happy endings like this are possible.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.