A Dog Who Arrived at a Florida Shelter ‘Emaciated and Deeply Fearful,’ Finally Finds a Home After 3-Year Wait

Draco the dog rang in the new year surrounded by his long-awaited, loving family.

The black-and-white dog arrived at Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS) in Dec. 2022. When Draco first moved into the shelter to start his search for a home, he was an “emaciated, shy, and deeply fearful,” MDAS shared in a release.

Photos from shortly after his intake at the shelter show Draco as all skin and bones, his skeleton clearly visible through his fur. For Draco to recover from this neglect took “time, patience, and compassionate rehabilitation” from both the dog and MDAS. Both met the challenge.

After going through MDAS’s enrichment, medical, and behavior programs, Draco emerged as a trusting, confident, and affectionate canine.

“Draco’s transformation is an example of the time, care, and resources invested in pets at MDAS each day,” Annette Jose, the director of Miami-Dade Animal Services, said in a statement. “We are committed to saving the life of every savable pet.”

Unfortunately, while Draco was ready for adoption immediately after his recovery, it took him some time to find the right match. Draco received limited adoption interest during his first two years at MDAS.

In hopes of getting Draco in front of more eyes and finally securing the canine a happy ending, MDAS worked with shelter partner Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends supported MDAS’s Seniors Sleigh Too initiative, a program designed to generate adoption interest in long-stay and senior shelter dogs.

“At Best Friends, we believe pets belong in homes—not shelters,” Scott Giacoppo, senior director of national shelter support at Best Friends Animal Society, shared in a statement. “The Seniors Sleigh Too initiative gives the community a joyful opportunity to make a real, lifesaving difference this holiday season.”

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The efforts of Draco’s many shelter friends paid off. On Dec. 27, 2025, Draco was officially adopted, which means he started 2026 in the arms of his new family.

A local South Florida family adopted Draco, who is reportedly settling into his new home well.

MDAS hopes Draco’s success story inspires animal lovers to adopt a long-stay shelter pet, especially since MDAS still has dozens of dogs waiting to find their forever homes.

To learn more about MDAS and to meet the organization’s adoptable pet, visit the MDAS website.