Jed the dog knows a thing or two about waiting. Back in 2007, when he was still just a spry 4-months-old puppy, Jed was dropped off at an animal shelter in the U.K., eager to be swept into the arms of a loving and lifelong companion - yet somehow he got overlooked, time and time again.
Months of waiting soon turned into years of waiting, and eventually the once floppy-eared, doe-eyed pup's face began to grey with age, though his hope of finding a home never faded.
His caregivers estimate that 14,000 potential adopters passed on the chance to take him in. But now, seven years later, his wait is over.
This week, Jed's caretakers at the Dogs Trust in Darlington, England announced that their longest-serving resident - dubbed "Britain's most overlooked dog" - has finally found true love with a family to call his own.
After reading a BBC report about Jed's many years of waiting, Ian Woodcock and his wife Elizabeth decided to give him the fairy tale ending that every dog deserves. And sure enough, Jed has ended up changing their lives for the better too.
"Jed is settling in really well and we absolutely adore him, he is always by my side and we already can't imagine life without him," Woodcock says. "We are really looking forward to the future with Jed, after so long without a home we can't wait to make 2015 as special as possible for him."
Dog Trust assistant manager Beverly Watson says she and her colleagues are "delighted" that Jed finally found a family who cares about him:
"He is such a character and we all became so attached to him in all the time he was with us, so it really is the best New Year present we could ask for to see how happy he is with Ian and Elizabeth."
While Jed's story is certainly a moving one, there are countless other animals just like him who are waiting in shelters to find a new home. For information pet adoption, or to find out how to help, visit your local Humane Society.
