After 7 years of disappointment, she still has hope.
In 2018, Luna — a 2-year-old pit bull mix — was just another name on the euthanasia list at the Wichita Animal Shelter in Kansas. Her time was nearly up.
But fate stepped in.
That same year, a newly opened sanctuary, Always & Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary, took her in. Luna was one of their very first rescues.
“She’s been with us nearly every day since,” said Miranda Munden, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator. “She’s part of our story.”
And yet, despite all their love and care, Luna has been adopted — and returned — five heartbreaking times.
Not because she’s dangerous. Not because she’s bad. But because life hasn’t been kind to a dog who asks for just a little extra patience.
When Luna first arrived, it was clear she struggled to get along with other dogs. The sanctuary connected her with trainers who saw her potential and were eager to help. In fact, they loved her so much, they adopted her.
It seemed like a happy ending.
But when the trainers started their own family, Luna — once again — was left behind. “It was a shock,” Munden admitted. “Especially coming from someone who was a dog trainer.”
More adoptions followed. And more heartbreak.
One adopter gave her up because of her severe allergies. Luna requires a salmon-based diet, regular meds, special treats, and daily wipe-downs to soothe her sensitive skin. She wears pajamas during the day and a cone at night to stop her from scratching. It’s a routine she knows well. But it was too much for her adopter to manage.
Another time, Luna was returned because she didn’t get along with the adopter’s new boyfriend.
Most recently, a family brought her back after a tough visit to the vet — a known trigger for Luna, which the shelter had carefully discussed and prepared for. They even made sure her prescriptions were filled and her vaccines updated in advance.
“The one thing we thought we prepared really well,” Munden said.
Then came the most painful blow: the family’s vet suggested Luna should be put down.
The shelter rushed to bring her back — again.
That was two years ago. Luna has been back at Always & Furever ever since.
And still… she waits.
Despite everything, Luna remains full of love. She’s mellow now, content to curl up on her dog bed in her pajamas, waiting for a gentle hand and a quiet cuddle.
“She’s always ready for a snuggle,” Munden said.
Luna has a best friend at the sanctuary — Copper, another special-needs pup who lives nearby. They play like goofy puppies, Copper meeting Luna exactly where she is, never asking for more than she can give. He’s not adoptable — but he’s the one constant in Luna’s life.
Now 9 years old, Luna is a senior. She still enjoys meeting new people, though strangers sometimes make her nervous. Toys? Not her thing. She just wants someone to sit beside her and love her, even when she’s wearing pajamas and a cone.
“There has to be someone out there,” Munden said, her voice full of quiet hope. “Someone — other than us — who loves her.”
And maybe there is.
Maybe someone out there will see not just Luna’s needs — but the way her tail thumps softly on her bed when she sees you. The way she leans in for comfort. The way she’s still trying to trust, after all this time.
Maybe someone will see what Luna’s always been: not broken. Just waiting.