She was there for over 1,400 days 😭
Elle’s journey at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) began several years ago, arriving in December from the local city shelter, Austin Animal Center. She was fearful and hesitant to trust people, but her shelter friends were hopeful that they could find her the perfect forever family.
Despite her nervousness, Elle quickly bonded with her caregivers, particularly Kaitlan Warmbrod, APA!’s dog behavior training supervisor. They formed an immediate connection, with Elle showing affection in her own way—falling into Kaitlan’s lap after a game of fetch.
But as the days turned into years, Elle remained at the shelter, waiting for the right person to take her home. After nearly 1,400 days without a family, Elle’s story took a turn when John, a man who had previously owned a fearful dog, saw her posted on social media and decided to foster her. Understanding her needs, he visited several times to let Elle get comfortable with him, and soon, the day came for her to leave the shelter for good.
Before Elle left, her friends at APA! threw her a farewell party, where she showed her gratitude in the most joyful way. She rolled around on her back, giving love to everyone and taking her time to say her goodbyes. She even got a special peanut butter cake that she eagerly devoured.
Elle is now settling into her new home, and John has officially decided to foster-to-adopt her, hoping to make her part of his family forever. After years of waiting, Elle’s patience paid off, and her story is a reminder that every moment of care and effort was worth it.
As Kaitlan Warmbrod reflects, “The time and effort that we put into each individual dog is worth it if it means finding them a foster or adopter.”
