Summary
Ella, an 8-year-old dog, has spent over five years in a shelter and is looking for a foster or permanent home. She is living in a foster placement through Open Door Animal Sanctuary in Missouri. Her story highlights a larger issue of shelters having more animals than adopters across the U.S.
Key Facts
- Ella is an 8-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier.
- She has lived at the shelter for 1,826 days, which is over five years.
- Ella needs a new foster home by the end of October.
- A TikTok video shared her story and appealed for a new foster placement.
- The adoption fee for Ella has been covered, so it's free to adopt her.
- U.S. shelters took in about 2.8 million dogs and cats in the first half of 2025.
- Large and senior dogs like Ella usually spend more time in shelters.
