Woman takes home two oldest dogs at local humane society: ‘At last...my love has come along’

When a North Carolina woman and her kids walked into a local humane society, employees couldn’t believe it when she asked to take home the two oldest dogs at the shelter with “the most special needs.”

Asheville Humane Society employees introduced Leslie Sacks to Sam and Brutus, two dogs that the humane society had vowed to find “their second chance, no matter how long it took,” reads a Facebook post from the animal shelter.

Sam, a Shepherd mix who has extensive medical issues, had been at the human society for 6 months, the Asheville Humane Society wrote. The 7-year-old dog had previously been adopted, and later returned. Meanwhile, Brutus, a Boxer mix with severe separation anxiety, had been left at the humane society by his previous owner to be euthanized at 13 years old.

According to Meredith Pitcairn, the communications manager for Asheville Humane Society, Sacks’ request is “what every animal shelter employee dreams of.”

“It is rare that someone comes in and immediately asks for the animal who has been with us the longest,” Pitcairn tells Yahoo Lifestyle. “It gives us hope to know that there are kind-hearted people out there who are willing to open their hearts and homes to pets who have challenges and special needs.”

“Their medical and behavioral challenges didn’t faze her at all. We were all so touched by Leslie’s compassion for special needs pets,” she says.

The news of Sam and Brutus’ July 24 adoption came during a time when the Asheville Humane Society’s shelter and adoption center was “critically” full. Now, employees believe these two dogs have found the perfect home with Sacks, who they say has a “heart of gold,” the shelter’s Facebook post says.

“It is so important to adopt the older pets,” Sacks says in a video posted on Asheville Humane Society Facebook page. “I’m glad to give them a home for the last couple of years of their life and they give so much love back.”

Sacks and her family regularly adopt older pets who have difficulty finding homes. In the video, she says her family recently lost 7 older pets they had adopted. In an emotional video posted by the North Carolina shelter, board members, volunteers and staff joined in the “bittersweet” farewell to the two dogs.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in sight!” Pitcairn tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Sacks and employees became emotional when she explained why she continued to give a home to these dogs in need, despite her children’s protests.

“My children said, ‘I don’t want another pet. I don’t want to go through another loss again,’” a teary-eyed Sacks says with Brutus and Sam already in the car and ready to go to their new home.

“And I said, ‘Sweetheart. We gave them the best years of their lives. And it leaves room for someone who needs us more right now.’”

People flooded the Facebook post to praise Sacks for her kindness and compassion.

“What a sweet woman! I wish the world had more people like her who seems to truly love these little creatures, who give back so much love in return. God bless this beautiful person for her kindness,” one Facebook user commented.

“What a beautiful soul to give these two fur babies a chance for a happy and secure life! I’m sure these two pups are singing, ‘At Last...my love has come along!’” another user wrote on Facebook.

Meanwhile, another Facebook user commented that the touching video brought tears to her eyes. “This made me cry. Leslie, you are beyond compassionate and amazing. Thank you for blessing the animal kingdom with your love and support.”

The two pups will now be spending the rest of their “golden years” lounging around Sacks’ three-story house and roaming free across two acres of fenced-in yard.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Woman 'heartbroken' after animal shelter accidentally euthanizes her dog

• The squeaky dog toy canines love — but humans can't hear: 'It's a win-win!'

• American Airlines fights back after man claims his dog was deemed too heavy to fly

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