Puppy Arrives at Shelter 5 Years Ago, Hearts Break As She Still Needs Home
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A 5-year-old border collie has been waiting to be adopted for her entire life—five years and counting—leaving social media users heartbroken.
Noelle arrived at Dogs Trust Ireland in December 2020 and has remained in the charity's care ever since. A recent video posted to TikTok by the shelter documented each year Noelle has spent waiting for a family, set to a trending sound. The emotional reel has amassed over 28,000 views and prompted an outpouring of support from viewers.
"Five years later, Noelle is still hoping to find her perfect family and forever home. This gorgeous girl has a very sweet and cuddly nature, especially with the people she knows and loves. Noelle also has a real playful side—her favorite game is fetch, closely followed by tug-of-war. She even goes on sleepovers to her favorite carer's house and is the perfect house guest!" Melanie Kevelighan, a spokesperson for Dogs Trust Ireland, told Newsweek.
A split image of Noelle the border collie.
A split image of Noelle the border collie.
Dogs Trust Ireland/Dogs Trust Ireland
Kevelighan explained that while the TikTok post has generated some interest, Noelle has yet to find her match. She added that the team hopes the additional attention might also help shine a light on other long-term dogs in their care with similar needs.
Noelle, described as a "beautiful 5-year-old border collie," has made great progress since arriving at the shelter, but she still finds parts of the world overwhelming. According to the charity, loud noises scare her, and she quickly seeks comfort from familiar faces. Her ideal home would be in a quiet, rural area with little traffic and minimal visitors, as she can feel anxious around strangers. Once she bonds with someone, though, she becomes a loyal companion.
The team believes Noelle would thrive in an adult-only home where she can be the only pet. To help her adjust, they suggest multiple meet-and-greets at the rehoming center so she can build trust before transitioning into a new environment.
"Noelle is a wonderful girl who has so much love to give to the right person who is willing to take a chance on her," the shelter shared.
TikTok users were quick to share their emotional reactions to Noelle's story.
"This is the saddest version of this trend," one commenter wrote.
"Oh Noelle, such a beautiful girl, she deserves the world," said Chloe.
"So sad. Hope this is Noelle's year. She deserves a forever home," added another user, Ava.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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