“All she ever wanted was someone to sit beside her.”

When Joshua Kennon began working at Haven Animal Care Shelter back in 2020, one dog instantly stole his heart. Terri, a sweet senior pit bull, was full of love and energy—and completely unforgettable.

“On my first day, I walked in and there was Terri, jumping up, covering me in kisses, just the sweetest girl ever,” Kennon told The Dodo. “From that moment on, I was attached to her.”

As Kennon got to know Terri, he learned her heartbreaking backstory, which only deepened his bond with her. She’d been found wandering alone in a cemetery—pregnant and without a home. That’s how she got her name, Terri.

That was way back in 2015. By the time Kennon met her, Terri had already spent five years at the shelter. Despite being loving and full of personality, no one had adopted her.

Kennon had a feeling why. Terri was an older, black pit bull who needed to be the only pet in the home—a combination that often gets overlooked in shelters. And while puppies were quickly adopted, Terri kept getting passed by.

Day after day, Kennon watched Terri sit patiently in her kennel, her muzzle slowly turning gray, as others found homes. Still, she never gave up hope that one day her turn would come.

Two years into his time at the shelter, Kennon received big news—he’d been accepted into the veterinary program at Texas A&M. While he was excited, the idea of leaving Terri behind was heartbreaking. He couldn’t bear the thought of her growing old in a kennel, still waiting for a family.

So he made a life-changing decision: he adopted her.

At 11 years old, Terri finally had a home of her own for the first time in seven years.

Outside the shelter, Terri blossomed. She was always affectionate, but now—finally surrounded by love and comfort—her true personality really began to shine.

“Put her in a room with people and she’ll immediately walk up to someone and demand attention,” Kennon said. “It breaks my heart a little because it’s clear—this whole time, all she really wanted was someone to be close to.”

Now, Kennon and Terri are making up for lost time. They go for walks together, and while he studies, she naps right by his side.

“Honestly, she’s been the best vet school companion I could ask for,” Kennon said.

Kennon hopes Terri’s journey will encourage more people to consider adopting long-term shelter pets—especially the seniors, the overlooked, and the ones who’ve been waiting the longest.