Barney sat patiently at the adoption event, his tail wagging in hopeful anticipation. Today could be the day, he thought — the day he finally found his forever family.
The friendly pup had been at the Darlington County Humane Society for months, watching other dogs come and go. But Barney wasn’t one to give up easily. He greeted every passerby with a wide, goofy smile and bright, eager eyes.
All afternoon, he watched as other dogs were chosen, their new families walking away with excited faces and wagging tails. Barney kept smiling, kept hoping. But when the event ended, he was still waiting. No one had stopped for him.
The shelter staff’s hearts sank. They wrapped Barney in hugs, telling him what a good boy he was. He leaned into them, soaking up their love. If Barney was disappointed, he didn’t let it show for long. His heart was still open — still ready to love the next person who noticed him.
“He enjoys playing with other dogs, definitely,” said Wendy Ransome, the shelter’s foster coordinator. “But Barney most enjoys time with a person. He’s happy, friendly, and affectionate — just a big, lovable goofball.”
At about 70 pounds, Barney’s size might make some adopters hesitant, but to the right person, Ransome knows it won’t matter at all.
“When I’m at the shelter and look toward his kennel, I know he’ll be at the front, just waiting,” she said. “We understand that not everyone is looking for a dog like Barney. But there’s someone out there who will see exactly what we see — a wonderful, loyal companion.”
On Facebook, the shelter described Barney’s endless affection:
“He longs for attention. When you visit his kennel, he whines, begging you to take him out. He presses himself against the gate so you can reach in and love on every part of him. If you sit with him, he’s delighted. If you take him out to play, he’s over the moon.”
Barney is great with kids but would prefer a home without cats. Until his perfect match comes along, he’ll keep waiting patiently at the shelter — greeting every visitor with that same big smile, still believing his happy ending is out there.
Because for Barney, it only takes one person to change everything.
If you’d like to adopt Barney, you can find his information on his adoption page. To help other dogs like him, consider donating to the Darlington County Humane Society.
