After spending more than a decade in a shelter, a senior dog named Pitufo in Argentina is finally living the life he always deserved — and the joy on his face says it all.
Now 14 years old, Pitufo recently left behind the only home he’d ever known: the shelter where he’d lived since 2012. For Silvina, cofounder of Hogar Corazón Animal in Buenos Aires, his adoption felt like nothing short of a miracle.
Back when Pitufo first arrived, he was already about five years old — and that, unfortunately, made him harder to place.
Most adopters wanted puppies. And at the time, the shelter had little visibility and no strong social media presence to get dogs like Pitufo seen.
“Finding homes was really difficult,” Silvina told The Dodo. “We didn’t have the reach or resources back then.”
Even when people showed interest in adopting him, Silvina remained firm: she wouldn’t settle for anything less than a truly loving, committed home.
“I’m very careful with who adopts my dogs,” she said. “I see them like my own children.”
Years passed. Pitufo waited. Silvina kept hoping.
Then, in August 2023, everything changed. A kind couple, Estefanía and Sebastián, came into the picture — and they were exactly the family Silvina had always hoped for.
“They were perfect,” Silvina said.
Pitufo now has a warm home, two devoted humans, and even a feline sibling. Despite concerns he might struggle to adjust, Pitufo quickly bonded with everyone.
“He fit right in,” the couple shared in a video update. “It’s like he’s always been part of our family.”
Today, Pitufo spends his golden years going for walks, relaxing with his people, and soaking up the kind of affection he waited over a decade to receive. His smile says everything.
Though Silvina misses having him around the shelter, she says seeing Pitufo finally happy makes it all worth it.
“It was the best decision,” she said. “He’s finally where he belongs.”
To help pups like Pitufo get the care they need, you can make a donation to Hogar Corazón Animal here.
