Dexter has spent 1,170 days waiting—and wondering why no one stays.
When he was first found shivering alone on Jones Beach in the icy chill of February, the good Samaritan who opened their car door never expected the dog would jump straight in. But Dexter did. He wanted help. He wanted to be loved.
“He was not in a great situation,” Brian Devine of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh, New York, told Newsweek. “He was dumped on a beach in one of the coldest months of the year.”
Five Adoptions, Five Returns: “Dexter Deserves More”
Since then, Dexter’s journey has been anything but easy. He’s been adopted five times—and returned every single time.
Despite full transparency from shelter staff about his barrier reactivity, guarding, and stranger sensitivity, adopters often don’t see these behaviors until Dexter settles into a home. By then, it’s often too late.
“His issues don’t show here at the shelter,” Devine explained. “Even though adopters are informed, they can’t really grasp his challenges until he’s living with them.”
A Long Shelter Stay Takes Its Toll
Living in a shelter for over three years takes a toll on any dog. A 2021 study in Animals found that long-term shelter dogs may maintain physical health, but often show stress-related behaviors due to the confinement and unfamiliarity of shelter life.
Dexter’s reactions from inside his cage can sometimes turn people away. But out in the play yard, he’s a different dog.
“When he’s out with his buddies, he’s as happy as can be,” said Devine.
Dexter Awaits Rescue as Shelter Stay Nears Four Year
Today, Dexter’s only hope might lie with a dedicated rescue group. A video shared by @adopt_melia_and_friends on TikTok has racked up more than 10,000 views, showing Dexter’s sweet side and pleading for his release.
“Without [a rescue], he’ll remain here indefinitely,” the video caption reads. “Dexter deserves more than a kennel—he deserves a chance.”
That chance, however, will need to come from someone who truly sees him—not just the struggles, but the soul.
A Call for Patience, and for Love
Dexter isn’t a perfect dog. But he doesn’t need perfect people—just someone patient enough to help him heal.
“He has insecurities,” Devine said. “He needs dedicated adopters who won’t give up—who’ll give him the stability and help he’s never had.”
Dexter would thrive in a quiet, adult-only home where the environment is calm and consistent. He needs someone who’s home often, with the time, empathy, and willingness to work slowly through his behaviors—with the support of a trainer.
Shelter staff know the real Dexter. They’ve seen his playfulness, his loyalty, and his desire to bond.
“Dexter hasn’t given up, even after everything,” Devine said. “And neither have we.”
He’s waited over three years, watched other dogs leave, and endured rejection time and again. Yet he still gets up every morning, tail wagging for the people he trusts—hoping the next visit will be the one that changes his life.
What he needs now isn’t perfection. Just someone willing to say: I won’t be the next person to give up on you.
