Just like any other dog, Lancer thought his time at the shelter would be brief.
But after spending seven long months at the City of Mobile Animal Services in Alabama, the once-cheerful pup began to feel a little discouraged.
Still, Lancer never lost hope. Instead, he came up with his own way of standing out and showing people just how much love he had to give.
“Whenever someone walked by his kennel, he would stretch out his paw as if asking for them to hold it,” explained Mary Kate Hale, the shelter’s digital media manager, in an interview.
Whenever visitors came looking for a dog to adopt, Lancer would rush to the kennel door, stand tall on his hind legs, and push as much of his little body through the bars as he could.
Then, with the sweetest determination, he’d wave his paw in the air — silently begging for someone to notice him and fall in love.
For Lancer, there was nothing more important than finding a family of his own.
“Lancer has such a gentle spirit and adores peanut butter,” Hale shared. “Once he’s done zooming around the yard, he loves to stretch out in the shade with his legs splayed like a frog.”
Hope Finally Pays Off
One day, Lancer spotted a volunteer walking past his kennel. Instinctively, he did what he always did best: put on his cutest face and slid his paw through the bars.
The volunteer couldn’t resist the heart-melting gesture and decided to snap a quick photo. Believing others would love him too, they shared Lancer’s story and picture online.
It didn’t take long for the internet to fall in love.
“In less than 24 hours after the Facebook post went up, Lancer caught the eye of his future dad, Nick,” Hale recalled.
Nick didn’t need to meet him to know — from that one picture alone, he could see that Lancer was a special dog with so much love to give. He also knew instantly that Lancer belonged with him.
After meeting the sweet pup in person, Nick made it official. Lancer finally got exactly what he had been waiting for all along: a family, affection, and the comfort of a forever home.
Now, Lancer is thriving. His days are filled with playtime, treats, and cuddles.
And the most touching part? Whenever Lancer extends his paw now, his new dad is always right there to hold it. ❤️