Shelter Dog ‘Starting To Lose Hope’ After 700 Days Without Being Adopted

A shelter dog has gone over 700 days without being adopted, and staff say he’s “starting to lose hope.”

James Earl Bones, who was named in honor of the late, great Star Wars actor, didn’t come to the shelter from a galaxy far, far away.

“James was roaming as a stray dog in East St. Louis, back in March 2023,” Alisha Vianello, Executive Director at the non-profit animal shelter Gateway Pet Guardians in Illinois, told Newsweek. “He was taken in by St. Clair County Animal Care and Control and we pulled him from them into our rescue on April 6, 2023, almost two years ago!”

James’s life before his rescue remains something of a mystery, but from the moment he arrived, his affectionate nature was clear for everyone to see. “James is such a sweet dog! He loves to snuggle and be loved on and be near people,” Vianello said. “He’s been described as a velcro dog, who just wants to be by your side.”

In almost every conceivable way, James represents the ideal rescue dog. “He loves going for car rides, going on walks and hikes and of course eating tasty snacks,” Vianello said. “In the past he has loved playing with other dogs and has lived with other dogs.”

Yet, in what Vianello describes as “one of life’s greatest mysteries” James has so far been overlooked for adoption. It’s a situation she is struggling to understand. “He’s handsome and sweet and could fit into most families. He’s also potty trained, housebroken and can be left alone in a room and is non-destructive,” she said. “Sometimes shelter dogs just get overlooked for no known reason, which seems to be the case for this poor guy.”

James hasn’t had it easy over the last few months either and, in truth, is lucky to even be alive. “James recently went through a traumatic experience,” Vianello said. “He got loose during a walk and was missing for 30 days in freezing winter temperatures. When he was finally found, he was severely emaciated and exhausted.”

Since returning to the shelter, James has struggled to make dog friends again. It’s suspected that this is largely down to the stress and hardship of whatever he endured while lost in the cold.

In the meantime, as time ticks on, James is starting to struggle with being in the shelter for such a significant period of time.

Long-term shelter dogs often get stuck in a vicious cycle. As far back as 2002, a study published in the journal Animal Welfare looking at the behavior of 97 dogs in a rescue center concluded that extended periods of time in a shelter often led to canines behaving in a manner deemed unattractive to potential adopters. This then led to the dogs spending even longer periods of time at the shelter and developing more undesirable behaviors as a result.

Despite the best efforts of everyone at Gateway Pet Guardians, long term residents like James Earl Bones are bound to be impacted negatively. “Long-term shelter life is hard on dogs because the loud, stressful environment can cause anxiety, boredom, and declining health,” Vianello said. “Limited socialization and mental stimulation may lead to behavioral issues, making adoption harder.”

The worry is that, after over 700 days without a home to call his own, James Earl Bones is beginning to show signs of this strain. In a video posted to the shelter’s TikTok page, @gatewaypets, which amassed hundreds of views since being posted last week. In the caption they warn he is “starting to lose hope.”

“Every day, the stress of kennel life takes a toll,” they said. “He’s not meant to live in a kennel—he’s meant to be curled up on a couch, going for walks, and finally experiencing the love he deserves.”

Though there is worry, it’s not too late for James Earl Bones’s situation to change for the better and Vianello already has a good idea of what kind of home he would be suited to.

“He would be a good dog for most families!” she said. “He’s very sweet and active and would love a family to give him a safe place to live and maybe take him for a few adventures and pup cups.”