Most pets who come through our centres find their forever homes within a few weeks. Big or small, young or old, shy or outgoing, when their new humans look into their eyes for the first time, something magical happens. The instant bond felt between them is the closest thing to ‘love at first sight’ that we think exists!
For some animals, the wait for that special moment is a little longer, even when they are ready to start their next chapter. That was the case for Merk and Tyson, two dogs who each spent more than 300 days in the dedicated care of our staff and volunteers, waiting for the right family to come along. While their journeys were very different, they had one thing in common: the need for a loving home that could see past their rough start and truly understand them.
Merk’s path to a life of adventure
Merk, a four‑year‑old coonhound mix, spent 10 and a half months in BC SPCA care. The animal centre environment was a tough place for a hound with an independent attitude, big opinions, and a very loud voice. Despite the best efforts by his caregivers, Merk missed days spent outdoors. The kennel lifestyle was not for him, and unfortunately no suitable fosters were available to care for him home in a home setting.
Adding a hound to your life can be very rewarding as they are energetic, curious and full of personality. But they also have specific needs that can make finding the right match for a dog like Merk more challenging. They often need lots of exercise, patient training, and a home that is willing to understand and embrace their joyful volume, high energy and strong instincts to follow their nose.
Thankfully, one day a social media post about our best boy Merk reached the right people. His new family credits a friend for sharing Merk’s story with them, but what truly caught their attention was how honestly the post reflected life with a hound.
“We really appreciated the voice the post was written in. It really gave insight into the difficult situation of a hound not being able to run,” Merk’s new family shared. “We’ve cared for hounds for over 15 years and really ‘get it’. Sydney (one of Merk’s dedicated care team) was so accommodating and spent a lot of time on the phone with us, so we knew what we were getting into.”
With support from our animal care team, careful planning, and patience, Merk’s forever family welcomed him into their home in March. The transition wasn’t without its challenges. Merk’s first week included some tension with his new four-legged siblings, but his family stayed committed to helping him through with understanding and care. With gradual medication changes, more exercise and positive training, Merk began to show his true self. “We know that time, exercise and space will work its magic on Merk and he will blossom”, his new parents shared with confidence.
He’s already finding his footing and learning how to live with all the members of his new home. A strong routine and structure are helping Merk settle, and his family is excited about how far he’s come in a short time. We can’t wait to see what the rest of this year holds.
Merk finally gets to run, explore, and be part of a pack!
Tyson rides the bumpy road to find his forever people
Tyson was brought into care by our Animal Protection team after being abandoned. This sweet Lab had clearly had a life, but staff noted right away how gentle he was, even though he was living in pain. At the time, he had a large, painful wound at the base of his ear that required urgent medical care.
What followed was not an easy journey. Tyson required ear canal surgery and many weeks of care in a foster home while he recovered.
Despite receiving the all clear from his medical team after many vet checks, it was challenging to find the right home for Tyson. He was fearful in new environments and found it difficult to be around other dogs and strangers. Given his past, these are not surprising behaviours, but they still made it hard to place him. Through it all, Tyson never stopped being the goodest of boys and remained a staff and volunteer favourite. He spent his days waiting patiently for his potty breaks and cherished time lounging in the animal centre manager’s office, soaking up every bit of love he could.
Our compassionate animal care team never gave up on Tyson even when his first adoption didn’t work out long term. They were searching for the perfect ‘retirement home’ that would match his quiet energy and provide the life he’s been longing for. This boy needed lots of patience, gentle understanding, and a guardian who could slowly remind him of what unconditional love, and the safety of a forever home, felt like. They would do whatever it took to give this Lab the life he deserved!
Finally, last month that wait ended. Tyson was welcomed into the quiet, rural home of a deeply, loving person who was willing to move at his speed and give him the space he needs to feel safe. Like Tyson, she was looking for a companion who would thrive in the calm, steady rhythm of rural life. After a long wait, Tyson finally belongs.
In the weeks following his adoption, Tyson has been gently settling in, learning that this new place is truly his. He is warming up to his two cat siblings and enjoys the leisurely walks down by the creek with his person.
Tyson will be deeply missed around the centre, but our happiness for him outweighs the bittersweet goodbye. We always knew the city wasn’t where his story would end. We trusted that one day Tyson and his person would find each other and when they did, they would hit the doggy lottery.
Why the right match matters
Long stays look different for every animal. Some wait because their bodies or minds need time to heal. Others need specific lifestyles or simply don’t fit into a one‑size‑fits‑all home. None of these reasons reflect an animal’s worth. What these animals need is not just any home, but the right one: a family where everything adds up.
Tyson and Merk could not be more different. Their personalities, needs and challenges were worlds apart. Yet both found families who could see past their challenges and meet them exactly where they were. Now, these boys have the chance to truly blossom into who they’ve always been, quirks and all! Their stories are a powerful reminder that when the match is right, the wait is always worth it.