Tonka is finally home for the holiday — and every daylight after that , too .
Tonka was five days short of setting a record for theOrange County Animal Service’slongest tax shelter stay when he was adopt late last month . The 7 - class - sure-enough pit bull mixing had been at the Florida animal shelter for 216 days when South Daytona resident Wilfredo Vega heard the heartrending story and made the 90 - arcminute drive to adopt the dog .
Tonka ’s seven - calendar month shelter stay begin in April , after being abandoned in the backyard of an Orange County home when his former owner moved . Tonka was adopted twice during that seven months , but he was turn back both time — once , after only hours .
Diane Summers , the class manager at the shelter , tells Daily Paws that Tonka was a caseful of a dog who ’d gotten " stuck " in the shelter . He could n’t be housed with other pawl , and seemed to be selective in warming up to likely adoptive parent .
Orange County Animal Service shared place about Tonka on theirFacebook account , and local news show picked up the story . That ’s when Vega , a 46 - year - erstwhile founding father of four and possessor of an auto repair shop class , saw a news study about the give up pup that prompted him to channelize to the protection .
Vegaadopted the dogand strike him home just before Thanksgiving — and it seems that he was just as lucky to have Tonka home plate for the vacation season as Tonka was to have a unexampled rest home . Vega told local reportersthat until the espousal , he had n’t matt-up much like celebrate the holidays this year . Vega lose his female parent , Carlina Rosa , to COVID-19 this retiring spring . The bequest of his late female parent , who always told him to do the right thing , assist Vega make the decision to give Tonka a forever home . Vega ’s daughter Aaliyah , who work with a local pet alliance , also encouraged her father to give the adorable Hell Irish bull mix a chance .
Even though he ’d been overlooked before , it seems as though Tonka may have just been waiting for the right human to arrive along . Summers says that the right person for a shelter darling like Tonka is one who can " provide the beast with patience and beloved through stability and mundane — as that ’s typically what these animals take to thrive . "
After expend their first vacation together , Vega differentiate theOrange County Animal Service shelterthat Tonka has been " absolutely phenomenal . " Vega says the the house frustrate Tonka with love and chew toys , and that the pooch is adjusting well to life with his new crime syndicate , include Vega ’s four child , six parakeets , and two cockatiels .
Because he was a little more reserved at the shelter , some assumed Tonka would be a big ' ol sofa white potato vine at home . Nope ! He has a ton of energy and do it to be rewarded with treats . He was waiting on the correct individual : Vega .
Even though most the great unwashed looking to follow a shelter pet await an straightaway reaction from the brute they ’re concerned in , Summers says that Tonka is a great reminder that some pets are timid , and may take more time to divulge their genuine personalities . " My hope would be that for anyone considering a farseeing term protection pet , they be patient above all else . "
We ’re so thankful Tonka finally found his forever home . If you ’re search for a pet to cozy up with for the rest of their animation , searchAdoptAPet.comto discover a shelter near you where you’re able to adopt your own furred friend .
