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‘Last dog’ at the shelter gets adopted

Posted at 3:23 PM, May 02, 2017
and last updated 2017-05-03 06:06:34-04

PETOSKEY, Mich. -- Good news for Eastwood, the last dog left at a northern Michigan shelter after an "Empty the Shelter" weekend event.

More than 80 applications came in for Eastwood, a disabled dog at the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society, after his plight was shared on the organization's Facebook page. FOX 17 visited Eastwood Tuesday just hours after he was officially adopted. Next week, employees say he'll be moving in with his Metro Detroit family.

While our cameras were at the shelter, people continued to call Tuesday, from Nevada to Georgia, in hopes of adopting Eastwood.

"It was absolutely astounding," said Jessica Evans, who handles marketing with the Little Traverse Bay Humane Society. "I’ve been here for nearing four years, and I’ve never seen anything like it."

About an hour after the shelter's Facebook post Monday afternoon, Evans said they started receiving dozens of messages, calls and applications for Eastwood.

"Our answering machine was absolutely chalked full; it was a little overwhelming," she said.

Eastwood, the one-year-old red lab who's good with anyone in his path, was born with a deformed back leg. Veterinarians told shelter employees that he'll likely need surgery later which could cost upwards of $4,000.

"It’s hard to imagine that he was just found as a stray. Such a great dog," said Evans. "We’re kind of thinking, due to his health issues, that possibly he was owned by somebody, and he was just dumped."

Saturday, the Bissell Pet Foundation paid for adoption fees in its record-breaking Empty the Shelters event. More than 2,500 animals were adopted from 65 Michigan shelters and rescues, according to foundation officials.

In June, Evans says Little Traverse Bay Humane Society will be holding another event where adoption fees will be lowered.

"While he’s an amazing and wonderful dog, there’s still so many animals that need homes across the country," she said. "I’m hoping for this to give people the opportunity to consider other animals that need homes just as much as Eastwood [did]."