Dog that went from New York to Grayslake-area animal shelter still awaits adoption
A dog's travels from New York to a no-kill shelter near Grayslake attracted widespread local news coverage last month, but the animal still awaits adoption, officials said.
Moonbeam, an 11-year-old American Staffordshire terrier, has been at Save-A-Pet since Dec. 7. It's the second time Save-A-Pet is trying to find a permanent home for the dog, which first landed there in late 2003.
Bridget Lavelle, intake and foster coordinator for Save-A-Pet in unincorporated Lake County near Grayslake, said eight or nine people have checked out Moonbeam at the shelter since his story was detailed in several local media outlets last month. However, no one has made a commitment to the dog.
"He's just a great dog," Lavelle said. "I don't know why he's still here."
Moonbeam - the name listed in the old Save-A-Pet documents - was left at the Town of Huntington's animal shelter on Long Island on Nov. 23. While the dog didn't have current identification, officials in the New York town found a microchip that led them to Save-A-Pet.
Save-A-Pet volunteer Mary Huspen worked with Pilots and Paws to string together three flights in small airplanes on Dec. 7, with Schaumburg Regional Airport being the last stop. South Carolina-based Pilots and Paws is a nonprofit group of pilots and airplane owners that helps in animal transportation.
Records show the dog was left at Save-A-Pet in late 2003 when it was about 3 months old and was adopted in January 2004. Lavelle said Moonbeam's original adoptive family could not be located and has not contacted Save-A-Pet since the publicity wave.
Lavelle said Moonbeam has been deemed healthy by a veterinarian and appears to have been well cared for. She added Moonbeam doesn't act like an older dog because he is playful and performs tricks.
Save-A-Pet board of directors President Dominique Allion said she's surprised Moonbeam still is at the no-kill shelter.
"Adopting and loving an old animal, sometimes one that is terminally ill, really changed me in ways that I never expected," Allion said. "Yes, it may be sad when one passes, but the love and everything that lives on makes you a better person."