• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Living

Dog finds forever home after 525 days in the shelter

0:38
Dog finds forever home after 525 days in the shelter
Humane Society of Greater Dayton
Catherine Thorbecke
ByCatherine Thorbecke
January 23, 2019, 12:53 AM

A dog who held an Ohio shelter's record for the longest stay finally found a forever home after 525 days at the Humane Society.

Cassie, a mixed breed dog estimated to be about 5 years old, first came to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, in August 2017 from a high-kill shelter in Kentucky, Brian Weltge, the president and CEO society told "Good Morning America."

"She’s really a sweet dog, she loves people, her picture does a good job of telling what kind of personality she has," Weltge said. "She is a good girl."

The adorable dog Cassie was finally adopted after spending 525 days in a shelter.
Humane Society of Greater Dayton

Related Articles

(MORE: Sweet service dog shines in yearbook photos at elementary school)

While dogs around Cassie kept coming and going in the shelter as they would get adopted, despite taking dog training classes and appearing as the shelter's "Pet of the Week" on various local media, Weltge said that for some reason they had trouble placing her in a forever home.

"It was unusual for a loving dog, a happy dog to be in for that long," Weltge said.

"We never had a concern with her as it relates to people, she just loves people," he added. "It was hard to understand why she was here for so long."

The adorable dog Cassie was finally adopted after spending 525 days in a shelter.
Humane Society of Greater Dayton

Still, Weltge said the shelter -- and Cassie -- never lost hope.

"We’re a limited-intake shelter, we have a 99 percent placement rate, even if it takes five years, there is the right person for every pet that gets into our system and it's a matter of finding that right person," Weltge said.

Related Articles

(MORE: This dancer's inspirational Instagram videos are the best thing you'll see all day)

Editor’s Picks

Mayor with terminally ill dog captures hearts on cross-country road trip

  • Nov 10, 2018

Who gets the dog in the divorce? Enter the pet prenup.

  • Dec 12, 2018

New app reunites missing pets with owners by using facial recognition

  • Dec 11, 2018

It was when Cassie made an appearance in a commercial for a car dealership, posing as a super good girl on local television stations, that she got her big break.

Weltge said that a local business, The Jeff Schmidt Auto Group, picked Cassie to be in one of their commercials for a promotion that was also helping to raise money for the local Humane Society.

"They picked Cassie and of course she is just cute and fun in the commercial, and this lady just happened to see it, and at the same time she was looking at the website at the dog," Weltge said. "So she took it as fate, and she came and saw the dog and then she fell in love."

The adorable dog Cassie was finally adopted after spending 525 days in a shelter.
Humane Society of Greater Dayton

It's been less than a week since Cassie found her forever home, and Weltge said, "I haven't heard anything other than they’re happy and doing great."

Weltge said he hopes Cassie's story inspires people at a time when "there is a lot of negativity and feelings of negativity" inundating the internet.

"To see her so happy when she found her forever home just resonates with people," he said.

The adorable dog Cassie was finally adopted after spending 525 days in a shelter.
Humane Society of Greater Dayton

Related Topics

  • Animals

Editor’s Picks

Mayor with terminally ill dog captures hearts on cross-country road trip

  • Nov 10, 2018

Who gets the dog in the divorce? Enter the pet prenup.

  • Dec 12, 2018

New app reunites missing pets with owners by using facial recognition

  • Dec 11, 2018

Up Next in Living—

June's full strawberry moon: See photos and what it means for your zodiac

June 11, 2025

High school athlete somersaults to track and field championship win

June 10, 2025

Michaels buys Joann brand, plans to expand crafting supply to meet demand

June 6, 2025

Approximately 1.7 million air conditioners voluntarily recalled for potential mold exposure

June 6, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News