Dog spent 11 years in shelter — ‘nearly her entire life.’ She now has a permanent home

For most of Fiona’s 13-year life, Second Chance Shelter in Boaz, Alabama, has been all she has known.

But just weeks after moving to a temporary home in Wisconsin, things are looking up for the senior dog.

Fiona, who spent “nearly her entire life” at the Alabama shelter, finally has a new home thanks to Albert’s Dog Lounge in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

“And just like that, Fiona found her happily ever after,” Albert’s Dog Lounge said in an April 5 post on Facebook.

The dog, originally named Fergie, turned 13 on Feb. 25 and spent birthday after birthday waiting to be adopted, according to Second Chance Shelter.

Fiona, described as “a very shy girl,” lived at the Alabama shelter for 11 years. Her shyness, the shelter said, is likely why she was overlooked.

“No dog should have to live that many years in a shelter,” the shelter said on Facebook in February as it celebrated the dog’s birthday.

Albert’s Dog Lounge, a charity organization that houses senior dogs in foster homes until they can find their match, took in Fergie in March.

Little did they know, Fergie would not spend long in her foster home.

Fergie stayed with Lindsey Decker, vice president of the foster-based rescue, according to WMTV. There, her name was changed to Fiona because of the group’s “new life, new name” philosophy.

With a fresh name, Fiona was pampered in her foster home. Fiona experienced her first snow, feasted “like a queen” and even received her first massage.

Decker told WMTV she was “so joyful” for Fiona to be adopted. Several hopeful parents applied before Decker chose Carrie Saskowski, who she said has a “retirement village” for Fiona at her Greenfield, Wisconsin, home.

“I saw her story online and was just so overwhelmed with sadness that she was in the shelter for so long,” Saskowski told the outlet. “And no one would adopt her knowing how sweet she was. It was just so sad to me, and I thought, oh my gosh, could we have the best life together.”

Decker told WMTV she is grateful Fiona will have a yard, dog siblings and loving pet parents for her remaining years.

Boaz, Alabama, is about a 75-mile drive northeast from Birmingham. Whitewater, Wisconsin, is about a 45-mile drive southeast from Madison, and Greenfield is in the Milwaukee metropolitan area.

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