‘Sweet’ mama dog’s pups all got adopted. Now, she waits for a home of her own
A “sweet” dog’s puppies all got adopted — and now, the mom waits for a home of her own.
“What Sky wants more than anything is someone to believe in her. Someone who sees past the stress of shelter life and into the gentle, affectionate soul beneath,” a North Carolina animal shelter wrote June 2 on Facebook. “She’s playful and energetic, yes — but also soft, cuddly, and ready to love deeply.”
The Humane Society of Catawba County said Sky is “SO READY to leave the shelter behind” after spending 10 months in its care. She arrived in early August after being transferred from another facility.
“A shelter we help nearby was beginning to make euthanasia decisions for space,” Kaitlyn Ewing, director of intake, rescue and foster coordination for the humane society, told McClatchy News via email. “We couldn’t let her or her babies go without a chance at life! She was nursing 5 puppies at the time, all of which were adopted quickly.”
Meanwhile, the mama dog arrived at the shelter in rough shape, in need of food and treatment for mastitis, or inflammation in her mammary glands.
“Sky came to us severely malnourished from neglect from previous owners, barely able to feed her puppies with no nutrition,” Ewing wrote. “She fought hard, gained weight and overcame beginning signs of mastitis we treated her through. She’s been waiting for a home ever since.”
Sky is described as a 2-year-old mixed-breed dog “with a heart that’s bursting at the seams.” But after constantly hearing dozens of other dogs barking, she’s grown frustrated and has been bouncing off the walls of the shelter.
“Kennel life is starting to wear her down,” the shelter wrote. “Sky has been with us since August of 2024, meaning that she’s spent almost a full year searching for her forever family. Despite her sunny personality, it’s getting harder for her to keep her spirits up day after day behind bars.”
As of June 4, the shelter’s website still listed Sky among the animals up for adoption. The animal organization said she would do best in a home with no cats or young children.
The humane society is in the Hickory area, a roughly 55-mile drive northwest from Charlotte. Details about the facility’s adoption process can be found at catawbahumane.org.
This story was originally published June 4, 2025 at 10:38 AM with the headline "‘Sweet’ mama dog’s pups all got adopted. Now, she waits for a home of her own."
