Abandoned dog waited 1,000 days for loving home. Then his wish finally came true
A sweet and active pup named Yoda has certainly been through the ringer.
After being the star of a Mokena shelter since 2023, he finally thought he found a home, only to be left behind a short time later.
But now, nearly 1,000 days after his first arrival, the Staffordshire terrier with ears like his namesake, Yoda, really has found the family he deserves. On July 5, NAWS Humane Society of Illinois posted a lighthearted video on Facebook, showing the excited 5-year-old pup with his new family.
The shelter said one of the reasons it took so long to find a family that stuck was because he’s not that social with other animals.
“When Yoda first came to NAWS, it became apparent he wasn’t the most social dog,” NAWS shelter director Victoria Swyndroski told Patch.com. “He liked some dogs, but not 100 percent. Not a fan of kitties—he’s a prey-driven little guy.”
Prey-driven, yes, but he also is known for his personality, the shelter noted in a May 28 post that celebrated his birthday.
“Yoda knows his basic commands,” the post said. “Yoda is loyal. Yoda just wants to give you ALL the love. Yet at the end of the day.. he goes back into his create crying waiting for someone to open their home to him. He deserves so much (more) than shelter life.”
Yoda was adopted in 2024 by a woman from Wisconsin, but he was later abandoned by her after he managed to break away, the shelter told Patch.
“He had gotten away from her on a walk, and she couldn’t catch him,” Swyndroski said to the outlet. “He was too much for her, and she didn’t want him.”
Everything happens for a reason, and now Yoda is being spoiled by his new family, the shelter said.
Mokena is about a 35-mile drive southwest from Chicago.
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Abandoned dog waited 1,000 days for loving home. Then his wish finally came true."