Shyla, a 5-year-old Pit Bull Terrier mix, may be a good luck charm for other dogs at the Humane Society Naples. It seems every time she gets a new kennel-mate, they get adopted within a few days.
But the healthy caramel-colored dog hasn’t had that same luck. She’s been a resident at the shelter for four years. That’s nearly 1,500 days.
Now she’s the shelter dog known around the world and she’s not the only one on an extended stay at the no-kill shelter.
Shyla’s loved by the entire Humane Society Naples staff, but she has her favorite staff member: Director of Animal Programs Stephanie Lewis. In fact, Shyla’s eyes light up when she sees Lewis through her kennel window. During a recent visit by the Naples Daily News, the dog jumped up and licked her face, tail wagging recklessly as Lewis entered her kennel.
Lewis says Shyla can act the same way for a potential owner ― it just takes time.
“She takes a little bit longer to open up,” Lewis said. “People just don’t want to put the effort into trying to meet her when there’s dogs on the floor that could be taken home the same day.”
Shyla has a sense of humor that seems impossible for a dog. She gives side-eyes fit for a diva and, for the right person, will even show her belly for rubs.
“She’s the greatest sidekick,” Lewis said. Shyla is versatile, too. She’s down to chill on the couch or have an adventure. She’s loving and cuddly too.
Shyla’s story made national news this fall after the Humane Society posted a story about her on social media. People instantly loved her.
The original post had more than 5,500 reactions on Facebook and more than 2,000 comments on Instagram. One Instagram post was even more popular, with over 1.3 million views.
She was featured in Newsweek and The Dodo in October, leading to a massive wave of inquiries about her status.
Lewis jokes that she and the adoption coordinator have become Shyla’s personal assistants since the dog rose to internet fame.
In just one day, the Humane Society received more than 300 emails and calls. Lewis tried to keep tabs on where all the inquiries were coming from, but lost track. The calls and emails came from all over the country and the world, with some as far away as Australia and South Africa.
“Managing Shyla’s internet fame has been incredible,” Patrizia Vila, the organization’s events and outreach coordinator, told the Naples Daily News. “So many people believe in her and want her to find a loving home as much as we do. Although I wish we could tell her just how famous she is and how much she matters, I know she feels it through the love and care from our wonderful animal staff.”
But still no forever home.
The Humane Society actually took Shyla in from Collier County Domestic Animal Services. If the county-run agency is overwhelmed by the amount of animals they have or has dogs that are particularly hard to adopt, Humane Society staff agrees to house them.
Vila told Newsweek that Shyla was found wandering the streets of Collier County and has never been claimed.
Shyla struggles with what shelter staff call “stranger danger.” She has to warm up to people and doesn’t like surprise guests. But Lewis says she’s become calmer over time.
Lewis says Shyla’s ideal family could be a single adult, a couple, or a couple with an older child. She won’t do well with small children, though.
Shyla has the potential to live with other dogs, but would require special counseling.
“She can get along with other dogs, but she has to be the boss,” Lewis said.
The only thing keeping Lewis from adopting Shyla is that she she already has four dogs at home. She knows Shyla needs a certain type of environment to thrive in ― and it’s not her home.
“All shelter people adopt dogs that no one else wants to adopt,” Lewis said. “So my dogs are also weirdos. If I didn’t have dogs, she’d be in my house.”
Lewis says Shyla certainly isn’t the only longterm shelter dog in the world.
“There’s animals like her in every shelter, in every town, in every state,” Lewis said. “So if you can’t adopt [Shyla,] then you go to your local shelter. There’s going to be a ‘Shyla’ in every local shelter.”
In fact, Shyla is the shelter’s second-longest resident, with the first arriving only two months before her. That is Ripley, who is not quite ready for adoption yet, but shelter staff hope he will be soon.
The dogs that have been at the Humane Society the longest have certain quirks that require a special type of owner and that is one that’s willing to work with them, shelter officials said.
Vila says Shyla’s story has made a difference in shelters across the country.
“It’s been so rewarding to witness the impact Shyla has made,” Vila said. “We’ve even received comments from people saying she’s inspired them to visit their local shelter and adopt the longest-stay dog there.”
According to the Humane Society, Shyla requires multiple visits before she’s cleared for adoption. She needs time to get to know people and needs to go to a specific type of family.
Captain, a 4-year-old mixed breed dog, has been at the shelter for nearly two and a half years. He’s energetic and loving, but has issues with resource guarding, which is when a dog shows aggression in order to gain control of something they consider valuable, like toys or food. In Captain’s case, he’s protective over his toys. Lewis says that’s a very easy issue to work with though.
Shelter staff suggest that Captain go to a home without kids or a home with older kids that can respect his space.
Some dogs don’t get adopted due to perceptions about a particular breed. In general, the Humane Society’s Pit Bull mixes have been there the longest. It’s a common misconception that Pit Bulls are an inherently aggressive breed, but in reality it all depends on their training.
Like any other dog, if a Pit Bull isn’t socialized or trained well, they can be aggressive. But not all Pit Bulls are dangerous, even if their barks sound scary, shelter officials said.
Malta, a 6-year-old Pit Bull Terrier, has been at the shelter for two years. He’s a playful dog, but struggles with “stranger danger.” Malta just needs a little more time to warm up to people before he opens up.
Another obstacle for them is that many homeowners associations put a limit on what kind of dogs residents can adopt. Bigger dogs usually don’t make the weight limit, leading to owners surrendering their dog when they move.
Some dogs need to be the only dog in a household and others need the company of other dogs to thrive, like Alfie, a 5-year-old Blue Heeler mix.
The Humane Society Naples is a no-kill, non-profit animal shelter with a staff dedicated to finding animals their forever home.
The shelter also offers medical care through the Humane Society Naples Veterinary Clinic and the Patty and Jay Baker Mobile Veterinary Clinic.
Humane Society staff assist families with crisis boarding, behavioral training, and fostering services as well.
Since the shelter opened in the 1960s, they’ve adopted over 110,000 animals into homes.
If you’re interested in adopting a dog from the Humane Society, visit the shelter during walk-in hours: Tuesday through Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. You can walk through the shelter and see all the adoptable dogs.
You can also call the Humane Society at (239) 643-1555, option 4, ext. 35 or email adopt@hsnaples.org.
The Humane Society Naples is funded by local donors and income generated by their operations like adoption fees and veterinary hospital costs.
If you’re looking to help the Humane Society Naples, there’s a few ways to do it:
