When John first approached Wiley at the animal shelter, he was there to adopt another pit bull named Smokey. But Wiley, stuck in the shelter for more than 105 days, got his attention. Wiley didn’t move as John stroked him; he just sat there looking adorable and helpless.
When John returned home, he couldn’t get Wiley out of his mind and soon realized that he needed to do something to help.
Deciding to rescue and raise Wiley, John had one of the best days of his life. He saw the joy in Wiley’s eyes when he was finally released from the asylum. However, Wiley didn’t know how to play at first and it took him a while to learn. John believes that no one had ever played with Wiley before, which made their time together even more special.
In the end, John fostered Wiley for eight months, the longest he had ever fostered a dog. During this time, Wiley taught him that things don’t always go as planned, and sometimes it can be difficult to find the perfect home for a dog. John stayed strong and confident, knowing that there was a loving family out there waiting to adopt Wiley.
Eventually, a family from Modesto, California discovered Wiley and immediately fell in love with him. The day finally came when John would take Wiley to his new family. It was an emotional morning when John realized that this would be their last cuddle session in his bed. He let Wiley sit next to him in the car, licking his face while Smokey glared at him jealously.
Arriving at Wiley’s new home, John removed the “Adopt Me” flag from his leash. The family was waiting at the door, excited to welcome Wiley into their lives. John sat down next to Wiley, gave him one last big hug and assured him that he would be in safe hands with his new family. He promised that he and Smokey would come to visit.
Saying goodbye wasn’t easy, but it was a bittersweet moment for John. He remembered the image of Wiley stuck in the shelter looking at him through the gates and now he saw him running around in his new yard in his forever home. It was an incredibly rewarding experience for John, who is proud of their journey together.
