Special circumstances : Woof, woof! Lucy Lou has a new forever home!

Lucy Lou is looking for a loving home. [Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of Marion County]

Home » Community

Posted April 16, 2024 | By Susan Smiley-Height, susan@magnoliamediaco.com

UPDATE: Austin Burnett messaged the Gazette late Wednesday afternoon to say that, “Lucy Lou was adopted this afternoon to the perfect home. Thank you so much for your help in finding someone to love her!”

Many dog lovers have had a very special canine in their lives. Lucy Lou is looking for a very special human to be in hers.

The spunky Lucy Lou is believed to be a hound dog, most likely a Treeing Walker Coonhound, according to Austin Burnett, shelter operations manager for the Humane Society of Marion County. She is about 6 to 8 years old and weighs 43 pounds.

Lucy Lou came to the shelter in November of 2019 and was adopted in February of 2020, but then something went awry.

“Lucy was found as a stray in February of 2023 by our good friends at VOCAL (the Voices of Change Animal League). She was brought back to the Humane Society, where she was adopted again a month later. Lucy was then returned to us in September of 2023 due to her owner having health concerns of her own. Lucy has been at the shelter ever since,” Burnett said.

Because Lucy Lou has “extreme” kennel anxiety, Burnett has been fostering her at his home since January but said he hopes someone will soon adopt her and give her a permanent home.

“She gets anxious at the shelter between all of the smells and loud noises. She doesn’t like to be contained, so she paces, and it makes her paw pads raw and bloody,” he explained.

Burnett said Lucy Lou is “good with most dogs, but she is true to her breed and will chase a cat, squirrel, or anything that climbs trees.”

He said shelter officials would recommend she go to a home with older children and a fenced yard, or to a retired couple or someone who needs a best friend.

“She loves car rides and would make an amazing travel companion,” Burnett added.

So, if you think you might be Lucy Lou’s special person and are ready to share your home and heart, and some car rides, reach out to the Humane Society by calling (352) 873-7387.

The Humane Society of Marion County is a nonprofit no-kill shelter dedicated to caring for and protecting animals for more than 55 years. To learn more, go to thehsmc.org