Martin, a sweet senior dog with a teddy bear face, has been through more heartbreak than most pups ever should.
At 10 years old, Martin found himself at the SPCA of Wake County after his elderly owner, who was 89, made the painful decision to surrender him. It wasn’t because he didn’t care — it was because he loved Martin enough to want more for him than he could give.
“He wanted a better life for Martin,” said Samantha Ranlet, a communications specialist at the SPCA. “He just couldn’t keep up with his needs anymore.”
Despite the major life change, Martin remained gentle and upbeat from the start. “Even on day one, he was just this happy, easy-going, really sweet old man,” Ranlet said.
But finding a new home for a senior dog isn’t always easy.
Over the course of two months, seven adoptions fell through for Martin. Some adopters got cold feet; others were hesitant about his age or the fact that he was heartworm positive.
“We were heartbroken,” Ranlet said. “He kept getting passed over.”
Eventually, the shelter turned to social media, hoping the right person might see Martin’s story and give him the chance he deserved.
A simple Facebook post with Martin’s photos and backstory quickly went viral.
“Within 48 hours, our inbox was flooded,” Ranlet said. “People were calling, emailing — they just fell in love with him.”
One of those inquiries came from a couple who’d cared for senior dogs before — and weren’t at all intimidated by Martin’s health or age. “They saw him and just knew,” Ranlet said.
Martin went home with them soon after.
His adoption isn’t finalized yet — he still visits the shelter for heartworm treatment on weekends — but he’s already settling into his new life.
His only pet sibling is a younger cat named Hilltop, and the two are adjusting well to each other.
SPCA staff miss seeing Martin every day, but they’re thrilled he’s finally found his family.
“Senior dogs often get overlooked, but Martin reminds us just how special they are,” Ranlet said.
If you'd like to help more dogs like Martin, consider donating to SPCA of Wake County.
