At the very end of the row of kennels at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, a gray-and-white dog named Bernie waits. Every day, he peers out hopefully, watching visitors walk past. And every day, he’s left wondering why no one ever stops.
For nearly six months, Bernie has been overlooked. Not once has anyone asked to meet him.
“I’m a big, handsome, friendly boy,” reads a video caption from Pawfect Pals NY Need a Home. “I’ve been here almost six months, and not one person has asked to meet me.”
No one at the shelter can explain it.
“It’s very disheartening,” said Ashley Behrens, acting director at the shelter. “He is such a hidden gem that someone is completely missing out on.”
Bernie’s size and boundless energy may scare some people off, but to those who know him, those traits are exactly what make him special.
“He’s a blast to walk and hang out with in the yard,” Behrens said. “He loves to play, chew on hard toys, and run around to burn off some energy.”
Bernie’s joy wasn’t always so visible. When he first arrived, he was painfully thin and shy. With time, care, and good food, he gained weight, learned to trust, and discovered the fun in being a dog again.
“He’s much more engaged, relaxed, and walks beautifully on a leash now,” Behrens said. “He’s fully housebroken and very relaxed in his kennel.”
Because Bernie is strong and excitable, his ideal home would be with adults or families with older teens — people ready to keep him active and help him keep learning his manners.
Until then, Bernie will keep waiting at the last kennel, tail wagging, hoping the right person will finally see what everyone at the shelter already knows — that he’s one in a million.
Those interested in meeting Bernie can find more information on the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter website.
