Dog adopted after living in shelter for over 900 days

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Free pizza and forever homes were cause for celebration at the Bangor Humane Society (BHS) Wednesday.

“After having our dog Bagheera here for over 900 days at the shelter, she has been officially adopted,” announced Kathryn Ravenscraft, BHS Director of Development and Communications. “She came to us as a stray at just about a year old.”

You may remember Bagheera on WABI’s Furry Friends, this was just one of the many ways Bagheera’s story was spread throughout the community.

Another was Ellsworth-based Zeppa’s Pizza, who put Bagheera’s photo and description on all of their pizza boxes last year. They even offered a $150 gift certificate for her forever home.

With their restaurant named after their own rescued Australian Shepherd, owners Lisa and Hugh Palcic know the importance of supporting shelters.

“It’s our way of trying to get the word out and help,” Palcic says of their efforts.

Hugh goes on to say their involvement impacts them, too: “We’re so excited when one of them gets adopted, I mean, the whole staff, it just makes our day better.”

Enter Holden resident Kreg Ettenger, who after a slow introductory process, officially adopted Bagheera last month.

As a thank you, he gifted the pizza to BHS!

Ettenger recalls the first time he and Bagheera met: “We were really looking for a cat to replace one that we had just lost, but my wife saw her first in the back and just said, ‘You have to come over and see Bagheera.’ We knew her by name, we knew her story.”

Bagheera’s cute looks and goofy, socialable personality is what drew the Ettengers to adopt her after her near three year stay at BHS.

Ettenger will not be Bagheera’s first home, as Ravenscraft tells us she has been returned due to her resource guarding issues.

In dogs, resource guarding is when they claim an item, like food or toys, as theirs and can react aggressively to anyone coming in contact with it.

Despite these hurdles, Ettenger says they are committed to training Bagheera out of her habits and showing her a full, loved life.

“The easy dogs to place are the ones that are already in homes. The ones that end up here, through no fault of their own, are just looking for that chance,” explains Ettenger. “Like anything else in life, sometimes you do have to take a chance and take a little bit of a risk and know yourself well enough to know what you’re willing to do and what resources you have that you can bring.”

At her party hosted at BHS Wednesday, Bagheera was all smiles as she excitedly greeted and kissed staff members, the Palcics and everyone who attended.

Despite getting plentiful belly rubs from all, Bagheera was keen to stay close to Ettenger!

After caring for Bagheera for over 900 days, Ravenscraft says she could not be more pleased with the result: “It’s a heartwarming closing of the circle for Bagheera, to know that she’s absolutely in the right place with someone who’s going to make sure she gets what she needs.”

Over their first month, Ettenger says Bagheera loves walks, windows, and is starting to lean into her playful side. Soon, he hopes to teach her how to fetch!