'But I can't live my life without this dog': Floyd finds a home after 866 days in shelter

Nicole Leone and the staff at the Erie Humane Society tried everything to find Floyd a home.

They put the three-year-old boxer/pit bull mix on local television, posted videos of him on social media, and even dressed Floyd in a doggy tuxedo for the humane society's annual Mutt Gala and had him walk the red carpet.

Nothing they did could get Floyd adopted. He spent almost every night for two years by himself in a small kennel toward the rear of the humane society.

"He would sabotage his meet-and-greets with people," said Nicole Leone, the society's executive director. "Floyd got attached to several of us here at the humane society, then when we would leave the room and he would ignore the family who was there to meet him."

Thankfully for Floyd, the humane society has been a no-kill shelter since 2015, meaning it only euthanizes animals for severe or untreatable medical or behavioral problems. But their inability to help Floyd get adopted weighed heavily on the minds of Leone and her staff.

Then Floyd met Michele.

Michele, who asked not to have her last name published, was not looking to adopt a dog. The 65-year-old Erie woman had two dogs that died over the past three years.

But a friend, who is a volunteer at the humane society, told her about Floyd and showed Michele a video of the dog.

"I didn't need a dog but I agreed to meet Floyd. Big mistake," Michele said with a laugh. "I fell in love with him."

Floyd bonds well with people he trusts

An energetic dog, Floyd has always connected better with women than men or children, Leone said. It might be due to what happened before he was brought to the humane society.

Floyd was found by Millcreek Township police and taken as a stray to the humane society in April 2021. He was thin but otherwise healthy, Leone said.

"We think he might have been abused by the way he acts when you invade his space, especially men who do that," Leone said. "Also, if you toss a toy toward him, he flinches and doesn't go after it until it falls."

But Leone and the staff quickly discovered Floyd was a smart dog who bonded deeply with people he trusted.

He spent the night with Leone on the humane society's annual "Night in the Shelter" event. They watched movies and ate pizza (Floyd ate the crusts).

Floyd went through three months of training before he was eligible to be adopted. The trainers and volunteers learned that Floyd was a quick study.

"He's the smartest dog I have ever seen," said volunteer Molly Bean. "I teach him something once, I don't have to teach him a second time."

"Floyd will listen and watch everything you do," Leone added. "He absorbs your command. He loves to learn."

He also was rambunctious. Leone said he acted like an unruly teenager when he first arrived. During his training, staff would have to put a sign on the door saying, "Floyd is in the hallway, don't come back here."

But all the lessons and attention helped Floyd learn to act more calmly and obey his handlers enough to participate in two Mutt Galas and several other Humane Society events.

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Still, Floyd couldn't find a permanent home.

"I remember one time I threw a Frisbee and Floyd leaped into the air, caught it and looked at me," Leone said. "We goofed around for an hour, with Floyd showing me all the things he could do. It was like he was telling me to have faith, he will find a home."

COVID-19 brought Michele and Floyd together

Michele took Floyd for walks and eventually agreed in April to house him as a foster pet until someone else wanted to adopt him.

That's when Michele fell ill with COVID-19, and learned that she was going to adopt Floyd herself.

"We spent two weeks in bed together and I bonded with him," Michele said. "He's not like any dog I have ever had. I've had purebred dogs. I've never adopted a dog from a shelter.

"But I can't live my life without this dog."

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Floyd remained connected to the Humane Society for several months, spending occasional nights there when Michele traveled to Pittsburgh for family matters.

Bean, the humane society volunteer, still takes Floyd to obedience and agility classes.

"He's more relaxed, more calm than he was before Michele adopted him," Bean said as she petted Floyd. "How dogs are in a shelter is not how they are at home."

Michele officially adopted Floyd on Aug. 26, 866 days after he arrived at the humane society. His "Happy Gotcha Day" was posted on Tik Tok by staff.

No dog has stayed longer at the humane society, Leone said.

"Not only do I have Floyd, but we have Team Floyd, this great group of women who have helped him and continue to care for him," Michele said. "And as for Floyd, he's my partner in crime."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Floyd finds a home after 866 days as Erie Humane Society shelter dog