A six-year-old dog named Nala who spent over two years at a local animal shelter has finally been adopted.
According to Marion County Animal Services, Nala first arrived at the animal shelter in May of 2021, and staff made numerous phone calls to a disconnected number that was attached to her microchip. Since no one came forward to claim Nala, staff delved into her microchip history.
This search led to the original caregiver of Nala, who believed that Nala was living happily with the person that had previously adopted her years ago. Animal Services learned that this person had passed away, and Nala had been in multiple homes since then.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, Nala spent a majority of her time at the shelter. Staff took her to state and local parks, tried dock diving, gave her drive-thru chicken nuggets, visited volunteers’ homes, and more.
“Staff and volunteers have loved her and provided the best life they could, but a shelter is not enough for a decent quality of life,” stated Animal Services in a social media post.
After learning about Nala’s lengthy stay at the shelter, the new director at Animal Services contacted Nala’s original caregiver and asked if she would consider adoption. She said yes, and she drove several hours to pick up Nala.
The two were reunited, and Animal Services staff could tell that Nala “absolutely recognized” her caregiver after all those years.
“Please let this story be your push to update your pet’s microchip. Without the microchip, this day would not have happened for Nala,” stated Animal Services.
According to Animal Services, the shelter offers free updates in their local database and also provides microchipping service for $15. There are no hidden fees, and no appointments are necessary.
Marion County Animal Services is located at 5701 SE 66th Street in Ocala, just off of Baseline Road. The hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The shelter will be closed on Thursday, October 19 for deep cleaning and training.
For more information, or to view pets that are available for adoption, visit the Marion County Animal Services website.