The puppy extends his paw from the kennel, hoping that someone will grab it and take him home.

Living without the unconditional and nurturing love of a human and a loving home makes all stray dogs extremely sad. Day after day, while they wander the streets in search of food, they hope to get a smile from a stranger. They crave their attention and love.

What they want more than anything else in this world is to find parents who would hug them and make them feel worthy and loved.

Once they’re finally rescued and brought to shelters, shelter dogs feel grateful for being given food and shelter. Their hearts overflow with hope that one day, they’ll meet their forever parents who will make them forget their sad life on the streets.

The following story is about Speck, one of the shelter dogs who hoped to be given the opportunity to know what love and happiness are like.

Craving Human Affection

shelter dog reaching out of the fence with his paw — Source: Allie’s Hope For Paws Dog Rescue

He lived on the streets and he was brought to the Bullock County Humane Society, in Alabama. When the shelter staff met him for the first time, they were smitten with his sweet and affectionate character.

Although the rough life on the streets left visible scars on his body, Speck was a kind and trusting soul who only craved love.

As soon as he would notice staffers or visitors passing by his kennel, he would stick his head and his paws through the kennel bars. Once they would take his paw and hold hands with him, he would look at them with love-filled eyes.

shelter dog close-up photo — Source: Allie’s Hope For Paws Dog Rescue

“All he wants is people love. He will reach his little hand out and he just wants you to touch him and hold his hand. And he’s so sad when you walk off to finish cleaning or whatever you have to do,” the shelter’s director, Desiray Miracle-Wilder, told The Dodo.

The shelter staff couldn’t resist the affectionate doggo and they fell in love with him.

Ever since Speck came to the shelter in 2018, he longed to find his parents and experience the sweet life in a home.

Sadly, months passed and Speck continued waiting for his forever home. Despite his long wait, he never got discouraged, and he kept reaching out his little paw and asking for some love.

The shelter staff couldn’t understand why the adopters passed him by.

The Day That Speck’s Life Started Changing

man holding dog's paw — Source: Allie’s Hope For Paws Dog Rescue

In 2020, Wilder came up with the idea to film Speck while he was holding hands with the shelter staff in order to show people how much love he has to give.

After the shelter shared Speck’s adorable video on their Facebook, it went viral and melted the hearts of many people.

As soon as Carly McDanal, the founder of Allie’s Hope For Paws Dog Rescue, heard Speck’s story and saw his sweet hand-holding routine, she decided to help him find his parents.

Speck’s well-wishers rejoiced after the rescue found him the perfect forever home on a 26-acre farm in New York.

The lovely dog was excited when he left his shelter kennel. He felt like his life was about to change forever. He hoped that he would snuggle with his parents very soon.

Speck’s Journey To His Forever Home

shelter dog on grass — Source: Bullock County Humane Society

In order to arrive at his loving home, Speck traveled by plane for the first time in his life. He enjoyed his flight because he had a doggy friend by his side who helped him relax. After the plane landed, Speck resumed his trip in a car.

While Speck was traveling to his forever home, his parents, Danielle and Mike, were eagerly waiting to have their sweet boi in their arms.

photo of woman and a dog — Source: Danielle Filbeck

Once Speck finally arrived, they fell head over heels in love with him and welcomed him with their outstretched arms. While his parents were hugging him, Speck felt like he was the happiest dog in the world.

He couldn’t believe his luck! Finally, he found the love he had searched for his whole life.

Speck loves running and going on walks with his doggy brothers. The thing he enjoys the most is snuggling with his parents, who can’t get enough of his sweet kisses and hugs.