A 10-year-old dachshund named Andi has found her forever home after being surrendered to Norfolk Animal Shelter in November 2024, allegedly due to a bite incident. The dog had spent most of her life with her previous owner but was dropped off after reportedly biting the owner’s boyfriend. However, her new owner, Whitney West, has seen no evidence of aggressive behavior and believes the bite claim may have been fabricated.
Whitney, from Virginia, shared the heartwarming journey of Andi’s adoption on TikTok (@wwest___), where the video quickly went viral with over 116,000 views. The footage shows Andi comfortably resting on the couch with Whitney’s daughter, surrounded by the love of her new family. Whitney’s children, along with two other senior dachshund brothers, have all welcomed Andi into their home, and she is now thriving in her new life.
In the TikTok post, Whitney wrote, “When you were dumped at the shelter for a bite hold at 10 years old, and now you live the comfiest life with 5 people who are obsessed with you.” The video captured the hearts of thousands, with many praising Whitney for giving an older dog a second chance.
West, who has since observed no signs of aggression in Andi, emphasized the importance of adopting senior dogs. She hopes her viral post will encourage others to consider rescuing older pets who are often overlooked in shelters. Senior dogs, though often less desirable to adopters, are just as deserving of love and care, West explained.
The online response has been overwhelmingly positive, with commenters expressing admiration for Andi’s new life and thanking Whitney for her compassion. “Dachshunds are so misunderstood. They’re such lovers, protectors, (stubborn) but they love hard. Thank you for taking this baby,” one comment reads.
Through her adoption story, Whitney hopes to shed light on the joys of adopting senior dogs and how they can enrich their new families’ lives.
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