By Maria Azzurra VolpeShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberA husky who has spent over 576 days in shelter is hoping to find a family before Christmas, and footage of him playing with a volunteer has melted hearts among social-media users.
In a viral Instagram clip shared on Tuesday by @jsaraceno, the pup can be seen sitting down in his kennel like a good boy, playing with the poster, Julie Saraceno, a volunteer who helps rescue dogs and often takes them for fun days out.
"I hope he knows that I pray every day that he finds a home and won’t see another Christmas here. This is Bark Wahlberg, and he’s on day 576 of being a shelter dog," the caption says.
Bark Wahlberg is adoptable at the Benton Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, Washington.
Saraceno told Newsweek that Bark arrived to the shelter as a surrender back in May 2024, with his brother, Ozzy, who has since been adopted.
..."He had grown up his whole life being an outdoor dog," Saraceno said, "He is 6 years old, a Siberian husky, and very high energy. He loves pup cups, going for car rides, and getting butt scratches. He leans against the door of his kennel with his booty out and literally begs for you to scratch his back! It’s the cutest thing.
"With the combo of having to be an only dog and being a high-energy breed, it has been tough to find the right family for him. There is also commonly an excess of huskies at the shelter, and I’ve seen that dog breed get adopted more slowly than other breeds."
Saraceno added that his ideal family would be willing to do things like go for hikes and lots of walks. "They also need to take him for car rides for pup cups, and supply him with daily greenies (his favorite tray). He is also going to need someone willing to give him butt scratches all the time."
View contenthttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DRvhF3lDxIL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 18,300 views and almost 2,200 likes on the platform.
One user, Petrichor1980, commented: "I love him so much. I really hope someone can give him the life he deserves soon. He’s been waiting long enough."
Heatherirwin111 posted: "Oh. Sweet baby is absolutely adorable. Hope best loving human gets him soon."
Nocturnalceo added: "Prayers for a Christmas miracle for sweet Bark."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to [email protected] with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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