Vegas, the Dog No One Chose: 8 Years in a Shelter, Forgotten—Until the End

A Goodbye Without a Homecoming

“Tonight, we say farewell to Vegas, a Great Dane who spent eight years with us. He left us at the age of 14, but his memory will live forever in our hearts.” The post, shared on July 20 by the Buigny-Saint-Maclou SPA shelter, sounds like a grieving family’s farewell to their beloved pet. In a way, it is. But Vegas never knew the warmth of a true home—he died in the same shelter where he had lived half his life.

“He didn’t get adopted, so he stayed with us. We were his family,” said Lydie Bizet, the shelter's director. “Vegas didn’t get along with other dogs or cats—that alone puts a barrier in front of potential adopters. But he was kind. With us, he was an absolute sweetheart.”

When Breed and Size Work Against Them

Vegas wasn’t aggressive. He wasn’t dangerous. But he was a Great Dane, and that was enough to make adoption nearly impossible. “You never see a Chihuahua stay in a shelter for eight years,” Lydie said. “Great Danes don’t get placed easily. You need to know the breed. They’re big, they eat a lot, they often have health issues. People are afraid.”

Vegas is not the only one. “We had a staffy who stayed here for nine years before she passed away,” she added. “Right now, we have about ten dogs that are very hard to adopt.”

Even though these animals occupy space urgently needed for new arrivals, the staff refuse to give up on them. “He took up a box, yes—but that’s how it is. We won’t euthanize a dog just because he isn’t adopted. That’s not how we work. If they aren’t adopted, they stay with us.”

The Real Reason: What Happens in the First Months

The shelter believes many of these fates could be avoided—with proper education. “People don’t train their dogs correctly. They mess things up when the dogs are young, and when problems appear, they don’t try to fix them—they just abandon the animal,” Lydie explained.

If a dog doesn’t socialize with other animals or encounter bikes, people, and noise early on, those missed experiences often lead to serious behavior problems later. And once a dog is in a shelter, it’s extremely difficult to provide that education. “We’ve got fifty dogs here—it’s nearly impossible to give one-on-one time to work on behavioral issues,” she admitted.

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Imperfect, but Still Worthy

Vegas’s story is tragic—but not unique. Many dogs like him are still waiting behind metal gates, passed over again and again. The shelter hopes his story reminds people that no dog is perfect—and no human is either.

If you want to help, the SPA of Buigny-Saint-Maclou is still home to dozens of animals looking for a second chance. You can reach them at +33 3 22 31 63 83.