Old dog 'supports' woman scared at the car wash — someone drives 4 hours to take him home

Older shelter dogs are often overlooked during adoption events, especially when younger pets tend to draw more attention. In fact, a study by Maddie’s Fund found that senior dogs aged 7 and older had an adoption rate of just 25%, compared to 60% for younger dogs. But sometimes, the right moment changes everything. One senior dog named Porkchop gained attention not because of his age, but for the calm presence he offered during a routine outing. A video shared by Julie Saraceno on her Instagram page @jsaraceno showed the dog riding along during a car wash and supporting her, who appeared visibly anxious.

"You may remember this video I posted of shelter dog Porkchop a couple weeks ago, providing me emotional support as we went through the car wash," Saraceno wrote. A viewer saw that video, contacted the Benton-Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, Washington, where the feline was put up for adoption, and decided to make a long trip of four hours. In a comment of the video, the adopter confirmed the outcome, saying, "That's my homeboy! My pal, my sweet cheese! I literally adopted Pork Chop today, he’s the bestest boy."

She later shared the full story through a message. She had been browsing adoptable pets when she first saw Porkchop’s photo, but it was the clip that prompted her to act. "I saw your TikTok when you both went through the car wash and had a pup cup and I was smitten," she wrote. She contacted the shelter and made the four-hour drive from Olympia to meet him. On the way home, they stopped in Yakima to visit family, then picked up a burger from a local drive-through. She added, "He did so good on the car ride! No accidents or carsickness, just big chillin." That meeting marked the beginning of a new chapter. "The moment they met, unsurprisingly, they fell in love," Saraceno said in her video.

"We snuggled in my bed after he had a short burst of zoomies energy on the squishy bed," the adoptee said. She wrote that he woke up during the night to give kisses and try to be close, then quickly settled again. The next morning, her landlady surprised her with a crate, and Porkchop walked right in and relaxed. "He loves it," she said. She spent the day helping him adjust, adding, "He’s been back and forth between chilling in the crate with a ball or snuggling me on the couch in my burrito blanket." She ended the message by saying, "He is currently sleeping on my feet while I write. He is such a good boy. Such a gentleman. I’m obsessed with him."

The final clips in the video showed Porkchop happily settling into his new environment. "He gets this amazing backyard and a mom who literally took maternity leave for him. Go live your best life buddy," Saraceno said. The video struck a chord with viewers, and they shared their joy for Porkchops in the comments. @norbertbarkah said, "What a great story! I am so happy for you both. The smiles speak more than words."@nocturnalceo commented, "This is so amazing! Just another reminder that you ALWAYS do what is best for the doggies." @melislane19 said, "I’m literally crying. His perfect person found him. She sounds absolutely amazing. Thank you for all you did to get him the perfect home."

You can follow Julie Saraceno (@jsaraceno) on Instagram for more animal adoption content.