PHOENIX - A woman sat in a Phoenix dog kennel for 26 hours until a dog at the Arizona Animal Welfare League was adopted Friday afternoon.
Whitney Steele, the AAWL's director of volunteer services and special events, stayed in the caged area with Lana, a Bullmastiff who had been at the shelter for more than four months.
Lana was adopted Friday afternoon by Barb Kerstetter, who said she lost her dog about a year ago and has felt over the last several weeks that she was ready to find another furry friend.
"When I saw the story and saw that she'd been here for four months, I knew she was for me," Kerstetter said.
As for Steele, she said she and others at the AAWL know they needed to get creative when a dog has been with them for as long as Lana was.
"It starts to kind of hit us really hard and we need to figure out 'What can we do that's different to help them find their forever home?'" she said.
Steele spent the night in the kennel, which she said gave her another perspective on life for the dogs at the rescue.
"I don't know if she's as thrilled to have a roommate as I am to be her roommate," she said, "but it's been a really emotional and unique experience."
If you're interested in adopting from the Arizona Animal Welfare League, you can visit its Facebook page or call 602-273-6852.
