Stray dog's heartfelt plea for adoption goes viral

It may have taken five years, but Chester the shelter dog has finally found a home - and become a social media sensation at the same time.

Believed to be around seven to nine-years-old, the pitbull mix was down on his luck after being passed over for adoption many times at the New York animal shelters he lived in - but staff refused to give up on him.

In the hope of finding a forever home for Chester, shelter manager Gabby Glantzman and animal-shelter promoter Valerie Sanks photographed the pooch posing with a heart-wrenching sign that asked, "Why doesn't anybody want me?"

The image was posted to Facebook, where it quickly went viral and was shared nearly 2,300 times - attracting the attention of Dana Dor, who lived near the shelter and had been looking for a mature dog for her family.

"Thursday morning, I was getting ready for work, and I checked my Facebook really quick," Dor told today.com.

"My girlfriend, in Michigan, had posted Chester's picture from the shelter.

"...The following morning, we drove over and met him, and it was just fantastic.

"It was like he was waiting for us, like, 'Where have you been?'"

According to Gillian Wood Pultz, one of Chester's caregivers, they shared an "instant bond".

"Chester was showing off his toys. And everybody in the family was really, really happy. Everybody felt that it was just the perfect fit for Chester," she told today.com.

Since settling in with his new family, Chester enjoys playing with kids, resting on the couch and going on long walks. It's a happy ending for this not-so-unlucky dog, but many other shelter animals are hoping for the same outcome.

- nzherald.co.nz