A Christmas wish came true this year for one shelter’s longest resident. After 500 days in a Niagara Falls, N.Y. rescue center, 5-year-old pit bull mix Bonita found a home for the holidays.

A local resident, Ray Kinz, adopted the pooch, and in a video from the Niagara County SPCA, she looks absolutely thrilled to start her new life.

During her stay at the adoption center, Bonita quickly became one of the staff’s favorite animals. As bittersweet as it was to watch her leave, everyone is happy to see her in a loving home.

“Everybody loves her so much, and a lot of our employees are used to seeing her every day, so I know we are all going to miss her like crazy,” said the Niagara SPCA’s event coordinator, Kimberly LaRussa, “[but] she gets to be the lady of the house, which I’m sure is a dream come true for her.”

Bonita rolling around in grass

Image Credit: bonita_rk/Instagram

We are so happy Bonita found a home for the holidays! If you want to keep track of her new adventures, follow her on Instagram.

Every year, around 6.5 million animals wind up in shelters, and unfortunately, about 1.5 million are euthanized. Often, the younger puppies and kittens and adopted first, leaving adults and seniors vulnerable to being put down. The older dogs and cats who are not killed spend their entire lives in cages waiting to find a home — but sometimes never do.

Please, remember to always adopt, don’t shop. If you’re looking to add a furry friend to your family this holiday season, shelters and rescues are full of loving animals in need of homes. They would be overjoyed to join your family.