After waiting for more than two months, some people finally got to take home a puppy rescued from a Naples home earlier this summer. 

Happy Tails Shelter in Naples received about 300 applications for the dogs known as Naples 85. After narrowing it down to about 100, some of the dogs were able to go off to healthy, loving homes.

Emotions ran high Sunday as dozens waited patiently for the furry friends to be matched with their new owners. Names were drawn from a lottery for the first chance to take the Naples 85 to their forever homes.

The cairn and yorkshire terrier mixes were seized from a Naples home in August after being found in filthy conditions. Staff, volunteers and generous donors worked to rehabilitate the animals with the help of thousands of dollars in donations.

“The girls have worked very hard as well as the fosters,” said Diane Faas, Shelter Manager of Happy Tails. “Getting them socialized, we’ve had groomers in, we’ve had them in the vet’s office for spaying and neutering. Without the public support and donations, it would not be feasible.”

Elated new owners took their time to meet and greet the pups in hopes of creating a bond that will last a lifetime.

“I’m very emotional,” said Judy Stachow, Honeyoye. “We just put it in the universe and said if we are supposed to have one, we will. They called my name! A few of them really spoke to me, they were more social, they licked my fingers and their faces are so cute.”

Not all of the dogs were adopted. Some still need more care at the shelter.