Find out what's happening in Montclairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After hearing about the depressed pooch’s plight, the Marions decided to kick off the long process of opening their home to him – while keeping in mind that he needed oodles of patience and understanding after spending so much time in a shelter.

It was a choice they took “very, very seriously,” especially since they already had an 11-year-old pitbull rescue who they adopted in Jersey City, Melissa Marion told Patch.

The Marions met with Titan four times before bringing him home, including two visits with his brother-to-be, Benny. It wasn’t immediately love at first sight – at least from Titan’s perspective.

But while some people might have decided that the depressed doggo wasn’t “showing well,” the married couple saw through the façade into a heart that was “incredibly sweet and gentle.”

“The shelter told us he barks constantly … we have yet to hear him bark once,” Marion said, praising the pooch’s temperament.

Titan made his triumphant exodus from the Montclair Animal Shelter on July 22. The Marions had prepared their home and were ready to separate the two dogs if needed.

It was slow-going at first, they say.

“He wasn’t making too much eye contact with us because he was too excited to be outside the shelter,” Melissa recalled, adding that he was “extremely used to his routine” after spending almost three years at the municipally run shelter.

Click Here: FIJI rugby jersey

“Patience is so key,” she told Patch. “That ‘three days, three weeks, three months’ [maxim] for a shelter animal is real.”

“The first three days we had him, he never slept,” she continued. “He was completely wandering the house and walking in circles.”

Along the way, Titan’s new guardians tried to avoid triggering any negative behaviors he may have experienced during his stay at the shelter. They didn’t shut him in any room, didn’t yell, didn’t crate him and never grabbed him by the collar.

“If we thought he needed a ‘safe space’ like a crate, we would have done that, but this boy craves human touch, dog touch (he’s always sleeping next to Benny) and freedom,” Marion said.

Article continues below

His new owners continued to give Titan time to find his place. And it wasn’t long before he did, they say.

“Titan is the sweetest, most resilient boy we have ever met,” Marion beamed. “After 1,008 days in a shelter, in just seven days, he has decided that heated king-sized beds, leather couches and lots of windows, walks and waterfalls are the way he wants to live.”

When the three-week mark rolled around, Titan was a completely different dog, the Marions say. He figured out where to sleep … how to share food … how to get along with his new dog sibling … and how to appreciate life outside the kennel again.

That last part has been as rewarding for his new humans as it has been for Titan, who generally snuggles and kisses everyone he meets.

For starters, he is no longer sleeping on dog beds or floors. Now, Titan spends his nights only in the Marions’ king-sized bed or their leather couch.

He has also been getting a chance to travel, recently joining his parents and dog sibling on a trip to Crystal Coast in North Carolina, where the charming canine proceeded to endear himself to everyone at the hotel they were staying at. While relaxing at the private beachfront house – which had an elevator and a pool – Titan got a chance to take dips in the ocean and the pool.

He also got a chance to watch the sunrise and sunsets each day – a luxury that was once just a distant wish that died each night between the concrete walls of a kennel.

“We wish Titan could talk and tell us how he’s feeling now and what else we can do to make him happy,” Marion told Patch. “He can’t, so we just listen hard to all his signals and he has rewarded us with kisses, hugs and so, so, so much love. He’s our beautiful baby boy and now we call Benny and Titan ‘Scooby Doo & Scrappy Doo’ – since they are the funniest pair.”

There is a lot of personal reward in being a voice for the voiceless, Marion added.

“I would love nothing more than for Titan’s story to encourage others to adopt the longest-running shelter animals, as he has blossomed outside of the shelter and is not showing any of the tendencies that the shelter told us he would have,” she said.

“Titan is the bestest boy,” Marion emphasized. “We are thrilled to have him as part of our family.”

TIPS FOR POTENTIAL DOG OWNERS

Here are three tips from the Marions for people who are thinking about adopting a dog like Titan:

TALK TO YOUR VET – “Our vet is amazing and gave us some great tips for making sure Titan and Benny met correctly and bonded. We also take Benny into the vet visits for Titan, to make sure Titan feels safe in the vet’s office and can follow Benny’s lead.”

DON’T OVERLOOK IN-NEED DOGS – “Ask about older dogs and the longest shelter residents. With Benny’s age, we had zero interest in a puppy. And, we know that’s harder to adopt older dogs. Titan just turned four. We would have adopted an even older dog. He is so appreciative to be in his new home – he learned ‘show me home’ within three days and runs to our door after his walks outside. He’s so proud to show off his new skills.”

BE READY FOR LOVE – “We work hard to make sure Titan does not get any attachment issues to us – but also make sure he feels confident in his place in his new family. And every day, he thanks us in some way.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.