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Kingston, the abandoned dog whose dumping story recently went viral, has officially found his forever home.
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The Animal Protection Society of Durham announced late Saturday that the dog was adopted by an owner who will aid the tan pitbull mix in his recovery.
Stacy Bluth, the interim executive director for the Animal Protection Society of Durham, said the shelter was “flooded” with dozens of applications from community members eager to take Kingston in. However, the shelter staff knew that his experience and ongoing skin issues required a very specific environment.
“Even in the short period Kingston was with us, our team had learned quite a bit about what he needed to thrive. We knew we were looking for someone with a quieter home who understood that a dog who has experienced trauma may need some time and patience to feel safe and begin to trust,” she told The News & Observer. “We also wanted someone comfortable caring for a dog with some ongoing health needs.”
The chosen adopter has experience with traumatized dogs, an understanding of his medical needs, and a quiet home environment, Bluth said. But it was their first meeting that truly sealed the decision.
“She was the first person Kingston met who he immediately went over to sniff. She sat down on the floor and waited patiently for him to engage with her more. Kingston quickly began to relax and connect with her and was giving her kisses just 30 minutes into the visit,” Bluth said. “She wasn’t expecting Kingston to be a perfect dog on day one. She understands that building trust might take time and was ready to meet Kingston where he was.”
Security footage on Sept. 8 showed a man leaving the dog in a dumpster behind the Lakewood Shopping Center in Durham. Workers throwing away trash found the dog.
They called for help just before 10 a.m. and a Durham County sheriff’s deputy responded and pulled the dog from the dumpster.
The Durham County Sheriff’s Office Animal Services launched an investigation into the incident, seeking the public’s health in identifying the suspect caught on camera. In North Carolina, willfully abandoning an animal without a good reason is a Class 2 misdemeanor under state law. Penalties include fines, probation, or jail time depending on specific circumstances.
Following his rescue, Kingston was given a medicated bath and ongoing treatment for an irritated skin infection. Shelter staff reported that his condition improved quickly.
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APS of Durham is the county’s only open-admission shelter, and surrounding an animal is always free and judgment-free, Bluth said.
“People find themselves unable to care for animals for all kinds of reasons, housing changes, financial hardship, health issues, family circumstances,” she said. “Our job is not to judge someone who comes through our doors asking for help. Our job is to help keep animals and the community safe.”
Kingston’s story also created a wave of support for other animals in need at the APS of Durham on East Club Boulevard.
Bluth said the interest from the public resulted in an “incredible few days” for the shelter, which celebrated over 30 adoptions on Friday and Saturday, resulting in two consecutive record-breaking days.
The shelter also saw a surge in community members dropping off supplies and signing up to foster or volunteer.
Kingston’s story received a tremendous amount of attention because of the circumstances in which he was found, and we are so grateful that people cared about him and followed his journey. But there are so many Kingstons,” Bluth said. “There are so many animals whose stories will never make the news who are just as deserving of safety, compassion, and a home.”
She is urging people who followed Kingston’s story to visit the shelter and meet the other animals still waiting for find their people.
Pets can be surrendered to the shelter by calling 919-560-0640, ext. 9. A list of adoptable dogs, cats and other animals can be found online at apsdurham.org.
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This story was originally published September 13, 2026 at 2:13 PM.