LebTown features a different Lebanon County pet each Friday to help us enter the weekend with the best vibes possible.

The Pet of the Week sometimes features a local furbaby who already lives in a happy Lebanon County home. Other times the column will spotlight an animal that’s available for adoption through a local shelter and is seeking a forever family.

This week, meet Harlem, a black and white American pit bull terrier!

Handsome Harlem is 3 1/2 years old and, according to the Humane Society of Lebanon County, has “quite a sad story.”

Harlem in winter.
Harlem in summer.

“Two times, he has experienced utter heartbreak,” a shelter representative explained. “Harlem initially arrived at the shelter in February of 2021. He was surrendered because his owners were moving. He was so desperate to leave with his previous owners, he attempted to jump the counter. He cried. He would not enter a kennel. He refused to eat for days. He was devastated.”

He adapted with time, however. “Harlem slowly came around and was adopted in May of 2021,” the shelter rep said. “But sadly, in June of 2022, he was surrendered back to our shelter (after being adopted for over a year) due to some separation anxiety and lack of time.”

That can make it hard for any pup to imagine a happy ending. Since he’s been back at the shelter, the rep said, “Harlem has shown that he can be a little shy and unsure of strangers at first but warms up quickly with the handful of some yummy treats. Harlem is learning to trust again.”

What’s his perfect home? “Harlem would do better with older children due to being shy and needing patience and space to adjust,” the Humane Society explained. “Per the previous owner, Harlem did best with smaller dogs, although, he has played with other same size dogs successfully at the shelter. Canine siblings would depend upon a meet and greet.”

Are you his happy ending?

“Harlem is a beautiful pup,” the shelter rep said. “He is a quiet, reserved dog who sits patiently for his turn to be walked and fed each day. He patiently watches visitors come to the shelter and pass him by. He has had some bumps in the road, so he is hoping for an understanding and loving family. A forever home for Christmas is his only wish.”

If you are interested in learning more about Harlem or setting up an appointment to meet him, please contact the Humane Society at (717) 628-1369 or visit the shelter online at lebanonhumane.org for more information on the adoption process.

Give Harlem a paw!!

Looking for a pet? Check out available adoptions at the Humane Society of Lebanon County.

To nominate your pet, email pets@lebtown.com and include:

  • Your name and your pet’s name
  • Pet’s breed if applicable
  • A little about your pet and why they should be “Pet of the Week”
  • And of course—pictures! Feel free to send high-quality attachments or a link to an online storage service.

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Tom has been a professional journalist for nearly four decades. In his spare time, he plays fiddle with the Irish band Fire in the Glen, and he reviews music, books and movies for Rambles.NET. He lives with his wife, Michelle, and has four children: Vinnie, Molly, Annabelle and Wolf.

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