Thor, a 2-year-old beagle mix, has been at the local animal shelter for 237 days, and as far as the Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter’s director is concerned, he can stay 237 more. But she would love to find him a permanent home.

“I have no idea why Thor has not been adopted,” shelter director April Jones said. “He is really a great dog.”

Thor first came to the shelter July 30 and has been there ever since, making him the shelter’s longest permanent resident ever.

Thor loves to play with other dogs, especially his roommate, Cookie, a 2-year-old Australian shepherd mix. His favorite thing to do is play ball in the shelter’s yard with Cookie, shelter employee Wendy Mathes said.

Since he has been at the shelter longer than any other dog, Thor has learned how to get around the shelter on his own.

“He is so smart,” Mathes said. “He opens his own cage door when it is time to go out. He will go down the aisle and open the doors for his friends so they can come out.”

Thor is described as friendly, healthy, athletic and smart. He would do well in a family with children or with other dogs, Jones said.

“Thor will play with any other dog,” Mathes said. “He really loves to play ball. He really needs to be with another dog, because he loves to be with them and play with them so much.”

Thor has practically grown up at the shelter, Jones said. This mean Thor needs a little obedience training to help rein in his abundance of energy.

“He just needs a little training,” Jones said. “He has no manners because he has grown up in the shelter. He is really smart and picks up on things quickly, so it shouldn’t be hard to train him.”

Thor has been able to stay at the shelter for so long because no healthy, social pet has been euthanized for space since December 2013.

“We have been able to rearrange and work with shelters to get adoptions to have the space we need,” Jones said. “It has worked out that Thor has been able to stay here.”

As long as space remains available at the shelter, Thor will have a home, but he needs to be adopted, Jones said.

Thor is up to date on all his vaccines and has been neutered. The cost to adopt Thor is $20. For more information or to adopt Thor, call 547-6359.