Meet Lion, the 8-year-old Phoenix pup adopted after 323 days

After 323 days in a local animal shelter, 8-year-old Lion, a boerboel mix, found a family over the weekend.

State of play: Maricopa County Animal Care and Control has more than 400 pups available for adoption.

• Older dogs such as Lion are less popular among adopters, sometimes remaining in county kennels for months.

Be smart: You can take home a senior dog (6 and older) for just $25, and the county shelter often runs promotions waiving fees altogether. Puppies cost $300.

Jessica's take: Our shar-pei mix Teddy will turn 12 in March, and we love our senior boy endlessly. Don't let a dog's age fool you — they're all puppies at heart.

Happy tails, Lion!