Murrieta, CA - Labrador Retriever. Meet Samson a Pet for Adoption

My basic info

Breed

Labrador Retriever

Color

Black - with White

Age

Adult

Size

Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg) (when grown)

Weight

50 lbs (current)

Sex

Male

Pet ID

–

My details

Good with kids

Good with dogs

Shots current

Housetrained

My personality

My story

Here's what the humans have to say about me:

Meet Samson: The Snuggly, Shadow-Fearing Sweetheart 🐾

Ever feel like the world doesn’t make sense? That’s how we feel when we think about how Samson ended up at the shelter.

This 4-year-old black Lab mix (a perfectly cuddly 50 pounds) was surrendered by his owner for reasons we’ll never understand—probably for being too sweet, too loyal, or too snuggly. Unfortunately, the days turned into weeks, then months, and Samson quietly became the longest resident at the shelter, which is never a good thing for a dog.

But just when hope was fading, The Misfit Ranch got a call from shelter staff: “Please help Samson. We all love him.” That was all we needed. We swooped in, and Samson is now thriving in a cozy foster home where he’s proving to be nearly perfect.

✅ House-trained? Check.
✅ Friendly with people and dogs? Absolutely.
✅ Ready for outdoor adventures? Completely—running, hiking, exploring… he’s up for all of it.

Now let’s talk about his quirk, because every great character has one.

When Samson first arrived in foster care, we thought he struggled only with being alone in small, dark rooms. But as he’s settled in, we’ve learned something important: Samson has some separation anxiety.

He isn’t destructive, he doesn’t hurt himself, and he isn’t panicked—he simply cries when he’s left alone. He just really, really wants to be near his people. The good news? He rides wonderfully in the car and settles right down next to you, completely content as long as he isn’t isolated. What he doesn’t want is to be crated in a room by himself. Samson thrives when he can be in a larger, lived-in space where he can hear what’s going on around him and feel connected to his people. He needs an adopter who truly wants a velcro dog to be their best friend, or can tolerate some crying if he's left alone.

At his core, Samson is a deeply loving, loyal, and sensitive soul. Despite being let down by humans before, he still greets life with joy, trust, and a big heart that’s just waiting for the right person. He’ll lean into you for pets, follow you from room to room like your slightly oversized shadow, and fall asleep with his chin on your foot because closeness is his love language.

So if you’re looking for a sweet, active, adoring best friend…
If you have space in your home and patience in your heart for a dog who simply feels safer when you’re nearby…
And if you appreciate a companion with the courage of a lion and the quirks of a Pixar character…

Samson is your guy.

Turn on a light. Open your heart.
He’s waiting.