NATCHEZ — Christmas came a few days early for one special pup at the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society shelter.

Chris, a 1-year-old hound dog shelter workers named in honor of Christmas, got a forever home Friday.

Franklin County Constable Tommy Myers and his 12-year-old granddaughter Savannah Frith came to the shelter to adopt Chris, whose nickname is now Joby.

“In the Bible, Job lost everything he had and almost lost his life, just like this dog,” Myer said. “That’s how we came up with the name.”

Myers said he first learned of “the Christmas dog” after reading about it in The Natchez Democrat.

The dog arrived at the shelter earlier this month emaciated and covered in red mange and fleas. He was in such bad shape and was in need of so much medicine and food that humane society board member Linda Kennon said the shelter was not going to be able to afford to keep the dog for more than five days.

Through donations by the community, the shelter was able to keep and care for the dog.

Myers said he called Kennon to see if anyone had adopted him.

“I told her I wasn’t applying to adopt him, but that if she couldn’t find a home for him, I would come pick him up,” Myers said.

The shelter’s goal was to get the dog adopted by Christmas, and after having no luck recently, Kennon asked Myers if he would adopt the pup.

“I just wanted him to give a good home,” Myers said.

Joby will have plenty of pals at Myers’ home, as the pup is not Myers first adoption.

Myers has a bloodhound named Jep, a mixed breed named Daisy and a cat named Doc, and his wife has a Chihuahua named Paco.

“I love animals, and I wouldn’t take the world for mine,” Myers said.

Frith also has a Bassett hound named Polly and is excited Joby will be joining the family.

“I love him already,” she said.