UPDATE: The Pistons coach has adopted Eastwood

Eastwood, the special-needs Labrador left behind at a Northern Michigan humane society after the statewide "Empty the Shelters" event last weekend, has been adopted.

Jessica Evans, communications and marketing coordinator at the humane society, said he was adopted after more than 80 applications came in. She said it was unlike anything she had seen in her four years at the shelter, and that the phone was ringing off the hook with a line outside the building Tuesday morning, May 2.

News of Eastwood's adoption Tuesday came shortly after the animal shelter announced it was no longer accepting applications for Eastwood due, to the "sheer number" received.

The applications began to flood in after-hours Monday when MLive and other media posted stories about Eastwood being the only dog left in the shelter.

He first came to the shelter when he was found wandering in the cold and nearly blind. Eastwood was born with health issues that could have been fixed when he was younger, but they weren't. Shelter staff believe his health issues may be why he was abandoned at such an early age.

His vision now has been largely corrected. His remaining issue is with one of his rear legs. It's a genetic defect which might need to be fixed later on in life. Right now, he's learned to compensate for his disability, shelter staff say.

During the Empty the Shelters event, more than 1,500 animals were adopted from 66 shelters, humane societies and rescue groups around the state. Nearly 20 shelters were completely emptied by the end of the day Saturday.