(CNN) It took a billboard, social media campaign and more than five years of searching. But doggo Merrick finally found his furrever home.

The six-year-old pup had lived at the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City for most of his life, and was the longest resident there. The shelter had tried everything to get him adopted, and on Wednesday they finally succeeded.

"It was love at first sight," Jordan Nussbaum, Merrick's new owner, told CNN affiliate KMBC

"What they wanted was someone without kids who had a lot of energy to keep up with him because he's a large dog. But he's still a puppy. It just seems like I was destined to be with him."

Before coming to the shelter, Merrick was abandoned at a garage sale. He also had a giant abscess on the side of his face , which required corrective surgery.

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