Does anyone else have a "one that got away" story?

[MalikethGSD]

I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic lately, thinking about a specific pup I almost adopted years ago. I realized I still wonder about her all the time, even though our lives only crossed for a short time.

At the time, I was working at a dog boarding kennel. We frequently had fosters come through, but this one puppy really stood out to me. She was confident, playful, and had this incredible sweetness that really made her stand out. Because I was working there, I got to spend so much time with her, and it wasn't long before I realized I wanted to adopt her, it felt like a meant to be thing, and I jumped on the opportunity.

I went through the entire application process with a very well known GSD rescue in the west coast. It was an intensive process, but the rescue was amazing. After reviewing my background and my experience with the breed, they actually told me I would be the "perfect home" for her. My housing check came back flawless, and for a moment, it really felt like everything was meant to be.

Just as we were nearing the finish line, we hit a wall that no one saw coming. The rescue discovered an obscure HOA or city ordinance rule in my area that strictly limited households to three dogs.

At the time, I already had my 3 dogs. Even though the rescue believed I was the best possible fit for this puppy, they legally couldn't move forward with the adoption because it would have put me over that limit.

It was disappointing for everyone involved. The rescue was sad, I was heartbroken, and it felt so unfair to lose out on a dog I had already bonded with over a piece of local rule.

It’s been a long time since that happened, but I still think about that puppy. I wonder where she ended up, what her personality is like now that she’s grown, and if she’s out there living her best life with another family. It’s a strange feeling to carry a "what if" for a dog you never actually got to bring home.

I’d love to hear the story of anyone with a similar experience with having the one that got away" because of bad timing or a weird technicality? Do you still find yourself looking back years later wondering where they are?
How do you deal with that specific kind of rescue heartbreak?