A rescue dog reacted with delight to a visit from a shelter worker, unaware that she came bearing bad news.
Aileen Betancourt, an adoption specialist at Laurie P. Andrews Adoption Center in Edinburg, Texas, shared footage showing how Bailie greeted her with “so much trust” as she posted a sign on his kennel informing visitors that her time was running out.
By that point, Bailie had already spent a considerable amount of time at the shelter.
Betancourt told Newsweek: “Bailie was picked up as a stray by animal control on April 12, 2023, and she spent every day since then at the shelter over 750 days.”
In truth, from day one the odds were stacked against Bailie being adopted.
“She came in as an adult Pit bull mix, which unfortunately tends to work against dogs in the shelter system,” Betancourt said. “Despite being fully vaccinated, spayed, and incredibly sweet, Bailie was continuously overlooked.”
Sadly, the words “pit bull” are often enough to put people off giving these dogs a chance.
In 2021, a study published in the journal Animals saw researchers attempt to identify the most common traits seen among long-term shelter dogs. Being a so-called “dangerous breed” like a pit bull, was chief among them.
Betancourt is well aware of the “stigma” surrounding the breed. “Many potential adopters are hesitant because of misconceptions about temperament or because of housing restrictions,” she said.
Betancourt suspects Bailie’s age is also likely to have hindered her chances of being adopted. “People often gravitate toward puppies, small breeds, or even cats leaving adult dogs like Bailie behind,” she said.
The shelter offers field trips with dogs and even “Pajwama Parties,” where their canine residents can spend a day or weekend outside the shelter. None of it was working though.
“Bailie was never chosen,” Betancourt said. “She just kept getting passed by.”
The lack of progress was a source of personal frustration to Betancourt who, having got to know Bailie, knew she was a more than viable candidate for adoption.
“She needed someone who could look past her breed label and simply see her as a dog,” Betancourt said. “A dog who wanted nothing more than to love and be loved. She didn’t require anything fancy, just a family willing to break the stigma and offer her the safety, patience, and kindness she had been waiting for.”
But after over two years in the kennel, it looked like Bailie would become just another statistic. In 2024 alone, the ASPCA estimates 334,000 dogs were euthanized in the U.S.
Betancourt posted the video of her heartbreaking visit to Bailie’s kennel to her TikTok @lifesavingpixie to raise awareness of the stark reality many shelter dogs face.
But then something magical happened. The video went viral, racking up 2.4 million views and sparking a flurry of responses from viewers eager to come to Bailie’s rescue.
The end result was everything Betancourt and everyone at the Laurie P. Andrews Adoption Center was hoping for. “Bailie got adopted,” Betancourt said. “Someone drove down 8 hours to adopt her.”
Now Bailie has the life that, until recently, few would have thought possible. It’s testament to the power of social media and the fighting spirit of a dog who seemingly never lost trust in those caring for her.
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