A dog who was adopted from a Texas shelter as a puppy was returned just a couple of months shy of her first birthday.
Stella’s heartbreaking situation first came to light when Longview PAWS, the non-profit supporting the Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center in Gregg County, Texas, shared her story on TikTok.
It was a video showcasing the contrast between Stella, when she arrived as a happy-go-lucky puppy named Rye, and how she is now, having suffered heartbreak and rejection all over again.
The story of how Rye came to be at Longview PAWS is a familiar one for Executive Director Jackie Reynolds.
“Rye came in with her 4 littermates as Owner Surrenders at 9 weeks old,” Reynolds told Newsweek. “Like most of Texas, we’re flooded with unwanted and preventable litters of puppies and kittens each year due to irresponsible pet owners who do not spay or neuter their pets despite free and low-cost vet options available.”
Reynolds estimates that Longview PAWS takes in roughly 5,000 animals annually in a county with a population of around 120,000 people.
Their facilities can often be overcrowded, so quick adoptions are always welcome. In that sense, she said Stella and her siblings were “the lucky ones” as they were each adopted within a couple of weeks.
“Rye was adopted locally by a family with other dogs and children and renamed Stella,” she said.
After an uncertain start to life, it seemed like things were finally working out for Stella, but it didn’t last. Earlier this month, Stella, now 10 months old, was returned to the shelter by her family, who said she was simply “too much” for their kids and elderly dog to handle.
“Owners noted she’s very sweet, loving and overall a good dog but they felt she was too big and too rambunctious for their family,” Reynolds said.
Staff at Longview PAWS have been working to try and help ease Stella back into shelter life.
“As you can imagine, her world has been turned upside down. She’s adjusting as well as she can being back in the shelter,” Reynolds said.
“She’s received an updated medical and behavioral exam by the staff at Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, many of whom remember ‘Rye’ and her littermates on their first trip through the building. They report she’s as sweet as can be.”
Stella knows commands like sit and lie down. She’s also capable of walking well on a leash.
“She is a very, very good dog who just needs the right fit for her size and energy level. After all, she’s still just a puppy,” Reynolds said.
“The ideal home is an active person or family that wants a running buddy, hiking partner or just overall ‘good dog’ who understands Stella is a puppy who needs exercise and engagement to thrive.”
Finding a new home soon is important though. The shelter can be a difficult place for dogs, especially those returning like Stella. In 2021, a study published in the journal Animals concluded that long-term shelter dogs often suffer from “stress-related behaviors.” Longview PAWS will be desperate to avoid that.
Sadly, Reynolds has seen too many stories like Stella’s.
“People adopt a ‘cute puppy’ and then grow tired when they simply grow. Patience is lost and owners give up too easily,” she said. “Adopting an animal is a lifelong commitment. It takes work but like all good things it is worth it. Stella will go back on the adoption floor this week and we’ll try again to find the best 2nd chance for her. It will just be so much harder now as large breed dogs are the hardest to place.”
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