A shelter is never where a dog truly belongs, and most people understand that. Unfortunately, not every pup is lucky enough to spend life in a warm and loving home.
Even a short stay in a kennel can overwhelm a dog. So it feels especially painful to think about the animals who spend months or years behind metal bars.
For a dog named Eros, this reality was all too familiar. Shelter life became routine for him, and the heartbreak was even deeper because he had been adopted and returned on three separate occasions.
The staff at Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, could no longer bear watching him go through the same cycle. They decided to share his story publicly in hopes that someone would finally give him the stable home he had always deserved.
A Long Road Filled With Disappointment
Although Eros had passed through many hands in his life, the Valley Animal Center felt like the only true constant he had ever known. Before his arrival, his life lacked stability and security.
At first, it seemed things would change for the better. Eros was adopted not long after entering the shelter, and the staff hoped that his happy ending had arrived. However, he was quickly returned.
His adopter claimed he had too much energy and was simply “too hyper” for their household.
Another family tried to give him a home, but that situation also fell apart.
“His second home had a dog already in the home and even with training and our assistance the existing dog in the home would not accept Eros as a house mate and they felt he was safer coming back to us,” Cantu explained.
A third family stepped forward, and for a brief moment, it seemed like Eros might finally belong somewhere. But once again, he was returned. Each failed attempt left him and his caregivers more discouraged.
The Hidden Impact Of Shelter Stress
When Eros left the shelter for the third time, everyone believed that he might finally stay in a home for good. Instead, it led to another painful return.
@valleyanimalcenter Poor Eros was returned for the third time through no fault of his own. He is still hopeful that his forever home is out there. 💔 Can you help him find his forever home? #shelterpet #shelteranimals #shelterlife #shelterdog #savealife #fypシ゚viral #foryou #sos #rescuedogs #animalrescue #adoptme ♬ Sad song by piano and violin(886018) – NOVA
“Eros was happy to be adopted after he was returned twice. But his happiness didn’t last long. He was returned for the third time through no fault of his own,” staff said in a TikTok video that touched viewers across the internet.
Beyond the emotional blow, repeated rehoming can take a serious toll on a dog’s well-being. Studies have shown that a dog’s stress hormone levels can triple after only three days in a shelter.
Eros had lived through three separate returns. The impact on him was clear.
“We are fortunate to have a relationship with Eros and that has helped make him feel comfortable since coming back, but I know he suffers from stress of the shelter,” Cantu explained.
No dog should endure so many setbacks, least of all one as sweet and hopeful as Eros.
A Fourth Chance That Changed Everything
When a fourth adoption application appeared, the staff did not know whether to feel hopeful or anxious. Their hearts had already broken for him more than once, but they knew he deserved another opportunity.
This time, everything finally fell into place.
“Eros has found an amazing home with a couple that I truly believe understands what Eros has been through and what he needs to feel comfortable in his new home,” Cantu said happily.
Even better, the couple had another dog, and Eros bonded with his new sibling immediately.
“If you had seen their first introduction to each other, you would think they had been best buds for a long time,” Cantu recalled.
After years of confusion, rejection, and instability, Eros finally has everything he needs. A loving home. A family that cherishes him. And a dog companion who accepts him wholeheartedly.
Eros’ journey may have been rough, but it led him exactly where he was meant to be.