The ideal outcome for every shelter dog is to find a forever home right away. Unfortunately, many dogs spend weeks, months, and even years waiting for someone to notice them.
Day after day, they yearn for freedom and would give anything for a break from the noisy kennels.
While the pups wait for their second chance at happiness, the shelter staff do their best to cheer them up and help them shine for potential adopters.
An Opportunity To Experience Freedom
A kind-hearted woman named Hadlee Freeman, from Jasper, Alabama, volunteers at Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter.
The shelter has a great program called Happy Hour, which gives the dogs the opportunity to spend a day outside the shelter with volunteers. They can spend time outdoors, exercising or hanging out at a volunteer’s home or a public place.
The program is beneficial because it also gives an insight into a dog’s personality to potential adopters and helps shelter pups find forever homes faster.
Freeman participates in Happy Hour, and she recently went to the shelter to choose a dog whom she would take for a day out.
Out of all the dogs waiting in their kennels, there was one pup who immediately attracted her attention. Unlike the other pups who kept barking, a Labrador mix named Stetson was sitting in his kennel in silence.
Freeman chose him. Once Stetson realized that the kind volunteer was taking him somewhere, he started jumping and wagging his tail, unable to contain his excitement.
Before long, the sweet pup got used to Freeman, and he felt at ease.
Wishing to give him a great time, the volunteer took him on a walk by the river. Stetson enjoyed playing with sticks and splashing in the river. Freeman brought him to Starbucks, where he had a pup cup—which he adored.
However, at 5 p.m., reality set in again. Freeman drove him to the shelter.
Once the pup realized that they had pulled in the parking lot, he hopped in Freeman’s lap, lay on her, and started crying.
Freeman made a video of Stetson as he was lying in the front seat of her car, feeling heartbroken because his adventure had come to an end.
The doggo gazed at the shelter with a wistful expression on his face.
The TikTok Viewers’ Reactions
The TikTok community was devastated to see the pup’s heartbreaking reaction to being returned to the shelter.
Some viewers noted that although going back is tough, experiencing love and freedom, even for a single day, is far better than being stuck in a kennel.
Some people urged Freeman to adopt Stetson, but she explained that her housing situation didn’t allow her to have pets.
She plans to continue taking the pup for a day out, until he finds his forever home.
Freeman describes Stetson as a very smart and affectionate pup who enjoys meeting other dogs and people on his walks.
“… My favorite part is seeing how amazing they are compared to your first impression of them in their cage. When they are in their cage, you can’t see their personality. They are stressed out and overstimulated by the loud noises but, when you get them out and let them be alone, they are free-spirited and you get to see their character traits,” Freeman said in an interview.
Stetson continues waiting at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter for someone to give him a chance to experience true love and the warmth of a home.
We hope that the delightful pup won’t have to wait long to get noticed. We can’t wait to see him find the happiness he deserves.