It’s always troubling when a dog who’s spent time in a small, enclosed space suddenly withdraws and no longer wants to engage with people.
Even though rescuers want nothing more than to place each dog in a loving home right away, it rarely works out that smoothly.
The job is demanding, and they give it their all, but some dogs simply struggle with the transition or never really settle in.
These experiences affect dogs in ways we can’t always fully grasp. The situation involving this Ohio dog raised similar concerns, and that’s what we’ll explore here.
Back At The Shelter Within A Day
Whoopie is a happy, friendly pup who’s always just wanted to fit in and be close to the people she loves.
But her journey hasn’t been an easy one. Just a year old, she was hoping for a fresh start, but it was proving to be a challenge.
She had spent much of her time at the Humane Society of Richland County in Ohio, where staff worked tirelessly to help her find a forever home.
Eventually, they succeeded, and things seemed to be turning around for her. But only 24 hours later, she was brought right back to the shelter.
Shelter staff were taken aback when the adopter explained why. Apparently, Whoopie jumped toward a young child while in her new home.
She didn’t harm anyone, but the family grew uneasy about the potential risk, so they didn’t want to take any chances with a dog who behaved this way.
The rescue staff understood that it was a delicate situation and accepted her return. Still, they were determined to find her another family.
Unexpected Reactions On Social Media
Once the shelter shared her story on Facebook page the comments started pouring in. Given the situation, there were plenty of different perspectives.
One person commented: “Not being negative, but for future adopters, you do not take a brand new dog who is brand new to a home and throw a child in the vicinity until the dog is “home” there.”
It’s a valid point, and it makes sense. Still, there’s a possibility that Whoopie’s reaction wouldn’t have changed, even with more time to adjust.
Someone else added: “I think that happens a lot with dogs who have never had a family and long for that love and connection. I think they would calm down after the initial excitement…”
That viewpoint feels accurate to me. Whoopie was never trying to be aggressive, she was just excited to have people nearby. She doesn’t realize her behavior might be seen as ‘wrong.’
Lastly, somebody commented: “This is no different than a rover night- when volunteers take them for a sleepover. It’s better to know immediately. Who could be mad at that?!”
That’s one way to look at it, although in this instance, formal adoption paperwork had already been signed, which carries more weight.
Regardless, for everyone concerned about Whoopie’s future, there’s good news: not long after her return, she was adopted again. She’s now thriving with a family that’s thrilled to have her.