Animal shelters across the USA typically receive a diverse mix of dogs of various backgrounds and breeds, but it is more common to see mixed-breed dogs, also known as mutts.
According to Hudson Animal Hospital, mixed-breed dogs represent around 80% of dogs in shelters across the country.
So, when a purebred Belgian Malinois arrived at the Arizona Humane Society, everyone was quite shocked.
This shelter does not often receive a lot of purebred dogs, let alone a magnificent breed such as the Belgian Malinois.
Ellie’s Story
Ellie, the Belgian Malinois, arrived at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) after her previous owner had passed away.
“Ellie came into our care as an owner surrender after her previous owner passed away. Unfortunately, she was living in hoard-like conditions and needed to be treated for some cuts she had, which were likely from dog fighting,” Joseph Casados, Public Relations for the Arizona Humane Society, told Newsweek.
Under the care of an incredible medical team at the shelter’s Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital, Ellie was swiftly nursed back to health.
According to Casados, they were able to heal her wounds and address the broken teeth that were bothering her, and she’s now in excellent health.
The Arizona shelter is accustomed to welcoming more mixed-breed dogs, making Ellie a rare intake for them.
“We don’t have Belgian Malinois very often, however it is becoming more common as the breed grows in popularity. Roughly 25 percent of the pets that come through our doors are purebred. It definitely speaks to the increase of backyard breeders in recent years,” Casados explained.
Arizona Humane Society is very active on various social media platforms, such as TikTok, utilizing these channels to give pets like Ellie exposure and facilitate quicker adoptions.
Posting a video of two-year-old Ellie patiently sitting in her kennel and capturing her sweet demeanor resulted in a very quick adoption.
“Not often you see a Belgian Malinois at our shelter! Ellie is $49 for a limited time. Come by and meet this sweet lady at our South Mountain campus,” said in the caption of the TikTok video.
@azhumanesociety Not often you see a Belgian Malinois at our shelter! Ellie is $49 for a limited time. Come by and meet this sweet lady at our South Mountain campus🥰 #arizonahumanesociety #azhumanesociety #belgianmalinoisoftiktok #shelterdogsoftiktok ♬ Oh my god what is that – Funny memes
Ellie’s Forever Home
Shortly after posting the video, Ellie went viral, garnering thousands of views and lots of attention.
In response to the sudden interest, the shelter clarified in the comments that Ellie requires an experienced owner familiar with the breed.
“Thank you all for showing so much love and concern for sweet Ellie! True to her breed, she is an energetic and intelligent lady. Ellie will need an active family to match her energy level and will need to meet all other dogs in her new home,” they wrote.
Many viewers echoed the sentiment, with one person commenting, “Great dogs. But they are not a breed for everyone to have as a pet. Hope this beautiful dog finds the right home.”
It’s true – Belgian Malinois are brilliant dogs, but they are also very energetic and require a lot of physical and mental stimulation, so they’re usually more suitable for experienced dog owners.
Beautiful Ellie did find her forever home only a day after the video was posted, so that has been a huge success. Hopefully, she has found happiness and will never have to return to a shelter again.
However, while this sweet girl got adopted quickly, the Arizona shelter, like many shelters around the country, is sadly dealing with a capacity crisis.
With their ethical no-kill philosophy, they are doing everything in their power to save and find a home for as many animals as possible, but they need your help.
If you can, please donate or adopt one of their many available dogs at the shelter.